790 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[March SO, 1873. 
In comparing abietene with terebene (spirits of tur¬ 
pentine), the hydrocarbon obtained from other species of 
the pine family, the Finns palustris, F. sylvestris, etc., 
some very striking differences are observed in their phy¬ 
sical and chemical properties. Particularly noticeable 
is the remarkably low sp. gr. of abietene, which is only 
0'694 at 16'5° C.; that of terebene being 0‘840, at about 
the same temperature; again, the boiling-point of abie¬ 
tene is 101 ° C., while oil of turpentine boils at 160° C. 
Terebene absorbs hydrochloric acid with avidity, form¬ 
ing hydrochlorate, while abietene resists the prolonged 
action of this gas at ordinary temperatures. Nitric acid 
acts violently upon terebene, while, on the other hand, 
with abietene no action was instituted, and it was only 
by the application of heat that a quiet evolution of nitrous 
gas was observed. The action of chlorine upon abietene 
seems to furnish a true substitution product, the hydrogen 
of the hydrocarbon being largely replaced by chlorine, 
sufficient to raise the sp. gr. of the liquid from 0-694 to 
1 - 666 . When this substitution compound was subjected 
to distillation, at a temperature of 256 o -260° C., hydro¬ 
chloric acid was given off abundantly, with subsequent 
blackening and the disengagement of pyrogenous pro¬ 
ducts, leaving, finally, a carbonaceous residue. 
Abietene is a powerful solvent for the fixed and vola¬ 
tile oils, with the exception of castor oil, which is abso¬ 
lutely insoluble in abietene ; while, on the other hand, 
castor oil is capable of dissolving nearly two-thirds of 
its volume of the hj-drocarbon. 
Abietene dissolves balsam of copaiba freely and in all 
proportions. Canada balsam is dissolved in all proportions 
up to two parts of abietene, an excess of the latter preci¬ 
pitating the resinous principle of the balsam entirely as 
a white flocculent precipitate, the volatile oil being re¬ 
tained in solution. Balsam of Peru requires about one- 
fifth of its volume of abietene to form a clear solution, 
but if a quantity greater than this is added a turbid mix¬ 
ture will result, which, on repose, will allow the excess 
of abietene to rise to the surface. It will be seen at a 
glance, from these data, that although abietene possesses 
the properties of a general solvent lor fixed and volatile 
oils in every proportion, it yet is incapable of dis¬ 
solving castor oil, balsam of Peru, and Canada balsam, 
which in their turn exert a solvent action upon abietene. 
When abietene is burned in an alcohol lamp, with 
flame not too large, a brilliant white light is obtained, 
without smoking. Its vapour is powerfully anmsthetic 
when inhaled, and it has been used with success as an in¬ 
secticide against moths, etc., when sprinkled in closed re¬ 
ceptacles. If castor oil be mixed purposely with other 
fixed oils, and the mixture then shaken with four times its 
volume of abietene, the castor oil will be found to separate 
and collect at the bottom of the mixture, forming a dis¬ 
tinct layer, consisting of one volume of castor oil and 
two-thirds of a volume of abietene, so that by this means 
sophistications of castor oil with other fixed oils may be 
easily detected and quantitatively determined.— Ameri¬ 
can Journal of Pharmacy. 
DUNDEE CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
On Wednesday evening, March 20th, the Annual 
Supper of the Dundee Chemists’ Association was held in 
the Albion Hotel. There was a large attendance. Mr. 
Laird, Ph.C., President of the Association, occupied the 
chair; while Mr. Charles Kerr, Ph.C., discharged the 
duties of croupier. After the usual loyal toasts, Mr. Laird 
proposed “ Success to the Dundee Chemists’ Association.” 
He reminded those present that this was the fourth year 
of the Association, and said that the measure of success 
which had attended the Association during the past 
years had been most encouraging. The Society had been 
enabled, in some degree, to shorten the hours; but he 
hoped to see them still shorter, so that the assistants 
and the apprentices might have a better opportunity of 
attending the classes for chemistry and materia medica 
which had been established for their benefit, and by so 
doing improve their special professional education. 
In reply, Mr. James Russell (Honorary Secretary), 
gave a resume of the proceedings of the Association for 
the past year, and proposed “ The Pharmaceutical 
Society and Conference,' coupled with the name of Mr. 
Charles Kerr, Ph.C.” Mr. Kerr, in acknowledging the 
toast, spoke of the value of the Association, and the im¬ 
pulse which it gave to the study of the higher branches 
of chemistry and pharmacy. In the course of the evening 
Mr. Laird was presented by Mr. F. Young, in the name 
of the Association, with a marble timepiece, in recog¬ 
nition of his exertions as President, and of his con¬ 
nection with the chemical classes. Mr. Laird suitably 
acknowledged the presentation. The timepiece bore the 
inscription—“Dignus Honore. To Mr. Wm. Laird, 
Ph.C., by the Dundee Chemists’ Association, 13th March, 
1872.” 
COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO CHAIR¬ 
MEN OF SEVERAL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATIONS 
IN THE MIDLAND AND NORTHERN COUNTIES* 
74, Market Place , Sheffield, Feb. 1 5th, 1872. 
Dear Sir,—The decision of the Council of the Pharma¬ 
ceutical Society not to give monetary assistance to provin¬ 
cial associations in furtherance of their efforts to supply the 
required scientific education to apprentices and assistants, 
is the cause of great disappointment and dissatisfaction 
in this town. Our experience at Sheffield is that, as all 
assistants of full age at the passing of the Pharmacy 
Act were admitted by Modified examination (which does, 
not necessitate their taking further instruction in Latin, 
botany or chemistry), our classes are in consequence^ 
diminished, and for a time will be less numerously 
attended than when all have to pass through the same- 
curriculum. The professors for the time being do not. 
receive adequate remuneration from the fees of the 
pupils, and a subsidy must come from some quarter. It 
does not seem unreasonable that the parent society, 
which has been so long sustained, and whose coffers are 
now replenished mainly from the provinces, should meet- 
these requirements in a friendly and liberal manner 
instead of which, a grant of books or apparatus is made, 
which does not meet the difficulty referred to. I think: 
it will be found impracticable that all our young meiu 
should go up to the school at Bloomsbury Square to ob¬ 
tain the qualifications necessary to pass the Minor- 
examination, and I venture to suggest that there is- 
needed an organization on a broader basis than hitherto, 
and that the Council should establish certain educa¬ 
tional centres in various parts of the country in connec¬ 
tion with local associations, and give such schools pecu¬ 
niary help until they can be made self-supporting. 
Perhaps you will kindly give this subject your con¬ 
sideration, and, if you think it of sufficient importance*, 
take the opinion of the leading men of your association. 
To promote the object, several courses of action are- 
open :— 
1 st. To make an united representation of our opinions,, 
either by letter or deputation, to the Council of the 
Pharmaceutical Society. 
2nd. To jointly select and send such men to the Coun¬ 
cil as would support the interests and opinions of the 
country chemists. 
3rd. That a meeting of delegates from each associa¬ 
tion in the midland and northern counties be held in a 
central town, such as Manchester or Leeds, to confer 
on this and other trade matters. 
The latter course I think the most desirable and 
effectual. 
Please reply at your earliest convenience, and say if 
your association would be prepared for any action. 
I am, dear Sir, yours truly, 
W. V. Radley, 
President of Sheffield Pharmaceutical 
and Chemical Association. 
