Feb  ^1888^'^°^ ■}       Analysis  of  Bieinus  Communis.  95 
On  treating  a  portion  with  a  strong  solution  of  NaOH,  no  evidence 
of  saponification  was  obtained. 
In  the  effort  to  purify  this  extract  it  was  found  that  by  treating  a 
portion  with  an  alcoholic  solution  of  sodium  hydrate,  adding  an  equal 
volume  of  water  and  agitating  with  petroleum  spirit,  and  evaporation 
of  the  same,  an  orange-red  wax,  soft  and  liquid  at  27°  C,  was  obtained. 
The  alkaline  residual  liquid  was  then  acidified  and  again  agitated  with 
petroleum  spirit,  which  on  evaporation  left  a  dark  residue  that  melted 
at  about  87°  C,  which  proved  to  be  a  resin  similar  to  that  obtained  in 
the  ether  extraction. 
A  portion  of  the  purified  wax  was  treated  according  to  the  scheme 
proposed  by  E.  Hirschsohn  for  the  identification  of  waxes  (American 
Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1880,  p.  303).  The  solution  on  cooling 
remained  clear,  and  an  alcoholic  solution  of  ferric  chloride  neither 
gave  a  precipitate  nor  colored  the  solution,  showing  that  it  differed 
from  the  waxes  mentioned  by  him.  Its  light  specific  gravity  would 
distinguish  it  also,  as  well  as  its  low  fusing  point. 
The  powder  was  then  extracted  by  stronger  ether,  and  a  portion 
evaporated,  showing  residue  amounting  to  2'575  per  cent.,  which  melted 
at  91  °  to  93°  C.  It  was  entirely  soluble  in  chloroform,  benzol  and  carbon 
bisulphide.  Absolute  alcohol  dissolved  2*02  per  cent,  of  resin.  When 
tested  for  alkaloids  and  glucosides  negative  results  were  obtained. 
The  tincture  obtained  by  exhausting  the  powder  with  absolute, alco- 
hol was  reduced  by  distillation  at  a  low  temperature  by  means  of  a 
vacuum,  to  200  c.c.  Two  portions  of  20  c.c.  each,  were  evaporated 
to  dryness  and  3*12  per  cent,  of  extract  obtained,  which  on  ignition 
left  0'15  per  cent,  of  inorganic  matter.  The  extract  was  soluble  in 
water  to  the  extent  of  2*58  per  cent.  The  remaining  160  c.c.  was 
evaporated  to  dryness,  and  redissolved  in  water,  filtered,  and  made  up 
to  160  c.c.  and  divided  into  eight  portions  of  20  c.c.  One  portion, 
precipitated  with  ammoniacal  zinc  acetate,  washed,  dried  and  ignited, 
indicated  1*008  per  cent,  of  tannin.  Another  portion  treated  by  solu- 
tion of  neutral  lead  acetate,  gave  the  same  results.  Other  portions 
were  found  to  contain  small  amounts  of  glucose  and  saccharose.  One 
portion  was  made  slightly  acid  and  agitated  successively  with  petro- 
leum spirit,  benzol,  and  chloroform,  then  made  alkaline  and  treated  in 
the  same  way  as  before,  with  the  solvents  named.  Chloroform  was 
the  only  one  that  dissolved  anything.  The  residue,  dissolved  in  alco- 
hol and  allowed  to  evaporate  slowly,  deposited  crystals,  which  ^vere 
