DR. KANE ON THE CHEMICAL HISTORY OF ARCHIL AND LITMUS. 323 
be, however, in great part explained by the fact, that at the same time with the chlor- 
erythrolitmine there is produced another body, soluble in water, but which I have not 
yet obtained in a form proper for analysis. On this soluble substance I consider the 
oxygen lost by the chlorerythrolitmine to be fixed ; and although it has not as yet been 
analysed, an idea of its probable constitution may be formed, if we consider it to be 
produced as follows : 
Three equivalents of erythrolitmine . . . C 78 H 66 0 36 
One equivalent of chlorine Cl 
may be considered to produce 
One equivalent of chlorerythrolitmine . . C 52 H 44 0 19 Cl 
One equivalent of soluble substance . . . C 26 H 22 0 17 
It is possible that this soluble substance may contain in addition a quantity of 
chlorine. 
The chlorerythrolitmine itself I conceive to be a compound of unaltered erythrolit- 
mine, with the true chlorine substance. Thus 
True chlorine body .... C 26 H 22 O 7 Cl 
Erythrolitmine C 26 H 22 0 12 
Actual chlorerythrolitmine . C 52 H 44 0 19 Cl. 
The true erythrolitmine is thus indicated to be erythroleic acid, in which an 
equivalent of oxygen is replaced by chlorine, C 26 H 22 0 8 resembling C 26 H 22 0 7 Cl. 
The very small quantity of chlorine which exists in chlorerythrolitmine, renders it 
exceedingly difficult to say, from analysis, whether hydrogen is removed or not. I 
do hot consider myself justified in believing any loss of hydrogen to occur, in the ab- 
sence of proof that it has occurred, particularly as in the other cases of the colouring 
matters now examined, it positively does not take place. 
In acting on the bodies now described, it appears therefore that chlorine is sub- 
jected to conditions, different from those which determine the nature of the results 
with the generality of organic bodies, and that the replacement of hydrogen, so marked 
in other cases, does not exist in the class of substances under consideration. On the 
contrary, the action of the chlorine would appear to lend support to the idea, that as 
among inorganic bodies chlorine may combine either directly with metallic oxides, 
or else, in decomposing them, generate a higher degree of oxidizement and a chloride 
of the metal ; so the colouring matters, at least those now examined, may be looked 
upon as being similarly affected, and that in reality the products of the bleaching 
energy of chlorine on a coloured substance, resemble in constitution the compounds 
of chlorine which possess bleaching powers. Thus as Ca O . combines with chlorine, 
so may azolitmine ; and the bodies Ca O . Cl and Azl . Cl correspond. Also, as in 
a peroxide some oxygen may be replaced by chlorine, as in the bodies Pb 0 2 and 
2 t 2 
