NOTE  ON  COWRIE  RESIN. 
199 
cold  water  till  it  was  free  from  acid,  and  assumed  a  light  buff 
color ;  it  possessed  a  very  slight  odor,  reminding  of  the  balsam, 
and  weighed  five  and  one-half  drachms.  The  clear  acid  liquid, 
from  which  the  resin  was  separated,  being  transferred  to  a 
retort,  was  distilled  with  the  constant  addition  of  water  till 
nearly  all  the  alcohol  was  distilled  over.  The  distillate  con- 
tained a  deposit  of  a  semi-concrete  substance  soluble  in  ether. 
This  distillate  was  treated  with  caustic  potash  until  decomposed, 
heated  to  the  boiling  point,  filtered  and  supersaturated  with 
muriatic  acid.  On  cooling,  a  crystalline  product  separated,  of  a 
reddish  hue  and  very  little  odor. 
The  residue  removed  from  the  retort  was  filtered  while  hot ; 
on  cooling  it  deposited  a  small  amount  of  a  reddish  crystalline 
powder,  resembling  that  obtained  from  the  distillate. 
Testings. — This  red  powder  was  soluble  in  hot  water,  in 
alcohol,  and  in  ether.  On  the  addition  of  solution  of  chlorinated 
lime  and  heating,  no  bitter  almond  odor  was  evolved. 
Bi  chromate  of  potassa  and  sulphuric  acid  heated  with  a  por- 
tion of  the  powder  gave  no  bitter  almond  odor. 
Fourth. — Subjected  half  an  ounce  of  the  balsam  to  sublima- 
tion, but,  owing  to  the  use  of  an  imperfect  apparatus,  was  only 
successful  in  obtaining  a  few  grains  of  the  sublimed  acid.  This 
acid  was  in  white  crystalline  needles,  much  like  benzoic  acid, 
and  gave  no  odor  of  bitter  almonds  with  the  chlorinated  lime. 
Summary. — From  these  experiments  the  inference  may  be 
drawn  that  although  the  predominant  acid  contained  in  Liquid- 
amber  Styraciflua  is  undoubtedly  cinnamic  acid,  yet  it  is  prob- 
ably associated  with  a  small  proportion  of  benzoic  acid. 
It  appears  also  to  contain  a  volatile  odorous  principle,  with  an 
acid  reaction,  soluble  in  water,  alcohol  and  ether,  and  a  hard 
resin  in  the  proportion  of  about  30  per  cent. 
Philadelphia,  December,  1859. 
NOTE  ON  COWRIE  RESIN. 
By  E.  Donnelly,  M.  D. 
Qowdie,  Kaurie,  Cowrie,  Kauri,  or  Australian  Dammar  Resin. 
This  resin  is  the  product  of  Dammara  Australis  of  some  au- 
thors, and  of  the  Agathis  Australis  of  others ;  it  is  familiarly 
