508 
Saccharated  Tar,  etc. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Phakm 
\   Nov.  1,  1871. 
of  the  ten-atom  salt,  just  as  a  saturated  solution  would  do  if  left  to 
evaporate  slowly  in  an  open  dish. 
7.  That  if  the  solution,  after  being  exposed  to  the  open  air,  be 
brought  into  a  room,  it  crystallizes  immediately  under  .the  action  of 
serial  nuclei. — Qhemical  News,  August,  1871. 
S AOOHARATED  TAR,  OR  SOLUBLE  YEaETABLE  TAR. 
By  M.  a.  Roussin. 
The  value  of  vegetable  tar  as  a  therapeutic  agent  is  generally  rec- 
ognized, but  hitherto,  in  consequence  of  the  small  extent  to  which  it 
is  soluble  in  water,  its  use  has  been  limited.  Many  attempts  have 
been  made  to  secure  a  greater  solubility,  but  this  has  only  been  ob- 
tained by  the  employment  of  alkalies, — that  is  to  say,  by  saponification. 
But  saponification  undoubtedly  modifies  the  elements  of  the  tar,  and 
partly  destroys  its  curative  properties. 
According  to  M,  Adrian,  "  these  preparations  do  not  correspond 
by  their  chemical  composition  to  the  therapeutic  properties  that  are 
expected  in  them,"  and  he  states  that  he  has  found  alkalies,  as  well 
as  acids,  to  modify  the  resinous  qualities  that  are  the  basis  of  the 
medicament. 
Dr.  Jeannel  has  expressed  a  similar  opinion.  He  says  it  is  neces- 
sary that  the  tar  should  be  emulsed  by  a  neutral  substance,  since 'by 
so  doing  all  the  natural  properties  of  the  tar  would  be  preserved. 
Impressed  with  the  correctness  of  this  idea,  M.  Roussin  sought  to 
adapt  to  vegetable  tar  the  same  process  by  which  he  was  able,  on  a 
former  occasion,  to  form  an  emulsion  with  balm  of  copaiba.*  At 
that  time  he  proposed  to  use  sugar  for  facilitating  the  emulsion  of 
copaiba  in  water,  and  as  a  corrective  of  the  repulsive  taste  of  that 
substance.  Sugar  being  a  neutral  substance,  without  any  chemical 
action  capable  of  modifying  the  composition  or  curative  properties  of 
medicinal  substances  ;  and  daily  associated  without  hesitation  with 
all  kinds  of  remedies. 
After  several  attempts  this  problem  was  resolved,  and  a  complete 
solution  of  the  vegetable  tar  in  water  obtained.  The  emulsion  of  tar 
was  efi'ected  by  triturating  in  a  porcelain  mortar,  so  as  to  obtain  a 
homogeneous  paste,  purified  tar,  powdered  sugar  and  powder  of  gum 
Annales  du  Oomite  Medical  des  Bouches-da-Rhdne,"  t.  v.  p.  67. 
