ON A SUBSTANCE RESEMBLING MYRRH. 339 
The subacetate of lead, 
The nitrate of silver, 
The Hydrochlorateof tin, 
The sulphate of copper, J 
The sulphate of iron renders it slightly cloudy. 
With the tincture of galls it is clouded, whitened, and forms 
a white precipitate, soluble in an excess of alcohol. 
With the solution of pure tannin there are the same re- 
sults. 
Myrrhoidine dissolves completely in liquid caustic potassa; 
the solution, when saturated with nitric acid, becomes green 
and transparent. 
Ammonia has the same effect as potassa. 
If cold muriatic acid is made to act upon the dry bitter mat- 
ter, in proportion as the solution takes place the acid assumes 
the pale yellow color of Malaga wine, and soon passes to 
brown; a peculiar aromatic odor is disengaged. 
The addition of water to this solution, precipitates the 
myrrhoidine from it, under the form of glutiniform filaments. 
This deposit, washed, to separate from it the excess of acid, 
loses nothing of its bitter and acrid taste; its solubility in wa- 
ter is considerably diminished. This substance dissolves as 
before, in absolute alcohol, but as it has lost some of its affinity 
for water, the alcoholic tincture is clouded by water, precisely 
as a resinous tincture is troubled, or the essences. 
Pure concentrated sulphuric acid, poured upon myrrhoidine 
in powder, produces solution without the disengagement of 
sulphurous acid ; this solution has exactly the same color as 
black balsam of Peru. Mixed with water, it renders it cloudy, 
passing to a dirty white, and deposits soon after light flocks 
of the same color. Nitric acid dissolves myrrhoidine when 
cold, without disengaging nitric oxide. The solution, of a 
light yellow color, is rendered cloudy by the addition of a 
small quantity of water. When more diluted it becomes lim- 
pid. 
do not affect it. 
