30 
Qua^sin  mid  its  Constitution. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1885. 
to  give  rise  to  a  nitro  derivative,  which  is  precipitated  on  the  addition 
of  water.  It  dissolves  in  boiling  alcohol,  and,  as  the  solution  cools, 
is  deposited  again  as  a  yellowish  powder  which  melts  at  130°. 
If  quassin  is  heated  with  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid  in  sealed 
tubes  for  four  hours  at  100°,  methyl  chloride  is  formed  and  escapes  on 
opening  the  tubes ;  whilst  the  hydrochloric  solution  when  diluted 
with  water,  deposits  first  a  resinous  matter,  which  should  be  removed 
and  then,  after  a  time,  a  colorless  substance  in  small  nodules.  This 
new  compound,  which  the  author  calls  quassic  acid,  Ci^H^gOg.COOH, 
or  C28ll3gOg(COOH)2,  is  far  less  soluble  in  alcohol  than  quassin,  and 
crystallises  in  silky  needles  which  melt  at  245°,  and  reduce  Fehling's 
solution  and  ammoniacal  silver  nitrate  in  the  cold.  It  seems  to  be 
formed  thus:  C32H,,0,,  +  2HCl=C28H380,(COOH)2  +  2CH3Cl,  so  that 
quassin  would  be  the  ethereal  salt  of  quassic  acid.  The  author  has 
also  tried  the  action  of  nascent  hydrogen,  and  of  boiling  dilute  nitric 
acid  on  quassin,  but  the  products  are  resinous.  Fusion  with  potash 
and  oxidation  with  chromic  anhydride  also  gave  unsatisfactory  results. 
The  resinous  matter  obtained  in  the  preparation  of  crystallised 
quassiii,  and  in  all  probability  produced  from  the  latter,  was  submitted 
to  distillation  with  zinc-dust.  The.  brown  oily  product  was  treated 
with  sodium  and  fractionally  distilled ;  the  portion  passing  over  at 
170-190°  when  again  distilled  gave  an  oil  boiling  at  173-178°  of 
the  formula  CiiH,g,  whilst  crystals  melting  at  76-78°  were  obtained 
from  the  residue  in  the  retort. — Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  1884,  p.  1192, 
Gazetta  xiv.,  1-9.    See  also  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1884,  p.  98. 
Use  of  Iodoform. — Unna  recommends  iodoform  for  the  healing  of 
soft  chancres,  and  for  obviating  the  occurrence  of  suppurating  buboes. 
The  sore  is  first  dried  with  absorbent  cotton,  then  a  drop  of  solution  of 
iodoform  in  ether  is  spread  upon  the  sore,  and  when  it  has  become  dry, 
it  is  covered  with  a  piece  of  iodoform  plaster  or  muslin.  To  conceal 
the  smell  the  whole  is  covered  with  cotton,  perfumed  with  an  alcoholic 
solution  of  coumarin  or  other  aromatic  spirit.  For  the  preparation  of 
Pencils  of  Iodoform,  Unna  recommends  iodoform  10  Gm.,  acacia  3  Gm., 
tragacanth  and  glycerin  each  1  Gm.  ;  sufficient  water  being  Uocd  to 
form  a  mass,  which  is  made  into  5  pencils. — 3Ionatschr.  f.  Der-matoL, 
Aug.,  1884. 
