52 report — 1877. 



On Hcderic Acid and Resin of Scammony. By Charles T. Kingzett, F.C.S. 

 In a paper " On some new lleactions in Organic Chemistry and their Ultimate 

 Bearings ; '*, the author, in conjunction with Dr. H. W. Hake, has described a 

 number of instances in which bodies (for instance, camphor) give with strong sul- 

 phuric acid and sugar a violet-coloured product. Other bodies give this colour 

 with sulphuric acid without the addition of sugar ; and by means of these reac- 

 tions the constitution of many substances may be in a measure predicted. 



Huderic acid C,aH 26 4 (Possett; also Davies), a constituent of ivy-leaves, gives 

 this colour-test with sulphuric acid; also in a less degree does resin of scam- 

 mony. In the present paper the author has described the processes by which he 

 has isolated glucose from the respective substances, thus confirming the hypo- 

 thesis given in his original paper above alluded to. Incidentally it is shown that the 

 root of Convolvulus scammonia contains no alkaloid; and some information is given 

 regarding a volatile oil obtained below 00° C. on distillation of scammony resin. 



Preliminary Account of the Alkaloids from Japanese Aconite. 

 By B. H. Paul, Ph.D., F.C.S. , and C. T. Kingzett, F.C.S. 



The authors have isolated from Japanese Aconite an alkaloid of the formula 

 29 II,i3 NO a , which is crystalline, but does not form crystallizable salts. It is further 

 shown that when the alkaloidal principle is extracted by means of Duquesnel's pro- 

 cess, it is accompanied by the salt of an alkaloid, perhaps aeonitrate of aconitine ; 

 and from this it is suggested that the so-called aconitine obtained and analyzed 

 by Wright and others has never been obtained absolutely pure, being probably 

 a variable mixture of the alkaloid with the above salt. 



Albumen of Commerce. By C. T. Kingzett, F.C.S., and M. Zinglee. 



In the patent process described by the- authors/albumen solutions are bleached 

 and preserved by passing a current of air through them in presence of oil of 

 turpentine at a temperature of about 40° C. Under these conditions, the turpen- 

 tine oxidizes, forming peroxide of hydrogen, camphoric acid, &c, the former of 

 which bodies effects, as it forms, the bleaching of blood, serum, or other albuminous 

 solutions, while the camphoric acid &c. preserves them in the liquid state entirely 

 free from putrescible or other changes. 



On an Improved System of Alkali Manufacture. By James Macteak, F.C.S. 



The author claims for this system these advantages : — 1. By its use the output 

 of the furnaces had been increased from 50 to 70 per cent. 2. That there is a 

 large saving both during lixiviation and in coal. 3. That there is a much re- 

 duced quantity of waste. 4. That there is a considerably increased yield of alkali 

 from a given amount of sulphate of soda. 5. That there is a considerable saving in 

 wages. This new process has been widely adopted in Great Britain, and is also 

 very successfully used in France. 



On a new Mechanical Furnace used in the AUcali Manufacture and for 

 Calcining Purposes generally. By James Macteak. 



Regeneration of Sulphur employed in the Alkali Manufacture by the Mactear 

 Process. By James Macteak. 



Pharm. Journ., May 12, 1876. 



