SALICYLIC  ACID  IN  THE  BLOSSOMS  OF  SPIRJEA  ULMARIA.  59 
the  presence  of  active  bodies.  Thus  the  dextro-  and  laevo-tartrates 
of  the  same  active  organic  alkali  are  quite  distinct  in  crystalline 
form,  solubility,  &c.  It  was  to  be  hoped,  therefore,  that  we 
might  profit  by  this  dissimilarity  to  isolate  the  two  acids  compos- 
ing racemic  acid  ;  and  for  this  purpose,  after  many  fruitless  re- 
searches, I  have  found  means  to  render  the  two  bases  quinicine 
and  cinchonicine  serviceable.  When  racemate  of  cinchonicine  is 
prepared,  and  its  solution  brought  to  a  certain  state  of  concen- 
tration, it  always  happens  that  the  first  crystallization  is  princi- 
pally formed  of  lsevo-tartrate  of  cinchonicine,  the  dextro-tartrate 
remaining  in  the  mother-liquor.  A  simular  result  is  presented 
with  quinicine,  only  that  in  this  case  the  dextro-tartrate  is  the 
first  deposited.  When,  therefore,  it  is  supposed  that  an  organic 
product  possesses  a  binary  constitution  analogous  to  that  of  ra- 
cemic acid,  its  resolution  should  be  attempted  by  placing  it  in 
contact  with  an  active  product,  which,  by  the  necessarily  dis- 
similar properties  of  the  combinations  which  it  is  capable  of  form- 
ing with  the  components  of  the  complex  group,  will  render  the 
separation  of  the  latter  possible. — London  Chem.  Gazette,  iVoi\ 
1,  1853,  from  Comptes  Ilendus,  August  1,  1853,  p.  162. 
ON  THE  FORMATION  OF  SALICYLIC  ACID  IN  THE  BLOSSOMS  OF 
SPITLEA  ULMARIA  * 
By  L.  A.  Buchner. 
Although  Piria  has  long  since  shown  that  salicin,  under  the 
influence  of  oxidizing  agents,  gives  rise  to  salicylic  acid,  it  was 
not  certain  that  this  substance  originated  in  the  same  manner  in 
the  blossoms  of  the  spircea.    Recent  experiments  of  the  author 
have  rendered  it  probable  that  these  blossoms  when  young  contain 
salicin. 
The  flower  buds  of  this  plant  have  scarcely  any  smell,  and 
consequently  cannot  contain  more  than  mere  traces  of  salicylic 
*  [The  term  «  Salicylic  "  is  used  incorrectly  in  this  and  the  following 
paper  ;  it  should  be  "  SalicyloMs."  Salicylous  acid  is  the  oil  of  Spirea  ul- 
maria,  and  it  is  the  substance  obtained  by  distilling  salicin  with  sulphuric 
acid  and  bichromate  of  potassa.  Salicijlic  acid  is  obtained  from  this  oil  by 
the  action  of  caustic  potassa,  and  is  an  odorless  crystalline  substance  like 
pure  benzoic  acid. — Editor  Am.  Jour.  Pharm.] 
