AMjui°yRi,i8H7A2RM'}  Gleanings  from  the  European  Journals.  299 
VALUABLE  PRODUCTS  OBTAINED  FROM  MACLURA  AURANTI- 
ACA,  NUTTALL. 
Bonham,  Texas,  May  27th,  1872. 
The  writer  respectfully  suggests  that  the  article  noticed  by  Prof. 
J.  M.  Merrick  (published  in  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  Feb.,  1872,  p.  82) 
is  probably  an  extract  from  the  wood  of  the  Bois  d'Arc  {Madura  au- 
rantiaca,  Nuttall),  a  native  tree  of  Northern  Texas,  and  largely  used 
in  the  Nortwestern  States  for  hedges,  under  the  name  of  Osage  orange. 
A  decoction  of  the  wood,  obtained  by  boiling  the  chips  in  water,  has 
been  used  here  many  years  for  coloring  yellow.  A  solid  extract,  ob- 
tained in  the  manner  used  for  extract  of  logwood,  gives  a  beautiful 
yellow  extract,  which  might  very  properly  be  called  Aurantine.  This 
suggestion  is  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  curious  in  such  matters,  and 
might  well  repay  the  experiment  of  the  scientific.  The  material  is 
abundant  in  this  section  of  Texas. 
In  addition  to  the  coloring  matter  obtained  from  the  Bois  d'Arc,  it 
also  yields  a  large  percentage  of  tannin.  Experiments  have  been 
made  here  with  it  in  tanning  leather,  which  indicate  its  great  supe- 
riority over  the  oak  barks  or  sumach,  and  requiring  much  less  time. 
The  seeds  from  the  fruit  yield  an  abundant,  bland  and  limpid  oil, 
burning  with  a  steady,  clear  flame  in  an  ordinary  lard  oil  lamp.  In 
taste  it  resembles  very  much  that  of  olive  oil,  and  maintains  its  fluid- 
ity at  a  low  temperature.  The  specimen  we  have  was  obtained  by 
expression  in  the  ordinary  manner,  and  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  it 
will  yield  equal  to  the  castor  bean.  "  Texan." 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  EUROPEAN  JOURNALS. 
By  the  Editor. 
Preparation  of  pure  muriatic  acid. — Th.  Diez  dilutes  the  crude 
acid  until  it  has  a  specific  gravity  of  1*13,  and  passes  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen through  it,  whereby  arsenic,  chlorine  and  sulphurous  acid  are 
removed,  and  the  ferric  chloride  is  converted  into  ferrous  chloride. 
Next  morning  the  precipitate  is  collected  upon  a  double  filter,  and  the 
acid  distilled  from  a  glass  retort  into  a  glass  receiver,  which  fits  well, 
but  is  not  luted.  Heat  is  applied,  and  when  the  distilling  liquid 
ceases  to  contain  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  the  receiver  is  changed  and 
the  pure  acid  collected.  Towards  the  close  of  the  operation  the  re- 
ceiver is  again  changed,  as  the  distillate  is  now  apt  to  contain  again 
