882 CONIFEB^. 



needles and narrow plates. On ignition an alkaline ash 

 was left. In sulphnric acid it dissolved with a yellow colour, 

 no change being induced by the addition of nitric acid to the 

 solution or hydrochloric acid and phenol. In order to obtain 

 this resin acid in a free state, an ethereal solution of the potash 

 salt was agitated with dilute sulphuric acid. On spontaneous 

 evaporation of the ether, the acid was left as a transparent 

 varnish. 



The middle layer mentioned above appeared to consist of a 

 concentrated solution of the potash salt of the resin acid ; the 

 potash salt not being very readilj^ soluble in ether. The 

 aqueous stratum was treated with sulphuric acid and agitated 

 with ether, the ethereal extract was. yellow, and had a slight 

 odour not unlike that of valeric acid. 



That portion of the original alcoholic extract insoluble in 

 petroleum ether, was now agitated wdth ether and aqueous 

 potash. The ether left on spontaneous evaporation a transparent 

 yellow extract, insoluble in water ; soluble in alcohol with 

 neutral reaction^ and possessing a marked bitter taste. Sulphuric 

 acid coloured the extract a bistre-red. The potash solution was- 

 mixed with suli^huric acid and agitated with ether ; during 

 agitation dark reddish flocks separated, which wex^e insoluble in 

 ether even after prolonged agitation. The ethereal ^lution 

 left a yellow transparent residue. In alcohol the extract was 

 soluble with bitter taste and acid reaction. In concentrated 

 sulphuric acid it dissolved with a dark-red colour^ the addition 

 of concentrated hydrochloric acid afforded a coloui' of crushed 

 strawberries, which became of a reddish violet on the addition 

 of phenol. In aqueous potash the extract dissolved with a bright 

 yellow coloration. Ferric chloride added to an alcoholic solu- 

 tion gave a dirty brown coloration. The flocks insoluble in 

 ether were of a reddish- brown colour, brittle when dry, without 

 bitterness in an alcoholic solution, acid in reaction, and affording 

 similar reactions with sulphuric and hydrochloric acids and 



plu'uol, and ferric chloride and caustic potash, to the resin 

 soluble in ether. 



