428 
Composition  of  Tragacanth, 
/  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\     August,  1889. 
for  the  dried,  or  35*94  per  cent,  for  the  natural  tragacanth.  This 
residue  having  been  ignited  left  an  ash,  which,  on  examination,  was 
found  to  consist  chiefly  of  calcium  and  potassium  phosphates. 
The  filtrate  answered  to  the  tests  given  under  gum  acacia  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  the  precipitate  resulting  from  the  addition  of  rectified 
spirit  rising  to  the  surface  as  a  transparent  gelatinous  mass;  subace- 
tate  of  lead  produced  a  white  opaque  jelly.  On  the  other  hand,  it 
differed  from  arabin  in  giving  a  clear  solution  with  borax,  and  in  the 
absence  of  precipitates  when  treated  with  sodium  stannate  and  sodium 
silicate;  also,  by  the  production  of  a  white  precipitate  in  the  presence 
of  neutral  lead  acetate.  After  boiling  with  hydrochloric  acid  it  readily 
reduced  Fehling's  solution.  Both  the  soluble  and  insoluble  portions 
yielded  mucic  acid  when  heated  with  strong  nitric  acid.  The  water- 
insoluble  gum  readily  dissolved  in  potassium  hydrate,  whereas  lime 
water  appeared  to  have  little  or  no  solvent  action. 
Two  grams  of  the  tragacanth  left  on  ignition  *055  gram  of  ash, 
equal  to  2*75  per  cent,  which  was  partly  soluble  in  water,  the  dissolved 
material  consisting  mainly  of  the  phosphates  of  sodium  and  potassium, 
the  insoluble  portion  containing  calcium  carbonate,  with  traces  of 
magnesium  salts. 
These  then  are  the  tabulated  percentage  results  obtained  : — 
Moisture   18-92 
Soluble  gum   35  94 
Ash   275 
Insoluble  gum  (by  difference)   42*39 
100-00 
No  evidence  of  the  presence  of  starch  could  be  obtained,  the  iodine 
test  producing  no  coloration,1  nor  could  the  official  statement  that  "  after 
maceration  in  cold  water  the  fluid  portion  is  not  precipitated  by  the 
addition  of  rectified  spirit "  be  verified.  In  fact,  as  stated  above,  al- 
cohol at  once  gave  an  evident  precipitate. — Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans., 
July  6,  p.  3.   
Creosote  and  Codliver  Oil  have  been  combined  in  phthisical  and 
chronic  catarrhal  affections  and  were  usually  prescribed  Creasote  2*5 ;  Cod- 
liver  Oil  200;  Saccharin  0-1 ;  adult  dose  a  tablespoonful. — Therap.  Monatsh. 
1  We  have  examined  many  samples  of  flake  tragacanth  of  various  grades,  and 
invariably  found  starch  present;  we  know  of  no  other  author  having  found 
tragacanth  free  from  starch  — Editor  Am.  Jour.  Phar. 
