STUDIES ON FLAX RETTING. 
51 
• calcium carbonate and filtered again. The filtrate was concentrated, with the 
addition of a little calcium carbonate, to about 20 c. c. in a partial vacuum. 
The solution was extracted, at first with 85% alcohol and then twice with 
95% alcohol. The clear solution thus obtained was concentrated to a syrup 
and preserved for further investigation. 
Qualitative Test. 
Qualitative reactions were tested at the outset of the investigation to get 
a general idea of the chief constituents of the gummy preparation. 
1. Microchemical tests were applied to determine the presence of 
pectin, cellulose and lignin. The presence of pectin was ascertained by 
staining with congo red or with phloroglucin and hydrochloric acid but none 
- of the characteristic reaction could be observed. 
2. A small amount of the substance was heated in a test tube with 
hydrochloric acid and then a little quantity of phloroglucin and equal volume 
of concentrated hydrochloric acid were added and heated. The filtrate gave 
the characteristic absorption spectrum of pentose. On distilling the substance 
with hydrochloric acid of 1.06 sp. gr., a distillate was obtained which gave the 
characteristic furfurol reaction with anilin acetate. The distillate was also 
tested for the presence of methyl furfurol by the spectrum reaction of Osliima 
and Tollens 1 ). The presence of simple pentosan as well as methyl pen- 
tosan was thus confirmed. The presence of galactan was also examined by 
oxidizing with nitric acid, but the result was negative. 
Rotatory Power. 
The rotatory power of the gummy substance was determined with 
Schmidt-Haensch half shadow polariscope. The results follow : 
a) 0.45 gram of dry matter dissolved in 60 c. o. of 5% caustic potash 
solution. 
1.4 x 0.346 x 60 
0.45 x 1 
- = — 64.6° 
1) — Berlin, Ber. D. chem. Ges. 34 (1901) pp. 1425-1426. 
