052 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[May 25,1872. 
picric in addition to oxalic acid. It contains no water of 
crystallization. Crystallized from spirit, and dried at 
100° C., it gave me the following results :— 
1. —0'5066 grm. burnt with a mixture of lead chro¬ 
mate and potassic dichromate gave 1*1070 C(R and 
0-2775 H 2 0. 
2. —0-3715 grm. gave 0-8110 C0 2 and 0-1965 ILO. 
The percentages of carbon and hydrogen calculated 
from these data agree very nearly with the formula 
Theory, 
L 
II. 
300 
59-52 
59-59 
59-53 
28 
5- 55 
6-07 
5-86 
176 
34-92 
— 
They also approximate very closely to the average of 
the determinations made by Professor Fliickigcr, though 
the individual numbers quoted by him diverge very con¬ 
siderably from the mean. 
Fliickiger's Analyses of Xatalo'in . 
Mean. 
C_ 5S-99 59-14 61-18 58*38 60-15 59.56 
H_ 6-17 6-24 5-92 5.95 6-24 6-10 
AcetyUnataloin . 
Hitherto, although numerous experiments have been 
tried, I have found it impossible to obtain a chloro- 
bromo- or nitro-uerivative of nataloin. 
When placed in contact with acetyl-chloride, a reac¬ 
tion commences almost immediately, and is complete 
after warming for a short time. The varnish-like resi¬ 
due left after chasing off the excess of the chloride and 
hydrochloric acid was dissolved in a mixture of alcohol 
and ether. In a short time, well-defined but micro¬ 
scopic crystals, consisting of rhombic plates and octa- 
hedra, were deposited. 0-143 grm. gave 0-307 CO., and 
0-070 H 2 0. 
The percentages of carbon and hydrogen agx-ee with 
the formula C 37 H 40 O 17 . 
444 
Theory. 
Experiment. 
58-73 
58-54 
40 
5-29 
5-33 
272 
Phis formula is that of nataloin in which 611 have 
been replaced by 6C. 2 H 3 0— 
C 2i H 22 (aH 3 0) 6 0 II . 
Action of Caustic Potash. 
The products of the oxidization of socotrine aloes by 
means of caustic potash were studied some years ago by 
Hlasiwetz. * By melting this variety of aloes with 
caustic potash and a small quantity of water, dissolving 
the mass in water, acidifying with sulphuric acid, and 
agitating the whole with ether, an ethereal solution was 
obtained, in which two crystalline bodies w-ero disco¬ 
vered. These were the para-oxybenzoic acid, C-H-O,, of 
Fischer and Saytzeff, and a orcin, C 7 U g 0 2 . 
borne Natal aloes was fused with potassic hydrate 
according to this method; the ethereal solution obtained 
left an aqueous liquid, and by continuing the distilla¬ 
tion a small quantity of acetic acid passed over. On 
allowing the liquid to cool, a crop of well-formed colour¬ 
less crystals was deposited; these, separated from the 
mother-liquor, were re-crystallized. They arc only 
slightly soluble in cold water, and the solution possesses 
a strongly acid reaction. They melt at about 205° (the 
point was not accurately determined), crystallizing- on 
cooling, and, when more strongly heated, volatilize with 
partial decomposition. Placed over oil of vitriol, they 
efiloresced. 
0-151 grm., dried at 100°, gave 0-3365 CO., and 
0-065 FLO. These data give percentages which "agree 
with those required by the formula of para-oxvben°zoic 
acid. J 
Theory. Experiment. 
C 7 . 84' 60-86 60-77 
H fi . 6 4-34 4-63 
0 3 . 48 34-7.8 — 
The mother-liquor from which these crystals were ob¬ 
tained was brown and syrupy; it was diluted, precipi¬ 
tated by acetate of lead, the excess of lead removed by 
exact precipitation by sulphuric acid, and the filtered 
liquid evaporated, first by the aid of heat, then in vacuo. 
A coloured syrupy residue was thus obtained, which 
gradually set into a crystalline mass. It was too small 
in quantity to attempt to purify further, but its reactions 
were carefully compared with those of the throe known 
orcins. 
For small quantities of 3 orcin and resorcin with which 
these experiments were made I am indebted to the kind¬ 
ness of Dr. Stenhouse. 
A weak aqueous solution of each was employed. 
(1) . Orcin and resorcin with ammonia redden very 
slowly. 3 orcin and the new compound turn purplish 
red in a few minutes. 
(2) . With potash resorcin gives a green colouration; 
orcin becomes slowly reddish brown; 3 orcin and the 
new compound become rapidly purple, afterwards 
brown. 
(3) . A slip of deal, wetted with the solution, and then 
with hydrochloric acid, and dried, becomes, in the case ofi 
resorcin, blue; with the others a rich purple colour is 
produced. 
(4) . Aqueous chlorinated soda gives, with resorcin and 
orcin, a violet colouration which almost immediately 
changes to a dull green. With 3 orcin and the compound 
from Natal aloes an intense crimson colouration is 
developed, which is much more permanent than the violet 
produced by orcin. 
(5) . A portion of the syrupy solution, treated with con¬ 
centrated hydrochloric acid and potassic chlorate, gave, 
in twelve hours, a crystalline chloro-dcrivativc. There- 
was not sufficient for analysis. 
These experiments convince me that the orcin from 
Natal aloes is not a orcin ; it is probably 3 orcin, or it 
may be the next higher homologue. 
I very much regret that the small quantity of material 
operated upon did not yield sufficient of the substance to- 
complete its purification. I hope, however, to confirm 
my opinion by further experiments and an analysis of 
the body. 
The production of 3 orcin from a new and available 
source would possess considerable interest, as at present, 
in consequence of the uncertainty attending its prepara¬ 
tion from usnic acid, from which alone it has hitherto- 
been procured, its chemical history has been only imper¬ 
fectly traced out .—Chemical Xews. 
NORTHAMPTON CHEMISTS’ ASSISTANTS AND 
APPRENTICES’ ASSOCIATION. 
A dinner to celebrate the success attending their first 
half-yearly session was held on May 9th. 
Covers were laid for fourteen. Messrs. Branson and. 
Osbome presided at the piano. After the usual loyal 
and patriotic toasts, the President, Mr. Masters, pro¬ 
posed the toast of the evening, “ Success to the North¬ 
ampton Chemists’ Assistants and Apprentices’ Associa¬ 
tion,” which was drunk with musical honours. Among 
the other toasts proposed were “ The Pharmaceutical 
Society, and A. Haselden, Esq.;” “ The Pharmaceutical 
Journal, and Dr. Paul;” “The President, Mr. Mas¬ 
ters;” “The Secretary, Mr. Druce;” “Professor Alt- 
field;” “ The Chemists of the Town;” “The Absent 
Mombers;” “E. Bremridge Esq.;” and “The Class- 
Takers.” 
The President said he was very much gratified to 
find they could display such an unusual amount of 
musical talent as had been shown that evening. 
* Ann. d. Chem. u. Pharm., cxxxiv. 287. 
