Chemistry and Physics. 107 



resembled palmitic acid, but differed in its melting point which was 

 constant between 140°-144° F. 



The fluid portion could not be separated into different acids as MM. 

 Bussy and Lecanu had found; its lead salt was almost entirely soluble 

 in ether. This solution decomposed by hydrochloric acid, furnished 

 an oily acid which was obtained pure by the process employed by 

 Guttleib in his fine researches on oleic acid. This consists in com- 

 bining it with ammonia and precipitating with chlorid of barium ; the 

 baryta salt is dissolved by a very gentle heat in strong alcohol, and is 

 deposited on cooling in granular crystals which are purified by repeated 

 crystallizations. In this way a salt of constant composition is obtained, 

 which by decomposition yields an acid to which the name of ricinohic 

 is applied. It forms a syrupy liquid, inodorous, but having a disagree- 

 able acrid taste. Its sp. gr. at 59° F., is -940; between ""14° and 21° 

 it forms a granular mass; it mixes in all proportions with alcohol and 



ether, and the solutions have an acid reaction, decomposing the alka- 

 line carbonates. It does not absorb oxygen from the air; it is decom- 

 posed by distillation, but neither in the resulting product nor in those 

 of the distillation of the oil itself, could sebacic acid be detected. The 

 composition of this acid, as determined by its analysis and that of its 

 various salts, is represented by the author as C 38 H 35 5 -j-HO=C l9 

 H 36 3 . T. S. Hunt. 



2. On Taurine and a substance isomeric with it ; by J. Redten- 

 bachek, (Liebig's Ann., Jan., 1848.) — When taurine is dissolved in 

 caustic potash and the solution cautiously evaporated to dryness, all the 

 nitrogen is evolved as ammonia without any carbonization of the mix- 

 ture. On dissolving this in water and distilling with dilute sulphuric 

 acid, the distillate contains along with sulphurous, acetic acid, and only 

 sulphate of potash remains in the retort. Taurine, which has the form- 

 ula C 4 H 7 N0 6 S 2 , contains the elements of one equivalent of alde- 

 hyde, one of ammonia, and two of sulphurous acid ; the metamorphosis 

 under the oxydizing action of potash is therefore easily understood. 

 M. Redtenbacher was hence led to expect the artificial formation of 

 taurine, by passing sulphurous acid gas in a carefully cooled solu- 

 tion of aldehyde-ammonia in alcohol. When the solution becomes 

 acid, it begins to deposit a white crystalline substance which when 

 washed with alcohol and dried in a vacuum, forms delicate needles that 

 have an acid reaction, and show by the action of acids and alkalies 

 the presence of sulphurous acid, ammonia and aldehyde. It is readily 

 decomposed by exposure to the air, and is very soluble in water and 

 dilute alcohol, but the solutions on evaporation evolve sulphurous acid, 

 and the salt cannot be obtained again from them. Its analysis as 

 *ell as its reaction, show that it is a bisulphite of aldehyde-ammonia. 

 C 4 H 4 0„ NH 3 -f2S0 =C 4 H- N0 6 S 9 . It is consequently isomeric 

 *uh taurine, and as the author observes, may differ from it as cyanate 



of ammonia does from urea. n ; J\ f' H ' 



3. On Carbothialdine, a new organic base; by Prof. J. Redten- 

 bacher and Prof. J. Liebig.— The derivatives of aldehyde-ammonia, 

 have already embraced two new alkaloids besides the isomere of taurine 

 [above described]. In addition to these the present memoir has made 

 Us acquainted with a new sulphureted alkaloid, to which the authors 



