Mons. R. Piriii 07i the Combinations of Salicyle. 211 



Berzelius suggests the probability of the atom of salicine 

 consisting of (2 C, 2H, O). To ascertain this fact by expe- 

 riment, Piria dissolved salicine in warm water, added a ie\v 

 drops of ammonia, and then dropped in a solution of the 

 tribasic acetate of lead : a white flocculent precipitate was ob- 

 tained. This was collected, dried, and submitted to analysis, 

 the result of which proved the crystallized salicine to con- 

 sist of 



Per cent. 



21 atoms carbon = 126 = 55-76 



14 hydrogen.. I'i 6*06 



11 oxygen 88 38'18 



Weight of atom ... 228 100 



The anhydrous salicine contains two atoms less of water, 

 and consists of 



Per cent. 



21 atoms carbon = 126 = 60-49 



12— — hydrogen.. 12 5-63 



9 oxygen 72 33-88 



Weight of atom 210 100 



Dobereiner has long ago shown that salicine, when distilled 

 with oxidating bodies, as a mixture of sulphuric acid and 

 peroxide of manganese, yielded a larger proportion of formic 

 acid than any other known substance. By distilling it, how- 

 ever, with other oxidating agents, taking care to avoid an 

 excess of acid, Piria obtained a distinct product, which con- 

 sisted of an organic base combined with hydrogen, which, in 

 conformity with the adopted nomenclature, he has named hy- 

 druret of salicyle: like benzoyl andspiroyl, salicyle has not yet 

 been obtained in a free state. It bears so close an analogy 

 to the former, that they may be considered as having one 

 common radical, as may be seen by comparing their element- 

 ary composition. 



Carbon. Hydrogen. Oxygen. 



Benzoyl = 14 atoms 5 atoms 2 atoms 

 Salicyle 14 5 4 



and thus benzoyle and salicyle may be respectively considered 

 as two oxyds of an hydrocarbon, consisting of (14 C 4- 5 H). 

 Dumas has, as is well known, suggested that benzoyle and 

 benzoic acid may be considered as two oxides of this hypothe- 

 tical hydro-carbon or benzogene, in which case salicyle and 

 salicic acid may be considered as two other members of the 

 same group, thus — 



P 2 



