AmMay^f9h5arm"}       Dr.  W.  G.  Boorsmds  Plumierid.  247 
The  proportionate  rate  for  one  pound  would  be  83  cents,  while 
an  allowance  of  7  cents,  which  more  than  defrays  the  expense  of 
salt  and  sulphuric  acid  (for  the  preparation  of  the  hydrochloric  acid 
gas)  and  heat  needed  to  make  that  amount,  raises  the  cost  of  the 
artificial  oil  to  90  cents  per  pound. 
In  connection  with  the  consideration  of  methyl  salicylate,  it  might 
be  remarked  that  ethyl  salicylate  of  good  quality  can  also  be  made 
by  this  process.  It  is  reported  that  the  ethyl  compound  is  some- 
times substituted  for  the  methyl.  The  odor  of  the  ethyl  salicylate 
is  rather  more  delicate  than  that  of  the  methyl  salicylate.  Specifi- 
cally, methyl  salicylate  is  decidedly  the  heavier. 
DR.  W.  G.  BOORSMA'S  PLUMIERID.1  - 
An  infusion  of  the  bark  of  Plumiera  aciitifolia  P.,  an  Apocynea, 
cures  horses  of  chronic  colic.  The  bark  is  very  bitter  ;  contains  an 
acid,  "  plumiera  acid,"  discovered  by  Altheer  and  Oudemans  (Gen. 
Tijdschr.  v.  Ned  Indie  x,  1863,  p.  183).    This  acid  is  not  bitter. 
A  maximum  yield  of  about  6  per  cent,  was  obtained,  in  white 
crystals,  of  this  bitter  principle.  (Minimum  not  given.)2  The 
finely-powdered  bark  is  hereto  exhausted  with  alcohol.  There 
is  a  brownish  green,  waxy  mass  left,  when  the  alcohol  is  distilled 
off,  which  is  not  bitter  when  exhausted  with  water.  The  bitter 
principle  has  been  dissolved  in  the  water.  Crystals  form  in  this 
watery  exhaustion,  when  it  is  evaporated  in  vacuo  to  a  thin  extract 
and  left  to  itself  for  some  time.  The  watery  solution  is  treated  with 
lead  acetate.  The  excess  of  lead  is  removed  with  H2S.  The  fluid 
is  evaporated  to  a  minimum  and  decolorized  through  charcoal.  The 
product  of  this  treatment  is  intensely  bitter.  It  is  washed  with 
boiling  amyl  alcohol.  The  amyl  alcohol  is  removed  in  a  separator 
and  at  last  by  warming.  The  decolorization  process  is  to  be  repeated 
until  final  product  is  colorless.  Leave  the  v/atery  fluid  to  itself  for 
crystallization.  Collect  crystals,  dissolve  them  in  warm  amyl  alcohol 
and  water,  under  addition  of  some  MgO  ;  filter  warm.    Leave  again 
Condensed  from  "  Mededeeliugeu  uit' s.  Lands  Plantentuiu,  1894."  The 
first  series  of  these  "  Mededeeliugeu  "  are  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  M.  Greshoff,  and 
appeared  in  the  Am.  J.  of  Ph.,  Mar.  1891,  p.  124.  J.  B.  Nagelvoort. 
2  The  leaves  contain  only  traces  of  it. 
