46 • RESEARCHES ON GENTIANINE. 
gentianine is not precipitated by the neutral acetate, but 
only by the basic acetate of lead, so that a great portion of 
the impurities can be removed by a solution of the first salt. 
Gentianine crystallizes in slender, pale yellow, tasteless 
ueedles. It is very sparingly soluble in water; 1 part re- 
quires 3630 parts water; it dissolves best in boiUng alcohol; 
it dissolves in alkaline water, imparting to it an intense yel- 
low colour ; it is permanent in the air, and may be heated 
to 392° without loss of water; it sublimes between 572° 
and 644°, disengaging yellow vapours, which condense 
into fine needles, while the greater portion is carbonized 
with evolution of a peculiar odour. Gentianine has the 
following composition : 
Carbon, 65.05 65.09 65.04 14=1050.0 65.11 
Hydrogen, 4.15 4.24 4.10 5 62.5 3.87 
Oxygen, 30.80 30.67 30.86 5 500.0 31.02 
1612.5 
Gentianine has no reaction upon the vegetable colours ; 
it is a neutral or indifferent body, which combines with 
acids and bases without parting with the elements of water. 
It expels carbonic acid from the carbonated alkalies, but the 
carbonic acid of the atmosphere likewise decomposes several 
of its combinations if they are still moist. — Chem. Gaz, 
