268 
An  Examination  of  Acacia. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1900. 
The  experiments  of  the  writer  go  to  show  that  the  process  of 
powdering  will  produce  this  change  in  the  nature  of  the  gum 
without  the  application  of  artificial  heat. 
The  several  samples  examined  responded  to  the  following  glucose 
tests :  the  alkaline  bismuth,  the  indigo-carmine,  the  picric  acid  and 
Molisch's  thymol  test. 
The  safranin  and  the  phenyl-hydrazin  tests  were  exceptions,  as 
no  reaction  took  place. 
It  might  be  of  interest  to  state  that  the  above  is  corroborated  by 
the  experiments  of  F.  W.  Haussmann,  Ph.G ,  who  found  that  acacia 
syrups  reduced  Fehling's  solution  and  also  gave  other  glucose 
reactions.    (Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.,  98,  593.) 
Following  is  a  table  of  the  treatments  of  the  different  samples 
and  the  behaviors  which  were  noted. 
Samples  1,  2  and  3  were  unpowdered  gums  of  different  grades  of 
commercial  value. 
Sample. 
Treatment. 
Result. 
Nos.  1,  2  and  3    .  . 
(  Heated  on  a  water-bath  with  Fehling's  solu- ) 
\    tion.  j 
Dried  at  6o°  C,  afterwards  treated  as  above. 
"     »  105°  C,      .    "             "       "     '  " 
"     ;'  I30°C, 
Gave  no  reduction. 
f     "     "i3o°C,         "         boiled  with  Feh- ) 
\    ling's  solution.  / 
"  marked  " 
f  No  artificial  heat  used.   Boiled  with  Fehling's  ) 
X    solution.  J 
f  Heated  on  a  water-bath  with  Fehling's  solu-  ) 
X    tion,  after  treating  with  HC1.  J 
/Heated  on  a  water-bath  with  Fehling's  solu-") 
X    tion,  after  treating  with  KOH.  j 
/Boiled  with  Fehling's  solution, after  treating) 
1    with  HC1.  J 
11  it 
[Boiled  with  Fehling's  solution, after  treating) 
1     with  KOH.  J 
Powdered  gum  \ 
(ccmmercial)  J 
f  Heated  on  a  water-bath  with  Fehling's  solu- ) 
t    tion.  j 
"    slight  " 
Powdered  gum  \ 
(commercial)  J 
When  filtered  and  boiled. 
"    further  " 
Powdered  by  hand 
(  Heated  on  a  water-bath  with  Fehling's  solu- ) 
X    tion.  J 
"    slight  " 
When  filtered  and  boiled. 
"   further  " 
