SYNAPTASE. 865 



transparency ; acquires the odour of bitter almonds, and gives 

 on distillation hydrocyanic acid and hydruret of benzoyl with 

 the vapour of water. The residue is rendered turbid by coagu- 

 lated synaptase, and on continuing the evaporation, a very 

 sweet liquid is obtained, which contains crystallizable sugar. 

 After destroying the sugar by fermentation, a fixed acid remains 

 in the residue. The quantity of sugar obtained is more con- 

 siderable than what the elements of the amygdalin could pro- 

 duce ; it would appear, therefore, that the elements of the 

 synaptase contribute to its formation. The decomposition is 

 not complete unless the amygdalin and synaptase are dissolved 

 in a proper quantity of water ; if it is insufficient to dissolve the 

 hydruret of benzoyl liberated, a corresponding quantity of amyg- 

 dalin remains undecomposed. (Traite, p. 276). 



The constituents of the bitter almond are the fixed oil, which 

 is separated by expression, and the synaptase and amygdalin, 

 the two last in such a condition that they cannot re-act upon 

 each other. When the almond cake is treated with boiling 

 alcohol, the amygdalin is dissolved out, and the synaptase coa- 

 gulated. When the cake is moistened with water, the odour of 

 hydrocyanic acid, and of the essence are immediately perceived, 

 but the cake must be diffused through a certain quantity of 

 water, in order that the mutual action of the synaptase and 

 amygdalin may be complete, and that the whole of the last may 

 disappear. In preparing the distilled water of bitter almonds 

 of pharmacy, M. Liebig recommends that a mixture of 1 part of 

 the cake and 20 parts of luke-warm water be made, and left to 

 itself for twenty-four hours before submitting it to distil- 

 lation. 



One atom of amygdalin contains the elements of (Liebig) : 



1 equiv. of hydrocyanic acid . . C 2 H N 



2 equiv. of hydruret of benzoyl . C 28 H 12 O 4 



\ equiv. of sugar C 6 H 5 O 5 



2 equiv. of formic acid . . . . C 4 H 2 O 6 



7 equiv. of water H 7 O 7 



i equiv. of amygdalin .... C 40 H 27 N O 



42 



One hundred parts of amygdalin are said to yield 47 parts of 



2 L L 



