Gerhard? s Organic Chemistry. 185 



> 



These bodies are often isomeric with amides of known sub- 



M 



differ 



in not regenerating ammonia by the action of alkalies or acids. 

 Mr. Fownes has observed that the amides of furfurol and ben- 

 zoilol, which regenerate ammonia and the oils by the action of 

 acids, may be boiled with a dilute solution of potash without 



evolving ammonia. On cooling, the alkaline solutions deposit 



crystals which have the same composition as the original amides ; 

 they are no longer decomposed by acids, but combine with them 

 and form well characterized salts, being converted into alkaloids, 

 (lurfuroline and benzoline, or amarine of Laurent.) The alka- 

 loids, melamine and ammeline, obtained by Liebig from the de- 

 composition of sulphocyanate of ammonia, correspond to the 

 amides of cyanuric acid, and by long boiling with a dilute acid, 

 are decomposed into salts of ammonia and cyanuric acid. The 

 direct action of ammonia upon organic substances sometimes 

 produces alkaloids ; amarine, the benzoline of Fownes, which is 

 isomeric with hydrobenzamide, was obtained by Laurent by the 

 action of ammonia upon a solution of the oil. Phenol combines 

 directly with ammonia at ordinary temperatures, but if the com- 

 pound is heated for some time in a closed tube, it gives up the 



elements of water and forms aniline, which corresponds to the 

 amide " ' " " " ' ' 



alkalamides 



M 



There are many other subjects in this portion of the work which 

 it would be interesting to notice, as the characters of the carburets 

 of hydrogen, their constitution and boiling points; but this 

 sketch has already exceeded its proposed limits, and their con- 

 sideration must be reserved for another time. 

 . T he third part of the first volume is devoted to the considera- 

 te of the effects of heat and other reagents upon organic sub- 

 stances, and the nature of the changes which they undergo. 

 T his is followed by a particular description of all organic bodies, 

 arranged in the order of their families. The latter part of the 

 second volume contains an exposition of the theory of homo- 

 !°gues, with an ingenious application of the principles developed 

 m the previous portions of the work, to a natural classification of 

 organic substances with reference to their origin and derivation 

 trom each other, and which may form the subject of another 

 notice. 



In conclusion, we recommend to all interested in the progress 

 ot chemistry, the study of this work, which by its profound re- 

 Jarch, grand generalizations, and beautiful system, establishes 

 the title of ifc 

 °phers of the 



8e con d Skri ESj Vol. IV, No. ll.-Sept., 1847. 24 



anion 



age. 



