140 
ON LILACINE. 
nesia formed, together with a considerable portion of man- 
nite, which I have proved to exist in the fruit. Lilacine ap- 
pears to be combined in lilac with malic acid, though it is not 
alkaline. When crystallized from a boiling solution by cold, 
it is in tufts, formed of small and delicate needles, resembling 
meconine, but if you allow a solution, made cold, to evaporate 
spontaneously, it crystallizes in long quadrilateral prisms 
with dihedral summits. It has a decided bitter taste, some- 
what like the salts of quinine, but less intense. It is insoluble 
in water, and does not dissolve in, or neutralize acids. Boil- 
ing acetic acid dissolves without combining with it, the pure 
crystals subsiding upon cooling. All the lilacs do not afford 
a similar quantity, and this is but small ; certain kinds did 
not present to me even a trace. It is much to be desired that 
some experiments be made with this substance, in order to 
fix its therapeutic value. A. D. 
Journ. de Pharm. 
