84 
MR. STENHOUSE ON THE EXAMINATION OF THE 
Calculated numbers. Found. 
18 C 
1375-8300 
37-80 
37-12 
9 H 
112-3155 
3-09 
3-22 
AgO 
1451-6100 
39-86 
40-00 
70 
700-0000 
19-23 
19-66 
3639-7555 
100-00 
100-00 
These numbers give C\g Hi, O^-f AgO as the formula of the silver salt, which, as 
might have been expected, is anhydrous, and agrees in this respect with the baryta 
salt dried at 212° Fahr. 
Evernesic Ether. 
A quantity of evernic acid was boiled for a short time in strong alcohol to which 
a few pieces of fused potash had been added, till the whole was dissolved. A current 
of carbonic acid gas was then sent through the dark- coloured solution till the caustic 
potash was saturated. On the cooling of the liquid a quantity of large brown -coloured 
prismatic crystals was deposited. These crystals were washed with cold water, in 
which they were nearly insoluble, and after being dried between folds of blotting- 
paper, and being repeatedly crystallized out of spirits, they formed beautiful white 
prisms about half an inch long. A further small quantity of these crystals was ob- 
tained by diluting the mother-liquor with water. The mother-liquor contains a con- 
siderable amount of orcin. A substance perfectly identical in its composition and 
properties with that just described, may also be obtained by boiling evernic acid in 
absolute alcohol for eight or ten hours. The alcoholic solution is then to be evapo- 
rated nearly to dryness by a gentle heat. The residue contains the ether mixed with 
a good deal of orcin, and some yellowish resinous matter. The orcin is removed by 
treating the mass with a little cold water, and the ether is freed from the resin which 
adheres to it very pertinaciously by digesting it with a little animal charcoal in 
dilute spirits. From the difficulty of separating the resinous matter from the ether, 
the first process with potash is by far the best. 
The properties of the ether prepared by either of the above processes are as follows: — 
It has neither taste nor smell. It is very soluble in alcohol, whether hot or cold, and 
in ether. It is quite insoluble in cold water; boiling water dissolves little more than 
a trace of it. When heated to 133° Fahr. it melts, but crystallizes again when the 
temperature is slightly lowered. It is insoluble in ammonia, and gives no red colour 
with that alkali. Hypochlorite of lime has also no action upon it ; its solutions give 
no precipitates with acetate or subacetate of lead. Cold and boiling muriatic acids 
produce no effect upon it. It is insoluble in carbonate of potash, but caustic potash 
dissolves it readily. The solution is colourless, and when it is neutralized by muriatic 
acid, the ether precipitates unchanged. Its alcoholic solution, when boiled with pot- 
ash, yields no orcin and remains apparently unchanged. When however the vapour of 
the ether is passed over fused potash in a narrow glass tube with a capillary opening. 
