^'"jir'^issi*^™  }      Rapid  Preparation  of  Certain  Syrups.  19 
2)huric  acid,  a  mixture  of  the  two  yielding  the  best  results.  The  reac- 
tions are : 
C«H5NO,+C;,H80,=C,H,N+H,0+02 
The  author  hopes,  by  treating  glycerin  with  nitroethan  and  ethyl- 
;amin  and  their  homologues,  to  obtain  pyridin  and  the  homologous 
bases. — Ibid.,  p.  2086. 
Examination  of  the  Products  obtained  in  Roasting  Coffee.. — Bern- 
lieimer  gives  the  following  as  the  products : 
Chief  Products.  Minor  Products. 
Palmitic  acid,  about  48  per  cent.  Hydroquinone. 
Caffeina,      0-18  to  O'l^S  Methylamin. 
Caffeol,        0-04  to  O'Oo  Pyrrol. 
Acetic  acid,  Acetone  (?). 
Carbonic  acid  gas. 
The  caffeol  is  an  oil,  boiling  at  195°  to  197°,  which  possesses  the 
aroma  of  coffee  in  a  very  high  degree.  It  has  the  composition 
OgHjo02 ;  it  unites  with  concentrated  potassium  hydrate  solution,  is 
oxidized  by  fusing  caustic  potash  or  potassium  bichromate  and  sulphu- 
ric acid  to  salicylic  acid,  and  shows  a  great  tendency  to  resinify.  The 
author  therefore  concludes  that  it  is  a  methyl  ether  of  saligenin.  The 
€offeetannic  acid  appears  to  remain  behind  in  the  beans  to  a  great 
extent  on  roasting.  It  can,  however,  still  be  considered  as  the  source 
of  the  caffeol,  as  on  heating  it  gives  a  coffee-like  odor. —  Wien.  Acad. 
Per.,  81,  ii,  p.  1032. 
Rapid  Preparation  of  Certain  Syrups  and  Medicated 
Waters. — Editor  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy — ^^Allow  me  to 
describe  a  short  cut  to  certain  syrups,  for  example,  tolu,  ginger,  etc. 
Agitate  the  tincture  or  essential  oil  with  a  little  precipitated  chalk, 
wdth  the  proper  quantity  of  water,  heated  nearly  to  boiling,  in  a  suit- 
able bottle,  for  a  few  minutes ;  throw  upon  a  filter  placed  in  a  bottle 
-containing  the  sugar. 
The  hot  solution  filters  rapidly,  and  a  few  minutes'  shaking  com- 
pletes the  syrup,  which  may  be  readily  strained  through  a  small  sponge 
in  the  ,neck  of  the  funnel.  This  process  was  born  of  necessity,  a  sup- 
ply of  syrup  of  tolu  being  wanted  in  a  hurry,  and  I  find  it  to  work 
admirably. 
The  same  idea  will  serve  in  makino^  medicated  waters,  in  the  absence 
of  a  still  or  when  time  presses. 
Yours  very  truly,  Tnoy.  D.  McElhenie. 
Brooklyn,  N.  F.,  Dec.  6th,  1880. 
