Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 153 
and chloroform, which was set free. We have therefore 
C8 Q4 CP = f> -f C-^ H2 CP. 
“ I was convinced, and I had to a certain extent announced it in 
my memoir, that acetic acid would produce an analogous reaction ; 
that is to say, under the influence of an excess of base it would 
change into carbonic acid and a carburet of hydrogen, the formula 
of which would be C^ H®. After some trials I perfectly succeeded 
in producing this remarkable reaction. It is only necessary to mix 
10 grammes of crystallized acetate of soda with 30 or 40 grammes 
of caustic barytes, and to heat the mixture very slightly in a retort, 
to effect the conversion of the acetic acid into carbonic acid and a 
gas, the formula of which is H^. 
“This decomposition is quite perfect: the residue is perfectly white : 
not the slightest trace of oil or of pyroacetic spirit is disengaged, nor 
any vapour, except the water which accompanies the gas. The 
analysis of this gas by the eudiometer proved that it was formed, as 
is. commonly stated, of one volume of vapour of carbon and two vo- 
lumes of hydrogen. This is precisely the composition of a gas which 
chemists have never been able to produce, I mean light carburetted 
hydrogen (gaz des marais) . It is impossible not to observe the con- 
nexion which exists between light carburetted hydrogen, produced 
by the spontaneous decomposition of vegetable substances, and that 
resulting from the final decomposition of acetic acid, which has been 
itself produced by the destructive distillation of wood. 
“ I intend to perform a complete examination of this gas, and to 
follow out an examination of reactions analogous to that which 
caused its discovery. At present I confine myself to announcing in 
a distinct manner that the gas H^, corresponding to chloroform 
CP, according to the theory of substitutions, has been pro- 
duced by chloroacetic acid ; that is to say, that acetic acid and chloro- 
acetic acid possess the same fundamental properties as I had deter- 
mined, and belong to the same organic type.” — Ulnstitut, No. 313. 
MYRONIN, MYRONIC ACID. ESSENTIAL OIL OF MUSTARD. 
It results from the experiments of M. Bussy that there exist in 
the farina of mustard seed two principles, the reaction of which, 
under the influence of water, gives rise to an essential oil. One of 
these is a peculiar acid, which M. Bussy calls myronic acid {fxvpov 
essence), and the other is a substance which has great analogy with 
albumen, and which he calls myronin. 
The properties of these substances are as follows : 
Myronic acid is inodorous, it exists in mustard combined with pot- 
ash. Myronate of potash is a salt which is soluble in water, per- 
fectly crystallizable, inodorous, colourless, of a bitter taste, and de- 
composable by heat. The myronic acid, which may be isolated, 
combines also with soda, barytes, ammonia, and yields salts, which 
like the myronate of potash develop essential oil under the influ- 
ence of myronin. 
Myronin is a substance soluble in water, coagulable like albumen 
