Du Mez~The Galenical Oleoresins. 
1009 
Original Method of Fromme (1896): Dissolve 1.5 to 2 grams of the 
oleoresin in 2 grams of ether, and thoroughly mix the solution in a porce¬ 
lain dish (diameter 8 to 10 centimeters) with 3 grams of calcined mag¬ 
nesia (or 8 grams of burned lime.) Allow the ether to evaporate com¬ 
pletely and triturate the remaining dry pulverent mass with water, added 
gradually until a thin brine is formed. Set the mixture aside until the 
magnesia has settled, then decant the supernatant aqueous portion on a 
dry filter. Continue to repeat this operation, using fresh portions of 
water, until the filtrate no longer gives a precipitate when acidified with 
hydrochloric acid. Place the combined filtrates (usual weight 200 to 250 
grams) in a separatory funnel, acidify with hydrochloric acid and shake 
out the precipitate with carbon disulphide added in successive portions 
(20, 10 and 10 cubic centimeters.) Filter the united carbon disulphide 
shakings into a round-bottom flask of 100 cubic centimeters capacity and 
evaporate to dryness on a water bath. Dissolve the crude filix acid ob¬ 
tained in this manner in 10 drops of amyl alcohol, using a gentle heat 
if necessary, then add 10 cubic centimeters of methyl alcohol (added drop 
by drop at the beginning and later rapidly.) Set the liquid containing 
the crystals aside in a cool place for 12 hours, then collect the latter on a 
tared filter, and, after washing with several 5 cubic centimener portions 
of methyl alcohol, dry at a temperature between 60° and 70 °C and weigh. 
Improved Method of Fromme (1897): Place 5 grams of the oleoresin, 
30 grams of ether and 100 grams of a solution of barium hydroxide (1 peT 
cent.) in a 200 cubic centimeter flask and shake for 5 minutes. Then run 
the mixture into a separatory funnel, and, after allowing it to stand for 10 
to 15 minutes, run off into another separatory funnel 86 grams (cor¬ 
responding to 4 grams of the oleoresin) of the lower aqueous layer. 
Acidify by the addition of hydrochloric acid (25 to 30 drops) and shake 
out with ether (in 25, 15, 10 and 10 cubic centimeter portions.) Filter 
the combined ether washings into a 100 cubic centimeter flask and evapor¬ 
ate to dryness on a water bath. Dissolve the residue in 1 cubic centimeter 
of amyl alcohol by heating over a free flame and precipitate the pure filix 
acid with 30 cubic centimeters of methyl alcohol (added drop by drop 
until a permanent precipitate is produced, and the remainder at once.) 
After the liquid has stood quietly in a cool place for 10 to 12 hours, 
collect the precipitate on a tared filter, wash with methyl alcohol (two 5 
cubic centimeter portions,) press the filter between porous plates, dry at 
an initial temperature of 40°C and finally at 80°C, and weigh. 
Stoder’s Method (1901): Dissolve 5 grams of the oleoresin in 20 cubic 
centimeters of ether, add 100 cubic centimeters of a freshly prepared so¬ 
lution of barium hydroxide (2 per cent.) and shake the mixture fre¬ 
quently during 1 hour. After allowing the mixture to stand quietly for 
a short time, separate the lower aqueous layer by filtration. Collect 
86 cubic centimeters of this portion (corresponding to 4 grams of the 
oleoresin) in a separatory funnel and acidify with 10 cubic centimeters of 
dilute hydrochloric acid. Shake out the resulting precipitate with three 
portions of ether (40, 30 and 20 cubic centimeters) added successively, 
unite the shakings and remove the solvent by distillation. Dissolve the 
64-—S. A. L. 
