130 



few minutes, a slightly acrid sensation followed, like that produced 

 by unripe guavas. Its Spec. Grav. is 1.406. 



In cold water it dissolves wholly, and the solution bears the 

 addition of its bulk of pure alcohol. More alcohol renders it 

 turbid, and as an emulsion it long retains its opacity and uni- 

 formity of diffusion. Alcohol does not dissolve it. 



100 parts consist of — 



Moisture dissipated at 212'' F. . . . 3.46 



Pure colorless Arabine ..... 83.42 



Glucose 10.80 



Salts and Earths 1.28 



Coloring and acrid matter, and loss . . . 1.04 



100.00 



The coloring matter resembles a humate, having an alkaline 

 base, and the salts obtained were carbonates of lime and potash, 

 with silicate and phosphate of lime, and a trace of manganese 

 oxide. All attempts to isolate the body giving the slightly acrid 

 impression, failed, from its easy decomposition. 



It will be seen, that, as a natural mixture of arabine and glu- 

 cose, this specimen differs from the known gums. Excepting the 

 coloring matter, it is also remarkably pure, and the glucose does 

 not crystallize. 



An examination of the bulb, which accompanied the specimen 

 of gum, was made, so far as to prove that the bulb furnished a 

 like body, apparently as an excretion. In the bulb, the gum is 

 associated with a bitter principle, which seems to be lost as the 

 gum matures. 



Economically considered, this gum has some importance. As 

 presented, it has all the valuable qualities desired for uniting 

 surfaces by gumming. Its color can be removed, to adapt it to 

 cases where color would be objectionable. 



As a mixture of gum and glucose, having the peculiar elas- 

 ticity found in jujube paste, it might be used with advantage in 

 the manufacture of lozenges, and all preparations of a similar 

 kind, into which gum and sugar enter in mixture, as well as in 

 inks and water-colors. Being destitute of Bassorine, it cannot 

 be substituted for other bodies for thickening mordant mixtures. 



