442 DR ANDERSON ON THE COLOURING MATTER 
resorted to had I possessed a larger quantity. The sublimed crystals were simply 
washed with ether, in order to remove empyreumatic matters, and then dried at 
212°. Analysis gave the following results : 
3°931 eee carbonic acid, and 
1:629 grains of morindone gave 
0-614 ~~... ~~ water, 
which approximates most nearly to the formula C,, H,,0,, as is shewn by the fol- 
lowing comparison. 


Experiment. Calculation. 
——orr ee 
Carbon.) eae Gs: ol 65:11 Cog 2100-0 
Hydrogen, . . 4:18 3°87 daly 125-0 
Oxygen, . . . 30°01 31:02 0, 1000-0 
100:00 100-00 3225-0 
Of course, it is impossible to consider a formula as established by a single ana- 
lysis upon so small a quantity. I think it probable, however, that that given 
above may be the true one, and that the excess of carbon was due to imperfect 
separation of empyreumatic matters, as, to avoid loss by solution, I washed with 
the smallest possible quantity of ether. That morindone is formed from morin- 
dine by the elimination of water, derives confirmation from the change which the 
latter substance undergoes in contact with sulphuric acid. As already mentioned, 
it then becomes insoluble in water, and gives a violet colour with alkalies similar 
to that produced by morindone, and as sulphuric acid in general acts by removing 
water, the probability is, that it has deprived the morindine of 5 equivalents, and 
converted it into morindone; at the same time this is a point which can only be 
determined by analysis, and the quantity which I obtained was not nearly suffi- 
cient for that purpose. Should further experiments establish C,,H,,0,, as the 
true formula of morindone, we have another simple relation with the madder 
colouring matters, as it would differ from madder red by a single equivalent of 
water, the formula for that substance, according to the analysis of ScurEL, being 
C,,H, O,. It would also be polymeric with gentianin, for which BaumErt* has 
established the formula C,, H: O,. 
Morindone is a true colouring matter, and is capable of attaching itself to 
common mordants. It gives with alumina a deep rose-red, and with iron violet 
and black; but the colours are not very stable, and it has a strong tendency to 
attach itself to the unmordanted parts of the cloth, and to degrade the white. 
Morindine, after treatment with sulphuric acid, is capable of attaching itself to 
ordinary mordants. 
The discovery of a peculiar colouring matter capable of fixing itself exclu-. 

* Annalen der Chimie und Pharmacie, vol. Ixii., p. 106. 
