Am.  .Tour.  Pharm.  ) 
April,  1890.  J 
Tartaric  Acid. 
165 
first  determinations.  One  of  the  samples  was  recrystallized,  both 
from  water  and  alcohol,  and  then  carefully  dried,  but  no  change  in 
the  melting  points  was  noticed. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  states  that  on  ignition  not  more  than  0-05 
per  cent,  of  ash  should  remain.  About  10  gms.  of  each  sample  was 
incinerated  in  a  porcelain  capsule,  and  the  amount  of  ash  calculated, 
and  resulted  as  follows  : 
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
 « — ■ 
G 
Crystals. 
Per  cent,  of  ash,  . 
0*04 
0"I2 
criii 
C04 
CT02 
O'T.2 
0-04 
The  ash  left  was  examined  and  found  to  consist  almost  entirely 
of  calcium  sulphate  without  evidence  of  copper  or  other  metallic 
salts. 
Ten  cc.  of  a  concentrated  solution  showed  on  standing  but  a  slight 
cloudiness  with  barium  chloride  and  hydrochloric  acid  in  excess; 
this  cloudiness  almost  entirely  disappeared  on  boiling  showing  the 
presence  of  but  the  slightest  trace  of  sulphuric  acid. 
Concentrated  solutions  of  the  acids  were  poured  into  a  solution  of 
calcium  hydrate,  the  alkaline  reaction  allowed  to  predominate;  a 
white  flocculent  precipitate  was  formed,  which  was  entirely  soluble 
in  ammonium  chloride,  and  acetic  acid,  the  former  showing  distinction 
from  racemic  acid,  and  the  latter  distinction  from  oxalic  acid.  In 
all  other  respects  the  samples  agreed  with  the  tests  for  dextro- 
tartaric  acid. 
Allen  (Vol.  I,  2d  edition,  p.  435)  states  that  a  15  per  cent,  aqueous 
solution  rotates  the  plane  of  polarization  13-1°  to  the  right;  tempera- 
ture 1 50  C.  This  experiment  was  tried  with  a  number  of  the  sam- 
ples, but  the  polarization  indicated  only  2-10°  to  the  right  at  a 
temperature  of  150  C. 
These  results  indicate  that  the  above  quoted  authorities  are 
wrong  so  far  as  the  acid  of  commerce  is  concerned,  and  the  subject 
is  one  worthy  of  further  investigation. 
Antipyrine  and  Thalline.— Dr.  Moncorvo  {Jour,  de  Med.  de  Paris) 
regards  both  compounds  as  possessing  valuable  haemostatic  properties,  probably 
acting  both  by  constricting  the  vessels  and  coagulating  the  blood.  Acetanilid 
and  Phenacetin  do  not  possess  much  haemostatic  power. 
