Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1890. 
Chemical  Notes. 
487. 
Croton  oil. — L.  Reuter  {Apoth.  Zeitg.  1890,  v,  320,  362)  found  that 
the  solubility  of  the  neutral  glyceride  in  absolute  alcohol  is  due  to 
or  increased  by  the  presence  of  free  croton-oleic  acid.  The  amount 
of  free  acid  varies  with  the  method  of  preparation  of  the  oil  as  also 
do  some  other  constituents.  The  oil  occasionally  contains  an  albu- 
min modification  and  a  glucoside. 
On  Lycopodium  Oil. — A.  Barkowski  ( Warschau,  Universit.  Nach- 
rickt.,  1889.  No.  3-4),  by  triturating  the  spores  of  Lycopodium 
clavatum  with  glass  and  extracting  with  ether,  obtained  48-5  per 
cent,  of  a  neutral,  non-drying  oil,  which  is  similar  to  expressed  oil  of 
almonds.  The  oil  contains  I,  a  new  fatty  acid  {lycopodic  acid), 
C18H3604,  2  per  cent. ;  II,  a  phytosterin  (vegetable  cholesterin),  0-3  per 
cent.;  Ill,  oleic  acid,  80  per  cent.;  IV,  arachic,  stearic  and  palmitic 
acids,  3  per  cent. ;  V,  glycerin,  8-2  per  cent.  The  phytosterin  is 
similar  or  probably  identical  with  that  obtained  by  Hesse  from 
Calabar  beans.  It  crystallizes  in  hexagonal  tablets  or  silky  acicular 
crystals,  which  melt  at  I32°-I33°  C.  The  composition  is  QgH^O. 
Lycopodic  acid  forms  small,  silky  doubly  refracting  needles,  which 
melt  at  91-92°  C.    It  is  an  isomere  of  dioxy-stearic  acid. 
On  Cassia  Oil. — According  to  Schimmel  &  Co.  cassia  oil  is  occa- 
sionally adulterated  with  colophony  and  petroleum.  Ed.  Hirsch- 
sohn  {Pharm.  Zeitschr.  f.  Russl.,  1890,  xxix,  225-30,  241-44)  pro- 
poses the  following  methods  for  detecting  these  adulterations : 
Shake  the  oil  with  three  times  its  volume  of  petroleum  ether  (sp. 
gr.  0-650)  in  a  graduated  cylinder.  In  case  a  diminution  in  volume 
should  take  place,  the  presence  of  other  ethereal  oils,  fatty  oils,  resin 
or  kerosene  is  indicated ;  in  case  of  an  increment  of  volume  castor 
oil  is  very  likely  present.  On  shaking  the  clear  extract  obtained' 
with  petroleum  ether  with  oxide  or  hydrate  of  copper,  it  must  not 
yield  a  green  or  blue  filtrate.  The  presence  of  the  color  points 
towards  colophony  or  copaiba  balsam.  One  volume  of  oil  must 
give  with  three  volumes  of  70  per  cent,  alcohol  at  15°  C.  a  clear  or 
only  opalescent  solution.  A  turbidity  or  precipitate  makes  the 
presence  of  petroleum,  other  ethereal  or  fatty  oils,  or  larger  quanti- 
ties of  colophony  very  likely.  The  solution  in  70  per  cent,  alcohol 
treated  with  an  alcoholic  lead  acetate  solution  (70  per  cent,  alcohol 
saturated  at  the  temperature  of  the  room),  drop  by  drop,  until  one- 
half  the  volume  is  added,  must  not  give  a  precipitate,  which  would 
show  the  presence  of  colophony  or  a  similar  resin. 
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