Am'Feb.?if£arm"}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  ioi 
a  turbid  solution  which,  after  several  hours'  standing,  does  not  deposit 
oil  globules;  the  balsam  with  4  volumes  absolute  ether,  after  filtration 
gives  a  turbid  mixture  upon  the  addition  of  5-10  volumes  of  90  per 
cent,  alcohol ;  the  petroleum  ether  residue  is  not  perfectly  soluble 
in  90  per  cent,  alcohol — Canada  balsam. 
(c)  The  balsam  with  Ca(OH)2  forms  a  solid  mass,  with  acetic  acid 
only  a  slightly  turbid  mixture,  the  ethereal  solution  remains  clear 
upon  the  addition  of  alcohol  (90  per  cent.)  and  the  petroleum-ether 
residue  is  perfectly  soluble  in  90  per  cent,  alcohol — resin  turpentine. 
B.  I.  Brom-chloroform  with  the  petroleum-ether  solution  pro- 
duces a  blue-violet  mixture,  the  petroleum-ether  residue  with 
hydrochloric  acid  sp.  gr.  1*19,  hydrobromic  acid  sp.  gr.  1-4  or  phos- 
phoric acid  sp.  gr.  i-y,  is  colored  red  ;  the  balsam  with  Ca(OH)2  pro- 
duces a  soft  mass,  with  acetic  acid,  a  turbid  solution  depositing  oil 
drops  after  several  hours — gurjun  balsam. 
B.  II.  Brom-chloroform  produces  no  coloration. 
(a)  The  balsam  with  Ca(OH)2  produces  a  soft  mass,  with  acetic 
acid,  a  turbid  solution  speedily  depositing  oily  drops.  The  petro- 
leum-ether residue,  if  soluble  in  90  per  cent,  alcohol  =  castor  oily 
if  insoluble  with  the  separation  of  oil  =  other  fixed  oils. 
(b)  The  balsam  with  Ca(OH)2  a  solid  mass,  with  acetic  acid  an 
opalescent  or  only  faintly  turbid  solution. 
(aa)  The  petroleum-ether  solution  with  cupric  acetate  is  distinctly 
greenish  in  color,  after  decanting  and  mixing  it  with  hydrogen  sul- 
phide solution  the  mixture  becomes  brownish ;  the  petroleum-ether 
residue  with  nitric  acid  sp.  gr.  1*38,  is  colored  a  fine  bluish-green — 
stovax. 
(bb)  The  petroleum-ether  solution  with  cupric  acetate  is  indis- 
tinctly greenish  in  color  'and  with  H2S  changes  to  a  pale  brown ; 
nitric  acid  does  not  color  the  petroleum-ether  residue  =  tolu 
balsam. 
(cc)  The  petroleum-ether  solution  with  cupric  acetate  is  colorless 
and  is  not  altered  by  H2S.  The  petroleum-ether  residue  is  not 
colored  by  nitric  acid  =  benzoin. 
The  following  tests,  based  upon  the  above,  are  serviceable  in  the 
examination  of  Peru  balsam  for  purity  : 
( 1 )  The  balsam  mixed  with  half  its  weight  of  calcium  hydrate,  and 
heated  upon  a  water-bath  for  half  an  hour,  should  not  give  a  solid 
mass  ;  this  test  by  itself  is  not  considered  reliable  since  the  addition 
