ON  CONIFERINE. 
261 
on  conifeeine,  a  glucoside  contained  in  the 
Cambium  of  the  conifers. 
By  M.  W.  Kubel. 
This  substance,  analogous  to  Salicine,  was  discovered  by  M. 
Hartig  in  the  "cambium"  of  several  coniferous  trees,  Abies 
excelsa,  Abies  pecti?iata,  Piniis  Strobus,  P.  Oembra,  Larix 
Europcea ;  it  probably  exists  also  in  other  species.  From  its 
origin  the  name  of  Ooniferine  was  given  to  it  by  M.  Hartig,  who 
left  the  chemical  study  of  it  to  the  author. 
The  "  cambium  "  is  collected  by  scraping  the  surface  of  the 
wood  recently  deprived  of  its  bark,  and  pressing  the  mass  thus 
obtained  ;  the  thick  juice  is  boiled  to  coagulate  the  albuminous 
matters  it  contains,  which  coagulum  encloses  the  cells,  the  amyla- 
ceous matter,  etc. ;  the  filtered  liquid  is  then  clear,  of  a  sweetish 
bitter  taste ;  by  evaporation  to  one-fifth  of  its  volume,  it  deposits 
a  large  quantity  of  Coniferine  in  acicular  crystals.  The  syrupy 
liquor  which  accompanies  them  possesses  a  very  sweet  taste,  and 
contains  a  sugar  closely  allied  to  cane  sugar.  The  crystals  of 
Coniferine  are  re-dissolved  in  water,  decolorized  by  animal  char- 
coal, and  finally  crystallized  from  weak  alcohol. 
Pure  Coniferine  forms  slender  needles  of  a  silky  lustre,  con- 
taining water  of  crystallization,  which  is  lost  at  100°  C.  ;  they 
are  efflorescent.  It  melts  at  185°  C.  ;  at  a  higher  temperature 
it  turns  brown,  and  ultimately  carbonizes,  evolving  an  odor  of 
burnt  sugar.    Its  composition  corresponds  to  the  formula, 
C24  H32  Oi2>  3  H20. 
It  is  but  slightly  soluble  in  cold  water,  which  dissolves  only  0*51 
per  cent.,  but  boiling  water  dissolves  it  with  facility,  absolute 
alcohol  scarcely  at  all,  and  it  is  quite  insoluble  in  ether. 
The  aqueous  solution  has  a  slightly  bitter  taste,  it  deviates 
the  plane  of  polarization  to  the  left,  it  precipitates  neither  acetate 
nor  sub-acetate  of  lead,  and  gives  no  coloration  with  ferri  chlo- 
ride. Boiled  with  weak  sulphuric  or  hydrochloric  acid,  it  turns 
thick  owing  to  the  separation  of  a  resinous  substance  of  a  slightly 
bluish  color,  emitting,  at  the  same  time,  an  odor  of  vanilla.  The 
precipitate  darkens  in  color  by  drying ;  it  dissolves  in  soda, 
forming  a  yellowish  solution,  from  which  it  is  again  thrown  down 
by  acids  ;  heated,  it  evolves  a  very  aromatic  color.    The  liquor 
