Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1186. 
Analysis  of  Phlox  Carolina. 
481 
and  burns  with  a  smoky  flame.  Bromine  dissolves  it  readily  exhibit- 
ing considerable  chemical  activity  but  very  little  heat.  Concentrated 
sulphuric  acid  dissolves  it  with  a  brownish  color,  strong  nitric  acid 
slowly  acts  on  it  without  decided  coloration,  and  glacial  acetic  acid 
dissolves  it  readily,  and  from  this  solution  water  precipitates  it.  This 
Fig.  i; 
may  prove  to  be  a  valuable  method  of  purification.  Concentrated 
solutions  of  the  alkalies  appear  to  have  no  effect. 
In  view  of  all  these  properties,  this  compound  is  considered  to  belong 
to  the  camphor  group,  and  according  to  the  custom  of  naming,  Phloxol 
is  suggested  to  designate  it. 
Spigelia  was  also  treated  with  petroleum  spirit,  but  no  such  com- 
pound was  obtained ;  this  solvent,  therefore,  immediately  suggests  itself 
Fig.  2. 
as  a  means,  of  distinguishing  spigelia  from  phlox.  For  the  two  drugs 
in  the  normal  condition  the  physical  appearance  is  sufficient.  The 
fluid  extracts  or  other  liquid  preparations  could  not  thus  be  distinguished , 
because  dilute  alcohol  which  is  employed  as  the  solvent  does  not  dis- 
solve the  camphor.  It  might,  however,  be  used  to  distinguish  the 
powders  or  mixtures  of  them. 
31 
