284 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY . 



We proceeded as follows. A convenient quantity of turmerol was 

 boiled with nitric acid (one part of acid of 1.38 specific gravity diluted 

 with two parts of water) under a reverse condenser for some time. 

 The yellow solution was filtered hot, and on cooling deposited a white 

 crystalline substance which sublimed very easily at a little over 170°. 

 It was jjurified by sublimation, followed by warming with tin and 

 hydrochloric acid to remove any nitro compound wiiich might have 

 been formed ; after this it was crystallized from boiling water until it 

 showed a constant melting point, which stood at 178°. This at once 

 suggested that the substance was the paratoluylic acid CH3C6H4COOH, 

 which melts according to Beilstein and Yssel* at 176° to 177°, ac- 

 cording to Fischli t at 180°. To confirm this inference we analyzed 

 the calcium salt with the following results : — 



I. 0.1106 gr. of the air-dried salt lost 0.0165 gr. when dried at 140°, 

 II. 0.1212 gr. of the air-dried salt lost 0.0176 gr. when dried at 140°. 



Water 



0.2848 gr. of the calcium salt dried at 140° gave 0.1246 gr. of 

 calcic sulphate. 



Calcium 



The amount of water found (three molecules) corresponds to that 

 obtained by Beilstein and Yssel* in the calcium salt of paratoluylic 

 acid. We also converted the acid into its anilid by treating it succes- 

 sively with phosphoric pentachloride and aniline. This after repeated 

 crystallization from dilute alcohol melted constant at 143°, and gave 

 the following result on analysis : — 



0.1122 gr. of the substance gave 7 c.c. of nitrogen at a temperature 

 of 29° and a pressure of 753.7 mm. 



Calculated for 

 C8II7ONHO0H5. Found. 



Nitrogen 6.63 6.75 



* Ann. Chem., CXXXVII. 302. 

 t Ber. d. ch. G., XII. 615. 



