498 
Wood  Naphtha. 
Ajdo.  Joar.  Pharm . 
Oct.,  1886. 
forms  a  very  soluble  hydrochloride.  It  is  similar  to  xanthine,  except 
that  it  is  slightly  more  soluble,  and  there  is  a  little  difference  in 
the  crystalline  form.  The  author  has  also  obtained  two  other  bases 
of  the  composition  CnH^N^Og  and  C^H^^Og  respectively,  whose 
reactions  show  their  close  relation  to  creatinine.  During  the  writing 
of  this  paper,  Brieger  has  described  a  very  poisonous  leucomaine, 
of  the  composition  C6H15N02,  obtained  from  poisonous  mussel,  which 
he  calls  mytilotoxine. — Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  July,  1886,  p.  634.  J. 
Pharm.  [5],  xiii,  354-360,  and  401-409. 
WOOD  NAPHTHA. 
By  C.  A.  Fawsitt. 
After  referring  to  the  composition  of  wood,  the  author  discusses 
the  conditions  on  which  the  yield  of  the  different  products  of  wood 
distillation  depends.  The  species,  age,  and  condition  of  the  wood,  as 
well  as  the  soil  it  is  grown  in,  affect  the  yield  of  the  different  products. 
Hard  woods  are  preferred  by  the  wood  distiller,  oak,  beech,  and 
birch  being  mostly  used.  The  following  particulars  show  the  dif- 
ference in  yield  of  acid  for  100  parts  of  oak  and  Scotch  fir : — 
Crude  acid.      Acetic  acid.  Tar.  Charcoal. 
Oak   476  5*4  64  24*9 
Scotch  fir   45-0  27  10'0  28"0 
The  yield  of  products  is  influenced  also  by  the  temperature,  size,  and 
shape  of  the  retorts.  As  a  rule,  a  low  heat  gives  more  charcoal,  acid, 
naphtha,  and  tar,  but  less  permanent  gas  than  a  high  temperature. 
The  aim  of  the  distiller  being  to  obtain  the  largest  possible  yield  of 
acid,  the  heat  of  the  retort  is  regulated  accordingly.  It  has  been 
found  that  the  most  suitable  temperature  is  350 — 400°. 
In  the  second  part  of  the  paper,  the  author  refers  to  the  preparation, 
properties,  and  uses  of  wood-naphtha.  Thecrude  naphtha  hasasp.gr. 
varying  from  0*970  to  0  990.  It  has  a  dark  brown  color  and  strong 
odor.  Besides  water,  it  contains  methyl  alcohol,  acetone,  methyl 
.  acetate,  aldehyde,  allyl  alcohol,  dimethyl  ethylidene  ether,  also  small 
quantities  of  mono-,  di-,  and  tri-methylamine,  ammonium  acetate,  oils, 
and  tarry  matter.  As  to  methods  in  use  for  working  up  the  the  crude 
naphtha,  that  involving  distillation  by  means  of  lime  gives  the  best 
product.    The  lime  retains  the  water  and  acid,  almost  entirely  decom- 
