of Inuline has been given. 29^ 



in question, seems well adapted to it : I shall therefore use that 

 term. 



M. Rose assigns the following properties to imiline : 



It is in the form of white powder, insoluble in cold water ; it 

 is suspended iu it by agitation, and is deposited upon cooling j 

 boiling water dissolves it easily. A solution of four parts of 

 inuline in one part of water is slightly mucilaginous, but passes 

 through a filter easily: the greater part of the powder is extri- 

 cated upon cooling. 



Alcohol precipitates inuline from its solution in a short time. 



When placed upon burning coal the inuline flows almost like 

 sugar: a thick white pungent but not disagreeable vapour arises: 

 the smell resembles that of sugar when burning. 



When we heat the inuline in an iron spoon, it melts, gives 

 out a white smoke ; and when the s])oon becomes red hot, the 

 inuline burns with a brisk and lively flame, and leaves but a very 

 small carbonaceous residue. 



On distillation, the inuline gives out a brown acid without any 

 trace of oil. 



The nitric acid converts inuline into malic, oxalic, and acetic 

 acids. 



On repeating the experiments of M. Rose, I proved most of 

 the properties which 1 have mentioned as having been discovered 

 by him ; but I constantly saw the inuline burn on the simple hot 

 charcoal without making it red hot in an iron spoon: it then 

 presents a blue flame, and gives out a very strong smell of ca- 

 ramel. 



The following are some properties which I observed: 



Water at 60° dissolves four or five tim.es its weight of inuline: 

 we cannot bring the solution to the consistence of jelly, as with 

 starch, but the liquor is viscous when it is highly concentrated. 



The inuline which is deposited upon cooling retains a great 

 quantity of water, in which it may be melted by raising the tem- 

 perature. On continuing a gentle heat, we obtain scales which 

 appear grayish, but which give an inuline of a fine white, when 

 well pulverized. 



When we wish to obtain inuline in a perfectly dry state, we 

 must not attempt to dry it upon filters, for it adheres to them so 

 *trongly that it cannot be detached. 



lode forms with inuline a greenish-yellow compound, vvhich 

 is easily decomposed, partly at least, in a short time. The 

 inuline remains slightly coloured yellow, and retains a small por- 

 tion of iodc. 



The same thing takes place when we treat this compouud 

 with boiling water. 



T 3 Potash 



