THE BAVARIAN PROCESS. 



difficult to ascertain this, and even the analysis of these substances 

 cannot decide the question. Let us consider, for example, the 

 relations of alloxan and alloxantin* to one another. Both of 

 these bodies contain the same elements as gluten, although in 

 different proportions. Now they are known to be convertible 

 into each other by oxygen being absorbed in the one case, and 

 in the other extracted. Both arc composed of absolutely the 

 same elements, in equal proportions ; with the single exception, 

 that alloxantin contains 1 equivalent of hydrogen more than 

 alloxan. 



When alloxantin is treated with chlorine or nitric acid, it is 

 converted into alloxan ; into a body, therefore, which is alloxan- 

 tin minus 1 equivalent of hydrogen. If, on the other hand, a 

 stream of sulphuretted hydrogen is conducted through alloxan, 

 sulphur is precipitated, and alloxantin produced. It may be said 

 that, in the first case, hydrogen is abstracted ; in the other, added. 

 But it would be quite as simple an explanation, if we considered 

 them as oxides of the same radical : the alloxan being regarded 

 as a combination of a body composed of C 8 N 2 H 2 8 with 2 

 equivalents of water, and alloxantin as a combination of 3 atoms 

 of water with a compound consisting of C 8 N 2 H 2 7 . The 

 conversion of alloxan into alloxantin would in this case result 

 from its eight atoms of oxygen being reduced to seven ; while 

 alloxan would be formed out of alloxantin, by its combining with 

 an additional atom of oxygen. 



Now, oxides are known which combine with water, and pre- 

 sent the same phenomena as alloxan and alloxantin. But com- 

 pounds of hydrogen are not known to form hydrates ; and custom, 

 whieh rejects all dissimilarity until the claim to peculiarity is 

 quite proved, leads us to prefer an opinion for which there is no 

 further foundation than that of analogy. The woad (Isatis tine- 

 toria) and several species of the Nerium contair/ a substance 

 similar in many respects to gluten ; this is depos.ted as indigo 

 blue, when an aqueous infusion of the dried leaves is exposed to 

 the action of the air. Now it is very doubtful whether the blue 

 insoluble indigo is an oxide of the colorless soluble indigo, or the 



* Compounds obtained by the action of nitric acid on uric acid. 



