Am.  Joub.  Pbarm.  ") 
Feb.  1, 1871.  J 
Test  for  Chloric  Acid, 
81 
Thinking  a  reduction  in  the  amount  of  spirit  might  be  an  advantage, 
the  following  formula  was  tried  : 
Take  of  Purified  Guaiac,       .  .  .  ^ij. 
Alcohol,        .  .  .         .  f.^iij. 
Solution  of  Potassa,  .  .  .  fgij. 
Glycerin,       ....  f3xj. 
Dissolve  the  guaiac  in  the  alcohol,  and  add  the  solution  of  potassa 
and  glycerin. 
This  forms  a  clear  and  permanent  solution,  of  pleasanter  taste  than 
the  tincture  when  given  alone,  but  when  mixed  with  water  producing 
about  the  same  turbidity,  and  leaving  the  same  acrid  taste  in  the 
fauces.  Glycerin  does  not  mask  this  acridity  as  well  as  sugar,  but 
the  substitution  of  part  syrup  produced  a  precipitate  of  the  resin. 
Decidedly  the  most  agreeable  manner  of  administering  guaiac  in 
liquid  form,  so  far  as  tried,  is  that  of  a  syrup  prepared  as  follows : 
Take  of  Guaiac,  .... 
Solution  of  Potassa,  .  .  .     f  Jss. 
Sugar,  ....  ^xiv. 
Water,  sufficient. 
Macerate  the  guaiac  in  the  solution  of  potassa  mixed  with  f^ij  of 
water  for  two  or  three  days  ;  then  percolate  with  water  till  eight  fluid 
ounces  of  liquid  are  obtained,  in  which  dissolve  the  sugar. 
This  syrup  is  quite  pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  can  be  taken  alone  or 
mixed  with  water ;  it  has  been  prescribed  for  several  years  by  Dr. 
Ludlow,  of  Philadelphia,  with  decided  benefit  in  cases  of  rheumatism, 
and  can  be  given  for  a  long  period  without  exciting  disgust. 
The  quantity  of  solution  of  potassa  may  be  doubled  without  ren- 
dering the  syrup  unpalatable,  and  thus  would  increase  the  amount  of 
guaiac  dissolved. — Proc.  Amer.  Pharrn.  Assoc. ^  1870. 
TEST  FOR  OHLORTC  AOID. 
By  M.  R.  Bcettger. 
Three  years  ago,  M.  Braun  described  an  extremely  delicate  test  for 
nitrates  and  nitric  acid ;  it  depended  upon  the  intense  red  coloration 
produced  by  these  bodies  upon  sulphate  of  aniline  dissolved  in  sul- 
phuric acid.  M.  Bcettger  suggests  the  same  reaction  for  the  detection 
of  chloric  acid  and  the  chlorates.  The  smallest  possible  trace  of  a 
chlorate  introduced  into  the  solution  of  sulphate  of  aniline  in  sul- 
phuric acid  will  develop  almost  instantaneously  a  blue  color  through- 
out the  mass. — Journ.  de  Pharmacie  et  de  Ohimie,  from  Jour.  Ph.  Lon. 
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