Intelligence and Miscella7ieous Articles. 235 



of being replaced by one equivalent of oxide of copper. The ana- 

 lysis of this compound gave — 



Experiment. Calculation. 



i ' , 



Carbon 29-30 29'43 29-35 29-50 



Hydrogen 4-41 4-51 4-36 4-30 



Nitrogen 17-25 17-25 17-25 17-21 



Oxygen 24-64 24-43 24-65 24-58 



Oxide of copper 24*40 g4-38 24-39 24-41 



100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 



To determine whether asparagin in combining with oxide of cop- 

 per undergoes any change, a portion of the copper compound was 

 decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen. The liquor from which the 

 sulphuret of copper was deposited possessed a decidedly acid reaction ; 

 when concentrated by a water-bath, the liquor deposited fine white 

 brilliant crystals of asparagin. The external characters of these were 

 such as to remove all doubt. They were analysed, and found to be 

 crystalHzed asparagin. 



It will then be observed that asparagin, in combining with oxide of 

 copper, yields a saline compound, from which, by means of sulphuret- 

 ted hydrogen, asparagin possessing its usual characters may be sepa- 

 rated. Reckoning the copper to be in the state of oxide in this 

 compound, it follows that dry asparagin contains one equivalent of 

 hydrogen and one of oxygen more than combined asparagin. The 

 formula of asparagin dried at 212° F. is then C^ H^ N- 0% HO, and 

 that of the salt of copper C* UP N^ O*, C\xO.— Ann. cle Ch. et de Phys., 



Fevrier 1848. 



ON THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF ASFARAGIN. 



M. Piria having, as shown in the preceding notice, determined the 

 formula of asparagin, proceeded to investigate the production of sub- 

 stances derived from it. 



Action of ferments. — A solution of asparagin when exposed under- 

 goes no chanp-e if it be pure ; if, on the contrary, the crystals are 

 coloured, the solution undergoes a kind of fermentation, giving rise 

 to the following phsenomena. 



The liquid loses its acid reaction and becomes feebly alkaline. In 

 this state it exhales the disagreeable smell of animal matter under- 

 going the putrid fermentation ; the surface becomes covered with a 

 white mucilaginous pellicle, which, examined by the microscope, is 

 shown to contain numerous infusoria. After a certain time the as- 

 paragin completely disappears, and succinate of ammonia is found in 

 its i)lace ; or at any rate, a substance which, treated with acids, is 

 decomposed into succinic acid and ammonia. In fact, if excess of 

 hydrochloric acid be poured into the fermented liquor, and if it be 

 evaporated by the water-bath, there remains a saline mass, which, 

 treated with aether, separates into two portions, one of which is so- 

 luble and the other insoluble in it ; the latter is entirely sal-ammo- 

 niac. The ethereal solution, properly evaporated, deposits an acid 

 brown-coloured substance ; this dissolved in water and saturated with 

 iimmonia, and decomposed by acetate of lead, gives a crystalline pre- 

 cipitate from which a white crystalline substance, possessing all the 



