390 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



of detection by the usual agents. Its residuum contained 

 traces of sulphate of lime. If it be mixed with potash, and 

 heated until partially decomposed, no sulphurous acid is 

 given off, but the residuum being dissolved in water and nitric 

 acid added, a brown flocculent matter precipitates, which is 

 artificial ulmine. Nitrate of barytes tests Sulphuric acid in this 

 filtered liquor. Red sulphate of iron does not at all affect the 

 gum, though it coagulates abundantly with gum-arabic. Nitric 

 acid, by acting on it, forms a large quantity of oxalic acid in 

 fine crystals, but no mucous acid. 



The gum, treated with diluted sulphuric acid, produces two 

 remarkable substances, — sugar, and an acid. 



24 grammes (370.6 gr.) of old cloth, well dried, were reduced 

 into gum by 34 grammes (525. gr.) of sulphuric acid, as before 

 described ; the acid mixture diluted with water deposited 3.6 

 grammes (55.5 gr.) of ligneous matter but little altered. The 

 clear fluid, thus diluted, was boiled 10 hours, and then saturated 

 with carbonate of lime. This fluid did not precipitate sub acetate 

 of lead, and contained no gum. It was evaporated, and dried 

 as far as possible, and gave an odour of caromel. It then weigh- 

 ed 23.3 grammes (359-8 gr.) furnished by 20.4 grammes. 

 (315 gr.) of cloth, though there were some losses. This sugary 

 matter was made into a syrup, and, in 24 hours had began to 

 crystallize; in a few days, the whole was a solid mass of 

 crystallized sugar. This was strongly pressed in cloths, and 

 crystallized a second time : it was then moderately pure, but, 

 treated with animal charcoal, it became of extreme whiteness. 

 The crystals were in spherical groups, formed by the union of 

 small diverging plates. They are fusible at 212° Fahrenheit. 

 The sugar has an agreeable taste, and produces a sensation of 

 coolness in the mouth. It dissolves in hot alcohol, and crys- 

 tallizes by cooling. Dissolved in water, and fermented by a little 

 yeast, it gave a vinous liquor which furnished alcohol by distil- 

 lation. Burnt with potash, and its charcoal washed with diluted 

 nitric acid, it gave a fluid not troubled by nitrate of barytes. It 

 is evidently identical with the sugar of grapes and of starch. 



When tlie diluted acid mucilage was boiled with oxide of lead 



