168 
ON THE PREPARATION OF PHOSPHORUS. 
its organic matter ; the pulverization and sifting of it to facilitate 
the action of sulphuric acid upon it; the washing of the sulphate 
of lime to remove the acid phosphate which it retains obstinately ; 
the evaporation of the washing waters to get the product dry to 
mix with the carbon for final distillation in an appropriate appa- 
ratus, are certainly long and tedious operations, the practical de- 
tails of which are truly inconvenient. 
The new process suggested by M. Donovan, singularly facilitates 
the preparation of phosphorus. It consists as follows : 
Take beef or sheep bones as they are found in commerce, with 
their natural quantity of fatty matter and moisture. They are di- 
gested during four hours in a mixture of one part of nitric acid of 
commerce, and ten parts of water. The calcareous salts are re- 
moved and dissolved, whilst the soft flexible gelatinous tissues, re- 
taining the form of the bones, remain. These can be washed and 
employed in the manufacture of glue. 
The slightly acid liquid containing the phosphate and nitrate of 
lime, is then treated with an excess of neutral acetate of lead, and 
the precipitate of phosphate of lead washed and dried. It is then 
put in a covered crucible and heated to redness to condense its 
volume, but this operation requires care, else the phosphate will 
lose its pulverulent form and fuse, requiring a difficult pulverization. 
The dense pulverulent phosphate is then intimately mixed with 
one sixth of its weight of charcoal, previously calcined, and after- 
wards distilled in the ordinary manner in large earthen retorts, 
properly heated. 
If it is desired to prepare but a small quantity of phosphorus, it 
will be found more eligible to use harts-horn shavings, which, 
though costly, contain a large percentage of phosphate of lime. 
The process then becomes neat and elegant, its execution prompt 
and easy, and time, trouble and combustible matter are economised, 
besides much smaller vessels being required. 
The following proportions of harts-horn shavings are requisite : 
Harts-horn shavings, (not calcined) 500 parts. 
Nitric acid of commerce, 530 " 
Water, 5000 " 
Neutral acetate of lead, 750 " 
In addition to the advantages of employing harts-horn shavings 
mentioned, the gelatinous matter remaining is sufficiently pure for 
use in making jellies. — Jour, de Pharrnacie, Jan., 1852. 
