394  Color  Tests  with  Synthetic  Remedies.    {Am  juTyr;Sarm- 
COLOR  TESTS  OBSERVED  WITH  SOME  SYNTHETIC  ~ 
REMEDIES.1 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk. 
(1)  Saturated  solutions  of  phenacetin,  methacetin,  lactophenin  and 
a  I  per  cent,  solution  of  phenocoll  hydrochlorate,  mixed  with  sufficient 
bromine  water  to  give  a  pale  yellow  color,  will,  in  a  short  time,  be- 
come colorless,  then  pink-red,  and  finally  brown ;  the  addition  of 
alkalies  or  alkaline  carbonates  will  cause  the  pink  or  red  color  to 
become  much  deeper ;  lactophenin  also  deposits  a  white  precipitate, 
while  the  other  solutions  remain  clear  for  a  considerable  time, 
unless  they  are  stirred,  when  a  turbidity  may  be  noticed. 
(2)  If  solutions  of  the  substances  mentioned  in  the  preceding  test 
be  thoroughly  agitated  with  an  equal  volume  of  bromine  water  and 
then  with  half  a  volume  of  petroleum-benzin,  the  phenocoll  hydro- 
chlorate  test  will  speedily  develop  in  the  aqueous  solution  a  pale 
red  or  violet  color,  changing  to  a  color  probably  best  described  as 
"  crushed  raspberry  or  strawberry  ;"  the  other  aqueous  solutions  will 
become  yellow  and  brown.  Some  of  the  benzin  solutions,  removed 
to  small  beakers  and  evaporated,  will  leave  yellowish  or  brownish 
residues,  the  quantities  being  in  the  order — phenocoll,  methacetin, 
phenacetin  and  lactophenin  ;  if  a  little  water  be  added  to  these  resi- 
dues and  heat  applied,  phenocoll  yields  a  yellow  solution,  methace- 
tin and  phenacetin  purplish  solutions,  the  first-mentioned  being 
decidedly  deeper  in  color,  while  lactophenin  gives  a  hardly  percep- 
tible pinkish  solution. 
(3)  o-oro  gm.  salophen  boiled  for  a  minute  or  two  with  5  c.c. 
solution  of  potassa  (5  per  cent.),  and  then  agitated  so  as  to  mix  the 
solution  with  atmospheric  oxygen,  will  develop  a  green  color ;  upon 
standing,  the  color  may  change  to  yellow,  red  or  violet,  but  agita- 
tion will  restore  the  green  color  again  or  develop  a  blue  color. 
This  test  is  not  given  by  any  other  remedy  mentio?ied  in  this  paper y 
the  solutions  obtained  being  colorless. 
(4)  If  to  0  010  of  the  following  remedies,  boiled  for  a  minute 
or  two  with  a  5  c.c.  solution  of  potassa,  a  very  minute  fragment 
of  potassium  permanganate  be  added,  and  again  boiled,  salophen 
will  yield  a  blue  or  greenish  coloration ;  phenacetin,  methacetin,  phe- 
1Read  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Pharmaceutical  Association,  June 
18,  1896. 
