Miscellanies. 205 
The absorption of nitrogen by decaying wood, and the subsequent de- 
cay of the nitroline forming ammonia, shows how important decayed veg- 
etable matter must be in the economy of the vegetable world. 
Fluoride of Iodine, by H. B. Lerson, (Chem. Soc. Mem. Vol. 2, p. 
162.)—It is prepared by passing the gas generated from one part of the 
peroxide of manganese, three of pure fluor spar, and six of concentrated 
sulphuric acid, through water in which iodine is diffused, (contained in a 
glass vessel,) until the whole of the iodine istaken up. A lead retort and 
conducting tube were made use of; the tube did not appear to be acted 
upon, nor was any lead traceable in the product formed, which deposits 
itself in crystalline scales similar in appearance to those of iodide of lead. 
Fluoride of bromine is formed in the same way, but from its extreme 
solubility does not yield a crystalline deposit. 
The Products of the Decomposition of Narcotine, by Prof. Wouter, 
(Jour. der Chem. und Pharm. April, 1844, p. 1.)—This research was 
made with the object of ascertaining if any light could be thrown upon 
the origin and constitution of the alkaloids. Narcotine was the first 
noticed ; it was decomposed by treating its solution with an excess of 
sulphuric acid and peroxide of manganese, until carbonic acid ceased to 
be evolved. ‘The products of the decomposition are an acid containing 
no nitrogen, an organic base, and carbonic acid. 
Opianic acid is the acid formed; it has already been noticed by Woh- 
ler and Liebig. It crystallizes in thin narrow prisms, colorless, of a 
faintly bitter taste, slightly soluble in cold water, melts at 284° Fah. with- 
out parting with its water. It undergoes a remarkable change on being 
heated, the melted acid not returning to its original state, and losing some 
of the properties previously possessed, without any alteration in its com- 
position. Composition of the acid, C?° H§ O9-+-HO. It combines with 
oxides forming salts, and with the oxide of ethyle to form opianic ether. 
Opianate of ammonia, when cautiously heated at a temperature some- 
what above 212° Fah. until ammonia ceases to be given off, gives rise to 
a substance called opiamon, composed of C*9 H?7 NO?%. The action 
of the alkalies upon this last is to produce a nitrogenous compound styled 
anthopenic acid, characterized by the yellow color of its salts; this last 
is itself a lemon yellow crystalline powder. The action of sulphurous 
acid upon opianic acid is to form anew compound, opiano-sulphurous 
acid, which furnishes beautiful crystalline salts with the oxide of lead 
and barium, has a peculiar bitter taste at first, but a sweetish after taste. 
Composition C2° H®O7, 280?2-++HO. There are yet other singular 
compounds formed by the action of different reagents upon opianic acid. 
Cotarnine, the organic base obtained by the action of the peroxide of 
manganese and sulphuric acid on narcotine, is composed of C2 H!2 NO®, 
