74 
MR. STENHOUSE ON THE EXAMINATION OF THE 
Erythric ether combines with basic acetate of lead. This compound is readily 
obtained by adding a hot solution of basic acetate of lead to a solution of the ether 
in boiling water. It falls as a bulky white precipitate. It was washed and dried at 
212° Fahr. 
Per cent. 
I. T5145 grm. salt gave 0*5545 PbO and 0*4805 metallic lead=70*78 oxide. 
II. 1*0825 grm. salt gave 0*3000 PbO and 0*4295 Pb =71*01 oxide. 
I. 0*7188 grm. salt gave with chromate of lead 0*491 C02 and 0*1075 water. 
II. 1*504 grm. salt gave with chromate of lead 1*043 carbonic acid and 0*232 water. 
I. II. 
C 18*63 18*91 
H 1*66 1*71 
PbO 71-01 71*01 
O 8*70 ^ 8*37 
100*00 100*00 
I have been quite unable to deduce any rational formula from these analyses of 
the lead compound of this ether, though the combination appears to be a very stable 
one, as the salt prepared at different times had always the same composition. 
Erythric Methylic Ether. 
The methyle compound is readily obtained by boiling erythric acid in strong wood 
spirit. It crystallizes in longer and narrower prisms than erythric ether. The reac- 
tions of both bodies with ammonia and hypochlorite of lime are perfectly similar. 
I. 0*4205 grm. ether gave 0*9144 carbonic acid, and 0*209 water. 
II. 0*3285 grm. gave 0*715 carbonic acid and 0*1685 water. 
Calculated numbers. 
I. 
II. 
22 c 1681*570 
59*14 
59*30 
59*36 
1311 162*233 
5*70 
5*52 
5*69 
100 1000*000 
35*16 
35*18 
35*04 
2843*803 
100*00 
100*00 
100*00 
The rational formula of erythrate of methyle is Cgo H3 O. 
When the ethyl compound of erythric acid is boiled with caustic potash or baryta, 
alcoholic vapours are given off, and orcin and another crystalline body, pseudo-orcin, 
remain in the solution. 
When erythric acid is exactly neutralized with lime or baryta and boiled for a 
short time it is decomposed, two new compounds being formed, one an acid, which 
is very similar in appearance and properties to (alpha) and (beta) orsellesic acids, 
and the other is picro-erythrin. The quantity of the new acid, which I shall call 
erythrelesic acid, which erythric acid yields, is much less than what is obtained when 
either of the orsellic acids is decomposed in a similar manner. The reason of this 
appears to be that a large portion of the erythric acid goes to the formation of the 
