624 CONIFERiE. 



product under notice, namely Black Pitch. Again heated to a very 

 elevated temperature, it is capable of yielding paraffin, anthracene and 

 naphthalene. 



Description — Pitch is an opaque-looking, black substance, breaking 

 with a shining conchoidal fracture, the fragments showing at the thin 

 translucent edges a brownish colour. No trace of distinct crystallization 

 is observable when very thin fragments are examined, even by polarized 

 light. Pitch has a peculiar disagreeable odour, rather different from 

 that of tar. Its alcoholic solution has a feeble taste somewhat like that 

 of tar, but pitch itself when masticated is almost tasteless. It softens by 

 the warmth of the hand, and may then be kneaded. It readily dissolves 

 in those liquids which are solvents of tar. Alcohol of 75 per cent, acts 

 freely on it, leaving behind in small proportion a dark viscid residue. 

 The brown solution reddens litmus paper, and yields a dingy brownish 

 precipitate with perchloride of iron, and whitish precipitates with 

 alcoholic solution of neutral acetate of lead, or with pure water. Pitch 

 dissolves in solution of caustic potash, evolving an offensive odour. 



Chemical Composition — From the method in which pitch is pre- 

 pared, we may infer that it contains some of the less volatile and less 

 crystallizable compounds found in tar. Ekstrand (1875) extracted from 

 it Retene, C^^H^^ a colourless, inodorous crystalline substance, melting 

 at 90° C. 



The pitch of beechwood boiled with a caustic alkali, yields a foetid 

 volatile oil ; when this solution is acidulated, fatty volatile acids are 

 evolved. These principles however have not yet been isolated either 

 from the pitch of pine or beech. The whitish compound formed by 

 acetate of lead in an alcoholic solution of pitch deserves investigation, 

 and perhaps might be the starting point for acquiring a better know- 

 ledge of the chemistry of this substance. 



Commerce — The same countries that produce tar produce also 

 pitch. The quantity of the latter imported into the United Kingdom 

 during 1872 was 35,482 cwt., four-fifths of which were supplied by 

 Russia. Pitch is also manufactured from tar in Great Britain. 



Uses — Pitch is occasionally administered in the form of pills, or 

 externally as an ointment ; but its medicinal properties are, to say tlie 

 least, very questionable. 



FRUCTUS JUNIPERI. 



Baccce Oalbuli Juniperi; Juniper Be'rries; F. Baies de Oenievre; 

 G. Wacholdet^eeren, Kaddigheeren. 



Botanical Origin — Juniperis comTnunis L., a dioecious evergreen, 

 occurring in Europe from the Mediterranean to the Arctic regions, 

 throughout Russian Asia as far as Sachalin, and in the north-w^estern 

 Himalaya, where it is ascending in Kashmir at 5400 feet, in Lahoul to 

 12,500, on the upper Bias and in Gurhwal to 14,000 feet. It abounds 

 in the islands of Newfoundland, Saint Pierre, and Miquelon, and is 

 also found in Continental North America. Dispersed over this vast 

 area the Common Juniper presents several varieties. In England and 



