Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1 9 17. 
The  Quarterly  Review  on 
287 
Importance  of  the  Vakrentrapp  Reaction  in  Fats  and 
Oils. — Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  hydrogenation  in  the  presence 
of  a  catalyst  is  the  usual  way  of  converting  unsaturated  fatty  acids 
into  saturated  ones,  it  seems  possible  that  some  of  the  older  processes 
could  be  carried  out  on  a  commercial  scale  with  the  means  now  avail- 
able. This  applies  especially  to  the  Yarrentrapp  reaction,  in  which 
oleic  acid  is  converted  into  palmitic  acid  by  fusion  with  an  excess  of 
an  alkali  hydroxid.  The  reaction  is  not  confined  to  oleic  acid';  all 
unsaturated  acids  may  be  converted  into  saturated  acids  of  lower 
carbon  content.  It  is  said  that  the  process  as  outlined  is  satis- 
factory: For  whale  oil:  2,500  kilos  of  the  whale  oil  fatty  acids  are 
placed  in  an  autoclave  of  5.000  liters  capacity,  800  kilos  of  sodium 
hydroxid  dissolved  in  an  equal  quantity  of  water  are  added,  and  the 
mixture  is  heated  at  260°  C.  for  six  hours.  The  pressure  must  not 
be  allowed  to  exceed  10  atmospheres.  The  resulting  mass,  which  is 
quite  free  from  objectionable  odor  of  whale  oil.  may  be  worked  up 
into  soap,  or  the  fatty  acids  present  may  be  liberated  and  distilled. 
The  yield  of  fatty  acids  so  liberated  is  about  85  per  cent,  of  the 
quantity  taken  originally.  The  hydrogen  liberated  during  the  reac- 
tion may  be  collected  and  utilized  (Cheni.  Eng.  and  Manufacturer, 
1916,  24.  203-204.  by  W.  Schrauth.  through  The  Analyst,  March. 
1917,  p.  91). 
Urinary  Test  for  Trinitrotoluene  (T.  X.  T.). — The  method 
mentioned  was  first  described  by  Webster  and  is  as  follows:  12.5 
c.c.  of  urine  is  mixed  with  an  equal  volume  of  20  per  cent,  acid 
sulphuric,  and  then  extracted  in  a  separating  funnel  with  ether. 
The  ethereal  extract,  after  washing  with  water,  is  tested  for  trini- 
trotoluene by  adding  5  per  cent,  alcoholic  solution  of  KOH  :  if  1 
purple  color  makes  its  appearance,  which  quickly  turns  to  brown,  the 
presence  of  trinitrotoluene  is  positively  indicated  [  Medical  Press. 
1916.  537.  through  The  Analyst,  March,  1917.  p.  89). 
Therapeutic  Worthlessness  of  Piperazine  and  Other 
Organic  Urate  "  Solvents.''' — Hanzlik  in  the  Jour.  Laboratory  and 
Clinical  Medicine  makes  some  statements  in  reference  to  the  unre- 
liability of  this  class  of  drugs  in  doing  what  is  claimed  for  them. 
Maybe  not  so  much  now,  but  twenty-five  years  ago  piperazine  was 
much  vaunted  as  a  wonderful  agent  for  promoting  diuresis,  and 
acting  as  a  urate  solvent.  The  investigator  mentions  that  while 
excessive  doses  show  a  slight  increase  in  the  uric  acid  output,  the 
same  result  can  just  as  readily  be  brought  about  by  giving  the  patient 
such  well-known  alkali  salts  as  sodium  bicarbonate  or  the  citrates. 
