GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
447 
it  to  consist  of  different  carbohydrogens,  some  of  which  distil 
below  180°  C,  and  partly  form  a  crystallizing,  nitro-compound 
under  the  influence  of  sulphuric  and  nitric  acids.  These  carbo- 
hydrogens they  call  petrole ;  they  appear  to  be  composed  of 
C16H10  and  C18H12.  Dr.  Eisenstuck  attempted  to  separate  the 
various  constituents,  by  repeated  fractional  distillations,  from 
5  to  5°C;  but  after  continuing  it  for  seven  weeks,  he  had  not 
been  able  to  obtain  a  product  of  a  constant  boiling  point.  The 
specific  gravity  at  0°  C,  of  the  different  portions  ranged  between 
•7136  and  .7444  ;  he  also  ascertained  the  specific  gravity  of  their 
vapor  and  their  expansion,  and  comes  to  the  conclusion  that 
they  are  composed  in  accordance  with  the  formula  CnHn.  Sul- 
phuric, nitric  and  muriatic  acids  do  not  react  with  them;  picric 
acid  yields  unstable  compounds  ;  chlorinated  compounds,  which 
however,  could  not  be  obtained  pure,  were  obtained  with  chlorine 
and  with  perchloride  of  phosphorous.    Dr.  E.  has  operated  with 
the  distillate  obtained  below  130^   C  {Vol.   cxiii.  161  
183.) 
To  transform  Lactic  into  Propionic  Acid.—E.  Lautemann 
(Ann.  d.  Ch.  and  Ph.  cxiii.  217-220,)  saturated  diluted  lactic  acid 
(with  1  volume  of  water,)  with  hydriodic  acid,  and  heated  the 
liquid  in  a  closed  tube  to  140^  C.  Neutralized  with  KG,  dis- 
tilled with  S03,  and  treated  with  AgO,  C02,  propionate  of  silver 
was  obtained  on  evaporation.  If  3-5  parts  of  lactic  acid  are 
diluted  with  little  water,  and  four  parts  of  biniodide  of  phos- 
phorus added,  propionic  acid  with  some  iodine  distils  over. 
The  conversion  of  Lactic  Acid  into  Alanin  has  been  effected 
by  Prof.  H.  Kolbe,  (Ann.  d.  Ch.  and  Ph.  cxiii.  220—222,)  by 
distilling  the  limesalt  first,  with  pentachloride  of  phosphorus 
and  treating  the  product  with  absolute  alcohol.  This  chloro- 
propionic  ether  is  heated  with  concentrated  ammonia  for 
several  hours  in  a  closed  tube  to  100°  C,  evaporated,  acidulated 
with  muriatic  acid,  exsiccated,  exhausted  with  hot  alcoholic 
ether,  the  tincture  boiled  with  water,  treated  with  freshly  pre- 
cipitated oxide  of  lead,  then  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  it  is  now 
evaporated  and  recrystallized.  If  basic  nitrate  of  lead  is  em- 
ployed, the  result  is  large  crystals  of  nitrate  of  alanin. 
