HEMATOSIN. 



When the acidulous alcoholic solution is mixed with a solu- 

 tion of albumen in weak alcohol, and the acid is supersatu- 

 rated, the whole colouring matter precipitates with the albumen 

 in red flocks, which may be washed repeatedly in ammoniated 

 alcohol, without completely losing its red colour.* 



When chlorine is passed through water holding hematosin in 

 suspension, this colouring matter is altered in its nature. White 

 flocks precipitate, which are insoluble in water, but soluble in al- 

 cohol ; while the liquid contains iron easily discoverable by the 

 usual reagents. 



Concentrated sulphuric acid does not dissolve hematosin ; but 

 it deprives it of iron, and converts it into a black mass insoluble 

 in ammoniated alcohol and sulphuric acid. Very dilute suphu- 

 ric acid does not dissolve hematosin ; but it deprives it of iron, 

 and partly converts it into a new matter soluble in alcohol and 

 ether. The solutions have a red colour, and contain a good deal 

 of oxide of iron. Concentrated muriatic acid behaves almost 

 exactly like dilute sulphuric acid. 



Concentrated nitric acid dissolves it, assuming a brown colour, 

 and quite altering the nature of the hematosin. 



Mulder has lately examined the action of chlorhie on pure he- 

 matosin.f If we pass a current of chlorine gas through a mix- 

 ture of hematosin and water, the colour immediately disappears, 

 and the hematosin becomes white. The white flocks were collect- 

 ed on a filter and washed with water. On analysis they were 

 found to be a compound of the organic matter of hematosin and 

 chlorous acid. It had lost all its iron, which was found dissolv- 

 ed by muriatic acid in the aqueous solution. The liquid portion 

 contained, besides iron and muriatic acid, a little of the organic 

 matter which is not quite insoluble in that acid. 



The flocks being dried at 284, we found composed of 

 Carbon, . 37-34 or 44 atoms = 33 

 Hydrogen, . 3-01 or 22 atoms = 2-75 

 Azote, . 5-89 or 3 atoms = 5-25 



Oxygen, . 24-34 or 24 atoms = 24- 



'Chlorine, .' 29-42 or 6 atoms = 27- 



100-00 92-00 



* It was to this compound of hematosin and albumen that Lecanu gave the 

 name of globulin. 



f Ann. der Pharm. xxxvi. 79. 



