572  Chemical  Examination  of  Nutmeg.  {^ecl^er^ws1' 
identified  in  the  normal  product  obtained  by  the  direct  distillation 
of  nutmegs.  The  last  portions  of  the  distillate  were,  however, 
specially  tested  for  myristicin,  the  presence  of  which  was  established 
by  the  formation  of  the  crystalline  bromo-derivative,  melting  at 
128-1290  C. 
The  aqueous  distillate,  from  which  the  essential  oil  had  been 
removed  by  extraction  with  ether,  as  above  described,  had  an  acid 
reaction.  It  was  therefore  neutralized  with  baryta,  and  the  solution 
concentrated,  when  three  successive  crops  of  crystals  were  obtained, 
amounting  in  all  to  4  grammes.  Each  of  these  barium  salts,  after 
drying  at  no°  C,  was  analyzed,  with  the  following  results: 
(a)  0.3787  of  salt  gave  0.3388  BaS04.    Ba  =  52.6 
(b)  1.2626     "        "      1.1381  BaS04.    Ba  =  53.o 
(c)  1.0017     "         "     0.9040  BaS04.    Ba  =  53.i 
(C2H302)2  Ba  requires  Ba  =  53.7  per  cent. 
It  is  thus  evident  that  the  volatile  acid  consisted  chiefly  of  acetic 
acid. 
N on-volatile  Constituents  of  the  Alcohol  Extract. 
After  the  removal  of  the  volatile  substances  by  distillation  with 
steam,  as  above  described,  there  remained  in  the  distillation  flask 
a  reddish-brown,  aqueous  liquid  (a)  and  a  large  quantity  of  a  very 
dark  colored  resin  (/J).  The  latter  was  separated  and  thoroughly 
washed  with  water,  the  washings  being  added  to  the  aqueous  liquid. 
Examination  of  the  Aqueous  Liquid  (a). 
The  aqueous  liquid,  together  with  the  washings  from  the  resin, 
was  concentrated  to  a  convenient  bulk.  It  was  first  tested  for  the 
presence  of  an  alkaloid,  but,  as  in  the  previously  mentioned  pre- 
liminary test  with  powdered  nutmeg,  the  result  was  negative.  The 
liquid  was  subsequently  extracted  several  times  with  ether,  the 
combined  ethereal  liquids  being  washed,  dried,  and  the  ether 
removed,  when  about  20  grammes  of  a  semi-solid,  dark  colored, 
resinous  substance  was  obtained.  This  was  redissolved  in  ether,  and 
the  ethereal  liquid  extracted  successively  with  solutions  of  sodium 
carbonate  and  sodium  hydroxide,  but  this  treatment  removed  only 
