296 
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa. 
The fact that it can be extracted from the aqueous-acetic acid solution by 
ether is due to the circumstance that the ethereal layer takes up some acetic 
acid, and that the daphnetin is more soluble in the mixture of ether and 
acetic acid than in pure ether. 
Daphnetin crystallises from water with half a molecule of water, which 
is only expelled completely by heating to 120-130° for several hours. 
0-2638 grm. lost 0*0115 HgO. HoO = 4-36 per cent. 
I. 0-1594 grm. (anhydrous) gave 0-3556 COo and 0-0523 HoO. 
II. 0-1210 grm. (anhydrous) gave 0-2708 CO, and 0-0352 H.p. 
I. C = 60-84 per cent. 11 = 3-65 per cent. 
II. C = 61-04 per cent. H = 3-23 per cent. 
CyllgO^, I H3O requires HoO = 4-81 per cent. 
CgHgO^ requires C = 60*67 per cent. H = 3-37 per cent. 
The molecular weight was determined by the ebullioscopic method and 
by Barger's microscopic method. 
I. 0-8137, grm. of substance in 23'92 grm. of alcohol gave 0-24°. 
Molecular weight =163. 
II*, 0-0468- grm of substance in 15-54 c.c. of alcohol lie between 
0-0002493 and 0*0002369 gram -molecules (using azo-benzene as standard), 
M.W. between 188 and 197. 
CgHgO^ has M.W. = 178. 
The compound is soluble in sodium hydroxide with a yellowish-red colour. 
Aqueous or alcoholic solutions turn green on addition of ferric chloride. It 
strongly reduces Fehling's solution. 
When the original aqueous -acetic acid extract had once been rendered 
alkaline, daphnetin could no longer be extracted, as it had undergone decom- 
position. 
All the above properties are identical with those recorded for daphnetin. 
The original acetic acid extract also contains glucose, which was identified 
by means of its osazone (m.p. 204°). After extraction the bitterness of the 
roots had entirely disappeared. The fact that both daphnetin and glucose 
(which are the products of the hydrolysis of the glucoside daphnin) were 
found in the extract seems fairly conclusive evidence that daphnin was 
orignally present in the plant, and it is probable that it is the bitter principle 
of the roots. 
By the method of extraction adopted the glucoside would naturally be 
hydrolysed. 
It is interesting to note that the other plants previously recorded as con- 
taining daphnin. Daphne Mezereum and Daphne alpina, belong to the same 
order as the Arthrosolen. 
The investigation is being continued. 
* I am indebted to Mr. C. D. Dykman, B.A., for carrying- out this determination. 
.1 
