Moqs. R. Piria on the Combinations of Salicyle, 219 
Decomposition of Salicin by Sulphuric Acid. 
When salicin is immersed in strong sulphuric acid it as- 
sumes a blood-red tint; but when digested at a boiling tem- 
perature in the acid previously moderately diluted with water, 
the salicin dissolves, forming a colourless solution. If a so- 
lution thus prepared, be poured into cold water, a white pre- 
cipitate falls down of a resinoid character. This substance 
is turned red by sulphuric acid ; like the unchanged salicin, 
it readily dissolves in alkaline fluids. Submitted to ultimate 
analysis, this new substance, which from its resinoid characters 
is termed saliretin^ was found to consist of 
Carbon .... Y2’96 
Hydrogen.. .5*83 
Oxygen. ... 2T21 
100 
No gas is disengaged during the formation of saliretin ; in- 
deed the action of the sulphuric acid appears to be purely 
catalytic, as in the cases of mtherification, and the formation 
of starch-sugar. On examining the acid fluid from which 
saliretin has been precipitated, it w^as found to contain grape- 
sugar ; so that under the influence of the catalytic action of 
sulphuric acid, salicin is resolved into saliretin and grape- 
sugar, from the re-arrangement of its elements; affording 
another example of the resolution of organic products into 
new arrangements, under the influence of catalysis^ or action 
of presence. 
Action of Chlorine on Salicin. 
When a current of gaseous chlorine is transmitted through 
a quantity of salicin diffused in water, solution ensues, and 
a yellow fluid is formed ; and if a sufficient quantity of salicin 
be present, a yellow crystalline mass is deposited. 
These crystals are but slightly soluble in water or alkaline 
fluids ; they possess a very disagreeable odour and pungent 
taste ; submitted to analysis, they were found to consist of 
Atoms. 
Carbon .... 21 = 
126 
42*94? 
Hydrogen.. 12 
12 
4*00 
Chlorine ... 2 
72 
23*65 
Oxygen.... 11 
88 
29*41 
Atomic weight . . . 
298 
100 
so that, by this process, salicin loses two atoms of hydrogen, 
and gains two atoms of chlorine ; a fact quite conformant with 
the doctrine of substitution. If the fluid through which the 
