278 
V arieties. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm^ 
June,  1875. 
Note  on  Chlorophyll.  By  E.  Filhol. — The  black  matter  resulting  from  the 
decomposition  of  chlorophyll  by  means  of  hydrochloric  acid,  referred  to  in  a  previ- 
ous paper  by  the  author,  is  soluble  in  ether,  benzene,  chloroform,  carbon  sulphide^ 
and  in  boiling  alcohol  of  85°.  The  color  of  the  solution  in  each  case  is  not  the  same, 
being  brownish-yellow  with  ether  and  benzene  5  yellow,  with  carbon  sulphide,  and 
violet  with  chloroform.  All  the  solutions  give  a  spectrum,  having  five  absorption- 
bands  similar  to  those  produced  by  chlorophyll,  but  not  occupying  the  same  posi- 
tion in  the  spectrum,  and  varying  a  little  according  to  the  nature  of  the  solvent.  Pro- 
longed exposure  to  solar  light  decolorizes  the  solution. — Journ.  Chem.  Soc,  April,, 
1875.    From  y.  Pharm.  Chim.  [4],  xx,  345-347- 
Dextrin.  By  L.  Bondonneau.— Dextrin  maybe  prepared  free  from  glucose  by 
dissolving  the  purest  obtainable  sample  in  water,  filtering  and  decolorizing  with 
bone-char,  then  adding  cupric  chloride,  followed  by  the  addition  of  caustic  soda 
sufficient  to  dissolve  the  precipitate  which  at  first  forms,  boiling  for  half  an  hour, 
leaving  the  solution  to  stand  until  cold,  and  filtering.  The  glucose  is  then  entirely 
destroyed.  The  blue  liquid  is  then  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid  and  precipi- 
tated by  means  of  alcohol  This  precipitate  may  be  again  dissolved  and  reprecipi- 
tated  5  pure  dextrin  is  thus  obtained. 
Pure  dextrin  is  a  white  substance,  easily  soluble  in  cold  water  \  it  is  colored  dark 
red  by  iodine.  The  author  concludes  that  Mulder's  dextrins  were  really  mixtures 
of  pure  dextrin  with  varying  amounts  of  glucose.  It  is  further  shown  that  a  very 
small  trace  of  acid  brings  about  the  conversion  of  a  considerable  amount  of  dextrirE 
into  glucose,  at  a  high  temperature. — Journ.  Chem.  Soc,  March,  1875,  from  Dingi. 
polyt.  J.,  ccxii,  489-493. 
On  the  Hydrobromides  of  Quinia  and  on  the  Preparation  of  the  Neu- 
tral Hydrobromide.  By  M.  Boille. —  Neutral  quinia  hydrobromide  is  prepared 
by  gradually  adding  an  alcoholic  solution  of  neutral  quinia  sulphate  to  an  alcoholic 
solution  of  barium  bromide  until  no  further  precipitate  occurs.  The  mixture  is 
diluted  with  water  and  the  alcohol  distilled  off  5  it  is  then  filtered  to  separate  the 
precipitated  quinia  sulphate  :  on  concentration  of  the  filtrate,  an  abundant  crystal- 
lization of  quinia  hydrobromide  takes  place.  It  may  also  be  prepared  by  dissolving- 
liydrated  quinia  in  dilute  hydrobromic  acid 
The  formula  of  the  neutral  hydrobromide  is  C20H24N2O2.HBr.H2O,  and  that  of 
the  acid  bromide  is  C20H24N2O2.2HBr.3H2O. 
The  author  considers  that  the  neutral  hydrobromide  possesses  many  advantages 
as  a  medicine  over  the  officinal  quinia  sulphate,  being  richer  in  quinia  and  very 
much  more  soluble  in  water. — Journ.  Chem.  Soc,  March,  1875,  from  J.  Pharm. 
Chim.  [4],  XX,  1 81-187. 
Intermittent  Ebullition.  By  Dr.  T.  L.  Phipson. — Water  strongly  acidified 
with  hydrochloric  acid,  and  containing  a  small  quantity  of  benzol,  was  found  to. 
enter  into  violent  ebullition  every  sixty  seconds  5  after  a  while  the  boiling  ceased: 
completely,  and  then  recommenced  suddenly  every  thirty  seconds  for  some  time.. 
The  flask  being  still  kept  over  the  spirit  lamp,  the  periods  between  quiescence  and 
violent  ebullition  dropped  to  20,  10,  and  finally  to  8  seconds,  at  which  interval  the 
