388 ANACARDIACEZ:. 
and rather disagreeable flavour, which appears to be derived | 
from a volatile aromatic principle present in the rind of the 
torus and similar to the ferment oil of apples; this can be 
removed by proper rectification. The gum occurs in stalactiform 
masses, and varies in colour from reddish to pale yellow ; when 
placed in water it swells and forms a jelly-like mass and a portion 
of it dissolves; this solution is rendered turbid by oxalate of 
ammonium, and gives a copious white precipitate with alcohol ; ; 
it is not precipitated by borax or sulphate of iron. 
Chemical composition.—Anacardic acid together with cardol - 
is contained in the pericarps ‘of the cashew nut. ‘To obtain it 
they are extracted with ether, which dissolves out both the 
anacardic acid and the cardol ; the ether is distilled off, and 
the residue after washing with water to free it from tannin, is 
dissolved in 15 to 20 times its weight of alcohol. This 
alcoholic solution is Wigested with recently precipitated oxide 
of lead, which removes the anacardic acid in the form of an 
insoluble lead salt. After repeated purification the acid 1s 
obtained as a white crystalline mass which melts at 26° C. It 
has nosmell, but its flavouris aromatic and burning. When 
heated to 200° C. it is decomposed, producing a colourless 
very fluid oil. It burns with a smoky -flame, emitting an 
odour like that of rancid fat. Alcohol and ether dissolve it 
readily, and these solutions redden litmus. Some of its salts - 
are crystalline. Formula C44 H®* 07, or C** H® O’. MM. 
Ruhemann and Sééinner, who have recently (1887) ex- 
mined anacardic acid, give it the formula C$* H3, O}> and 
consider it to be hydroxy-carboxylic acid. By acting upon 
iodide of methyl with its silver salt, they obtained a methyl 
compound which was decomposed by distillation with a _ 
disengagement of carbonie acid: (Jour. of the Chem. Soc., 1887, 
p- 663.) After the removal of the anacardic acid, the alcoholic 
solution which contains the cardol is distilled to recover the 
spirit, and water added to the remaining liquid till it becomes 
turbid, and afterwards acetate and subacetate of lead till it — 
is decolorised ; lastly, the lead is precipitated by sulphuric — 
bs 
acid. Cardol is a yellow oily liquid, insoluble in water, very 
