Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  i 
Aug.,  1876.  J 
Anilin  Colors, 
375 
The  oil  of  Euc.  amygdalina  is  used  externally  in  rheumatic  complaints,  and  in  per- 
fumery, for  soaps,  etc.  Dr.  Day,  of  Geelong,  recommends  as  an  excellent  and 
very  agreeable  disinfectant,  deal  saw-dust  mixed  in  the  proportion  of  one  bushel 
with  about  one  to  four  ounces  of  the  volatile  oil ;  after  keeping  the  mixture  for  four 
months,  he  found  it  to  contain  a  much  larger  quantity  of  peroxide  of  hydrogen, 
than  it  did  when  first  made,  and  that  it  continued  to  accumulate. 
The  oil  of  Euc.  oleosa  is  chiefly  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  varnishes,  which 
are  said  to  be  much  superior  than  if  oil  of  turpentine  be  used ;  the  oil  dissolves 
India  rubber  without  requiring  the  application  of  heat. 
The  "  red  gum  "  of  Euc.  rostrata  is  stated  by  Mr.  Bosisto  to  be  a  delicate  mucil- 
agenous  astringent,  more  effective  than  catechu  in  all  cases  of  dysentery,  diarrhoea 
and  throat  affections.  The  sample  examined  by  Wiesner  (see  above)  was  readily 
soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  free  from  gum,  and  had  a  neutral  reaction. 
Pharmaceutical  preparations  of  Euc.  globulus  are  also  exhibited  from  Egypt, 
France  and  other  countries,  and  if  the  importance  is  considered  which  this  species 
has  attained  in  many  localities  within  a  comparatively  short  period,  it  seems  that 
experiments  should  be  made  with  it  in  all  sections  of  the  United  States  which  are 
free  from  severe  frosts,  and  that  these  experiments  should  not  be  confined  to  that 
single  species,  but  should  also  be  extended  to  others  which  are  equally  rapid  growers 
or  produce  the  same  or  larger  quantities  of  volatile  oils. 
ANILIN  COLORS. 
BY  CARL  RUMPFF.1 
By  dry  distillation  (without  access  of  air)  of  coal,  two  accessory  products  are 
principally  formed — coke  and  tar.  The  ammonical  waters  which  are  obtained  have 
recently  been  largely  used  for  the  manufacturing  of  ammonia  and  its  different  salts. 
Coal  tar  forms  the  starting  point  for  all  the  anilin  colors,  and  also  for  alizarin.  By 
heating  it  in  cast-iron  retorts  up  to  a  temperature  of  i8o°C,  there  result  successively 
benzol,  toluol,  cumol  and  xylol.  The  two  last,  as  likewise  a  few  other  hydrocarbons, 
afford  only  a  scientific  interest.  By  nitrifying,  i.  e.f  treating  the  two  first-named 
fluids  with  strong  nitric  acid  at  a  low  temperature,  nitro- benzol,  best  adapted  for 
red  or  for  blue  anilin,  and  nitro -toluol,  are  produced.  By  employing  more  acid  at  a 
higher  temperature  binitro-benzol  and  binitro-toluol  are  formed.  The  conveying  of 
these  nitro-compounds  into  the  amido-compounds,  viz.,  anilin  oil  for  red  anilin, 
anilin  oil  for  blue  anilin,  and  toluidin,  is  effected  by  agitating  them  for  a  time  with 
acetic  acid  and  iron  borings,  in  the  proportion  of  about  equal  weights,  and  then 
separating,  through  distillation,  the  anilin  or  toluidin  from  the  excess  of  iron  borings. 
According  to  a  report  delivered  by  Koechlin  to  the  Parisian  Academy,  the  honor 
of  the  discovery  of  anilin  red,  or  fuchsin,  is  due  to  Prof.  A.  W.  Hofmann,  formerly 
1  This  paper  gives  a  succinct  amount  of  the  manufacture  of  anilin  and  allied  colors  from  coal  tar,  and 
is  condensed  from  a  pamphlet  issued  by  Fr.  Bayer  &  Co.,  of  Barmen  and  Elberfeld,  in  explanation 
of  their  interesting  collection  of  crude  materials  and  the  products  obtained  therefrom,  which  are  now  on 
exhibition  in  Fairmount  Park.  Another  paper  on  "Aiizarin"  will  follow  in  our  next  number. — Editor 
Am.  your.  Phar. 
