SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
423 
down a flocculent precipitate from an aqueous solution of the substance, 
when evaporated to dryness, either by the application of heat, or at ordinary 
temperatures over sulphuric acid, there is left a gum-like viscous residue, in 
which the granular non-crystalline substance can be recognized. This re- 
action shows that the body under consideration is not milk-sugar. 
A Wine of Great Age. — Berthelot describes (“ Comptes rendus,” 1877, 
lxxxiv.1060) a wine, probably fifteen or sixteen centuries old, which was found 
in a sealed vessel of glass at Aliscamps ( Campi Elysei), near Arles, and has 
been preserved in the Musde Borely at Marseilles. The glass vessel, which 
is figured in his paper, possesses a very curious form, and displays the 
etched, corroded, and iridescent appearance of glass of extreme age. The 
yellow liquid, which nearly filled the vessel, possessed a vinous odour, was 
distinctly aromatic, and recalled the characters of a wine which had been in 
contact with fatty bodies ; the flavour was hot and strong, due to the pre- 
sence of alcohol, acids, and a trace of aromatic substance. The composition 
per litre was found to be — 
Alcohol 
Fixed acids, estimated as free tartaric acid 
Bitartrate of potash .... 
Acetic acid ...... 
45 0 c. c. 
3-6 grammes. 
0-6 „ 
1-2 
as well as tartrate of lime in quantity which could be recognized, and traces 
of acetic ether. A trace of sugar, or rather of a substance which could 
reduce cupro-potassic tartrate, was recognized. 
Solubility of Sulphur in Acetic Acid. — Liebermann (“ Wien. Anz.” 43, 1877) 
finds that sulphur is soluble to no inconsiderable degree in warm concen- 
trated acetic acid, and that a trace is taken up even by the dilute acid. If 
the concentrated solution be diluted with water, much of the sulphur sepa- 
rates as milk of sulphur ; if it be evaporated with the Sprengel pump, fine 
long prisms of sulphur separate ; when cooled, moreover, the liquid deposits 
sulphur in a crystalline form. All modifications of the element appear to 
be taken up by acetic acid. The author refers to analytical methods where 
these changes occur, and are apt to mislead the operator. 
A Red Colouring Matter accompanying Chlorophyll. — Harsten obtained 
two colouring matters from chlorophyll : a carmine (purpurophyll) and a 
yellow (chry sophy 11). Bougarel has discovered Bull. Soc. Ohim., ” Paris, 
xxvii. 442) another colouring substance, which occurs associated with chlo- 
rophyll in the fresh and young leaves of many plants. Leaves of the peach 
were treated with ether until all the chlorophyll had been removed, and 
then they were directly digested with alcohol. After the lapse of two days 
the sides of the vessel and the surface of the leaves were covered with small 
brilliant crystalline plates, which exhibit the green hue of fuchsine by 
reflected light ; by transmitted light they show a fine red colour ; certain of 
them were observed under the microscope to have the crystalline form of 
uric acid. They are insoluble in water and nearly insoluble in potash, 
acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, alcohol, and ether ; they are, however, readily 
taken up by chloroform and benzol, to which they impart a yellow tint, and 
in carbon disulphide, which they colour red. 
Emodin. — Liebermann and Waldstein have isolated a crystallized product 
