Am.  lour.  Pharnri  ) 
Mar  ,  1879  J 
Liquor  Ammonii  Acetatis. 
119 
and  had  deposited  a  number  of  small  crystals,  which  were  purified  by 
recrystallization  from  weak  alcohol. 
The  principle  thus  obtained  is  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  the  solution  has 
an  acid  reaction  on  litmus  paper.  It  is  almost  insoluble  in  cold  water, 
but  dissolves  freely  in  boiling  water,  the  solution  being  of  a  yellow 
color.  On  filtering  its  alcoholic  solution  through  animal  charcoal,  the 
latter  retains  the  greater  portion  of  the  principle.  The  color  of  the 
solutions  is  rendered  lighter  by  acids  and  deeper  by  alkalies.  Ferric 
chloride  added  to  the  solution  changes  the  color  to  deep  green. 
The  author  determined  also  the  presence  in  the  bark  of  a  small  quan- 
tity of  tannin  and  of  sugar.    Resin,  gum  and  starch  appear  to  be  absent. 
On  incineration  the  bark  yielded  about  2  per  cent,  of  ash,  containing 
salts  of  calcium,  potassium  and  sodium. 
Note  by  the  Editor. — The  specimen  of  the  principle  presented  by 
Mr.  Smith  shows  the  usual  reactions  of  quercitrin,  prepared  from  the 
bark  of  Quercus  tinctoria,  and  when  ignited,  is  decomposed  without 
leaving  any  residue  ;  it  is,  however,  of  a  darker  color  and  has  a  decided 
greenish  tint.    It  deserves  a  closer  investigation. 
CONCENTRATED  LIQUOR  AMMONII  ACETATIS. 
By  Louis  Emanuel,  Ph.G. 
Read  before  the  Pharmaceutical  Association  of  the  Pittsburgh  College  of  Pharmacy, 
January  21st. 
Of  late,  a  number  of  pharmacists  have  been  making  a  concentrated 
solution  of  ammonium  acetate,  which  is  diluted  to  a  certain  strength 
as  required  for  dispensing.  Their  favorable  accounts  induced  me  to 
try  its  practicability,  and,  being  pleased  with  its  convenience,  I  conclu- 
ded to  continue  its  use.  Having  exhausted  the  pure  acid  I  had  on 
hand,  a  small  quantity  was  purchased  from  a  wholesale  drug  house, 
which  was  labeled  "  acetic  acid,  U.  S.  P.,"  purporting  to  be  strictly 
pure,  and,  relying  in  confidence  on  the  seller,  no  tests  were  made, 
although  it  had  a  slight  empyreumatic  odor.  The  acid  was  neutralized 
with  pure  ammonium  carbonate  and  yielded  a  solution  having  a 
decided  blueish  tint,  which,  after  standing  several  days,  changed  to  a 
light  brown  color,  a  brown  precipitate  being  at  the  same  time  deposited. 
