Davy — On some New Organic Nitroprussides. 325 



gradually becomes more and more acid in its reaction from the forma- 

 tion of a small quantity of the acid salt. And this neutral compound 

 will, on the addition of more nitroprussic acid, furnish crystals of the 

 acid salt. Though I have not yet determined the proportions of base 

 and acid in this nitroprusside, there can he no doubt that there are 

 two molecules of the base combined with one of the acid, as in the case 

 of the neutral salts of the other alkaloids. And I may further add, 

 that the same neutral salt was likewise obtained by the action of sil- 

 ver nitroprusside on a neutral solution of nicotine chloride. 



Though the foregoing observations, as I am fully aware, leave 

 much yet to be done in the direction I have been pursuing, still I 

 thought it better, before the close of the session, to make this prelimi- 

 nary report, embodying the results I have already obtained in investi- 

 gating some of the organic salts of nitroprussic acid. But I trust that 

 before long I may be able to extend my observations, not only as re- 

 gards the alkaloids, but to other organic bases, when I hope to lay my 

 results before this Academy in a more complete and perfect form. 



