Analysis of the Bark of the Malambo. 23 
vided the phosphate of alumine into super-sulphate which ithad 
dissolved, and into sub-sulphate which it left. We may besides 
distinguish pure alumine from the phosphate with this base : 
the alumine is transparent, and as it were gelatinous ; the phos- 
phate on the contrary is opaque white: “but this quality does 
not always announce “the presence of the phosphoric acid in 
alumine, for silex and lime give it this opaque aspect. 
ied Although ammonia does not perceptibly dissolve pure alu- 
mine, it dissolves a great quantity of phosphate of alumine, which 
it shares, like the carbonates, both into super- and sub-sulphate.”’ 
M. Vanquelin has analysed the bark of the South American 
plant called the malamlo, brought to Europe by Messrs. Hum- 
boldt and Bonpland. It had been strongly recommended as a 
febrifuge, and of service as a substitute for the Peruvian bark 
now in use. M. Vauquelin finds the malambo bark to contain : 
i. a volatile aromatic oil; 2. a very bitter resin; 3. an extract 
soluble in water. The resin is of a reddish brown, dry, and 
shining iu its fracture: when put into the mouth it seems to be 
at first tasteless, but some time afterwards its bitterness is de- 
veloped i in a very striking maumner: it is very soluble, Sele abigensll ly 
in warm alcohol, and its solution is abundantly precipitated by 
water; it is not soluble in the alkalies. When placed upon a 
warm body, it is dispersed almost entirely in smoke which has 
the smell of incense. When subjected to the operation of heat 
in close vessels, it furnished an acid water and a thick oil the 
smell of which was not agreeable, and some charcoal. 
The extract is of a yellowish brown colour: its fracture is 
shiuing when dry, but it becomes soft in the air; it is not bitter 
if it is well washed in alcohol: it is viscous and gluey when hu- 
mid. When subjected to heat in close vessels this extract fur- 
nishes a brown oil, a watery mixture which reddens turnsole, and 
from which potash nevertheless liberates ammonia m a very 
sensible manner. The chareoal remaining in the retort, when 
bornt in a platina crucible left some very alkaline sea and 
which furnished by lixiviation a considerable quantity of sub- 
carbonate of potash of a green colour, similar to that of certain 
potashes of commerce. This colour is owing to manganese, for 
by saturating this alkali by the muriatie aeid the combination 
assumed a very fine red colour. This alkali certainly comes 
from some salts insoluble in alcohol, such as the tartrate, citrate, 
or oxalate of potash. 
The volatile oil is slightly citrine, lighter than water, of a 
smell which seems at onee to resemble pepper and thyme : it is 
slightly soluble in w ater, to which it communicates its sme}! and 
its pungent taste ; it is very soluble in alcohol, 
P4 The 
