1876.] Messrs. Stenhouse and Groves on Picrorocellin. 



67 



quite pure by crystallizing them first from a mixture of equal weights of 

 alcohol and water (10 parts) and finally from strong spirit. 



Tho crystals, whether prepared by boiling picrorocellin with an aqueous 

 or with an alcoholic solution of sodium hydrate, are identical, both melt- 

 ing at 154° C. The fused compound remains quite liquid even when cold ; 

 but on adding a crystalline fragment of the substance it instantly solidi- 

 fies. Dried at 100° C. and submitted to analysis it gave the following 

 results : — 



I. -287 gram of substance gave '778 gram carbonic anhydride and -175 

 gram of water. 



II. 'IQS gram of substance gave '523 gram carbonic anhydride and 

 •113 gram of water. 



III. -280 gram of substance gave '760 gram carbonic anhydride and 

 •169 gram of water. 



IV. '368 gram of substance gave •03264 gram ammonia. 



V. ^297 gram of substance gave "02611 gram ammonia. 



VI. -243 gram of substance gave '02089 gram ammonia. 







Theory. 



I. 



II. 



III. 



lY. V. 



VI. 





, 288 



74-04 



73-93 



73-91 



74-03 









. 25 



6'43 



6-78 



6-51 



6-71 









. 28 



7-20 









7-30 7-24 



7-08 



O3 



48 



12-33 















389 



100-00 













These numbers correspond very closely with the formula Cg^Hgj O3. 

 This compound is almost insoluble in petroleum, and only very slightly 

 soluble in ether, moderately so in boiling benzine. When strongly 

 heated, it fuses and becomes deep yellow, being converted into xanthoro- 

 cellin. Nitric acid oxidizes it, benzoic aldehyde being first produced, 

 which, by a continuance of the action, is converted into benzoic acid. A 

 similar result is obtained when it is treated with chromic-acid mixture. 

 The crystals dissolve in concentrated sulphuric acid by the aid of a gentle 

 heat, and on adding water a precipitate of xanthorocellin is obtained. 



As picrorocellin possessed such an extremely bitter taste, and was, 

 moreover, a nitrogenous compound, it seemed not improbable that it 

 might possess medicinal properties. It was therefore submitted to our 

 friend Dr. T. Lauder Brunton, F.E.S., who kindly undertook its exami- 

 nation with especial reference to the possible resemblance between its 

 actions and those of quinine. He says, "The results may be briefly stated 

 as follows : — 



" 1. The substance when injected under the skin of an animal exerted 

 no perceptible action whatever. 



"2. When injected under the skin of a frog it diminished reflex 

 action. This diminution appeared to be caused in the same way as that 



r2 



