GLUCOSIDE OCCURRING IN THE TIMBER OF THK RED ASH. 255 
As shown in the succeeding experimental portion of this 
paper, the analytical results yielded by the deposit from 
Alphitonia excelsa agree closely with the data quoted by 
Perkin; moreover, indications have been secured which 
point to rhamnose as a product of the hydrolysis. It is. 
hoped, in continuing this investigation, to develop more 
satisfactory methods of hydrolysing the glucoside and to 
adduce further evidence regarding the constitution of this. 
interesting natural product. 
Experimental. 
The substance forming the deposit was odourless, and its. 
aqueous solution had a distinctly bitter taste. It was 
readily soluble in hot water, but only moderately so in cold 
water; whilst it was fairly soluble in cold alcohol, slightly 
soluble in ether, and practically insoluble in benzene. In 
order to prepare the pure substance, the deposited material 
was scraped from the wood and boiled with water. After 
filtration and keeping for some hours, the greater portion 
of the dissolved substance separated as a fine crystalline 
deposit. This was collected, washed with cold water, and 
purified by recrystallisation from hot water. The dry 
powder was afterwards treated with warm ether. 
As thus prepared, the product was an almost colourless. 
powder; it melted with decomposition at 218 — 219°, with 
preliminary darkening at about 200°. The aqueous solution 
gave a light yellow precipitate with lead acetate, and also 
with stannous chloride, and a brown precipitate with copper 
acetate: all these precipitates were readily soluble in 
acetic acid. The substance readily reduced Fehling’s solu- 
tion and ammoniacal silver nitrate solution upon heating. 
Its aqueous solution gave a green coloration with ferric 
chloride, which on the addition of very dilute sodium 
hydroxide solution changed through blue-purple to red as 
the final colour. These colour changes, together with the 
