146 
MANUFACTURE OF ACETATE OF SODA. 
A current of chlorine gas sent for several days through a quantity 
of myroxocarpine in a finely divided state, and diffused through 
water, slowly converted it into an uncrystallizable resin, which 
contained variable quantities of chlorine. The chlorine, however, 
was retained by a very feeble affinity, for when the resin, which 
had been washed with water till it was quite natural, was dis- 
solved in hot spirits, its solution, on standing for a short time, 
became strongly acid. Bromine produced a very similar result. 
I regard myroxocarpine, therefore, as a very indifferent crystal- 
lizable resin which, in some respects, especially in the readiness 
with which it crystallizes, closely resembles santonine, but exhibit- 
ing much feebler chemical affinities than even that compound. 
The white balsam is very rich in myroxocarpine, a pound of the 
balsam yielding about one ounce of the principle. — Pharmceutical 
Journal, Bee. 1, 1850. 
ON THE MANUFACTURE OF COMMERCIAL ACETATE OF SODA. 
By Jacob Blll, Editor of the London Pharmaceutical Journal 
Manufacture of the Acetate oj Soda* — The cold concen- 
trated solution of acetate of lime* (which it is desirable should 
be made with distilled acid) is to be treated with a concentrated 
filtered solution of sulphate of soda, specific gravity about 1.250 
temperature 98°, and agitated well by machinery, if convenient, 
during the precipitation of the sulphate of lime, till a little of the 
liquor from the decomposing vessel in which this operation is con- 
ducted will not show any precipitate on the addition of a solution 
of sulphate of soda in a test-tube. When this takes place, the 
contents of the decomposing vessel must be run on to a back, and 
then filtered into a cistern. Two of these backs will be required 
if the manufacture is conducted on a large scale, each furnished 
with a cistern, as it will require a good deal of washing to get all 
the acetate of soda from the sulphate of lime ; they are to be fur- 
nished with false bottoms, and filters of stout twilled flannel. It 
is immaterial whether they are made square or round ; the former 
* See page 51 of this volume. 
