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OBSERVATIONS ON MYRRH. 
The resin of the myrrh was obtained from an alcoholic 
extract by distilling off the greater portion of alcohol, and 
then evaporating it. A portion of the oil must still have 
remained with the resin. The latter was reddish-brown, 
transparent, brittle, of conchoidal fracture, and amounted to 
44.760 per cent, of the myrrh. When heated, it gave off 
vapours with the odour of myrrh, readily took fire, and 
burnt to within a small trace of residue. Its melting-point 
is between 194° and 203°; it dissolves wholly in ether, but 
only partially in alcohol; water produced a turbidness in 
the solution, which did not redden litmus-paper. Muriatic 
acid produced a nocculent turbidness. Boiling caustic pot- 
ash dissolved it partially; acetic and sulphuric acids yielded 
with it a clear solution. It is therefore a neutral resin, and 
may be called Myrrhine. Its composition is — 
I. II. III. 
Carbon 71.960 72.840 72.760 72.400 21 = 72.24 
Hydrogen 8.175 8.129 8.152 16 7.92 
Oxygen 19.865 19.031 19.448 3 19.S4 
A small quantity of the resin was heated in a glass tube 
to 334° until it ceased to froth. The liquid which had col- 
lected at the other end of the glass tube was perfectly trans- 
parent, and of a strong acid odour and taste. A small quan- 
tity of a soft resinous body had deposited itself on the sides 
of the tube. When cold, the mass was dark reddish-brown, 
very brittle, transparent, possessed great lustre, but scarcely 
any odour or taste. Ether dissolved the resin almost en- 
tirely, and also alcohol ; the latter yielded with water a 
turbid acid liquid. Nitric acid acquired with it a violet 
opalescence, and on warming became yellow. Sulphuric 
acid gave a clear reddish-brown solution with it. Since 
this acid resin is formed by fusion from the myrrhine, it may 
be called myrrhic acid. Elementary analysis gave — 
I. II. 
Carbon 75.430 75.310 75.370 24 == 75.222 
Hydrogen 7.946 8.063 8.005 16 8.250 
Oxygen 16.624 16.627 16.625 4 16.525 
