^™  Dec.?i8?8^'*°''}         Chemistry  of  Buchu  Leaves.  625 
dride  from  carbonates.  It  melts  at  96-97°,  volatilizes  slowly  on  the 
water-bath,  and  decomposes  when  heated  strongly,  evolving  a  menthol- 
like odor.  It  is  soluble  in  122'7  parts  of  water  at  18°,  and  82  parts 
at  100°  ;  easily  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform,  benzene  and  car- 
bon bisulphide.  Its  composition  is  C10HJ8O3+II2O.  The  barium 
salt,  (CioIIi703)2Ba  +  5H2O,  is  soluble  in  67*89  parts  water  at  17*5*^ 
and  19*7  parts  at  100°,  and  also  in  alcohol.  Over  sulphuric  acid  it 
gradually  loses  its  water  of  crystallization.  The  white,  amorphous 
silver  salt,  CioHj^OgAg,  rapidly  blackens  on  exposure  to  the  light.  It 
is  scarcely  soluble  in  water  even  at  100°.  The  sodium  and  ammonium 
salts  are  amorphous.  The  calcium  and  magnesium  salts  are  white, 
amorphous  powders,  insoluble  in  water,  whilst  the  strontium  salt  is 
easily  soluble.  The  copper  salt  is  light-brown,  the  iron  salt  red- 
brown  ;  both  are  only  slightly  soluble  in  water.  Diosphenol,  when 
fused  with  potassium  hydroxide  yielded  an  acid  agreeing  in  every  par- 
ticular with  diolic  acid,  but  melting  at  86°,  that  is  10°  lower;  at- 
tempts to  raise  the  melting  point  of  the  new  acid  by  recrystallization 
were  unsuccessful. 
Reduction  of  diosphenol  in  alcoholic  solution  by  means  of  sodium 
amalgam  gave  an  oily  substance,  which  was  dissolved  in  aqueous  ether 
and  treated  with  sodium  to  reduce  the  diosphenol  still  remaining  un- 
acted on.  The  solution  was  then  allowed  to  evaporate,  when  an  oily 
liquid  permeated  with  crystals  was  left.  The  crystals,  prismatic  in 
form,  melt  at  159°,  are  odorless,  sparingly  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether, 
and  the  alcoholic  solution  does  not  give  the  dirty-green  coloration  with 
ferric  chloride  solution  which  diosphenol  does.  Its  composition  is 
CioHigOs,  and  must  be  considered  as  the  diol  alcohol.  The  oily  com- 
pound occurring  with  these  crystals  is  probably  CioHigO,  the  principal 
component  of  buchu  oil,  according  to  Fliickiger,  and  described  by 
Spica  under  the  name  of  diosmeleoptene.  Diosphenol  dissolved  in 
carbon  bisulphide  and  treated  with  bromine  gives  fine  yellow  crystals 
of  the  composition  CioHi4Hr202 ;  these  melt  at  43°,  and  are  soluble  in 
alcohol  and  ether,  but  not  in  water. 
Grindelia  robusta  in  ctaronic  bronchitis. — Dr.  Paul  has  ob- 
tained good  results  from  extract,  grindelise  robustae  fluid,  in  chronic 
bronchitis,  both  the  idiopathic  form  and  in  that  complicated  with 
asthmatic  attacks,  in  doses  of  45  to  60  minims  daily. — Deut.  med.  Woeh.f 
1888,  No.  6. 
