150     STEAROPTEN  OF  THE  OIL  OF  THE  PTYCHOTIS  AJOWAN. 
ON  GENUINE  THEOBROMINE. 
By  Dr.  E.  Keller. 
When  theobromine  is  carefully  heated  between  two  watch 
glasses,  it  forms  a  brilliant  white  sublimate,  and  leaves  a  small 
quantity  of  carbon  behind.  The  substance  thus  sublimed  may 
be  re-sublimed  without  further  alteration.  The  hydrochloric 
acid  solution  of  this  sublimate  gave  with  chloride  of  platinum 
splendid  golden-yellow  crystals.  An  analysis  of  the  sublimate, 
and  a  determination  of  the  atomic  weight,  led  to  the  formula 
QU  H3  N4  Q4# 
The  analyses  of  theobromine  already  published  appear  to  have 
been  made  with  the  commercial  article.  This  would  account  for 
the  assertion,  that  it  does  not  volatilize  without  decomposition. 
All  the  specimens  of  ^theobromine  obtained  in  the  way  of  trade, 
showed  this  carbonization  more  or  less ;  and  sometimes  the  sub- 
limate was  colored  red,  arising  probably  from  the  decomposition 
of  some  cinchotannic  acid  present. 
The  taste  of  sublimed  theobromine  is  decidedly  bitter,  and 
different  from  that  of  the  unsublimed. 
This  property  of  sublimation  without  decomposition,  bring3 
theobromine  a  step  nearer  to  caffeine  London  Ohem.  Graz., 
from  Ann.  der  Chem.  und  Pharm. 
ON  THE  STEAROPTEN  OF  THE  OIL  OF  THE  PTYCHOTIS  AJOWAN, 
AN  UMBELLIFEROUS  PLANT  FROM  THE  EAST  INDIES. 
By  John  Stenhouse,  LL.D,  F.R.S. 
A  few  months  ago  I  obtained  a  quantity  of  this  stearopten 
from  the  late  Dr.  Stocks,  whose  recent  premature  death  has 
been  such  a  loss  both  to  science  and  to  the  medical  service  of 
the  East  India  Company. 
Dr.  Stocks  states  that  "  this  stearopten  is  not  found  in  the 
bazaars  of  Scinde,  but  in  the  druggists'  shops  at  Poonah  and 
other  large  tows  in  the  Deccan. 
"  It  is  called  Ajowan  Ka  Phul  (sublimed  Ajowan),  and  is  pre- 
pared from  the  grains  or  pericarps  of  the  Ptychotis  Ajowan,  an 
umbelliferous  plant,  well  known  in  India  for  its  aromatic  and 
carminative  properties.  It  is  made  at  Oojein  and  elsewhere,  in 
Central  India,  during  the  cold  season,  and  is  said  to  form  spon- 
