114 ACTION OF NITRIC ACID UPON BRUCINE. 
gallic acid dried at 212° are compared with those of tannic 
acid, ic appears, as above stated, that the former is derived 
from the latter by the fixation of water. We have — 
Gallic acid according 
to Pelouze. Tannic acid. . 
Carbon, 49.56 7 = 49.41 50.63 18 = 50.93 
Hydrogen, 3.70 3 3.53 3.64 8 3.79 
Oxygen, 46.74 5 47.06 45.73 12 45.28 
These numbers do not differ much from one another ; and 
if we bear in mind that tannic acid is uncrystallizable, and 
that a slight impurity of one of the substances is sufficient 
to produce the above differences, and moreover that tannic 
acid is bibasic, we may perhaps represent gallic acid by 
H3 05 , and tannic acid by 2 (C^ 0') or C^^ 0^^ 
CrystaHized gallic acid is then derived from the latter by 
the assimilation of water. — C/iem. Gaz. from Journ. de 
Pharm. 
ART. XXX.— ON THE ACTION OF NITRIC ACID UPON 
BRUCINE. . 
By S. G. ROSENGARTEN. 
Gerhardt asserts that nitrous ether is obtained on treat- 
ing brucine with nitric acid, while Liebig, on repeating the 
experiment, obtained a liquid with properties different from 
those of nitrous ether. Recently Laurent has examined 
the subject ; he operated upon 15 grms. of brucine, and let 
the gas which was evolved pass over lime, upon which he 
condensed it by means of a frigorific mixture.- In this 
manner he obtained 1 grm. of a very mobile liquid, lighter 
