M iy 10, 1373.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
885 
A small quantity (about 2 per cent.) of nitrogen was 
also contained in the gas, together with a trace of oxygen, 
which have been omitted from the calculation. 
The result of this reaction is expressed in the following 
equation :— 
CO -f 3H 2 = CH 4 + H 2 0. 
This fundamental experiment, which constitutes the 
basis of a new method of chemical synthesis, susceptible 
-of the most varied applications, and of peculiar interest 
in reference to the explication of natural phenomena, was 
commenced by me on the 10th of January last at Oxford, 
in the laboratory of my friend and successor in the Chair 
of Chemistry, Professor Odling; and two analyses of the 
gas were completed, and the results attained in the course 
of a week from that date. 
In a similar experiment made with a mixture of hydro¬ 
gen and carbonic acid gas, a contraction also occurred, 
attended with the formation of water. The gas which 
resulted from the experiment was found to consist (after 
the absorption of carbonic acid) of hydrogen and carbonic 
oxide, together with a little marsh-gas. Traces of oxygen 
and nitrogen were also present. Minute drops, too, of an 
oily liquid appeared in the tube. This liquid, after the 
conclusion of the experiment, was dissolved in a small 
quantity of water. The solution was strongly acid and 
had a pungent taste. It reduced an alkaline solution of 
terchloride of gold and an ammoniacal solution of nitrate 
of silver. 
These reactions are the characteristic properties of 
formic acid, of which we may infer the synthesis to 
have been effected according to the equation 
H 2 -j-C0 2 = H 2 C0 2 . 
I may avail myself of the present opportunity to place 
on record the following important facts in reference to the 
action of electricity on carbonic oxide gas. 
When pure and dry carbonic oxide is circulated through 
the induction-tube, and there submitted to the action of 
electricity, a decomposition of the gas occurs, attended 
with a gradual and regular contraction, which, in the 
form assumed in my experiments, occurred at the regular 
rate of about 5 cubic centimetres in an hour. Carbonic 
acid is formed, and simultaneously with its formation a 
solid deposit may be observed in the induction-tube. This 
deposit appears as a transparent film of a red-brown 
colour, lining the walls of the tube. It is perfectly soluble 
in water, which is strongly coloured by it. The solution 
has an intensely acid reaction. 
The solid deposit in the tube, in the dry condition 
before it has been in contact with water, is an oxide 
of carbon. Samples, however, made in different experi¬ 
ments do not present precisely the same composition; 
but nevertheless they appear to belong to a certain 
limited number of forms which repeatedly occur, and 
may invariably be referred to the same general order 
or system. This system is, or appears to be, what 
I may term an homologous series of “ oxycarbons,” 
of which the unit of carbon with the weight 12 
may be regarded as the first term, and of which the 
adjacent terms differ by an increment of carbonic oxide 
(CO) weighing 28, precisely as homologous series of 
hydrocarbons differ by the increment CII 2 with the 
weight 14. 
I have succeeded in identifying by analysis two 
at least of these substances, namely, the adjacent 
terms C 4 0 3 and C 5 0 4 . From this point of view these 
peculiar bodies are members of a series of oxycarbons 
analogous in the oxycarbon system to the series of 
hydrocarbons of which the unit of carbon is the first 
and the unit of acetylene C 2 H 2 is the second term, the 
oxycarbon C 4 0 3 being represented in that series by the 
hydrocarbon crotonylene C 4 H c , and the oxycarbon C 5 0 4 
by the hydrocarbon valerylene C 5 H 8 . 
STEARATES OF SODA, AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT 
IN PHARMACY." 
BY EMILE REEB. 
As many practitioners disapprove of the liniments 
which have fatty bodies for their basis, it has been, 
proposed to substitute them by soaps and recently by 
glyceroles. The former, however, require too much 
time in their preparation by the pharmacist, and the 
latter have the inconvenience of containing an organic 
body (starch) subject to alteration, causing a change in 
the glycerol e itself. The author has, therefore, sought to 
obtain a substance combining the qualities of the soaps 
and the glyceroles. This he believes he has found in the 
stearates of soda ; that is to say, in definite compounds of 
the fatty acid, deprived of the other products of saponi¬ 
fication, such as the oleate and other fatty salts of soda. 
It has also the advantage of allowing exact measurement 
in its use. 
For several years past pharmacists at Strasbourg have 
with advantage employed stearate of soda in the prepara¬ 
tion of opodeldoc. While investigating the subject more 
fully, M. Reeb’s attention has been turned to the neutral 
stearate hitherto used, and also to the bistearate of soda 
which has not yet been employed. 
These two compounds have the property of d'ssolving- 
in boiling alcohol of 95°, and forming upon cooling a 
transparent jelly of the appearance and consistence usually 
sought for in opodeldoc. But to obtain this result it is 
necessary that certain proportions should be maintained, 
for if the quantity of stearate be too great, the jelly, instead 
of being transparent, becomes milky, full of crystallizations, 
or even opaque. 
The following table shows the maximum proportions 
necessary to obtain a firm transparent jelly, melting easily 
at the temperature of the hand. It will be seen that a 
smaller proportion of the bistearate is required than of the 
neutral stearate. 
Stear¬ 
ate. 
Opodeldoc . . . 2‘50 
Iodized Soap . j " ^ 
Stearated Glycerine 4 - 00 
Iodized Glycerine 6’00 
Bistear- Caustic Alcohol Glyci- 
ate. 
Soda. 
95°. 
rine. 
1-50 
— 
1-00 
— 
— 
2-00 
1-00 
— 
1-50 
2-50 
1-00 
— 
3-00 
— 
— 
1-00 
5-00 
— 
— 
1-00 
The preparation of the bistearate requires less caustic 
soda ; 50 grams of caustic soda are sufficient to convert 
500 grams of stearic acid into, bistearate of soda, but at 
least 180 to 200 grams are required to produce the same 
quantity of the neutral stearate. Moreover, being less 
soluble in the cold than the neutral stearate it is better 
suited for this class of preparations. 
The stearate of soda alone is not sufficient for the pre¬ 
paration of iodized soap ; an addition of caustic soda is 
required, or else the jelly is not formed, and the stearate 
of soda is deposited from the alcoholic solution in a pul¬ 
verulent form. The cause of this has not yet been 
ascertained, but the author thinks it to be attributable to 
a physical cause rather than to a chemical reaction. 
The property which glycerine possesses of being easily 
absorbed by the skin, induced M. Reeb to attempt the 
preparation of a gelatinous mass with stearate of soda and 
glycerine in the place of alcohol. Using the proportions 
given in the preceding table, he obtained a compound having 
similar properties to glycerine, and of the consistence of 
opodeldoc. Increased proportions of the stearate gave 
products more and more firm up to the consistency of 
ordinary soap without diminishing their transparency.. 
In the preparation the powdered stearate is mixed in a 
mortar with the glycerine. It is then heated to the melt¬ 
ing point, the active principle added as a concentrated 
solution, and the whole strained through cambric and left 
to cool. The author claims for it the advantage over 
* From L’Union Pharmaceutique, vol. xir., p 68 
