1835.] Scientific Intelligence. 153' 



IV. — Phosphate of Quinine. 



Phosphoiuc acid bearing a nearer relation to the animal economy than 

 sulphuric acid, Professor Harles proposes to substitute the phosphate 

 for the sulphate of quinine in medicine ( Pharm. Zeit.) The method 

 which he described for forming it is considered imperfect by Winkler, 

 who recommends the following: — He first prepares a muriate of 

 quinine, by decomposing the sulphate with chloride of barium ; 

 1,200 parts of the latter are triturated with 480 parts of crystallized 

 sulphate of quinine. This mixture is then added to 8 parts by 

 weight of distilled water. The liquid is filtered and the residue 

 washed. The liquors are united and diluted with 4 times their 

 weight of distilled water. A solution of phosphate of ammonia is 

 then carefully added. The precipitate should be washed with cold 

 distilled water and dried at a gentle heat ; an excess of phosphate of 

 ammonia should be avoided, because it dissolves the phosphate of 

 quinine ; 60 parts of muriate of quinine afford 46 of phosphate. It 

 is a fine crystallized powder, very light, white, and very bitter. 

 When a solution of it in boiling water is cooled, it is deposited in 

 silky needles. It is soluble in 480 parts of cold and 140 of boiling 

 water. It consists of quinine 87*03, phosphoric acid 12-97. Wink- 

 ler has since stated that it may be formed by the mutual action of 

 sulphate of quinine and sulphate of ammonia. — {Buchner's Repertor 

 and Journ. de Chim. Medic, i. 368. 



V. — Pectic Acid. 



M. SiMONiN of Nancy has given an improved method of preparing 

 this acid. The pectine and jelly which are formed by the mixture of 

 the juice of the gooseberries with that of sour cherries, is to be 

 separated from the liquid part and well washed, to separate the 

 colouring matter. It is then boiled with a small quantity of weak 

 caustic potash. The liquid which contains pectate of potash is then 

 passed through a cloth filter. The pectate is decomposed by agita- 

 tion with chloride of lime. Decolouration quickly takes place, and 

 white flocks of pectate of lime separate. These are collected on a 

 filter and treated with water acidulated with muriatic acid, which de- 

 composes it and dissolves the lime. The pectic acid is allowed to 

 drop upon a cloth, and is well washed with water in order to take 

 up all the muriate of lime and acid which it retains. In this state 

 pectic acid is almost colourless, in the form of a compact jelly. It 

 combines with the greatest ease with alkalies. A few drops of 

 ammonia liquify it and give it a brown colour. If we wish to pre- 

 pare pectate of ammonia, a sufficient quantity of this alkali is added 

 to give it the consistence of syrup, which is filtered. It is then dried 

 in porcelain vessels, where it separates into brown glassy plates. It 

 is soluble in water from which alcohol and sugar separate the pectic 

 acid in the form of a jelly. 



It is necessary in washing the pectic acid to employ water con- 

 taining neither lime nor calcareous salts, because the pressure of the 

 smallest portion of these substances will occasion the production of 



