Am  Jour.  Pharm.  ] 
Feb.,  1881.  / 
New  Vegetable  Coloring  Matter. 
51 
A  drop  of  nitric  acid  added  to  the  etherial  solution  of  hseniatoxylin 
in  the  cold  rapidly  oxidizes  it;  nitric  acid  oxidizes  this  coloring  prin- 
ciple only  when  concentrated,  and  with  the  aid  of  heat,  giving  rise  to  a 
white  crystalline  compound,  soluble  in  ether,  ^vhicli  gradually  decom- 
poses on  exposure  to  the  air. 
Hsematoxylin,  when  fused  with  potassium  hydrate,  yields  pyrogallic 
acid;  this  material,  on  fusion  with  potassium  hydrate,  yields  no  pyro- 
gallic acid. 
When  hsematoxlyin  is  treated  with  ammonia  solution  and  is  allowed 
to  stand  in  contact  with  the  air  for  several  days  an  oxidation  product  is 
obtained  (^^  Hand,  der  Chem.,"  iii,  p.  542) ;  the  Beth-a-barra  principle, 
treated  in  this  manner  for  several  days,  shows  no  signs  of  any  oxidation 
or  change. 
Reagents. 
Alkalies, 
Acids — weak, 
Acids — cone. 
Alum  sol. , 
Lime  water, 
Ferrous  salts, 
J'erric  salts. 
Copper  salts, 
Lead  salts, 
Mercuric  salts, 
Silver  salts, 
Tartar  emetic, 
Stannous  chlor- 
ide. 
Sodium  Alumi- 
nate. 
Brasilin. 
Claret-red  sol. 
Orange  ppt. 
Yellow  solu- 
tion 
Crimson  -red 
ppt. 
Crimson  ppt. 
Purplish -brk 
ppt. 
Brownish-red 
ppt. 
Brownish-red 
ppt. 
Crimson  -red 
ppt. 
Yellow  ppt. 
u  u 
Rose  -  colored 
ppt. 
Bed  ppt. 
Claret-red  i^pt 
Htematoxylin. 
Beddish  -  pur- 
ple sol. 
Pink  solution 
Purple  ppt. 
Santalin. 
Claret-red  sol. 
Light  red  ppt. 
Dark  red  sol. 
Bed  ppt. 
Beth-a-barra. 
Claret-red  sol. 
Yellow  ppt. 
Yellow  sol. 
Yellow  ppt. 
Claret-red  ppt 
Yellow  solu-  Santalin 
tion  jmssing    thrown  out 
into  violet 
Bluish  jDurple  Bed'sh-brown 
ppt, 
Bluish  -  black 
ppt. 
Black  ppt. 
Pur^ile  sol. 
Violet  sol. 
Yellow  sol. 
Gray  ppt. 
Purple  sol. 
ppt. 
Reddish  -  vio- 
let j)pt. 
1  Bed'sh-brown 
i  ppt. 
;Bed  ppt. 
Beddish  -  vio- 
let ppt. 
Scarlet  ppt. 
Bed'sh-brown 
ppt. 
Cherry  -  color- 
ed j)j)t. 
Coloring  mat- 
ter thrown 
out,  does  not 
combine 
with  AI2O3 
Acts  like  al- 
kalies 
Fine  reddish 
chocolate 
ppt. 
Chocolate- 
brown  ppt. 
Brown  chang- 
ing to  yel- 
low ppt. 
Brick-red  pre- 
cipitate 
Orange-yel- 
low ppt. 
Deep  red  ppt. 
Orange  ppt: 
It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  though  this  substance  contains  more 
hydrogen  relatively  than  brasilin  or  hsematoxylin,  it  does  not  oxidize  as 
readily,  but  is  reduced  more  readily  than  either  of  these  coloring  com- 
