The organic constituents of plants and vegetable substances and their chemical analysis / by G.C. Wittstein ; authorised translation from the German original, enlarged with numerous additions, by Baron Ferd. von Mueller.

  • Wittstein, Georg Christian, 1810-1887.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The organic constituents of plants and vegetable substances and their chemical analysis / by G.C. Wittstein ; authorised translation from the German original, enlarged with numerous additions, by Baron Ferd. von Mueller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/358 (page 11)
    alkalies. When any of these solutions are boiled, the Aloin becomes unciystallisable. Aluclli-Resin, From an unknown tree of Madagascar. Almost white on the outside, of black marble appearance on the inside, opaque, solid, friable, of strongly aromatic, pepperlike smell and of bitter taste. Contains volatile oil, a resin easily dissolving in alcohol, another resin more difficult to dissolve in alcohol (the latter crystalline to about 20%), an acid in the free state, an amor- phous bitter substance and a salt of ammonia. Alvxia-Stereopten. Exudates on the inner surface of the bark of Alyxia Eeinwardti.* White, hair-shaped crystals of the odoiu of Cumarine, of faintly aromatic taste and of neutral reaction. It sublimates at 75°to 87°, fuses in higher temperatures and becomes brown afterwards; dissolves little in cold, better in warm water, readily in alcohol, ether, acetic acid, oil of turpentine, caustic alka- lies and carbonates of alkalies. Amanitill. The alleged poisonous ingTedient of the Fly- Agaric (Agaricus muscarius), obtained as yet only as extract, con- sequently impure, [AmLrOSin. A fossil resin, exudation of probably coniferous trees of South Georgia. Resembles amber, yields on melting suc- cinic acid and a fragrant volatile oil. Dissolves copiously in oil of turpentine, alcohol, ether, chloroform and carbonate of potash, in less quantity and without decomposition in concentrated mineral acids.] Ammoniacuni. Gum-resinous exudation of Dorema ammo- niacum. Yellowish white, half-transparent lumps, friable at low temperature, of concheous fracture, disagreeable smell, faintly bitter and acrid taste. Contains about 70% resin, soluble in alcohol and solution of alkalies, 18 gum, 4 bassorin, and a light volatile oil. Amygdalin = C40 H27 NO22 + 6 HO. Found in many plants belonging to Rosacese, but its presence has been partly deduced from the fact, that these vegetables produce hydrocyanic acid, when distilled with water. Amygdalin has been obtained in two different modifications, viz., (a) in the crystalline form from the seeds of Prunus Amygdalus, Prunus Persica, Prunus domestica, Prunus Laurocerasus, Prunus Padus, and from the leaves, flowers and bark of the latter; (b) in the amorphous form from the leaves of Prunus Persica and Prunus Laurocerasus and from the seeds of Prunus Cerasus. Its presence has been deduced from the hydrocyanic acid in the distillate of the following plants:—Prunus capricida (leaves), Pr. spinosa (flowers and seeds), Pr. virginiana (bark); Amelanchier vulgaris,Cotoneaster vulgaris,Cratjegus Oxya- * Doubtless also in others of the many Australian, Indian, and Polynesian species known in the root of A. ruscifolia.—F. v. M.