lis ON THE BALSAM OF TOLU. 
nitrobenzoene, has been transformed by Muspratt and Hof- 
mann into a remarkable artificial alkaloid, toluidine. My 
experiments confirm the greater part of the results already 
obtained. The balsam of Tolu is composed of — 
1. ' A very small quantity of tolene, C^^H^ (C=75 H= 
G.25.) 
2. Free cinnamic acid, C^^H« 0* . 
3. A resin very soluble in alcohol, O^H^^O^. 
4. A resin but little soluble in alcohol, C^^H^^O^, or rather 
C36H20O10. 
1. Tolene. — This carburet of hydrogen was prepared 
exactly according to the method proposed by M. Deyille. 
It is colourless, very fluid, of a pungent and slightly 
peppery taste, and possevsses an odour resembling that of 
elemi. Its specific gravity at 50^ F. is 0.S58, and its boiling 
point between 309° and 320° F. When set aside in an 
imperfectly closed tube, it gradually becomes resinified and 
very slightly coloured. M. Deville assigned to it the for- 
mula Ci»H^ My analyses, which differ but little from 
those of M. Deville, agree better with the formula C^oHs, 
which also corresponds with the boiling point. 
2. Cinriamic Acid. — The free acid of the balsam of 
Tolu is cinnamic acid only, as M. Fremy had observed. 
This fact was proved by analysis and by the conversion of 
the acid into nitrocinnamic acid, which is but very slightly 
soluble in cold alcohol, whilst benzoic and nitrobenzoic 
acids are very soluble in it. 
The resuliG obtained by M. Deville probably arise from 
nis having examined the acids obtained by the distillation 
of the balsam, or extracted by concentrated alkaline solu- 
tions. I have proved that under these circumstances the 
resins of the balsam of Tolu become transformed in such a 
manner as to give rise to tVie formation of a large proportion 
of benzoic acid. The resins, carefully distilled with caustic 
soda, yield pure benzoine and a carbonaceous residue, con- 
taining a considerable quantity of benzoate of soda (the 
