Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
December,  1896.  J 
A  romadendriri. 
687 
purely  scientific  basis—a  result  long  hoped  for.  Much  work  will 
require  to  be  done  before  an  authentic  scheme  can  be  laid  down ; 
but  from  our  present  knowledge  I  look  forward  to  an  easy,  accurate 
and  scientific  method  of  arranging  the  members  of  this  large  group 
in  their  proper  classes,  and  to  eventually  settle  chemically  the  affin- 
ities existing  between  the  Eucalypts,  and  thus  help  to  bridge  over 
the  difficulties  which  have  up  to  the  present  existed  in  reference  to 
the  members  of  this  important  genus. 
We  require  now  a  method  whereby  these  bodies  can  be  correctly 
separated,  both  from  each  other  and  from  the  tannin  of  the  kino ; 
and  until  this  mode  of  procedure  is  worked  out  it  is  of  little  use 
attempting  a  gravimetric  determination  of  the  original  kinos. 
NOTES  ON  PYROXYLIN,  B.  P. 
Chas.  T.  Tyrer  (Pharm.  Journ.,  1896,  p.  109)  has  confirmed  the 
fact  that,  in  the  manufacture  of  pyroxylin,  the  presence  of  moisture 
in  the  cotton,  variation  in  temperature  of  the  mixed  acids,  time  of 
exposure  to  the  action  of  the  mixed  acids,  and  method  of  washing, 
all  have  an  effect  on  the  finished  product.  It  was  found  that  the  for- 
mula of  the  U.  S.  P.  gave  a  better  product  than  that  of  the  B.  P.,  that 
of  the  latter  being  of  inferior  solubility  when  the  yield  approached 
theory.    The  best  drying  temperature  was  found  to  be  3 2°  C. 
THE  COLORING  MATTER  OF  SICILIAN  SUMACH  (RHUS  CORIARLE). 
Perkin  and  Allen  (Proc.  Chem.  Society,  1896,  p.  157)  have  investi- 
gated the  coloring  matter  of  Sicilian  sumach  (Rhus  coriarise).  Lowe 
(Zeit.  anal.  Chem.,  12,  127),  who  examined  the  different  varieties 
of  sumach,  stated  that  they  contain  quercetin  and  quercitrin,  but 
the  authors  are  of  opinion  that  this  is  incorrect  as  regards  Sicilian 
sumach. 
The  coloring  matter,  C15H10O8,  forms  glistening  yellow  needles, 
having  dyeing  properties  similar  to  those  of  quercetin  and  fisetin, 
but  is  distinguished  from  these  by  its  color  reactions  with  dilute 
alkalies.  The  sulphuric  acid  compound,  C15H10O8H2SO4,  forms 
orange-red  needles,  and  the  acetyl  derivative,  C15H408(C2H30)6,  col- 
orless needles,  melting  point  203-2040.  Fused  with  alkali  it  yields 
phloroglucol  and  gallic  acid.  These  reactions  show  it  to  be  ident- 
ical with  myricetin,  the  coloring  matter  of  Myrica  nagi.  Sicilian 
sumach  also  contains  some  quantity  of  free  gallic  acid. 
