440  Formaldehyde  and  its  Condensation.  {Amsipt.r,'i^arm' 
globulin  and  albumin  are  changed  into  ,3-phytalburnose,  and  that  this 
becomes  a  peptone-like  substance,  and  forms  leucine  and  tyrosine. 
The  a-phytalbumose  becomes  a  similar  peptone-like  substance, 
leucine  and  tyrosine  being  formed.  This  peptone-like  substance 
resembles  the  deuteroalbumose  of  Kuhne  aud  Chittenden,  except  that 
a  solution  of  it  when  rendered  acid  by  acetic  acid  in  the  presence  of 
sodium  chloride  does  not  become  cloudy  on  warming.  No  true  pep- 
tones are  formed. 
Probably  digestion  in  the  plant  itself  is  very  slow,  as  much  more 
liquid  was  used  in  the  experiments  than  is  present  in  the  juice.  The 
albumose  forms  probably  the  circulating  proteid  in  the  plant. — Jour* 
Chem.  Soc,  July,  1886,  p.  642;  Jour.  Physiol,  vi.  336-360. 
FORMALDEHYDE  AND  ITS  CONDENSATION. 
By  0.  Loew. 
Formaldehyde  is  conveniently  prepared  in  the  following  way  ; 
A  current  of  dry  air  is  drawn  as  quickly  as  possible  through 
a  half  liter  flask,  half  filled  with  methyl  alcohol,  then  through 
a  hard  glass  tube  30  cm.  long,  containing  a  cylinder  of  coarse  copper 
gauze  5  cm.  long,  and  then  successively  through  an  empty  flask  (300- 
400  c.c.  capacity),  and  two  flasks  half  filled  with  water.  That  part 
of  the  tube  containing  the  copper  gauze  is  surrounded  with  brass 
gauze  and  gently  heated.  When  the  alcohol  vapor  reaches  the  copper, 
the  latter  glows  more  or  less,  according  to  the  rate  of  the  current  of 
air  passing  over  it.  The  operation  requires  no  attention  beyond  keep- 
ing up  the  supply  of  alcohol,  and  may  be  left  night  and  day.  A  15-20 
per  cent,  solution  of  aldehyde  was  obtained  in  this  way. 
In  like  manner,  ethers,  hydrocarbons  and  even  bases  can  be  con- 
verted into  aldehydes. 
Formose,  C6H1206,  is  obtained  by  shaking  a  3*5  to  4  per  cent,  solu- 
tion of  formaldehyde  with  an  excess  of  milk  of  lime ;  after  half  an 
hour,  the  liquid  is  filtered,  and  nearly  or  quite  saturated  with  lime. 
In  5  to  6  days,  the  odor  of  formaldehyde  disappears,  and  a  drop  of 
the  liquid  shows  a  very  great  reducing  power  with  Fehling's  solution. 
The  whole  is  then  neutralized  with  oxalic  acid,  the  filtrate  evaporated 
to  a  syrup,  mixed  with  an  equal  volume  of  strong  alcohol  and  warmed 
for  some  hours,  when  the  greater  part  of  the  calcium  formate  sepa- 
rates.   The  filtrate  is  evaporated  at  a  moderate  temperature  to  a  thick 
