CHEMICAL P.ASIS OF THE ANIMAL IJODY. 109 



in microscopic preparations it is usually obtained in tufted lumps 

 <>f fine crystals. 



FIG. 1. INOSIT CRYSTALS. (After Kiihue.) 



Readily soluble in water, it is only slightly so in dilute alcohol, 

 and is insoluble in absolute alcohol and ether. 



Although inosit admits of no direct alcoholic fermentation.it 

 has been stated to be capable of undergoing a lactic fermentation 

 in presence of decomposing proteid (cheese) and chalk, yield- 

 ing ordinary (ethylidene-) lactic acid and some butyric acid. 1 

 It had been previously stated that the acid thus obtained is 

 sarcolactic (ethylene- or para-) lactic acid. 2 These assertions are 

 ly reconcilable with our present knowledge of the chemical 

 constitution of inosit. 



Reactions of inosit. 



(i) Sclierer's test. 9 The suspected substance is treated- with 

 ,' nitric acid and evaporated nearly to dryness on porcelain. 

 < n tin- addition of a little ammonia and a few drops of freshly 

 prepared and not too dilute solution ot calcium chloride, a bright 

 jiink or rose-coloured residue is obtained on renewed evaporation 

 it' inosit is present. 



(ii) Gallois' text. When inosit in concentrated solution is 

 treated with a few drops of 2 p.c. mercuric nitrate solution, or 

 Liebig's solution for the estimation of urea, and the mixture i> 

 evaporated to dryneSB, it yields a y-llo\v residue which on bem- 

 more strongly heated turns rosy red; this disappears on cooling, 

 and returns again on renewed heating. 4 



1 V.,1,1. ll.r. </. d. chem. Gftell. Jahrg. 187 



IMA Ann. -/. r/,,m. n. I In,,;,,. H.l I \ I 1-71). S 333. 

 Ann. d. Chem. u. /'harm. H.I. i.xxxi. (Is:.. 

 4 Zt.f. anal. Chem. Bd. iv. (1865), S. 264. 



