ON MYROXOCARPINE. 
145 
crystals have no smell, and form broad thin prisms rather more 
than an inch in length. They are colorless, and possess considera- 
ble lustre, approaching that of nitrate of silver. They are hard 
and brittle ; insoluble in both hot and cold water, but readily dis- 
solve in hot alcohol and ether. They are also soluble to some ex- 
tent in cold alcohol and ether. When chewed they have no taste. 
Their solution is quite neutral to test paper. I have given this 
crystalline substance the name of myroxocarpine, in the belief that 
it is derived from the fruits of the Myrospermum as previously 
mentioned. It was subjected to analysis with oxide of copper in 
the usual way. 
I. 0.2907 substance dried in vacuo gave 0.821 carbonic acid and 0.247 
HO. 
II. 0.215 substance gave 0.6085 carbonic acid and 0.185 water. 
Calculated in numbers : 
I. 
II. 
48 C 
3600 
77.63 
77.02 
77.18 
35 H 
437.5 
8.43 
9.46 
9.55 
60 
600.0 
12.94 
13.42 
13.27 
4637.5 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
The empirical formula for myroxocarpine is therefore 
48 C 35 H 6 O. 
Myroxocarpine, when dried in vacuo, and then heated to 100° 
C, loses no weight. It melts at 115° C, and forms a transparent 
glass, which does not crystallize on cooling. It re-crystallizes, 
however, when it has been dissolved in hot spirits of wine. 
When myroxocarpine is heated considerably above its melting 
point, a very small portion of it sublimes, but by far the greater 
part of it undergoes decomposition, being changed into an un 
crystallizable resin, with the formation of much acetic acid. 
Myroxocarpine is characterized by extreme chemical indifference. 
It displays no affinity for either acids or alkalies, none of which at 
all increase its solubility. A quantity of it remained unchanged 
after been having boiled for several hours w T ith a solution of pot- 
ash. It is also but difficultly attacked by acids. Strong nitric 
acid, when assisted by heat, slowly converted it into oxalic acid, 
and an uncrystallizable resin, but without the formation of carba- 
zotic, or any similar acid. Chlorine also acts upon it very slowly. 
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