Am.  Jour.  Pharru.  1 
September,  1899.  J 
Wood-  Tar  Creosote. 
413 
The  guaiacol  was  estimated  by  the  following  process:  Mix 
5  c.c.  of  creosote  with  50  c.c.  of  a  20  per  cent,  alcoholic  solution  of 
potassium  hydrate  ;  in  from  10  to  30  minutes  a  crystalline  mass  will 
result,  due  to  the  combination  of  guaiacol  and  creosol  with  the 
potassium.  Press  crystalline  mass  between  filter  paper  until  dry, 
place  into  a  test-tube,  add  5  c.c.  of  10  per  cent,  sulphuric  acid,  heat 
mixture  a  moment  and  the  guaiacol  and  creosol  will  rise  to  the  sur- 
face of  the  liquid.  Dilute  sufficiently  with  water  so  that  the  oily 
portion  will  sink  to  the  bottom,  decant  aqueous  portion  and  add  4 
c.c.  of  concentrated  ammonia  water.  A  hard  crystalline  compound 
is  immediately  formed  with  the  guaiacol,  and  after  some  time  a  semi- 
crystalline  mass  results  with  the  creosol.  On  treating  the  above 
crystalline  mixture  with  benzin,  all  but  the  ammonium  compound 
of  guaiacol  is  dissolved,  and  separation  can  be  effected  by  decan- 
tation  and  washing  or  filtration  and  washing.  Acidulate  the  solid 
residue  with  10  per  cent,  sulphuric,  extract  the  guaiacol  by  means 
of  benzin  and  evaporate  in  a  tared  vessel. 
To  differentiate  between  creosote  and  phenols,  thoroughly  agitate 
one  volume  of  the  creosote  with  diluted  glycerin  (3  of  glycerin 
to  I  of  water),  then  set  aside  for  separation.  The  diminution  in  the 
volume  of  creosote  indicates  roughly  the  amount  of  soluble  im- 
purities. 
The  barium  hydroxide  test  for  ccerulignol  and  other  high-boiling 
constituents  was  also  applied,  but  their  presence  was  not  revealed 
in  any  case. 
The  collodion  test,  the  ferric  chloride  test  and  the  bromine  test  did 
not  give  results  on  which  any  reliance  could  be  placed. 
In  the  writer's  experience  the  pharmacopceial  requirements 
should  be  based  on  the  following  points :  physical  appearance, 
reaction,  solubility,  specific  gravity  (not  below  1-080  at  150  C),  boil- 
ing-point (200  to  2200  C),  reaction  with  a  20  per  cent,  absolute 
alcoholic  potassium  hydrate  solution,  and  a  test  for  neutral  oils, 
although  this  is  indicated  by  the  boiling-point. 
New  Alkaloid  in  STavesacre.  F.  B.  Ahrens  (Ber.  d.  D.  Chem.  Ges.,  1896, 
p.  1581)  has  discovered  a  new  alkaloid  in  Delphinium  Staphisagria,  which  he 
has  called  Staphisagroin,  the  formula  of  which  is  C20H24NO4,  and  it  does  not 
give  any  of  the  color  reactions  of  the  Delphinium  alkaloids. 
Alkaloids  of  Anhalonium  Lewinii.  E.  Kander  (Arc/iiv.  d.  Pharm., 
1899,  P-  3)  finds,  beside  Mescalin,  Anhalonidin  and  Lophophorin,  two  other 
bases,  viz.,  Pellotin  and  Anhalomin. 
