2OO Cellulose 



was obtained which gave the brilliant colour reactions of the 

 pentoses, and xylose was identified in the solution by precipita- 

 tion with phenylhydrazine. 



(/" ) Experiments were also made with the view of deter- 

 mining alcoholic fermentation (yeast) of the dissolved com- 

 pounds. Small quantities of alcohol were obtained, but the 

 maximum yield corresponded to 1*2 p.ct. only of carbo- 

 hydrate. 



The major proportion of the dissolved organic substances 

 was found to be a gummy body with the usual ill-defined 

 physical properties of the class of organic colloids. On the 

 other hand, this body behaved, in many respects, as a homo- 

 geneous complex ; and although it was found impossible to 

 resolve it into proximate constituents of definite character- 

 istics, it yielded a number of synthetical derivatives, from 

 the analysis of which, compared with that of the gum itself, 

 the conclusion resulted as to the homogeneity of the 

 complex. The complex was obtained in various forms as 

 follows : 



(1) As a precipitate on adding hydrochloric acid to the 

 original liquor. 



(2) As a lead compound by precipitation of the wood 

 liquor with lead acetate. 



(3) The lead compounds were decomposed by treatment 

 with sulphuric acid, and the solution treated with alcohol. A 

 portion of the gum was precipitated as a flocculent mass, and 

 a second fraction was obtained on evaporating the filtrate. 



(4) A brominated derivative was obtained by treating the 

 original wood liquor with bromine. 



The following empirical formulae represent the results of 

 ultimate analyses of these products, together with methoxyl 

 determinations. 



