onthe Nature of Sugar. 371 
as the gum arabic, gave the fame kinds of produéts ; but the 
quantity of ammonia difengaged from the pyromucous acid 
by. fuperfaturating i it with lime was confiderably greater than 
from that afforded by the gum arabic. 
Having thus chive lime in both of thefe gums, re- 
agents were employed to fee if in this way that earth could 
-be deteted. Sulphuric acid was dropped into a folution of 
gum. arabic: after ftanding for fome hours a numberof 
needle-like cryftals were depofited: thefe being feparated 
were re-diffolyed in diftilled water; the oxalat of ammonia 
was then added, anda copious precipitation of oxalat of lime 
immediately. took place. 
From thefe experiments it is manifeft that gums confift 
of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, aZot and lime. 
The pyromucous acid, obtained from fugar by the.fame 
procefs. of diftillation which had ,been employed on the 
gums, being fuperfaturated with lime, no ammonia could 
_be perceived—fugar therefore does not contain azot: nei- 
ther does it contain lime ; for the éharcoal, which was of a 
beautiful black colour, burned out completely when expofed 
to a ftrong red heat. 
Sugar of milk being diftilled in the fame manner, and the 
products treated in the way already defcribed, was found to 
-fontain lime in the charry refiduum; and, contrary to what 
might have been expe&ted, the quantity of ammonia difen- 
gaged from the pyromucous acid obtained from it was fo 
Amall that it could hardly be deteed—It therefore contains 
_ hardly any azot. 
Experiments were, next made to afcertain the quantity of 
. oxalic bafis or radical contained in. each of thefe fubftances: 
_, One.ounce. of fugar was added to 6 02,.of concentrated 
, Nitrous acid diluted with an equal bulk of water : when the 
# Action had ceafed, heat was applied, and the evaporation con- 
-tinued till the liquor was reduced to about 1 oz. by, mea- 
fare when. cold, the cryftals were feparated. by, filtration, 
Bb2 and 
