MISCELLANY. 
155 
anhydrous, it is less subject to change, and merely assumes a yellow 
colour. Its odour resembles that of a mixture of bitter almorfd oil and 
oil of cassia, but has less fragrance. Its specific gravity at 60° Fahr., 
is 1.168; it boils at 323° Fahr., and distils at that temperature without 
alteration. It dissolves to a large extent in cold water, and also in alco- 
hol. Its solution in concentrated' sulphuric acid has a magnificent pur- 
ple colour, and is decomposed by water. Nitric acid, with the aid of 
heat, attacks the oil with prodigious violence, evolving copious red 
fumes, and generating oxalic acid, whieh appears to be the only product. 
It dissolves in a solution of caustic potash, forming a deep brown liquid, 
from which ashes precipitate a resinous matter. With a slight heat, it 
explodes when acted upon by metallic potassium. 
When placed in contact with 5 or 6 times its bulk of Liquor ammonias, 
it is gradually converted into a solid, yellowish- white, and somewhat 
crystalline mass, which is very bulky, perfectly soluble in cold water, 
and easily obtained in a state of dryness under a vacuum. The formula 
expressing the chemical constitution of this substance, or of furfur- 
oamide, as the author calls it, is H 6 N O', and it is classed by him 
with the amides. The oil itself appears to be identical with the sub- 
stance described by Dr. Stenhouse under the name of artificial oil of 
ants. Another substance, isomeric with the amides, and of which the 
formula is C 30 H 12 N 2 O 6 , was obtained by the author, and termed by 
him furfurine, and found to have the properties of a vegeto-alkali, and 
to form saline compounds with various acids. — Ibid. 
On the Adulteration of the Sulphate of Quinine. By M. Pelletier. — 
The sulphate of quinine is easily adulterated with salicine, although it 
does not crystallize in the same form. When the sulphate of quinine 
is mixed with one-half or only one-fourth of salicine, the reaction of 
concentrated sulphuric acid is sufficiently decisive to enable one to con- 
clude as to the sophistication ; but if there be but one-tenth in the mix- 
ture, the sulphuric acid does not acquire the bright red colour which 
characterizes pure salicine; in this case the liquid resembles sulphuric 
acid coloured by some particles of carbonized vegetable matter. To be 
able to pronounce positively, it is therefore requisite to isolate the sali- 
cine, and to obtain the above reaction in all its force. 
I added 12 decigrms. of concentrated sulphuric acid to 2 decigrms. of 
sulphate of quinine sophisticated with one-tenth of salicine; the salt 
was dissolved and coloured brown. I then added 25 grms. of distilled 
water, when the brown colour disappeared, and the salicine remained 
white and suspended in the liquid. The salicine is not dissolved by 
this acid solution of sulphate of quinine. I then filtered and collected 
