OBSERVATIONS ON AMYGDALINE. 
199 
water was saturated with peroxide of mercury and filtered. The 
filtered liquid, though neutral, had the peculiar odor of the 
last named acid, which is attributable to the volatile oil 
held in solution. When evaporated, it yielded a crystalline 
matter, which, from its general characters, was undoubtedly 
bicyanuret of mercury. 
The kernels of the Prunus montana, when subjected to 
the above process, gave a similar result. 
Another portion of them was treated according to the pro- 
cess for obtaining amygdaline, which resulted in obtaining a 
crystalline matter, having the character of the last named sub- 
stance, and which was affected like it when treated with 
emulsine, &c. 
The kernels of the common cherry, (Prunus cerasus) 
when distilled with water, yield a distilled water impregnated 
with volatile oil and hydrocyanic acid, which is ample evi- 
dence, after the previous observations, of the existence of 
amygdaline, though, from attendant circumstances, its quantity 
is very limited. 
When the kernels of the greengage were treated as the com- 
mon cherry just mentioned, a similar result was obtained, 
from which we may draw a similar inference. 
A quantity of the kernels of the damson (Prunus damas- 
cena) when treated according to the process for obtaining 
amygdaline, afforded a white crystalline substance, which, when 
treated with emulsine, emitted a hydrocyanic odor; the mix- 
ture was then distilled, and the product saturated with per- 
oxide of mercury; on evaporating this, after filtration, bicy- 
anuret of mercury was obtained. The quantity of amygda- 
line contained in the damson, quite equals that in the peach. 
Thus we see from examination, that all the species of the 
genera treated of, contain amygdaline, and we are justified 
in the belief that the presence of this substance is one of the 
characteristics of these genera. 
The time no doubt is approaching when the chemical con- 
stitution of plants will be a very important item of their classi- 
fication, and will establish such classification on a solid and 
