300 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
duced convulsions, contortion of the spine, and, in a short 
time, total loss of power over the posterior parts, and great 
general prostration, swelling of the neck, and stiffness. These 
symptoms gradually passed off, and in half an hour the cat 
recovered, much exhausted. These are evidently some of 
the principle symptoms of prussic acid, as noticed in the 
books. 
Experiment 2. — A portion of the oil of cherry bark was 
mixed with a compound solution of potassa and proto-chloride 
of iron, and briskly agitated, in order to abstract the hydro- 
cyanic and benzoic acids from the pure oil, with which they are 
associated. This mixture was introduced into a retort, and 
heat applied, until all the oily matter passed over, together 
with some water. The contents of the receiver was then mixed 
with half its weight of dry carbonate of potassa, and again 
submitted to distillation. The product was perfectly trans- 
parent and colourless, but was associated with a little water, 
which was highly charged with it, and from which it was 
afterwards entirely separated. This oil is more limpid than 
the original, does not darken by age, has a specific gravity of 
1.046, has the odour of the original oil, (though not so intense,) 
and a burning aromatic taste. It is partially soluble in water, 
very soluble in alcohol and ether, and from its solutions 
in these latter is precipitated by water. When suddenly 
heated in an open vessel, or what is better, when dropped on 
iron heated nearly to redness, it inflames, and gives off much 
carbonaceous matter, but it may be passed through a red hot 
glass tube without decomposition, condensing in its original 
form. 
From the above description, it may readily be seen that 
the purified oil of the Prunus Virginiana, is identical with 
the hyduret of benzule, (purified oil of bitter almonds,) of 
LiEBiG and Wohler,* which is constituted of a peculiar 
compound radical called benzule^ whose symbol is Bz., and 
hydrogen. 
* An. de Ch. et du Ph., vol. li., p. 273, &c. 
