200 H. G. SMITH. 



ate, to fix the small amount of acid formed at the same 

 time, and this solution again extracted with ether. The 

 phenol thus obtained had a marked creosote odour, was 

 but little coloured, was semi-solid and practically insoluble 

 in water. The alcoholic solution was coloured a bluish- 

 green to dark green with ferric chloride, indicating its 

 relation to the catechol group. 



A fresh portion of material was fused with potash 

 between 210° and 225° C. for one hour. The action was 

 more energetic at this temperature, with frothing and 

 evolution of hydrogen. The melt was dissolved in water, 

 when the creosote odour was again observed. The solution 

 was acidified and three-fourths distilled over, and although 

 acid, yet, the amount of free acid formed was very small 

 indeed. The remainder was agitated with ether, the ether 

 evaporated to dryness, the crystalline residue dissolved in 

 sodium carbonate and agitated with ether to remove the 

 small amount of phenol. The alkaline solution was acidified, 

 extracted with ether, the ether evaporated, the residue 

 dissolved in water and decolourised by boiling with animal 

 charcoal. The crystals finally obtained were very soluble 

 in water, melted at 198° and gave all the reactions for 

 protocatechuic acid. The yield of acid formed in this way 

 was very good. 



I am indebted to my colleague Mr. R. T. Baker, f.l.s., 

 the Curator, for botanical information, and to Mr. Roughley 

 for the photographs. 



