OF THE MEADOW-SWEET. 161 
From these proportions we obtain the following for 100 parts: — 
I Il. 
RDO sssiccscendnck yipctiowiantans eve ODD snc 51:18 
PUPAE OB OR 63 int Las<tnwapnnenisony1 fom iacameys B43 
CT se trina once, a npn ARO De 45°39 
100-00 100°00 
or reckoned in equivalents,— 
12 eqs. carbon ......... 13°96 coc 51°58 
5 — hydrogen ...... SOOM 3°50 
8 — oxygen......... 64°00 ...... 44°92 
1 eq. spiroilic acid 142°56 100-00 
From these experiments we may deduce, that inthe moment that the 
one equivalent of hydrogen of the hydrospiroilic acid is oxidized, four 
more equivalents of oxygen are taken up by the radical. This likewise 
explains the formation of so large a portion of nitrous acid, even when 
a very small quantity only of the oil is employed. 
It appeared probable that during the oxidation a portion of nitric 
or nitrous acid was absorbed by the radical, and this opinion was sup- 
ported by the fact, that spiroilic acid stains the skin and nails perma- 
nently yellow,—a property which is likewise possessed by the spiroilide 
of potassium and several other metallic spiroilides; several experiments 
were undertaken to detect the nitrogen or the acid, but unsuccessfully 
with regard to either. 
If spiroilic acid be slightly heated with potassium over mercury, a 
most violent evolution of heat and light suddenly takes place, by which 
the vessel isalways broken with great violence. Even should excess of po- 
tassium be employed in this experiment, only a portion of the spiroilic 
acid is decomposed; a porous carbon is deposited, and a mixture of 
spiroilide of potassium and carbonate of potash is formed. 
The pure alkalies unite very readily with spiroilic acid, forming yel- 
_ low compounds, by evaporating the aqueous solutions of which small 
yellow crystals may be obtained. 
__ If spiroilic acid be dissolved in ether, and the solution agitated with 
Solutions of potash or soda, the ether is immediately abstracted from the 
acid. The alkaline salts of spiroilic acid are also soluble in alcohol. 
If ammonia be saturated with spiroilic acid, a deep blood-red solution 
_ Asobtained. If this be evaporated to dryness a yellow residue remains, 
_ which if rubbed with caustic alkali immediately develops a strong am- 
P moniacal odour. If spiroilate of ammonia be subjected to a high tem- 
meerature in close vessels it is decomposed, some ammonia is evolved, and 
an oily body comes over, the exact nature of which has not been deter- 
_ mined on account of the minuteness of the quantity. 
Vor. —Parr I. M 
¢ 
