PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 399 
practically insoluble in water, which, on drying, can be, to a large 
extent, sublimed, yielding a crystalline sublimate. By fractional 
erystallisation from alcohol and glacial acetic acid, two distinct 
substauces at least can be isolated, one having the formula 
C,, H, O,, melting point about 192°-193°, and the other the 
formula C,, H, O,, melting point about 165°. Both substances 
are reduced by boiling solutions of stannous chloride, the former 
yielding a crystalline yellow substance of formula C,, Z, O,. 
The examination of these colouring matters, so far as it has heen 
carried out, tends to show that they are respectively trihydroxy- 
and dihydroxy-, derivatives of a methylnaphthaquinone, but so far 
material has been wanting for completing the investigation. 
The bulbs also contain a white crystalline substance, which is, 
apparently, a mixture of fats of very high molecular weight. 
12.—ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ASSCULIN IN 
BURSARIA SPINOSA. 
By Professor Renniz, M.A., D.Sc, and E. F. Turner. 
Our attention has been recently drawn to the fluorescent solution 
which is produced when the leaves of the above-mentioned plant 
are steeped in water, especially if the latter contains a little free 
alkali. A preliminary spectroscopic investigation, kindly carried 
out by Professor Bragg, having indicated the presence of xsculin, 
we extracted a quantity of the leaves by the ordinary method, and 
obtained, after repeated crystallisation, a white substance having 
all the characteristics of eesculin. It contained two molecules of 
water of crystallisation, melted at 204°-205°, and gave, in fact, 
all the reactions tried for esculin. The plant, Bursaria spinosa, 
is very common in South Australia, especially on the steep banks 
overlooking the lake at Mount Gambier; hence it has been 
suggested that the blue colour of the lake is due to the fluorescence 
produced by leaves finding their way into the water. This, 
however, 1s mere speculation. 
13.—ON THE REMOVAL OF GOLD FROM SUSPENSION 
AND SOLUTION BY FUNGOID GROWTHS. 
By A. Liversiper, M.A., F.R.S., Professor of Chemistry in the 
University of Sydney. 
Some examples of gold removed from solution and suspension by 
fungoid growths, were first exhibited by the author at a meeting 
of the Royal Society of New South Wales, in September, 1889. 
