148  On  the  Fruit  of  Magnolia  Tripetala.  {x%TimT' 
pure,  the  crystals  have  no  odor,  but  that  of  the  impure  resembles  the 
fruit. 
The  crystalline  form  varies  with  the  manner  of  obtaining  it;  when 
it  separates  from  a  mixed  alcoholic  and  watery  liquid,  or  by  the  cool- 
ing of  a  hot  aqueous  solution,  it  is  in  slender  needles  sometimes  termi- 
nated with  two  faces  ;  others  are  acicular.  When  it  crystallizes  in  the 
resinous  extract  from  the  slow  evaporation  of  the  tincture,  the  form 
is  that  of  a  flattened  four-sided  prism  with  dihedral  terminations. 
But  when  it  has  been  purified  and  recrystallized  by  slow  evaporation 
from  a  solution  in  benzine  in  a  deep  vessel,  they  are  in  flat,  four-sided 
prisms,  terminated  at  each  extremity  by  two  planes,  so  as  to  give 
them  the  aspect  of  elongated  hexagonal  tables.  A  close  examination 
of  a  number  of  the  thicker  crystals  showed  them  to  consist  of  several 
superimposed  slates,  with  many  of  the  terminal  planes  rounded,  giving 
a  shuttle-like  form  to  the  crystal.  Without  being  able  to  determine 
the  question,  there  is  some  probability  that  the  form  belongs  to  the 
square  prismatic  system,  as  many  of  the  fractured  crystals  exhibit 
rectangular  fissures. 
This  substance  is  nearly  insoluble  in  cold  water,  but  after  being 
boiled  with  the  crystals,  water  deposits  a  few  minute  needles.  It  is 
very  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform  and  carbon  bisulphide,  and 
in  benzine  (light  petroleum  oil),  especially  when  heated  ;  quite  solu- 
ble in  fixed  oil,  and,  to  some  extent,  in  hot  glycerin,  from  which  it 
partially  separates,  on  cooling,  in  crystals.  It  is  neutral  to  test 
papers. 
When  distilled  to  dryness  with  strong  liquor  potassse,  no  ammonia- 
cal  odor  is  manifested.  Solutions  of  potassa  and  soda  dissolve  it,  and 
yield  it  unchanged  in  an  amorphous  form  by  saturation  with  an  acid. 
Diluted  acids  appear  to  have  no  chemical  effect  upon  it  hot  or  cold. 
When  the  crystals  are  dropped  on  strong  sulphuric  acid  they  are  col- 
ored red,  and  the  acid  itself  becomes  reddish,  but  the  crystals  do  not 
lose  their  shape  until  heated,  when  they  are  destroyed  with  the  evolu- 
tion of  sulphurous  acid.  Strong  nitric  acid  turns  them  brown,  form- 
ing a  resinous  mass,  which  is  destroyed  by  heat  with  red  fumes.  Hy- 
drochloric acid  (sp.  gr.  1-16)  does  not  attack  this  substance  hot  or 
cold. 
Iodine  in  substance  added  to  the  crystals  does  not  affect  them,  nor 
when  heated  in  a  watch  glass,  nor  does  any  reaction  occur  when  a 
drop  of  tincture  of  iodine  is  added  to  a  solution  of  the  crystals  in  al- 
cohol. 
