92 
ON CUCUMIS CITRULLUS. 
curdy precipitate, corresponding with the compound of 
lead and gum of Berzelius. Alcohol also threw down 
gum from this decoction, and lime water changed the color to 
a deep yellow. 
Experiment 3. — An ethereal tincture was made, by mace 
rating an ounce of the bruised seeds in four ounces of sulphuric 
ether, for ninety-six hours. Filtered and evaporated by a 
sand bath, the result was one drachm of fixed oil, of a beau- 
tiful yellow color, possessing the odor and saccharine taste of 
the seeds. 
This oil is soluble in absolute alcohol, has a specific gravi- 
ty of .915, leaves a permanent greasy stain upon paper, and 
when burning, gives off much sooty vapor. The ethereal ex- 
tract is of a dark brown color, consisting of oily, resinous, and 
coloring matters. 
Experiments. — One ounce of the bruised seeds was digested 
in four ounces of alcohol 35° Baume, for ninety-six hours ; fil- 
tered and evaporated by a sand bath to the consistence of an ex- 
tract. This was of a dark brown color, unctuous to the touch, 
slightly bitter to the taste, partially soluble in cold water, (im- 
parting to that menstruum a dark orange color,) and having a 
decidedly acid reaction with litmus paper. The persulphate 
of iron indicated the presence of gallic acid, by changing the 
solution to a deep bluish-black color. 
Experiment 5. — After incinerating four hundred and eighty 
grains, there remained in the crucible sixty grains of grayish 
black ashes. These were lixiviated with boiling water and 
the solution filtered. The clear solution was alkaline to the 
taste, and restored the color to litmus paper which had been 
reddened by an acid. Neutralized by nitric acid and evaporat- 
ed, it yielded a crystalline salt resembling nitrate ofpotassa. 
Experiment 6. — I treated the insoluble residue of the pre- 
ceding experiment with nitric acid. When diluted and filter- 
ed, and tested with oxalate of ammonia, a slight precipitate 
indicated the presence of lime in small proportion. Ferro- 
cyanate ofpotassa (the usual test for iron) did not indicate the 
presence of that element among the constituents. 
