by r. greig smith. 163 



The Reactions of Samples op Linseed Gums. 



t, A coagulation or a precipitate; ?, an opalescence or a slight precipitate; 

 o, no reaction ; - , not tested . 



These tests are sufficient to show that samples of Linseed yield 

 gums which behave differently with chemical reagents, and from 

 this it must be inferred that the gum is to a certain extent a 

 variable product. 



From a perusal of Hilger's paper, there would appear to be no 

 difficulty in obtaining the sugars. He used sulphuric acid, the 

 strength of which lay between 0'5 and 1 %. I have used the 

 same acid in strengths between 1 and 5 % and have boiled the 

 solution for times varying from 2 to 30 hours in order to preclude 

 any doubt that the hydrolysis had not been complete. The 

 experiments showed that the gum is easily hydrolysed and that 

 the products of hydrolysis, while reducing Fehling's solution, are 

 chiefly non-saccharine. The bulk of the reducing substances 

 yield those indefinite osazones that were obtained in the case of 

 Hakea gum. Out of many examinations I have only obtained 

 one detinite osazone-galactosazone, and that was present in com- 

 paratively small amount. 



These indefinite osazones are converted by the further action 

 of phenylhydrazine solution or of dilute acetic acid into brown 



