LUelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 245 



of drying : the gum in this analysis was dried at 212° in the airj while 

 M.Guerin dried it at 257° in vacuo, which accounts for the larger 

 quantity of water obtained by him. The quantity of ashes found by 

 M. Guerin is the same as that procured by Vauquelin; they consist 

 of carbonate of potash, chloride of potassium, oxide of iron, alumina, 

 silica, and magnesia. 



Gum Senegal. — 100 parts of this gum treated with 500 of nitric 

 acid gave 16/0 parts of mucic and oxalic acids. It is composed of 



Arabin 8M0 



Water 16- 10 



Ashes 2-80 



100-00 

 Its composition is therefore essentially the same as that of gum arable. 

 Mucilage of Linseed. — The soluble part of linseed is composed of 

 Arabin and azotized matter .... 67'50 



Water 14-00 



Ashes 18-50 



100-00 

 Bassora Gum. — This gum swells much in water; treated with boil- 

 ing alcohol it yields chlorophylle, a substance resembling wax, acetate 

 of potash, chloride of calcium and supermalate of lime. It is com- 

 posed of 



Arabin 11-20 



Bassorin 61-31 



Water 21-89 



Ashes 5-60 



100-00 

 Bassorin is solid, colourless, semi-transparent, insipid, inodorous, 

 uncrystallizable, and difficult to powder. It is insoluble both in hot 

 and cold water, but it absorbs it and swells considerably ; it is also 

 insoluble in alcohol, and does not undergo the vinous fermentation. 

 100 parts treated with 1000 of nitric acid gave 2261 of mucic and' 

 oxalic acids. When treated with sulphuric acid it gives a crystalli- 

 zable matter, which has a sugary taste, but does not form spirit by 

 fermentation. 



Bassorin is prepared by washing Bassora gum with a large quantity 

 of cold water repeatedly, until it ceases to dissolve anything j the 

 residue is then to be allowed to drain, to be dried in cloth, and the 

 Waaler is to be finally separated by exposure to a salt-water bath in a 

 silver capsule. — Bassorin is composed of 



Carbon 37-28 



Oxygen 55-87 



Hydrogen 6*85 



10000 

 The soluble part of Bassora gum is similar to arabin ; 100 parts of 

 water at 08' dissolve 17-28 parts, and at 212°, 22-98 parts j 100 



