Alkaline nitrites upon Uric acid. 223 
liquid then, on cooling, yields grouped masses of dark dull red 
crystals which dissolve to a deep orange red liquid becoming 
orange, and finally yellow, by dilution. These crystals may 
prove to be amido-stryphnic acid, €,H,(NH,)N,®. Want of 
material has prevented me from making a more complete ex- 
amination. 
In my paper on the constitution of uric acid and its deriva- 
tives,* I gave to the acid which I now term stryphnic acid the 
name urocyanic acid, and attributed to it the formula €,H, 
»@,- A more extended study has enabled me to correct this 
formula and to select a more appropriate name. Retaining the 
same views as to the constitution of the members of the uric 
acid series respectively, that is to say, considering them as de- 
rivatives of the polymeric forms of cyanic acid, I propose for 
the atomic structure of stryphnic acid the formula 
N=¢€—Ne 
W.8 Gilg 
ye gees se 
Neate Ge 
_ It is therefore to be regarded as a derivative of the hypothet- 
leal tetracyanic acid, and belongs to the same group with my- 
comelic acid, allantoin, &c. : 
__ Action of potassic nitrite upon alloxantin.—Alloxantin treated 
in the cold with potassic nitrite and acetic acid dissolves com- 
pletely with effervescence. The solution has a pale purp ish 
tint and stains the skin to an onion red color. On evaporation 
small granular crystals of alloxan are deposited in abundance. 
From this it is evident that, under the circumstances, the action 
of the nitrous acid is one of oxydation simply. In this con- 
nection I may mention that potassic hypermanganate oxydizes 
alloxantin to alloxan, the end reaction being tolerably well 
defined. In two experiments 322 milligrams of alloxantin re- 
quired 27°31 ¢. c. and 27-26 ¢.c. of a solution of the hyperman- 
Action of the nitrites upon alloxan.—W hen alloxan is boiled 
With a solution of sodic nitrite, acetic acid being added in sm 
quantities, an abundant evolution of gas is observed and the 
filtrate on cooling deposits a white and rather insoluble salt 
Which is sodic oxalurate. A portion of this salt was dissolved 
1m hot water and argentic nitrate added, when a white precipi- 
tate was formed which was washed on a filter with cold water 
* This Journal, vol. xlvi, p. 289, Nov. 1868. 
