34 3. H. MAIDEN AND H. G. SMITH. 
It is soluble in cold alcohol (not too dilute), readily on warming; 
also in amy] alcohol, ether, acetic ether, chloroform, but not nm 
benzole, petroleum spirit, or bisulphide of carbon. It is neutral 
when in solution in either water or alcohol. 
Eudesmin when obtained from absolute alcohol is anhydrous 
(whether one or more molecules of water are found in crystals 
otherwise obtained has not yet been ascertained). When fused 
at 100° C. and allowed to cool, no loss of weight takes place. It 
melts into a whitish resinous looking mass partly transparent. 
When ignited it readily burns with a very smoky flame. 
When eudesmin is dissolved in hot alcohol, water added until 
the slightest precipitate appears to form, and the solution left to 
stand for some hours, beautiful acicular crystals are obtained, © 
having a length, in some cases, of nearly half an inch. 
Eudesmin is soluble in concentrated sulphuric acid with a dark 
colour ; after a few minutes the edges of the drop of acid becom? 
purple, and in about half an hour the whole acid in the watch 
glass becomes of a beautiful purple colour; after some time the 
colour fades and a dark precipitate separates, this is also the cas? 
when water is added to the purple liquid. 
Eudesmin is soluble in strong nitric acid with a beautiful yellow 
colour ; after a time dendritic forms make their appearance, and 
continue to increase until the alteration is completed ; these a! 
light yellow and insoluble in water. These two reactions with 
H,SO, and HNO, appear to be characteristic. 
Eudesmin dissolves with explosive violence in fuming nitri¢ 
acid, forming a yellow liquid after the lapse of a minute, and with 
the same insoluble alteration-product as obtained with strong 
nitric acid. It is to these alteration and decomposition products 
that we must eventually look, to determine the molecular co 
stitution of eudesmin. 
Eudesmin is but slightly soluble in aqueous or alcoholic potash 
in the cold or on warming. 
