Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Aug.  1, 1873.  j 
Jervic  Acid  and  Jervates. 
349 
of  cognac.  When  almost  neutralized  by  soda,  the  solution  gave  no 
precipitates  with  sulphate  of  copper,  ferric  chloride  and  mercurous 
nitrate. 
In  order  to  compare  this  aromatic  acid  with  angelic  acid,  the  latter 
was  prepared  by  Buchner's  process,  by  exhausting  angelica  root  with 
alcohol,  evaporating  the  liquid,  separating  the  balsam,  washing  it  with 
water,  exhausting  it  with  solution  of  potassa,  purifying  the  compound 
by  repeated  concentration  and  filtration,  and  distilling  with  sulphuric 
acid.  Angelic  acid  was  obtained  in  colorless  needles,  having  a  pecu- 
liar aromatic  odor,  reminding  of  valerian,  and  being  sparingly  solu- 
ble in  cold;  but  freely  in  hot  water.  The  lead  salt  was  obtained  in 
shining  white  plates.  0*07  grams  of  the  lead  angelate,  having  been 
previously  dried  at  a  moderate  heat,  was  decomposed  by  sulphuric 
acid,  yielding  O052  grams  lead  sulphate,  containing  0*0855  grams 
lead,  which  is  equal  to  54*7  per  cent,  oxide  of  lead  in  the  angelate  ; 
theoretical  percentage  55*17  (See  Gmelin's  Hand-Book). 
Some  Osha  root  was  treated  in  precisely  the  same  manner  as  the 
angelica  root ;  the  acid  obtained  did  not  crystallize.  The  lead  salt 
was  obtained  in  shining  plates,  which,  on  heating,  fused  into  a  trans- 
parent mass.  It  was  dried  together  with  the  lead  angelate  ;  0-02 
grams  of  it  yielded  0.019  grams  sulphate,  corresponding  to  0*0129 
grams  lead  and  to  69*9  per  cent,  oxide  of  lead  in  the  organic  salt. 
It  seems  clear  from  the  results  as  given  above  that  the  acid  of 
Osha  root  is  not  identical  with  angelic  acid  ;  it  appears  to  be  a  new 
acid  hitherto  unknown,  and  to  deserve  to  be  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  Oshaic  acid. 
From  100  grains  of  the  air-dried  root  8  grains  of  ashes  were  ob- 
tained, containing  iron,  aluminum,  sodium  and  potassium. 
JERVIC  ACID  AND  JERVATES.* 
By  Hermann  Weppen. 
The  potassium  and  sodium  salts  are  prepared  by  carefully  neutra- 
lizing an  aqueous  solution  of  the  acid  with  pure  carbonate ;  the  slight- 
est excess  of  the  latter  causes  the  liquid  to  assume  an  intense  yellow 
color.  The  solutions  are  evaporated  spontaneously  under  a  bell-glass 
over  sulphuric  acid.    The  potassium  salt  is  yellowish,  scarcely  crys- 
Abstract  of  a  paper  published  in  Archiv  d.  Pharm.,  1873,  March. 
