Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Sept.,  1890.  J 
Chemical  Notes. 
441 
tion  containing  the  nitric  acid  is  carefully  neutralized  with  sulphuric 
acid  or  sodium  hydrate,  chlorides  are  precipitated  with  silver  acetate 
and  the  excess  of  the  acetate  removed  with  sodium  phosphate.  The 
filtered  solution  is  evaporated  almost  to  dryness,  filtered  if  neces- 
sary, slightly  acidified  with  a  drop  of  dilute  acetic  acid  and  precipi- 
tated while  boiling  with  a  warm  solution  of  cinchonamine  sulphate. 
Precipitation  takes  place  immediately,  but  the  solution  is  set  aside 
in  a  cool  place  for  twelve  hours.  The  precipitate  is  then  collected 
on  a  weighed  filter,  washed  with  a  cold  saturated  solution  of  cin- 
chonamine nitrate  (to  remove  the  excess  of  sulphate)  and  washed 
with  a  small  quantity  of  cold  water.  The  filter  is  then  dried  at 
iOO°  C.  and  weighed.  359  pts.  by  weight  of  the  nitrate  represent 
54  pts.  N205.  A  solution  containing  y^-g-  potassium  nitrate  still 
yield  a  precipitate  after  standing  several  hours. 
The  Carbohydrates  of  the  Sweet  Potato  (Batatas  edulis). — W.  E. 
Stone  (Ber.  d.  Deutsch.  chem.  Gesell.,  1890,  1460)  found  1^  to  2 
per  cent,  of  cane  sugar  and  a  large  amount  of  starch. 
Myrrh. — O.  Kohler  (Arch.  d.  Pharm.,  1890,  228,  291)  examined 
this  gum  resin  of  the  Sumali  country.  Distillation  with  water  yielded 
the  oil  C10HuO,  7  to  8  per  cent.  The  residue  was  dried  and  treated 
with  absolute  alcohol  where  the  gum  remained.  This  has  the  composi- 
tion C6H10O5,  is  a  light  yellow  or  white  powder  soluble  in  water, 
and  is  present  to  the  amount  of  57  to  59  per  cent.  The  portion 
soluble  in  alcohol,  which  is  33  to  35  per  cent,  of  the  whole,  con- 
tains (1)  a  soft  resin  C26H3405  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether  and  has 
three  free  hydroxyls,  and  (2)  two  dibasic  resin  acids  C13H1608  and 
C26H3209. 
The  Phenol  of  Oil  of  Sassafras. — C.  Pomeranz  (Monatsh.f.  Chem., 
1890,  101)  separated  the  phenol  by  shaking  the  oil  with  dilute 
potassium  hydrate,  precipitating  with  sulphuric  acid,  drying  and 
purifying  by  distillation.  Analysis  and  other  properties  point 
toward  eugenol,  which  was  verified  by  preparing  and  examining  the 
benzoic  ester. 
Test  for  Purity  of  Lard. — F.  Jean  (Societe  chim.  de  Paris,  June  6, 
1890,  through  Chem.  Zeit.,  1890,945)  uses  the  rotatory  power  of 
lard,  which  is  12-5°  for  detecting  adulterations.  He  claims  that  5 
per  cent,  of  foreign  fat,  cotton-seed  oil  or  margarin,  can  be  detected 
with  the  polariscope. 
Oils  of  Nutmeg  and  Mace. — F.  W.  Semmler  (Ber.  d.  Deutsch. 
