78 
ACTION OF ACIDS UPON AM YGD ALINE. 
exposed to a dull red heat, with the view of decomposing 
the iodate, yet there is generally a small portion of iodate 
left in the product, the presence of which causes the imme- 
diate liberation of iodine on the addition of sulphuric acid. 
Thus, although the Pharmacopoeia test is inefficient for 
the detection of iodine in pure iodide of potassium, yet. it 
answers very well with the iodide usually met with in 
commerce, the characteristic reaction being caused by the 
presence of even a minute portion of iodate of potash, 
which would not interfere with the medical action of the 
salt. — Pharm. Journ. 
ART. XX.— ON THE ACTION OF ACIDS UPON AMYGDALINE. 
By Professor Wohler. 
The composition of amygdaline is expressed by the for- 
mula C 40 H 27 NO 22 . There is very little doubt that it is one 
of the so-called conjugate compounds. From the circum- 
stance that it is separated by the influence of emulsine into 
sugar, prussic acid and oil of bitter almonds, it might be 
suspected that it really contains these substances as proxi- 
mate constituents, for — 
1 equiv. oil of bitter almonds C 14 H 6 O 2 
1 equiv. prussic acid C 2 H N 
2 equivs. sugar C 24 H 20 O 20 
give 1 equiv. amygdaline C 40 H 27 NO 22 
But it might also be regarded as a combination of the pro- 
tocyanide of benzoyle, C 14 H 5 -f C 2 N, with 2 atoms of 
gum : — 
1 equiv. benzoyle C ] 4 H 5 
1 equiv. cyanogen C 2 N 
2 equivs. gum C 24 H 22 O 22 
O H 2r N O22 
