AjuJnTi,  mf'}  Action  of  Chloroform  on  Potassium  Phenate.  285 
mercuric,  like  the  guaiaco  mercuric  test,  can  be  used  to  distinguish 
the  glucosides  and  neutral  crystallizable  bodies  from  organic  bases, 
and  thus  facilitate  analytical  research. 
In  replacing  the  mercuric  chloride  by  ferric  chloride  analogous  re- 
sults are  obtained.  The  solution  of  pyrogallate  of  iron  used  by  the 
author  in  his  experiments  contained  only  a  minimum  quantity  of 
metallic  salt,  the  addition  of  a  trace  of  ammonia  or  caustic  alkali  to 
which  gives  rise  to  a  deep  blue-violet  color.  This  very  delicate  reac- 
tion of  the  salts  of  peroxide  of  iron,  recently  indicated  by  M.  Jacque- 
min,  can  also  be  used  to  recognize  the  presence  of  alkalies.  The 
solution  which  gave  the  author  the  best  results  was  composed  of — 
Pyrogallic  acid,  ,  0*50  gram. 
Water,  5  c.c. 
Alcohol  5  c.c. 
Perchloride  of  Iron,  .  .  .  0-0001  gram. 
The  pyrogallate  of  iron  so  prepared,  colors  blue  crystals  of  strychnia 
brucia,  morphia,  codeia,  and  all  the  other  alkaloids.  Crystals  of 
narcotina  are  colored  difficultly,  and  those  of  narceia  acquire  only  a 
scarcely  appreciable  violet  tint,  but  upon  heating  them  in  a  water 
bath  they  both  yield  a  very  deep  bluish  violet  residue  The  glucosides 
and  neutral  bodies  give  no  coloration  in  the  cold,  and  in  the  heat  no 
deeper  tint  than  pyrogallate  of  iron  heated  separately.  A  solution 
of  cupric  chloride  added  to  pyrogallic  acid  gives  analogous  results, 
the  coloration  in  that  case  being  a  nearly  black  brown. 
The  author  considers  that  all  these  reactions  are  explained  by  the 
oxidation  of  the  pyrogallic  acid  under  the  influence  of  various  metallic 
oxides.  The  addition  of  an  alkali,  alkaline  salt  or  free  alkaloid  to 
one  or  other  of  the  foregoing  solutions,  produces,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  metallic  chloride,  a  double  decomposition ;  there  is  formed 
an  alkaline  chloride  or  a  hydrochlorate  of  an  alkaloid  and  a  more 
or  less  decided  coloration,  resulting  from  the  oxidation  of  the  pyro- 
gallic acid  by  the  metallic  oxide  at  the  moment  when  the  double  de- 
composition takes  place. — Pharm.  Journ.  (Lond.),  March  28,  1874. 
ACTION  OF  CHLOROFORM  ON  POTASSIUM  PHENATE. 
By  J.  Guareschi. 
When  an  alcoholic  solution  of  phenol,  mixed  with  caustic  potash, 
is  evaporated  to  dryness,  and  chloroform  is  poured  upon  the  residue 
while  still  hot,  a  splendid  red-purple  color  is  immediately  produced. 
