Correspondence. 101 
This process is in general that of Pelouze and Gélis. The dry acid 
is put with the syrupy glycerine and heated to 100° C.; then a current 
of chlorohydric acid is passed for some hours, keeping the mixture at 
100° C., and allowing it to cool in the current of gas. This done, the 
whole is left at the ordinary temperature, and the chlorohydric acid is 
applied again, as may be needed. fter more or less time the combi- 
nation is produced ; and to — it, it is only necessary to saturate 
the mixture with carbonate of s 
Quinidine.—As disghiakcin’ rt our former article on Quinidine, we 
will say that M. Pasteur has explained the contradictions of the differ- 
ent results that have been published respecting this alcaloid. Quinidine 
is a mixture of two distinct conecait differing in crystallization, solu- 
bility and rotatory powers; one is anhy rous, the other hydrous. Th 
alcaloid which more resembles clisisas is optically the reverse of that 
eis it causing polarized light to deviate to the right. 
acemic acid.—M. Pasteur has presented through M. Biot, a notice 
of the source of racemic acid. We have reported in the Januar ry No. 
of this Journal some of the curious observations which M. Pasteur has 
made with this acid. It was in consequence of those observations that 
y the suggestion of M. Biot, the Academy requested this chemist to con-. 
tinue = oo 4 ane at their expense. 
and w w know from M. Kestner and M. Pasteur, that: racemic acid 
is a brat product, seanict in almost all the tartars; it is not an 
accidental result in manufacture, as believed by some chemists, ora 
product peculiar 3 the grapes of the e Vosges, a supposition that arose 
from the position ef M. Kestner’s establishment, and which originated 
the name — ‘cid, changed to thannic acid -by Gay-Lussac from 
Thann, a manufacturing village of the Upper ape where are M. 
Kestner’s works, in which this acid was discovere 
he process for racemic acid having been c nside red a secret of 
e 
ism, he was compelled to suspend his useful 
In this state of the subject, the Society of icine of Paris in _— 
proposed the two sgmectatt Do these crude tartars contain racem 
acid ready formed? Under what circumstances is tartaric acid ea 
formed = racemic ? 
London, r. Simpe on, recs it from Germany. asteur gg id 
through M. Mitscherlich that it was made at a Saxon manufactory, ¥ 
ited the place but found little of the acid; the tartar had been rece pred 
from’ Trieste. He was more successful at Vienna, where, guided by 
= Redtenbacher, he detected it in the crude tartars of Austrian com- 
merce. Those of Naples, Hungary and Styria also contained it. 
