EXAMINATIOIT  OP  CUBEBS. 
225 
was  partly  of  935,  but  mainly  of  937  spec.  grav.  The  compo- 
sition of  all  these  oils  is  C30H24 ;  their  compound  with  HCl  crys- 
tallizes in  fine,  inodorous  and  tasteless  needles,  which  are 
^30^26^12. 
Cubeb-camplior  =  C3oH2e02  was  obtained  only  from  the  vola- 
tile oil  of  old  cubebs,  in  which  it  appears  to  have  been  formed 
from  the  light  oil. 
The  extractive  contains  some  malate  and  acetate  of  potassa, 
small  quantities  of  chloride  of  potassium*  and  sulphate  of  po- 
tassa, with  traces  of  tannin.  The  extractive  of  cubeb  stems  is 
free  from  acetates,  contains  little  malate,  but  is  richer  in  chloride 
of  potassium. 
Cubebin  is  neither  a  glucoside  nor  a  base  ;  it  appears  to  be 
more  of  a  resinous  nature  and  becomes  amorphous  under  the  in- 
fluence of  various  chemical  agents.  H0,S03  colors  it  cherry  red. 
From  his  analysis  the  author  deduced  the  formula  Og5H3^02Q  (the 
figures  also  agree  well  with  Heldt's  formula  CgoHgoOig.) 
The  neutral  resin  of  Bernatzik  is  partly  cubebin,  rendered 
amorphous  by  potassa.  The  author's  neutral  resin  is  yellowish 
brown,  friable,  soluble  in  alcohol  and  caustic  alkalies,  little  in 
ether,  bisulphide  of  carbon  and  chloroform,  assumes  a  carmine 
color  by  HOySOg.  Composition  C2gHi40io  (the  figures  also  agree 
well  with  C60H34O22  =  cubebin  +  4  HO.) 
The  acid  resin  (cubebic  acid)  cannot  be  obtained  by  Bernat- 
zik's  process.  The  alcoholic  solution  of  the  mixed  resins  yields 
with  alcoholic  acetate  of  lead  a  precipitate  of  cubebate  of  lead, 
the  neutral  resin  being  not  precipitated.  Cubebic  acid  is  colored 
carmine  to  cherry  red  by  HOjSOg.  It  is  white  amorphous,  and 
yields  amorphous  salts  ;  it  is  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  bisulphide 
of  carbon,  petroleum  ether,  chloroform,  ammonia.  Its  formula 
in  combination  is  C26H12O12  combined  with  two  equiv.  base. 
The  deposit  from  the  ethereal  extract  (oleoresin)  of  cubebs 
*  Whea  the  alcohol  is  distilled  from  the  tincture  of  cubebs,  and  the 
extract  is  taken  up  with  ether,  numerous  crystals  are  found  in  the  residue. 
I  have  repeatedly  obtained  these  crystals,  which  are  chloride  of  potas- 
sium, but  no  other  analysis  of  cubebs  with  which  I  am  acquainted  men- 
tions that  salt.    J.  M.  Maisch. 
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