40 ORGANIC CONSTITUENTS. 



a marked acid taste to the mixture. lu this manner a blackish 

 brown solution of sulphate of hsematin is obtained, which must 

 be saturated with carbonate of ammonia. If the mixture be 

 allowed to stand for some time, the sulphate of ammonia may- 

 be separated by filtration j the greater part of the alcohol must 

 then be removed by distillation. This part of the process re- 

 quires much caution, and the distillation must be conducted 

 very gently, as the action of the fluid is often violent. The 

 hsematin, which is ultimately precipitated, must be carefully 

 washed with water, in order to remove any traces of sulphate of 

 ammonia. It must then be dried on the water-bath, pulverized, 

 and treated with ether as long as it continues to communicate 

 a dark tint to that menstruum. The ether takes up a certain 

 amount of hfemaphsein associated with fat. The hsematin must 

 be boiled in distilled water, as long as it continues to give ofl' 

 salts and alcohol-extract, and then in alcohol, till everything 

 soluble in that fluid is removed. The substance that is left may 

 be regarded as pure hsematin. 



We can only isolate it in this coagulated and insoluble con- 

 dition. In the blood-corpuscles it exists in a state of solution. 



When obtained by the process that we have just described, 

 it is of a blackish brown coloiu", is devoid of taste and odoui*, 

 is insoluble in water, ether, fatty and ethereal oils, and in bi- 

 sulphuret of carbon. It is usually stated to be insoluble in 

 alcohol, but, according to Simon, boiling alcohol takes it up 

 slightly. It is freely soluble in alcohol acidulated with sulphuric, 

 hydrochloric, nitric, or acetic acid, and communicates a tint to 

 that menstruum varying from a brown to a light red, according 

 to the strength of the solution. On the addition of water the 

 hffimatin gradually precipitates. Hiematin dissolves freely in 

 water or alcohol rendered alkaline by ammonia, potash, or soda : 

 but the alkaline reaction is not in any degree neutralized by 

 the hsematin. On the application of a strong heat hsematin 

 swells up, gives off an animal odour, and burns with a clear 

 flame. It leaves a voluminous coal, which is ultimately reduced 

 to a dark red ash. When heated in a test tube it develops 

 ammonia, and gives origin to a reddish empyreumatic oil. 



Mulder has carefully examined the action of chlorine on 

 lisematin. He found that if a current of chlorine be transmitted 

 througli water containing ha^matin in suspension, the iron leaves 



