98 
New  Reaction  for  Carbolic  Acid. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm* 
\     Mar.  1, 1873. 
three  times  its  volume  of  ether,  and  allowed  to  settle  ;  the  clear 
ethereal  solution  is  decanted  and  the  residue  treated  by  a  fresh  por- 
tion of  ether,  and  decanted  as  before.  The  mixed  ethereal  solutions 
are  then  briskly  agitated  with  an  excess  of  dilute  hydrochloric  acid, 
to  eliminate  the  oleic  acid,  which  rises  dissolved  in  the  ether  to  the 
surface  of  the  water.  The  solution  is  next  washed  with  water  and  dis- 
tilled to  recover  the  ether,  which  may  be  used  for  a  subsequent  oper- 
ation. 
The  portion  remaining  in  the  still  consists  of  oleic  acid  C36H3303,HO 
contaminated  with  a  certain  quantity  of  oxyoleic  acid  C36H3204HO  + 
HO.  In  order  to  free  it  from  the  latter,  the  mixture  is  saturated  with 
solution  of  ammonia,  and  the  resulting  compound,  decomposed  by 
means  of  chloride  of  barium,  which  throws  down  a  precipitate  of  oleate 
and  oxyoleate  of  baryta.  The  precipitate  is  then  dried  and  treated 
with  boiling  alcohol,  which  deposits,  on  cooling,  crystals  of  oleate  of 
baryta,  without  any  trace  of  oxyoleate.  The  oleate  is  then  decom- 
posed by  a  solution  of  tartaric  acid  in  boiled  distilled  water,  which  sets 
free  the  pure  oleic  acid.  Care  must  be  taken  in  washing  this  acid  for 
the  last  time,  and  also  in  decomposing  the  oleate  of  baryta,  to  avoid 
contact  with  the  atmosphere. 
When  thus  prepared,  oleic  acid  is  nearly  colorless  and  slightly 
thinner  than  almond  oil  ;  it  dissolves  readily  both  the  binoxide  of 
mercury  and  morphia,  forming  with  them  solutions  varying  from  almost 
white  (5  per  cent.)  to  the  color  of  linseed  oil  (10  and  20  per  cent.)  with- 
out giving  rise  to  precipitates. 
In  preparing  the  oleates,  the  mixture  should  never  be  heated  to 
more  than  150°  F.,  and  the  solution  should  be  made  in  a  closed  ves- 
sel, in  which  the  atmospheric  air  has  been  deprived  of  its  oxygen  or 
replaced  by  pure  hydrogen  ;  proper  precautions  being  taken  to  allow 
for  the  expansion  of  the  gas  before  entirely  closing  the  apparatus. 
New  Orleans,  La.  F.  &  H. 
NEW  REACTION  FOR  CARliOLIC  ACID. 
By  Charles  Rice. 
The  following  reaction  for  carbolic  acid,  which  occurred  to  me  some 
time  ago,  accidentally,  is  very  decided  and  quite  delicate. 
Into  a  five-inch  test-tube  place  about  10  grains  of  powdered  chlorate 
of  potassa,  pour  upon  it  strong  hydrochloric  acid  to  the  depth  of  about 
one  inch,  and  allow  the  action  and  evolution  of  gas  to  proceed  for 
