458 REPORT—1883. 
III, Extensions of the Theory.—Many determinations which show clearly a 
diminution of speed with diminution of the product of the active bodies do not 
accord with the hypothesis that these quantities vary in the same ratio. In such 
cases there may be a variation in the viscosity, orsome secondary reaction; a 
careful study of the discrepancy or perturbation may lead to a satisfactory hypo- 
thesis, and suggest special experiments to test the causes suspected. 
IV. Indirect Determinations,—W henever there are reciprocal reactions the con- 
ditions of apparent equilibrium may indicate the ratio of the speed of each, Some 
of these ratios may be combined with constants of speed directly determined, to 
yield new values; for example, if the constants for etherification are determined, 
it would he easy to calculate those for the decomposition of ether by water in all 
cases where the limit of the reaction is known. : 
V. Tabulation of Results,—By bringing all the results obtained into systematic 
order, this interesting class of data can be made available for comparison with 
other fields of physical science. 
4. Ortho-Amido-Cinnamic Acid. By T. M. Morean, B.Sc. 
To this acid, which I first obtained in very small quantity, and probably impure, 
1 was led by the analytical results to assign a composition corresponding to amido- 
phenyl-glyceric acid (‘Chemical News,’ xxxvi. 269). It was afterwards described 
by Tiemann and Oppermann (‘ Ber. deut. chem. Ges.’ xiii, 2061), who prepared it by 
reduction of ortho-nitro-cinnamic acid by baric hydrate and ferrous sulphate. _ Its 
purification is attended with much difficulty when the corresponding nitro-acid is 
reduced with stannous chloride by reason of the large amount of resinous matter 
simultaneously produced. I have since prepared the amido-acid in much larger 
quantity, and find that it possesses the property of forming an acid sodium salt of 
very stable character, easily soluble in hot water and alcohol, sparingly soluble in 
cold, and very readily crystallising in flat, thin, rhomboidal plates of bright yellow 
colour. It may be formed by adding to an alcoholic solution of the sodium salt 
sufficient acetic acid to combine with half the sodium, or by dissolving in alcohol 
three molecules of ortho-amido-sodic cinnamate and one of the hydrochloride of 
ortho-amido-cinnamic acid. This salt is well adapted for the purification of the 
free acid ; the latter is best obtained pure by crystallisation from hot benzine, which 
yields it in form of long brittle yellow prisms. 
5. On the preparation of Cinnamic Acid. By T. M. Morcan, B.Sc. 
This acid, which has acquired an additional interest of late through being the 
mother substance from which indigo may, in several ways, be prepared, can now be 
artificially produced in quantity by two methods. : 
It is obtained by the well-known Perkins’ reaction, when sodic acetate, acetic 
anhydride, and benzaldehyde are boiled with a reversed condenser for eight or ten 
hours. Jn this way, when pure materials are used, almost a quantitative yield is 
obtained ; but if the substances used are not pure, as by the employment of com-~ 
mercial sodie acetate, resinous products will be produced in large quantity and 
very little cinnamic acid. ine 
The second method has been made the subject of a patent. It consists in the 
oxidation of cinnamyl-methyl-ketone by alkaline hypochlorites. This method is 
less advantageous than the foregoing, as the ketone is troublesome to prepare, the 
reaction by which it is produced taking place slowly, only in very dilute aqueous 
solutions, and not yielding a product corresponding with the materials employed. 
But for the production of cinnamic acid in quantity it is better to employ the 
old method of extracting it from liquid storax, which yields to prolonged boiling 
with caustic potash about fifteen per cent. There has been some inconvenience in 
freeing the acid from a resin extracted at the same time by the alkaline solution 5 
but it will be found that treating the latter with common salt renders it incapable 
of taking up the resin, or precipitates it if dissolved as a resin soap, the solution 
then yielding on acidification an almost white precipitate, containing in a dry state 
a eo ee 
