Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
June,  1885.  j 
Detection  of  Phenol  in  Creasote. 
297 
dark  brown  ring  is  formed  between  the  layers.    After  cooling,  the 
layers  are  mixed,  and  a  brown  sohition  with  a  brown  froth  is  formed. 
The  following  results  were  also  obtained: 
Creasote  containing  10  per  cent,  of  phenol.  Dark  brown  ring, 
brown  above,  acid  acquired  pink  tinge.  On  mixing:  dark  brown 
solution,  and  brown  froth  with  red  shade. 
Creasote  containing  20  per  cent,  phenol.  Dark  brown  ring,  brown 
above,  acid  acquired  pink  color.  On  mixing:  red-brown  solution  and 
froth  of  red  shade. 
Creasote  and  phenol,  equal  parts.  Red-brown  ring,  brown  above 
and  pink  below.  On  mixing:  pink-brown  solution  and  pink  froth. 
(This  mixture  gives  results  which  nearly  approach  to  those  with  pure 
phenol.) 
If  the  solutions  of  pure  creasote  and  those  containing  10  and  20  per 
cent,  of  the  adulterant  be  allowed  to  stand  for  half  an  hour  or  longer 
after  mixing,  again  shaken  and  allowed  to  rest  for  a  few  minutes,  the 
pure  creasote  froth  is  found  to  be  white,  while  the  others  are  distinctly 
red  tinted. 
From  these  results  I  consider  that  the  application  of  Eykman's  test 
to  the  detection  of  ])henol  in  creasote  is  practicable;  the  reagents  required 
are  common  things,  and  the  application  of  the  test  quite  easy.  Although 
I  have  made  parallel  experiments  with  solution  of  pure  nitrous  ether, 
the  results  obtained  were  not  much  different  from  those  with  spirit  of 
nitrous  ether.  The  strength  of  the  creasote  solution  should  be  about 
1  in  500 — a  single  drop  dissolved  in  an  ounce  of  water  will  serve.  In 
applying  the  test,  five  drops  of  spt.  aether,  nit.  are  first  placed  in  a  test- 
tube  (5  inches  by  f  inch  diameter  is  the  best  size  to  permit  shaking), 
then  a  drachm  of  the  creasote  solution,  and,  lastly,  the  same  volume  of 
strong  sulphuric  acid  carefully  poured  down  the  ^tide  of  the  tube. 
There  are  first  to  be  noted  the  color  of  the  ring  and  any  change  pro- 
duced in  the  acid;  if  it  be  pink,  phenol  is  present.  Then  after  the 
contents  of  the  tube  are  quite  cold  the  layers  should  be  mixed  and  the 
color  of  the  froth  noted,  which  will  corroborate  the  first  observation. 
Further,  if  the  contents  of  the  tube  remain  undisturbed  nntil  the  floc- 
culence  rises  to  the  surface,  the  clear  liquid  in  the  case  of  pure  creasote 
is  of  a  pale  brown  color,  but  when  phenol  is  present  to  the  extent  of 
10  or  20  per  cent,  it  is  a  dark  red  or  reddish  brown. — Phar.  Jour,  and 
Trans.,  March  14,  1885,  p.  754. 
