4o8 Voijagc of the Nov am. 



astonishing metamorphosis, being in fact resolved into Ben- 

 zoic acid and a new organic "base, for which M. Wohler pro- 

 poses the name of Ecgonin (from Exyovog, an ofF-shoot). 

 Further researches with the coca leaves lead to the discovery 

 of a second organic base, which, it would appear, is con- 

 tained in its primitive form in the coca, the composition of 

 which will be treated of in a forthcoming paper by Mr. Lossen. 

 This base is in a liquid form, for which the provisional name 

 hygrin (from uypog, fluid) has been adopted.* 



Hitherto the experiments made to determine the physiologi- 

 cal properties of cocani have been less important in their 

 results, as it is only found in small quantities in the coca leaf, 

 and an adequate quantity can only be obtained with great 

 trouble and difficulty.! Consequently it is as yet impossible 

 to decide the questions, whether one of these bases is stronger 

 than the other, as also to which of the two are to be ascribed 



* According to Wohler, this fluid substance admits of being distilled even along 

 with water ; its odour strongly recalls Trimethylamin ; it is a strong alkahne re- 

 agent, but is not bitter to the taste, and forms a white cloud when acids are poured 

 upon it. Its chloride crystallizes readily, but is very volatile. With chloride of 

 platina it forms a flocculent uncrystaUized precipitate, which decomposes on the 

 liquid being heated. With chloride of quicksilver, it assumes a dim milky appear- 

 ance, which is caused by the formation of a substance resembling drops of oil. Hy- 

 grin is not poisonous ; a few drops given to a rabbit were followed by no perceptible 

 symptoms. 



•j- As, judging by the experiments hitherto made, cocani seems to consist of two 

 atoms in juxta-position, there is reason to conjectiu-e that it is destined to be the 

 source of a large number of products of transformation. It is highly probable, as 

 Wohler has remarked, that cocani may yet be artif daily made by a mixture of 

 hygrin with Benzoic acid, or rather with one of the substances forming part of the 

 Benzoyle group. 



