194 H. G. SMITH. 



alkaline solution of potassium permanganate also produces 

 veratric acid. Potash fusion at about 225° gives proto- 

 catechuic acid. 



Experimental. 



In one of the pieces of timber from northern New South 

 Wales a small hollow in the wood had become filled with a 

 solid crystalline mass, the greatest thickness of which was 

 about one-eight of an inch, but the usual mode of occurrence 

 appears to be in thin veins more or less distinctly crystallised 

 in rosettes. The substance was scraped off and boiled 

 directly in water, filtered boiling hot, the stem of the 

 funnel being lightly plugged with cotton wool. As the 

 water cooled, well defined crystals formed, which, when of 

 sufficient size, fell to the bottom of the vessel. This pro- 

 cedure was repeated three or four times, by which time 

 the crystals had become colourless, and appeared to be 

 pure. The usual method of preparation was to saw the 

 unsound timber into small pieces, divide along the "shakes," 

 and trim the sides with a chisel. The shavings so obtained 

 were then heated in alcohol to dissolve the substance, 

 filtering the alcohol through cloth. Although it is some- 

 what soluble in hot alcohol, yet, if this was deficient in 

 amount, a quantity of the substance soon separated on 

 cooling. This separated portion was, however, identical 

 in composition with that remaining in solution, as its 

 identity was determined by separate purification. The 

 alcohol was partly distilled off, and the remainder evapor- 

 ated down to a small bulk which formed a crystalline mass 

 on cooling. These impure crystals were then dissolved in 

 boiling water, a portion at a time, filtering boiling hot, and 

 this process repeated until the crystals were pure. 



The crystals as thus obtained from water were rhombic 

 prisms or plates, and they polarised very well in colours. 

 They were of a glistening nature, and had altogether a 



