404 E. GRIFFITHS. 



rhombic plates together with a much smaller quantity of 

 the crystalline tufts separated. These tufts were more 

 soluble in absolute alcohol than the rhombic plates so that 

 an approximate separation was made by this means. The 

 crystalline residue was separated by filtration and washed 

 three times with alcohol. The residue was again recrys- 

 tallised from alcohol. The rhombic plates gave the follow- 

 ing reactions: — 



(1) On warming witli sulphuric acid the crystals gave a 



reddish colour. 



(2) On shaking a chloroformic solution of the crystals 



with concentrated sulphuric acid the chloroform 



became violet and the sulphuric gave a yellow colour 



by transmitted light and a green fluorescence by 



reflected light. 



These reactions together with the crystalline form and 



method of separation show that the rhombic crystalline 



body is a phytosterol. 



The alcoholic filtrate and washings after the separation 

 of the phytosterol were evaporated on a water-bath. The 

 brownish residue which melted thougli not sharply at 45°0. 

 had a resinous lustre when dry. At tins stage through an 

 accident, the greater portion of the phytosterol and waxy 

 body was lost, but it is proposed to continue the study of 

 these two bodies at some future date if sufficient material 

 can be obtained. 



Results.— The results of this investigation may be sum- 

 marised as follows: — Seeds oi Bursar ia spinosa yield by 

 extraction with petroleum ether about 17°/° of a yellow 

 transparent oil having the following constants : — 



Saponification equivalent ... ... ... 169*47 



Iodine value (Hiibl.) 

 Specific gravity at 13° O. ... 



Acid value 



Refractive index at 21° C... 



86*4 

 0*8867 

 1*26 

 1*4681 



