3H 
Current  Literature. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
May,  19 1 9. 
phosphorous  acid ;  the  latter  is  not  further  oxidized  in  acid  solu- 
tion, but  if  an  alkali  (sodium  hydrogen  carbonate)  is  added  the 
oxidation  proceeds  a  stage  further  to  phosphoric  acid.  Hypophos- 
phites. — Ten  Cc.  of  the  solution  containing  0.1  Gm.  of  the  hypo- 
phosphite  (hypophosphites  which  are  insoluble  in  water  may  be  dis- 
solved in  dilute  sulphuric  acid)  are  placed  in  a  stoppered  flask,  and 
treated  with  10  Cc.  of  25  per  cent,  sulphuric  acid  and  30  Cc.  of 
iodine  solution ;  the  mixture  is  kept  in  a  dark  place  for  ten  hours, 
and  the  excess  of  iodine  is  then  titrated  with  to  thiosulphate  solu- 
tion. Each  Cc.  of  iodine  is  equivalent  to  0.00328  Gm.  of  hypo- 
phosphorous  acid  (H3PO0).  Phosphites. — Ten  Cc.  of  the  solution, 
containing  about  0.1  Gm.  of  the  salt,  are  treated  with  10  Cc.  of  5 
per  cent,  sodium  hydrogen  carbonate  solution  and  20  Cc.  of  ^ 
iodine  solution;  after  two  hours,  10  Cc.  of  10  per  cent,  acetic  acid 
are  added,  and  the  excess  of  iodine  is  titrated.  Each  Cc.  of 
iodine  is  equivalent  to  0.00407  Gm.  phosphorous  acid.  The  method 
may  be  applied  to  mixtures  of  the  two  salts.  (/.  Pharm.  Chim., 
1918,  18,  321,  334;  through  The  Analyst,  February,  1919.) 
Constituents  of  Oil  of  Cassia — II. — F.  D.  Dodge.  The 
author  has  identified  benzaldehyde  and  methyl  salicylaldehyde  in 
oil  of  cassia.  Neither  of  these  substances  has  previously  been 
shown  to  be  present.  In  collaboration  with  Sterndale,  the  author 
has  previously  shown  (/.  Ind.  and  Eng.  Chem.,  1915,  7,  155)  that 
oil  of  cassia  contains  salicylic  aldehyde  (0.1  to  0.2  per  cent.) 
coumarin  benzoic  acid,  salicylic  acid,  and  a  liquid  acid  of  fruity 
odor,  not  further  identified.  In  addition  to  the  above  named  sub- 
stances, it  has  long  been  known  that  oil  of  cassia^  consisted  mainly 
(75  to  90  per  cent.)  of  cinnamic  aldehyde,  and  that  cinnamyl  ace- 
tate and  methyl  ortho-coumaric  aldehyde  were  present,  whilst  it 
has  been  stated,  but  scarcely  proved  beyond  doubt,  that  phenyl- 
propyl  acetate  is  or  may  be  present.  (/.  Ind.  and  Eng.  Chem., 
1918,  10,  1005-1006.    Reprinted  from  The  Analyst,  March,  1919.) 
Antiseptic  Value  of  Some  Essential  Oils. — L.  Cavel.  For 
each  essential  oil  the  minimum  quantity  was  determined  which  was 
found  necessary  to  prevent  all  bacterial  growth  in  ordinary  neu- 
tralized meat  broth  plentifully  sprinkled  with  water  from  a  septic 
source.  The  inhibiting  quantity  of  phenol  under  the  same  exper- 
imental conditions  being  5.6  parts  per  1,000,  the  author  obtained  the 
