on Guaiacum. 
95 
7. Guaiacum is copiously soluble in the pure and carbonated 
alkalis, forming greenish-brown liquids. 
Two ounces of a saturated solution of caustic potash took 
up rather more than 65 grains of the resin ; the same quantity 
of liquid ammonia dissolved only 25 grains. 
Nitric acid formed in these solutions a deep brown preci- 
pitate, the shades of which varied according to the quantity of 
acid which had been employed. 
This precipitate was found on examination to possess the 
properties of that formed by nitric acid in the solution of 
guaiacum (2. E. ) in alcohol. 
Dilute sulphuric acid, when poured into any of the above 
alkaline solutions, formed a flesh-coloured curdy precipitate. 
Muriatic acid produced the same effect. 
The two last mentioned precipitates differ from guaiacum, 
in being less acted upon by sulphuric ether and more soluble 
in boiling water, their properties therefore approach nearer to 
extract. Moreover, when these precipitates were redissolved 
in ammonia, and were again separated by muriatic acid, the 
above mentioned properties became more evident. 
