December 30, 1871.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
523 
of oxalic acid.] This shows the presence of 81‘4 
per cent, of K 2 C0 3 . For since 100 c. c. are re¬ 
quired to neutralize G9 gram of carbonate of po¬ 
tassium, or -Jg- °f a gram-molecule, 98 c. c. indi¬ 
cate G - 762 gram, and this quantity in 8‘3 grams is 
81'4 per cent. 
Potass.® Chloras, KC10 3 .—Formerly chlorate of 
potassium was prepared by passing clilorine gas into 
a hot solution of the carbonate or hydrate of potas¬ 
sium. The nature of the reaction will be further 
discussed under bromide and iodide of potassium; 
it is as follows :— 
CKHO + 3 Cl 2 = 5KC1 + KC10 3 + H 2 0. 
Blit inasmuch as five-sixths of the potash is thus 
rendered comparatively valueless by being trans¬ 
formed into chloride, the happy idea of substituting 
an equivalent quantity of lime was adopted. 
According to the Pharmacopoeia, carbonate of po¬ 
tassium and slaked lime are mixed together, damped 
with water and saturated with chlorine by passing 
the gas into the mixture. The mass usually assumes 
a pinkish colour from the conversion into permanga¬ 
nate of a minute quantity of manganese, mechanically 
carried over into it with the chlorine. It is boiled with 
water, filtered from the insoluble carbonate of cal¬ 
cium, and evaporated to the crystallizing-point. The 
mother liquors, after the deposition of the chlorate 
of potassium, retain chloride of calcium. The re¬ 
actions by which these three salts are formed, con¬ 
sist probably in the formation of chlorinated lime in 
the first instance, and the transformation of this 
compound by boiling with the alkaline carbonate 
into the soluble chlorate and chloride and the in¬ 
soluble carbonate. 
1. ) CaO + Cl 2 = CaOCl 2 = CaCl(ClO). 
Lime. Chlorine. Chlorinated Lime. 
2. ) GCaCl 2 0 + K 2 C0 3 = 
Chlor. Lime. Carbonate of Potassium. 
5 CaCl 2 + CaC0 3 + 2KC10 3 
Chloride of Carbonate of Chlorate of 
Calcium. Calcium. Potassium. 
Chlorate of potassium forms rliomboidal plates, 
soluble in about 16 times their weight of cold, and 
about 14 time their weight of boiling water. 
[§ It explodes when triturated with sulphur. Its 
solution is not affected by nitrate of silver, nor oxa¬ 
late of ammonia. By heat it fuses, giving off oxygen 
gas, and leaves a white residue (KC1), readily form¬ 
ing with water a neutral solution, which is precipi¬ 
tated white by nitrate of silver, and yellow by per- 
cliloride of platinum.] The action of a moderate 
heat is at first to produce a mixture of perchlorate 
and chloride. 
2 K Cl 0 3 = KC10 4 + KC1 + 0 2 . 
A liigher temperature expels the whole of the 
oxygen. 
Sulphuric acid evolves from chlorate’of potassium 
a yellow gas, chloric peroxide (C1 2 0 4 ), which ex¬ 
plodes when gently heated. 
Hydrochloric acid gives a yellow gas, formerly 
called Euchlorine, wliicli is a mixture of chlorine 
with one of its oxides. 
The following are the acids formed by chlorine in 
union with hydrogen and oxygen; they are all 
monobasic. 
Acids. Potassium Salts. 
Hydrochloric . HC1 Chloride . . KC1 
Hypochlorous . IT CIO Hypochlorite . KCIO 
Chlorous . . HC10 2 Chlorite . . KC10 2 
Chloric . . . IIC10 3 Chlorate . . KC10 3 
Perchloric . . IIC10 4 Perchlorate . KC10 4 
Potass.e Citras. —Citric acid neutralized with 
carbonate of potassium, and the solution evaporated 
to dryness. 
3 K 2 C 0 3 + 2H 3 C 6 H s 0 7 
= 3(H 2 0.C0 2 ) + '2K 3 C 6 H 5 0 7 . 
[§ Its solution mixed with solution of chloride of 
calcium, remains clear till it is boiled, when a white 
precipitate separates readily soluble in acetic acid.] 
The non-precipitation in the cold distinguishes it 
from the tartrate. 
THE CULTIVATION AND USE OF THE 
DANDELION IN INDIA. 
BY JOHN R. JACKSON, A.L.S., 
Curator of Museums , Royal Gardens , Keic. 
The dandelion is perhaps one of the most cosmo¬ 
politan of medicinal plants, for besides being an 
actually recognized article in pharmacy, it is also 
largely collected and used by the peasantry in rural 
districts in liver complaints and in cases of dyspepsia. 
Taraxacum officinale , Wiggers ( Leontodon Taraxa¬ 
cum , L.), is very widely distributed through Europe, 
Central Asia, North America and the arctic regions. 
Several varieties of the jdant are known in this 
country, some of which have been dignified into 
species. The commonest variety is that mostl} 7 found 
on cultivated ground and known as Taraxacum 
Dens-leonis , Desf., which has bright green runci- 
nate-pinnatifid leaves and the bracts of the invo¬ 
lucre recurved. The plant has great powers of re¬ 
production, both by its roots and by the pappus 
seeds, which are easily wafted by the winds to dis¬ 
tances, where they readily germinate and establish 
themselves. 
The plants grow abundantly throughout the 
Himalayas, where two or more distinct varieties are 
known; one is described as having large double 
flowers, quite the size of a rupee, and another with 
small single flowers, rather larger than a sixpence. 
The larger-flowered form is said to possess medicinal 
properties in by far the greatest degree. The plants 
are likewise cultivated in various parts of India, and 
the roots are collected between the months of Sep¬ 
tember and February. To cultivate the plants pro¬ 
perly, the following plan is recommended:—The 
seeds should be sown in beds, and the young plants, 
when sufficiently grown, should be planted out 011 
ridges at a distance of nine inches from each other. 
This system of planting is the best suited for the 
production of large roots, which is the principal end 
to be obtained, and, to further ensure this result, the 
flowers should be gathered as they open. The roots, 
after they are taken up, are washed clean and wiped 
dry. 
Taraxacum roots are used in a variety of ways in 
India; one useful form is that of a paste, which is 
made by pounding the fresh roots, putting the mass 
into tins or jars and gently baking or heating in an 
oven ; when cool, the paste is ready for use and can 
be kept for a long time. To prepare dandelion- 
