242 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 23,1871. 
and gtycerine, in tlie proportion of 22*703 per cent, 
palmitic acid, 69*205 oleic acid, and 8*091 glycerine; 
it also contains traces of acetic and butyric acid, of 
trimethylamin, ammonia and ergotine as colouring 
matter. 
Manassewitz also doubted the existence of echo- 
line, the alkaloid first separated by Wenzell, and Dr. 
Herrmann also settled this point. 
30 ounces of powdered ergot were for several days 
digested with warm water, the aqueous extract mixed 
with acetate of lead, and the precipitate separated 
by filtration, excess of lead in the filtrate was sepa¬ 
rated by carbonate of soda, which, however, did not 
precipitate all the lead, the liquid remaining turbid 
even after filtration; it was therefore slightly acidi¬ 
fied with muriatic acid and thin dilute sulphuric acid 
added, which gave a clear solution; to this an excess 
of chloride of mercury was added, the dirty white 
precipitate was collected on a filter, and the alkaloid 
ecboline separated in the usual manner. It is so¬ 
luble in water and alcohol, has a bitter taste and an 
alkaline reaction, and is precipitated in the following 
manner, viz. by chloride of mercury white, phos¬ 
phoric molybdic acid yellow, tannin dirty white, 
biniodide of potassium reddish-brown, chloride of 
gold brownish, chloride of platinum orange, only 
after some time, and cyanide of potassium white. 
The inorganic constituents of ergot were also de¬ 
termined afresh, and the following table gives a 
comparison of former analyses with Dr. Herrmann’s 
results, viz.:— 
Engel- 
mann. 
Manas¬ 
sewitz. 
Thielau. 
Herr¬ 
mann. 
Potash . . . 
38*97 
38*00 
17*92 
30*06 
Soda .... 
14*39 
14*75 
11*42 
0*65 
Lime .... 
1*43 
1*50 
1*24 
1*38 
Magnesia . . 
4*58 
4*70 
2*00 
4*87 
Alumina . . . 
— 
— 
0*29 
0*58 
Oxide of iron . 
2*00 
1*80 
0*70 
0*86 
Oxide of manganese 
— 
— 
S*95 
0*26 
Oxide of copper 
— 
. — 
0*53 
— 
Phosphoric acid 
13*24 
13*25 
58*66 
45*12 
Sulphuric acid . 
0*02 
— 
— 
— 
Chlorine . . . 
2*03 
2*10 
— 
— 
Silica .... 
9*13 
8*30 
2*54 
14*67 
Carbon . . . 
12*66 
12*10 
— 
— 
Chloride of sodium 
— 
— 
0*66 
1*50 
Total . 
• 
98*45 
96*50 
99*91 
99*95 
■Buchner s lie-pert. f ur JPharm. 1871, v. p. 283. 
PRESERVATION OF EGGS. 
BY H. VIOLETTE. 
Experiments have led Mr. Violette to the conclu¬ 
sion that a thin film of oil is the best means of 
keeping eggs for a long time. 
Fresh eggs kept for three months had lost 11*40 
per cent, in weight; after six months, 18*10 per cent., 
—they were half empty and rotten. Eggs covered 
with a thin film of poppy oil had lost, after three 
months 2*90 per cent.; after six months only 4*51 
per cent.,—they were full, of good taste and smell. 
Eggs covered with linseed oil lost in three months 
2*16 per cent., and in six months only 3*02 per cent.; 
they were full, and tasted and smelt as good as 
fresh eggs.— Journ. dc Pharm. et de Chim. 1869, x. 170. 
CHEMICAL NOTES TO THE PHARMACOPOEIA. 
BY WILLIAM A. TILDEX, D.SC. LOXD. 
DEMOXSTRATOR OF PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY TO THE 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY. 
Magnesee Sulphas. —Made by the action of di¬ 
luted sulphuric acid, either upon the calcio-magnesic 
carbonate, “ dolomite,” or upon the native magnesic 
carbonate, “ magnesite.” The latter, being now 
largely imported, is used vei*} 7 * extensively. 
MgC0 3 -f H 2 S0 4 = MgS0 4 -f H 2 0.C0 2 . 
It is also obtained in some quantity from sea¬ 
water and from other sources. 
[§ In minute, colourless and transparent (right) 
rhombic prisms. It readily dissolves in water, and 
the solution gives copious white precipitates with 
chloride of barium, and, with a mixed solution of 
ammonia, chloride of ammonium and phosphate of 
soda (Mg" N H 4 P 0 4 . G H 2 O). Its aqueous solution, 
at ordinary temperatures, is not precipitated by 
oxalate of ammonia; nor should it give a brown 
precipitate with chlorinated lime or, soda.] Absence 
of sulphates of calcium, iron and manganese is thus 
ensured. Sulphate of magnesium is isomorphous 
with sulphate of zinc and by appearance indistin¬ 
guishable from it. The zinc salt, however, gives a 
white precipitate with sulpliydrate of ammonium 
and with ferrocyanide of potassium, whilst magne¬ 
sium sulphate gives none. The precipitate, also, 
which liquor potasste produces with sulphate of 
zinc, is soluble in excess, but not so with sulphate 
of magnesium. 
The formula of sulphate of magnesium is— 
Mg S 0 4 .7 H 2 O ; 
but, as in the case of ferrous sulphate, six molecules 
only of the water, can be regarded as water of crys¬ 
tallization. 
Manganesii Oxidum Nigrum.— A heavy black 
powder, formed by grinding the mineral, which is 
found native partly in a crystalline state. It is 
generally purified from the calcic carbonate, which 
the crude material generally contains, by treating 
with diluted hydrochloric acid. 
Mixed with strong hydrochloric acid and kept 
cold, it forms a nearly black solution of manganic 
percliloride: 
Mn 0 2 + 4HC1 = Mn Cl 4 + 2H„0. 
On the application of heat chlorine is evolved, and 
a solution of manganous chloride remains. 
Mn Cl 4 = Mn Cl 2 + Cl 2 . 
It evolves oxygen when heated to redness, leaving 
a residue of manganous-manganic oxide. 
3Mn0 2 = Mn 3 0 4 + 0 2 . 
The black manganese of commerce varies greatly 
in quality, and as it is extensively employed in the 
generation of chlorine frequent analyses of it have to 
be made. The best method is Bunsen’s. In short, 
it consists simply in distilling a weighed quantity of 
the sample with excess of pure hydrochloric acid in 
a small flask, the neck of which is connected, gas- 
tight, with a U tube, containing solution of iodide 
of potassium. The chlorine evolved from the flask, 
