198    RESINOUS  EXUDATION  OF  LIQUIDAMBER  STYRACIFLUA. 
odor  is  characteristic,  resembling  styrax,  which  in  fact  it  much 
resembles  in  all  its  sensible  properties.  Of  the  numerous  experi- 
ments made  upon  this  balsam,  the  following  are  selected  as  the 
most  important : 
First. — One  thousand  grains  of  the  balsam  were  boiled  in 
water  with  an  equal  weight  of  hydrate  of  lime,  for  some  hours, 
the  decoction  filtered  while  hot ;  on  cooling,  a  crystalline  pro- 
duct separated,  which  was  collected  on  a  filter  and  washed  ;  its 
weight  when  dried  was  thirty-one  grains. 
Redissolved  the  mass  in  hot  water  and  treated  with  muriatic 
acid  in  slight  excess,  a  scaly  crystalling  white  precipitate  was 
separated  on  cooling,  collected  on  a  filter  and  dried.  The  pre- 
cise weight  of  this  was  fifteen  grains. 
Testings. — On  heating  a  small  portion  of  the  product  with  a 
solution  of  chlorinated  lime,  the  characteristic  odor  of  essential 
oil  of  bitter  almonds  was  evolved.  Heating  with  a  mixture  of 
bichromate  of  potassa  and  sulphuric  acid  caused  the  same  odor 
of  oil  of  bitter  almonds  to  be  more  strongly  developed. 
A  small  portion  of  the  product  when  moistened  on  a  piece  of 
litmus  paper  gave  an  acid  reaction. 
It  is  almost  insoluble  in  cold  water.  Soluble  in  about  24 
parts  of  boiling  water,  and  soluble  in  alcohol  and  in  ether. 
Second. — Subjected  two  ounces  of  the  balsam  to  three  succes- 
sive distillations  in  water,  saturating  the  solution  with  chloride 
of  sodium  three  times  and  distilling  two-thirds  of  the  mixture 
each  time.  The  last  distillate  had  the  agreeable  and  fragrant 
odor,  characteristic  of  the  balsam  ;  this  was  shaken  up  thoroughly 
with  ether,  the  ethereal  solution  separated,  and  on  evaporation 
yielded  globules  of  an  oily  nature,  possessing  a  very  aromatic 
odor,  and  sharp  pungent  taste. 
Testings.— A  drop  upon  bibulous  paper  was  evaporated  by 
the  heat  of  an  alcohol  flame,  leaving  no  stain,  but  retaining  the 
odor  persistently. 
The  product  is  soluble  in  water,  in  alcohol  and  in  ether,  and 
gives  a  slight  acid  reaction  with  litmus. 
Third* — To  two  ounces,  troy,  of  the  balsam  digested  in  a 
pint  of  alcohol  and  filtered,  muriatic  acid  was  added  until  it 
ceased  to  yield  a  precipitate  of  resin.  This  resin,  which  col- 
ected  in  a  soft  mass,  was  removed,  washed  by  kneading  with 
