l)S Colleye of Fore.slnj 



hydrate, alcohol, or eth.er, but may ho (lissolved in alcohol 

 after treatment for a few minutes with a solution of potas- 

 sium chlorate in dilute hydrochloric acid. It may he stained 

 with a solution of fuchsin, iodine oreeu, safranin, or methyl 

 greem. It is stained red hy ])hloro«>luein and hydrochloric 

 acid." The writer has observed that the previously described 

 drops formed in hickory wood l)y C oriolus proU ficans (Fries) 

 Murrill, alsO' may be stained by these respective reagents. 



According to Temme (1885) wound gum agrees with many 

 sorts of gums in that it yields oxalic and mucic acids on 

 oxidation Avith nitric acid. It differs essentially, however, 

 from all gums in not swelling in water and in being insoluble 

 even in caustic potash and sul])huric acid. As has been 

 recognized by Temme, wound gum is stained deep red by 

 phloroglucin and hydrochloric acid. j\Ioliscli showed later 

 (1888, p. 264) that it behaves just like ligiiified membranes 

 in aniline sulphate, metadiamido-bcnzol, orcin and thymol; 

 and he believes that wound gum contains vanillin in solution. 



Tests upon radial section (10 microns) of the wood shoAvn 

 in Plate III, these sections being identical with those shown 

 in PHate IV, Fig. 2, were made to detenniue the solubility 

 of these decom]>osition products. The solubility tests were 

 made by exposing thin sections to the action of the reagent 

 (without heating) in watch glasses, meanwhile making obser- 

 vations with the microscope. If the numerous globules of the 

 decomposition products, wdiich are readily visible in the pith 

 ray cells under the low power of the microscope, did not dis- 

 solve after a reasonable length of time a small quantity of 

 the reagent and sections were tiransfeTred to a test tube, 

 heated to the boiling point, and again examined under the 

 microscope. The globules of decomposition products were 

 found to be insoluble in Avater, concentrated ammonium 

 hydroxide, 10 per cent solution of sodium hydroxide, 10 per 

 cent solution of potassium hydroxide, and concentrated hydro- 

 chloric acid. In cold concentrated sulphuric acid the Avood 



