OBSERVATIONS ON MYRRH. 
175 
became violet, and subsequently yellow. Acetic acid 
yielded a violet-red solution with it; caustic potash had 
very little action upon it. This resinous body presented 
on elementary analysis the following composition: 
Carbon - - 77.130 22 = 77.40 
Hydrogen - - 8.870 15 8.68 
Oxygen - - 14.000 3 13.92 
To ascertain the nature and amount of the ethereal oil, 
the alcoholic extract was distilled until the residue began 
to acquire a thickish consistence. After removal of the 
alcohol from the recipient, some grammes of water were 
added to the retort and the heat was increased ; a faintly- 
yellow oil passed over with the aqueous vapour. The ad- 
dition of water was renewed, and the distillation continued 
as long as perceptible traces of oil passed over. The re- 
siduary resin was on cooling brittle, clear, light brownish- 
red. Alcohol dissolved it almost wholly; with water it 
yielded a white turbid liquid, which had an acid reaction 
In ether it was readily soluble ; by nitric acid it became first 
violet, then brown ; caustic potash had scarcely any action 
on it. The distilled oil of myrrh (Myrrhole) was of a light 
vinous-yellow colour, thick, and possessed a penetrating 
odour and taste of myrrh. After standing for some time 
exposed to the air, it became thicker and its colour darker ; 
its quantity amounted to 2. 183 of the myrrh; it was lighter 
than water, heavier than alcohol. Both ether and alcohol 
readily dissolve it. The composition of myrrhole is — 
I. IT. Mittel. 
Carbon 79.820 80.150 79.985 22 = 80.440 
Hydrogen 9.867 10.430 10.149 16| 9.920 
Oxygen 10.313 9.420 9.866 2 9.640 
It is remarkable that the per-centage composition of 
myrrhole agrees very nearly with that of colophony and of 
sylvic acid: — 
Colophony. Sylvic Acid. 
(Blanchet and Sell.) (Liebig and Trommsdorf.) 
Carbon 80.04 79.74 79.66 
Hydrogen 10.01 9.82 9.82 
Oxygen 9,95 10.44 10.52 
