58 



The hemipinic acid was also found to be identical with that obtained 

 directly from narcotine : the acid and its silver-salt were analysed. 



Having thus found a method by which meconin and hemipinic 

 acid can be produced with certainty and in large quantities, we intend 

 to make an extended investigation of them and of opianic acid, in the 

 hope of discovering the nature of the relationship of these three bodies 

 to each other and to narcotine. The principal results which we have 

 hitherto obtained in this direction are as follows. 



Action ofHydriodic Acid on Meconin. Meconin is decomposed 

 by hydriodic acid like opianic acid, giving iodide of methyl and an 

 easily alterable substance, the nature of which has not been deter- 

 mined. 



Action of Hydriodic Acid on Hemipinic Acid. Hemipinic acid, 

 heated with concentrated hydiodic acid to within a few degrees of the 

 boiling-point of the latter substance, is decomposed into iodide of 

 methyl, carbonic acid, and an acid of the formula C 7 H 6 O 4 . It was 

 found by direct experiment that two atoms of iodide of methyl are 

 formed from each atom of hemipinic acid, so that the following 

 equation probably represents the reaction : 



Hemipinic acid. New acid. 



The new acid is moderately soluble in cold water, and very soluble 

 in boiling water, alcohol, and ether ; its solution has a strongly acid 

 reaction with test-paper. It separates from hot water in small needle- 

 shaped crystals containing 14-80 per cent, water of crystallization, 

 which they lose at 100 (the formula C 7 H G O 4 + UH 2 O corresponds 

 to 14- 92 per cent, water) ; at a higher temperature the acid melts 

 and sublimes without apparent alteration. 



Dried at 100, it gave the following results on analysis : 



154 100-00 100-00 



When the dry acid is heated in the air to a little above 100, it 



