444: Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 
The specific gravity of its vapour ascertained by the method of M. Du- 
mas was found to be 4-392. The formula, C'° H'* O, compared to that 
of suberic acid, C'® H'* O+, presents a remarkable relation, showing 
that the essential oil obtained by the action of lime on suberic acid 
differs from the acid only in containing 3 eqs. less of oxygen: ac- 
cordingly when this oil is exposed to the air it becomes distinctly 
acid. 
When the essential oil is treated with nitric acid, violent action en- 
sues, and it is converted into suberic acid. It will now be seen that 
the volatile oil obtained from suberic acid presents a certain analogy 
to the essential oil of almonds, which MM. Liebig and Weehler consider 
as a hydruret of the radicle of benzoic acid. If we suppose the ra- 
dicle of suberic acid to be C'* H?2 O, then the volatile oil, the formula 
of whichis C6 H‘+ O, may be likewise represented by C'° H O+H?; 
in this case it will be a hydruret of suberyle. The production ofa 
body analogous to hydruret of suberyle by the mode described above 
is not easily explained. It only appears in a general manner, that 
under certain influences, an organic acid may be reduced at the ex- 
pense of its own elements, and may be modified in such a manner 
that the result of this modification shall be a less oxygenized body, 
approaching in its nature to the radicle of the acid.—L’ Institut, Jan. 
27, 1836. 
PHLORIDZINE. 
MM. de Koninck and Stas have discovered a new organic substance 
in the barks of the apple, pear, and wild cherry, which they call phlo- 
ridzine, from ¢Aoos, bark, and 6.Za, root ; these chemists having ob- 
tained it from the cortical part of the root of these trees. When pure 
it is of a dead white colour, and commonly crystallized in silky needles ; 
it is very slightly soluble in water, but it increases in solubility by an 
increase of temperature, dissolving to any extent in water at 212°. 
Persulphate of iron colours its solution brown, and throws down a 
yellow precipitate, whilst the protosulphate does not act upon it. 
Phloridzine may be obtained by boiling the bark in water for 4 or 5 
hours, and repeating the boiling for 2 hours. By leaving the solution 
in convenient vessels for about 36 hours, the phloridzine will be de- 
posited in brown crystals on the sides of the vessel. It may be ob- 
tained in larger quantity and in greater purity by digesting the bark 
with warm alcohol for 7 or 8 hours and distilling the alcohol; by 
standing for 24 hours the phloridzine will be deposited. Its compo- 
sition is stated at 14 eqs. of carbon, 9 of oxygen, and 18 of hydrogen. 
—L’ Institut, Feb. 3, 1836. 
THEBAIA, A NEW ALKALI IN OPIUM. 
M. Couerbe discovered this new substance in the solution from 
which the muriates of morphia and codeia had been separated by 
Gregory's process. It was separated by its discoverer in the following 
manner : the mother waters above mentioned were evaporated to the 
consistence of a syrup ; this contains bimeconate of lime, morphia, 
narceia, meconin, narcotina, and thebaia: muriatic acid is to be added, 
