September 23, 1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
243 
as it passes tlirougli the iodide of potassium, liberates 
an equivalent quantity of iodine, the amount of which 
is rapidly and accurately determined by means of 
the volumetric solution of hyposulphite of sodium. 
Phosphorus . P = 31.— [§ A non-metallic element 
obtained from bones.] 
Bone ash is digested with sulphuric acid, by wliich 
calcic sulphate and a soluble superphosphate are 
obtained. 
Ca,(P0 4 > 2 + 2 H 2 S 0 4 
= CaH 4 (P0 4 ) 2 + 2CaS0 4 . 
The acid solution is boiled down till it sets into a 
paste. The acid superphosphate then loses water 
and leaves a residue consisting chiefly of calcic meta¬ 
phosphate. 
CaH 4 (P0 4 ) 2 - 2H 2 0 = Ca(P0 3 ) 2 . 
This salt, mixed with charcoal and distilled in 
earthen retorts, gives phosphorus, which passes over 
and is received in water, carbonic oxide gas and 
tricalcic phosphate, wliich remains behind. 
3Ca(P(y 2 + IOC = Ca 3 (P0 4 ) 2 + 10CO + P 4 . 
The crude phosphorus is coloured brown from the 
presence of oxide and other impurities. It is purified 
by melting under water, and stirring up with a mix- 
time of sulphuric acid and chromate of potassium. 
The pure phosphorus settles as a colourless oily 
layer. Commercial phosphorus is either in sticks or 
cakes. 
[§ A semi-transparent colourless wax-like solid, 
which emits white vapours when exposed to the air. 
Specific gravity 17 7. It is soft and flexible at com¬ 
mon temperatures, melts at 110°, ignites in the ah* at 
a temperature a little above its melting-point, burn¬ 
ing with a luminous flame, and producing dense 
white fumes.] Exposed to light it becomes covered 
with a white or sometimes a reddish crust, which is 
one of the numerous allotropic forms of phosphorus. 
[§ Insoluble in water, but soluble in ether and in 
boiling oil of turpentine.] Also freely in bisulphide 
of carbon, by the evaporation of wliich solution 
phosphorus may be obtained in crj^stals. 
For dispensing purposes phosphorus is sometimes 
required to be granulated. This is easily effected 
by placing the requisite quantity in a stoppered 
bottle with a little proof spirit, immersing the bottle 
in warm water till the phosphorus is melted, and 
then shaking briskly till cold. 
Red or Amorphous Phosphorus .—The most im¬ 
portant of the allotropic modifications of phosphorus 
is a red pulverulent substance obtained by heating 
common phosphorus in vessels from which the air is 
excluded to a point about 100° F. below that at 
which phosphorus boils. It is purified by dissolving 
out the unchanged phosphorus by bisulphide of 
carbon. It is now used, to a certain extent, in the 
manufacture of matches. It differs from the com¬ 
mon land in being quite insoluble in ether, benzol, 
bisulpliide of carbon, etc., and in being far less easily 
inflammable. When volatilized it changes back again 
into common phosphorus. 
Common phosphorus is very poisonous ; red phos¬ 
phorus is stated not to he so, though probably this 
statement refers to the fact that it emits no vapour 
at ordinary temperatures as the common kind does, 
and, therefore, that workpeople do not suffer as in 
the employment of the ordinary kind. 
The oxides and chlorides of phosphorus are formu¬ 
lated thus— 
Phosphorous Anhydride 
• • • p 2 o 3 
Phosphoric Anhydride . 
. . . P 2 0 5 
Phosphorous Chloride . 
. . . PC1 3 
Phosphoric Chloride . . 
. . . PClg 
Phosphoric Oxychloride. 
. . . POC1 
There are, therefore, two classes of phosphorus 
compounds in which P is trivalent land quinque- 
valent respectively. 
INQUIRIES RELATING TO PHARMACOLOGY AND 
ECONOMIC BOTANY.* 
BY DANIEL HANBU11Y, F.R.S., 
AND PROFESSOR OLIVER, F.R.S. 
From the Admiralty Manual of Scientific Inquiry. 
India, Siam, and the Indian Archipelago— continued. 
Salep. —The tubers of several species of Orchis and 
Eulophia are collected and sold in India under the name 
of Salep. It is desirable to ascertain what species of 
Orchidaceous plants furnish this substance, especially in 
the Himalayas and in Cashmere. What is the plant 
which affords the drug called Badshah Saleh , or Royal 
Salep ? Where is it produced, and for what purpose is 
it valued ? It has been exported to England from 
Bombay. 
Manna. —It has for many years been asserted that a 
kind of manna is produced in the East on a species of 
Tamarisk. It requires to be determined whether any 
oriental Tamarisk yields a saccharine substance of the 
nature of manna, and whether it is collected, and where ? 
Hemp. —A very rough but tenacious hemp is produced 
in Northern India, at Kangra, and elsewhere, and bears 
the name of “ Kangra hemp” or “ Himalayan hemp.” Is 
this the produce of Cannabis saliva , of which there is 
some doubt ? 
Tanyin. —What is the source of the “ Tanyin fruit” 
of the Burmese trade lists, and what its uses ? 
Mocharas. —This brown astringent substance, wdiieh 
is found in the bazaars of India, is said to be partly 
derived from Salmalia Malabarica, part is said to bo an 
exudation from the trunk of the Areca palm {Areca 
catechu ). It would be well to ascertain if any astringent 
substance is exuded, or whether any galls are formed, as 
some suggest, on Areca catechu. The source or sources 
of the Mocharas should be determined. 
Rajah-canes, exported from Borneo. The species of 
palm yielding these is unknown. 
What tree affords the so-called Amboyna or Kyabocca 
wood ? 
Gutta-percha is, even up to the present day, little 
known. It is said to he yielded by several plants, such 
as species of Isonandra, ChrysophyHum, Sideroxylon and 
others. Attention should be paid to the vernacular 
names, such as Gutta-percha , TTgiato putih , Kotian , Tuban 
or Taban, etc. Abundant and carefully preserved wet 
and dry specimens of the leaves, flowers, and fruits of 
the different kinds, the products of the same individuals 
from which the dried specimens are obtained, are greatly 
needed. 
Caoutchouc, or India-rubber. — In the Malayan 
Archipelago there are many trees which yield Caout¬ 
chouc. Urceola elastica is the source of the Borneo 
india-rubber. 
What trees produce the so-called Singapore rubber, 
and the Java, Sumatra, and Siam kinds ? Are they 
species of Ficus ? __ 
* Information relating to any of the subjects here referred 
to may be addressed to Mr. Hanbuiy, Clapbam Cummon, near 
London, or to Professor Oliver, Royal Gardens, Lew. 
