A Manual of the Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds

THE CARBON COMPOUNDS. 487
solution of ourcumiu with boric acid and strong sulphuric acid.
Rosocyanin forms slender needles, having a green-metallic lustre,
and dissolving in alcohol with a splendid red colour, which on-adding
a drop of soda changes into a deep-blue, and when exposed to the
air fcums grey. Lime and baryta-water give with the alcoholic
solution fine blue precipitates.
Hdenin C^HjgOg occurs in the root of Invia ffelenium, and
crystallizes in colourless four-sided prisms, which are soluble in
alcohol. When heated with phosphorus pentoxide it ia resolved into
water, carbon dioxide and liquid Ifdenenc C,9Hj^
Iva&n, 02.HKO3 is found in Iva (Aehillea moschata) a plant growing
in the High-Alps. It is a yellow semifluid resinous mass, having
an intensely bitter taste.
Ivaol C^H^Oj is the volatile oil of Iva, and possesses a very
agreeable aromatic odour, and bitter and warming taste. Besides
these compounds Iva contains Moschatin C^IL-NO, and
AchUlcin C^HjgNjOjj, which is also found in Addllca millefolium
and forms an amorphous powder. When boiled with dilute acids
it yields ammonia, a volatile body having a fragrant smell, and
achilletin CUH17NO4, a brown substance having an aromatic but
not bitter taste.
JPicrotoxin. CiaHMOB is the poisonous principle contained in the
seeds of Menispermns Coceulus and prepared by exhausting them with
alcohol, and crystallizing the impure picrotoxiu from hot water. It
forms tufts of colourless needle?, having an intensely bitter taste.
Quamin CJOH^OJ is contained in the quassia-wood (Picraena
eoxeha) from Jamaica, and forms thin colourless crystals, which are
sparingly soluble in water, freely in alcohol, and possess a very bitter
taste.
Santonin C,&H,8Oa occurs in Semen-contra orworm-seed, which consists
of the unexpanded flower-heads of Artemisia Santoniat. To
prepare it, worm, seed is boiled with milk of lime, and the solution
precipitated with hydrochloric acid. It crystallizes from alcohol in
colourless, flat, six-sided prisms, having a faint bitter taste; when
exposed to sunshine the crystals become yellow. Santonin is a
weak acid; the sodium salt 2(CuH,rNa0!!) -J- 9H,0 crystallizes in
colourless, transmceut plates, mid is decomposed by boiling' water.
Santonin is used as an anthelminic.
Turacin is the red colouring matter contained in feathers of the
win« of the Tnvaeo or plan tain-eater, from which it maybe extracted
by dilute potash. Its composition is not known, but it differs from
all other red colouring matters by containing 5-9per cent, of copper;
the presence of this metal can easily be shown by the green colour,
which the feathers impart to the colourless gas-flame; the green
feathers of this bird do not contain copper.