ocTis^;?.'™"}        Chemical  Analysis  of  Potash.  463 
IV.  Examination  of  eight  samples  of  Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether. 
By  Oakley  Griggs,  P.  C. 
The  first  seven  samples  were  purchased  of  as  many  dispensing  phar- 
macists ;  the  eighth  was  prepared  according  to  the  U.  S.  P.,  and  exam- 
ined immediately. 
The  proportion  of  ethyl  nitrite  was  determined  volumetrically  by  a 
standard  solution  of  potassium  permanganate,  according  to  Feldhaus' 
method.*  The  test  for  aldehyd  was  made  by  adding  reagent  solution 
of  potassa,  and  setting  aside  for  twelve  hours. 
Sample. 
Sp.  Gr. 
Ethyl  Nitrite. 
Test  for  Aldehyd. 
I 
0*894 
3-7    p.  C. 
No  deposit,  but  a  red  solution. 
2 
0-887 
4-2 
Considerable  deposit,  deep  red  solution. 
3 
0-859 
4-0  " 
Slight  deposit,  reddish  solution. 
4 
0-903 
■3-5  " 
Much  deposit,  amber-colored  solution. 
5 
4-4  " 
No  deposit,  light  straw-colored  solution. 
6 
0-900 
3-8  " 
Slight  deposit,  light  straw-colored  solution. 
7 
0-933 
4-1  " 
Much  deposit,  dark  red  solution. 
8 
•  0-834 
5-4  " 
No  deposit,  yellow  to  reddish  solution. 
CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS  OF  POTASH.f 
BY  DR.   G.  C.  WITTSTEIN. 
Potash  is  mostly  tested  for  its  commercial  value,  that  is  the  amount 
of  carbonate  of  potassium  it  contains,  by  saturating  with  an  acid  of 
known  strength  \  consequently  the  assay  is  a  very  simple  process,  which, 
nevertheless,  requires  several  precautions  to  make  the  result  correct, 
and  would  be  very  unreliable  if  the  potash  should  contain  carbonate  of 
sodium. 
Often  it  is  desirable  to  learn  the  complete  composition  of  potash  ; 
thereby  the  difficulties  are  increased,  which  not  everybody  will  imme- 
diately succeed  to  overcome,  but  many  will  gladly  accept  any  informa- 
tion gathered  in  relation  thereto.  The  most  frequent  impurities  are 
(including  sophistications)  soda,  lime,  magnesia,  alumina,  ferric  oxide, 
manganese  oxide,  silica,  sulphuric  acid,  phosphoric  acid,  chlorine. 
■^"Archivder  Pharm.,"  i860,  April.  "Outlines  Proximate  Organic  Analysis," 
180. 
f  Reprint  from  the  "Zeitschrift  des  AUgem.  Oesterr.  Apotheker-Vereines,"  1875, 
No,  8.    Communicated  by  the  author,  and  translated  by  P.  H.  Dilg. 
