i6 
Gaultherin. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
X    January,  1895. 
several  weeks.  In  this  state  it  is  evidently  associated  with  some  sub- 
stance that  prevents  its  crystallization.  The  syrupy  liquid  was  agi- 
tated with  several  times  its  bulk  of  ether,  but  the  former  separated 
from  the  mixture  unchanged.  The  difficulty  of  combining  gaul- 
therin with  other  bodies  opposes  a  barrier  to  its  examination. 
As  thus  obtained,  gaultherin  has  little  if  any  odor  and  a  slightly 
bitter  taste ;  heated  carefully  on  a  glass  plate  until  all  the  moisture 
has  evaporated,  it  remains  as  an  easily  pulverizable,  varnish-like 
layer,  which  may  be  heated  to  3000  F.  without  change ;  at  4000  F. 
it  is  decomposed,  oil  of  gaultheria  being  among  the  products.  Dis- 
tillation with  diluted  hydrochloric  and  sulphuric  acids  gave  rise  to 
the  volatile  oil ;  diluted  nitric  acid  gave  minute  yellow  crystals, 
similar  to  those  obtainable  from  the  oil. 
The  fixed  alkalies  and  alkaline  hydrates  wholly  destroy  the  power 
of  generating  the  volatile  oil,  and  convert  gaultherin  into  an  acid 
(gaultheric  acid),  which  remains  combined  with  the  base.  Ammonia 
has  but  slight  action  upon  gaultherin,  as,  after  boiling,  it  still  is  cap- 
able of  producing  the  volatile  oil  by  reaction  with  the  residue  of  the 
bark. 
Gaultherin  boiled  with  lead  hydrate  and  water  is  but  slightly 
decomposed,  yielding  a  filtrate  having  an  alkaline  reaction  and  con- 
taining lead;  by  the  cautious  addition  of  sulphuric  acid  and  filtering 
off  the  lead  sulphate,  there  is  obtained  an  acid  solution  which  con- 
tains no  sulphuric  acid. 
Gaultherin  in  aqueous  solution,  made  alkaline  with  ammonia,  is 
precipitated  by  lead  subacetate,  but  appears  to  be  converted  into 
gaultheric  acid  or  otherwise  decomposed,  as  neither  the  liquid  fil- 
tered from  the  precipitate  nor  that  obtained  by  decomposing  the 
precipitate  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  would  yield  the  volatile  oil 
when  mixed  with  the  residue  of  the  bark.  Gaultheric  acid  is  ob- 
tained by  dissolving  gaultherin  in  baryta  water,  boiling  the  solution 
for  a  short  time,  and  afterward  passing  a  current  of  carbonic  acid 
gas  through  the  liquid  until  all  free  baryta  is  removed,  and  then  fil- 
tering. A  neutral  solution  of  gaultherate  of  barium  is  obtained, 
from  which  the  free  acid  may  be  isolated  by  the  cautious  addition 
of  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  as  long  as  a  precipitate  is  produced.  The 
filtered  liquid  is  strongly  acid  and  does  not  precipitate  baryta  water; 
by  evaporation  it  dries  into  a  gum-like  mass.  In  this  form  it  is  im- 
pure.   By  boiling  it  with  lead  carbonate  until  saturated,  filtering 
