366 
ON  MELAMPYRIT. 
acid,  and  distilled ;  the  sublimed  acid  was  mixed  with  the  distil- 
late, and  with  the  addition  of  a  little  nitric  acid,  evaporated. 
The  yield  of  succinic  acid  amounted  to  40  per  ct.  of  the  succi- 
nate of  lime. 
Scrophularia  nodosa  L.,  and  Rhinanthus  crista  galli  L.,  both 
Scrophularinese  contain  also  melampyrit. 
It  appears  in  crusts  consisting  of  colorless  rhombic  crystals, 
without  odor,  sweeter  than  lactin  when  dissolved  in  water,  spec, 
grav.  at  15°  C.  (59°  F.)  1466,  easily  soluble  in  boiling  water, 
requiring  at  15°  C.  25-5  p.  c.  water,  little  soluble  in  alcohol,  ace- 
tone, chloroform,  wood  spirit  and  acetic  ether,  insoluble  in  ether, 
benzin,  turpentine  and  petroleum,  fusible  at  186°  C.  (367°  F.) 
without  loss  or  alteration,  not  fermentable,  without  action  on 
polarized  light  Melampyrit  is  not  altered  by  dilute  sulphuric 
acid  or  caustic  potassa,  it  does  not  reduce  oxide  of  copper  or  of 
mercury.  Its  composition  is  C12  H15  03,  differing  from  mannite 
by  HO,  from  phycit  by  0. 
If  boiled  with  nitric  acid  it  is  converted  into  mucic  and  oxalic 
acids  ;  treated  with  a  mixture  of  nitric  and  sulphuric  acids,  nitro- 
compounds may  be  obtained,  one  of  which  is  an  oily  liquid,  ano- 
ther crystalline,  soluble,  a  third  pulverulent,  almost  insoluble 
in  ether  and  alcohol.  It  combines  with  the  alkalies,  with  baryta, 
lime,  and  the  oxides  of  lead  and  copper ;  and  with  concentrated 
sulphuric  acid  a  compound  acid  is  formed,  the  baryta  and  lime 
salt  of  which  are  very  soluble  gummy  substances. 
From  other  saccharine  substances  it  is  distinguished  : 
From  mannite,  by  being  very  little  soluble  in  boiling  alcohol, 
from  which  mannite  crystallizes  in  a  mass  of  needles. 
From  sorbin,  by  being  less  soluble  in  water,  and  by  sorbin 
being  colored  by  boiling  solution  of  potassa,  and  by  yielding 
with  nitric  acid  only  oxalic  acid. 
From  quercit,  by  its  melting  point  being  at  455°  F.,  by  its 
baryta  compound  being  uncrystallizable,  and  its  yielding  only 
oxalic  acid  with  nitric  acid. 
From  phycit — it  fuses  at  234°  F.,  yields  oxalic  acid  with  nitric 
acid,  and  a  crystallizable  baryta  salt  with  its  sulphuric  acid 
compound. 
From  dulcose — it  loses  its  9  per  ct.  water  of  crystallization  at 
about  380°  F. 
