Benzoin Resins^ Veratric JElher^ Cami)lioric Acid. 4'H 



he says that potassa decomposes benzoin into O" H'-2 O^ 

 (C« H« O ') and C^° H"' 0\ The former is evidently the 

 betaresin ; probably all alpharesin had bet n decomposed into 

 the other two. The soluble resin, C^" HJ" Os agrees tole- 

 rably well with the gammaresin. I regret extremely that 1 

 have no opportunity of obtaining further particulars of Mr. 

 Johnston's experiments on the subject. — H. C] 



Veratric ^ther. 



Dr. Will has prepared veratric eether by dissolving the 

 acid in strong alcohol, and saturating it with hydrochloric acid 

 gas. On mixing with water the asther separates as a thick oily 

 fluid, which, by washing with a dilute solution of carbonate of 

 soda, gradually solidifies. It is then dried by means of sul- 

 phuric acid under the air-pump. It melts at 42° C. ; is almost 

 inodorous; has a bitter burning taste; scarcely soluble in water; 

 soluble in alcohol, out of which it crystallizes in groups of 

 acicular crystals; not volatile without partial decomposition. 

 Specific gravity at 18° C. = M41. Formula C H"'0, C* 

 H'* O'. [/bmalcn der Pharmacie, xxxvii.) 



Action of Anhydrous Sulphuric Acid on Anhydrous Camphoric 

 Acid. 

 M. Walter has examined the action of anhydrous sul- 

 phuric acid on anhydrous camphoric acid. The camphoric 

 acid is dissolved by fuming sulphuric acid ; on heating carbonic 

 oxide is developed, but no other gas. By saturating the fluid 

 with carbonate of baryta a soluble salt is obtained, which must 

 be evaporated in vacuo; it does not crystallize, but forms an 

 amorphous colourless mass, soluble in water and alcohol. 

 Formula O' H'^ O', SO', BaO. Camphoric acid is C'"H" O^ ; 

 the decomposition is thus C'" H" O' + SO^ = C' H'* O^ + 



SO- + C O. The lead salt is C H'^ 0% S + Pb. The po- 

 tassa salt is crystalline; the lime salt is amorphous ; they have 

 both similar formulaj. The acid itself may be obtained cry- 

 stallized, but not dry. {Annalcs dc Chcmie.) 



M. Walter has published some experiments on the action of 

 anhydrous |)hosphoric acid on camphoric acid. The action is 

 quite diflerent from that of sulphuric acid ; the one atom of car- 

 bon has its place taken by the sulphurous acid in the former 

 case, but in the latter the decompositions are more complicated. 

 When the two acids are distilled together much gas is evolved, 

 and an oily fluid passes over. The gas consists of one volume 

 of carbonic acid, and four volumes of carbonic oxide. The 

 fluid is a hydrocarbon, C 88*4; hydrogen 1 1'6. It might be 

 oil of turpentine, but M. Walter considers it more probable 



