DR. KANE ON THE CHEMICAL HISTORY OF ARCHIL AND LITMUS. 295 
An equivalent of azoerythrine is . C 22 H 19 N 0 22 
It gives off four carbonic acid . . — C 4 — O 8 
And nine of water — H 9 — O 9 
An equivalent of alphaorceine . . C 18 H 10 N O 5 
From the very small quantity of azoerythrine which I could find present in archil, 
at any one moment, it is probably decomposed as fast as formed, very nearly, and 
either orceine may be considered as arising 1 directly from amarythrine as follows : 
An equivalent of amarythrine. . . = C 22 H 13 0 14 
An equivalent of ammonia. ... H 3 N 
Five equivalents of oxygen. ... O 5 
^22 H-16 Ol9 N 
Gives four equivalents carbonic acid. C 4 O 8 
Six equivalents of water H 6 O 6 
and an equivalent of alphaorceine . C 18 H 10 O 5 N 
^22 H 16 0 19 N 
It is, however, most likely that the amarythrine is all changed into azoerythrine be- 
fore forming orceine, and hence that azoerythrine has the formula C 22 H 16 N 0 19 , the 
three equivalents of water I found being probably in a form capable of elimination. 
It is also possible that from telerythrine the betaorceine may be at once formed. 
Thus 
should give 
An equivalent of telerythrine . . . = C 22 H 9 0 18 
An equivalent of ammonia ... H 3 N 
C 2 2 h 12 o 18 n 
Four equivalents of carbonic acid . C 4 O s 
Two equivalents of water . . . . H 2 O 2 
An equivalent of betaorceine C 18 H 10 O 8 N 
C 2 2 H 12 0 18 N 
I do not think it probable that this reaction ever occurs in the actual manufacture 
of archil. In contact with air and ammonia, the erythryline can scarcely advance 
beyond the condition of amarythrine, and from it the azoerythrine being produced 
by the direct combination of the ammonia, the alphaorceine is ultimately formed. 
III. Of Erythroleic Acid. 
This is the crimson substance, distinguished by its semifluid consistence at ordi- 
nary temperatures, and its solubility in ether, which is obtained by treating the solid 
extract of archil by warm sulphuric ether, as already described. It possesses no 
other property remarkably characteristic. It is almost insoluble in water, which. 
