Am.  Jour.  Pliarm.  "I 
Jan.,  188-.^.  J 
Note  on  Scflcin. 
21 
A  2-ouiice^  bottle  of  the  mixture  was  prepared  in  the  quantities 
indicated,  and  exposed  to  tlie  strongest  light  of  my  dispensary.  The 
mixture,  at  first  colorless,  after  standing  24  hours  showed  a  distinct 
dark  tinge,  which  gradually  increased  nntil  at  the  expiration  of  two 
weeks  it  was  almost  black,  and  contained  a  black  deposit.  The  odor 
of  the  mixture  had  also  chan":ed  ;  instead  of  sniellino^  of  nitrous  ether 
it  was  suggestiye  of  oil  of  wintergreen.  I  now  prepared  the  same 
mixture,  minus  the  camphor,  and  the  decomposition  was  the  same; 
thus  the  camphor  was  not  considered  to  be  an  element  in  the  change, 
and  omitted  from  future  experiments.  Another  and  concentrated  mix- 
ture was  made,  containing  1  part  each  of  nitrous  ether,  salicylate  of 
soda  and  water;  the  change  was  the  same,  but  the  color  and  odor,  as 
would  be  expected,  was  intensified.  The  application  of  heat  very 
much  facilitated  the  change,  j^roducing  a  reddish-brown  color,  but  no 
blackening,  the  latter  color  appearing  to  be  dependent  on  long  expo- 
sure to  light. 
A  consideration  as  to  the  decompositions  which  might  bring  about 
the  changes  referred  to  has  led  me  to  believe  that  salicylate  of  ethyl  is 
the  chief  product,  this  body  possessing  an  odor  and  other  properties 
analogous  to  salicylate  of  methyl  or  oil  of  wintergreen.  If  this  l)e  so, 
the  decomposition  may  be  represented  by  the  following  equation  : 
QH.NaCO^  + '  C^H.NO,  =  C,H,C.,H,C03  +  NaNO;,. 
Soda  Salicylate.  Ethyl  Nitrite.  Ethyl  Salicylate.  Soda  Nitrite 
That  there  are  other  and  more  complex  changes  is  made  evident  by 
the  color  of  the  mixture.  Of  these  I  have  no  knowledge  ;  but  know- 
ing the  mixed  character  of  spirit  of  nitrous  ether  of  commerce,  and 
that  it  contains  nitrous  acid  and  aldehyd,  it  may  be  expected  that  these 
bodies  will  play  an  active  ])art  in  this  novel  and  interesting  example 
of  incompatibility. — Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  Nov.  5,  1881. 
NOTE  ON  SALICIN:  ITS  SOLUBILITY  AND  DECOMPO- 
SITION BY  HEAT. 
By  R.  H.  Pakker. 
Read  at  the  Eveniiuj  Meefbif/  of  the  Pharmaeeutical  Soclctij,  Nov.  2,  KSSl. 
The  solubility  of  salicin  (and  of  many  other  bodies)  in  water  varies 
according  to  the  conditions  under  which  it  is  obseryed  :  (1)  whether 
the  substance  be  finely  powdered  and  agitated  in  various  ])roportions 
with  the  solvent,  complete  solution  after  a  giyeu  i)eriod  of  time  at 
