26 
Goto  Barks, 
f  Am  Jour.  Pharm. 
t      Jan.,  1880. 
water,  but  requires,  at  I2°C.,  733  parts  for  solution.  The  quinidia 
(conchinia)  salt  is  amorphous.  The  piperonylic  ethyl  ether  is  a  thin, 
very  refractive  yellow^ish  liquid  of  an  agreeable  fruit  odor. 
On  treating  piperonylic  acid  vi^ith  concentrated  nitric  acid  several 
nitro-compounds  (nitropiperonylic  acid,  mononitro-  and  dinitro- 
methylenpyrocatechin)  are  obtained. 
Volatile  Oil  of  Paracoto  Bark. — It  is  obtained  by  distillation 
with  superheated  steam,  is  colorless,  has  a  neutral  reaction,  a  very 
agreeable  odor,  at  I5°C.  the  specific  gravity  is  '9275,  and  is  slightly 
levogyre  (-2'I2°  for  100  mm.).  Five  different  compounds  were 
obtained  by  the  repeated  fractional  distillation  of  the  volatile  oil. 
a  Paracoten^  C^gHjg,  boils  at  i6o°C.,  has  an  odor  resembling  that  of 
bitter  almond  and  turpentine,  does  not  absorb  dry  hydrochloric  acid  gas,, 
and  is  colored  red  by  sulphuric  acid. 
/5  Paracoten,  C^^H^g,  boils  at  170  to  172^0.,  has  a  slight  agreeable 
odor,  does  not  absorb  hydrobhloric  acid  gas,  and  is  colored  dark  red  by 
sulphuric  acid. 
a  Paracotol^  C15H24O,  boils  at  220  to  222 °C.,  has  a  faint  odor,  becomes 
green  and  then  gray  with  bromine,  and  yields  with  sulphuric  acid  a  red 
ointment-like  mass,  and  with  nitric  acid  a  yellow  resin. 
/?  Paracotol^  Q.^^^O^^  boils  at  236^0.,  has  a  faint  aromatic  odor,  is 
colored  blue  and  green  by  bromine,  yields  with  nitric  acid  a  red  resin^ 
and  with  sulphuric  acid  a  red  solution. 
y  Paracotol^  Co^H^Og,  boils  at  240  to  2420°.,  and  is  the  heaviest  of 
these  constituents,  its  spec.  grav.  being  '9650.  It  has  a  very  faint  odor, 
behaves  with  sulphuric  and  nitric  acids  like  the  preceding  oil,  and 
detonates  with  bromine,  acquiring  at  the  same  time  a  blue,  then  a  violet 
red,  and  after  12  hours  a  dark  green  color. 
Physiological  and  Therapeutical  Action.  —  Dr.  Burkart 
observes  that  0*5  to  I'Ogram  of  coto  bark  produces  eructations,  nausea, 
a  continued  feeling  of  warmth  in  the  stomach,  and  even  vomiting.  The 
alcoholic  tincture  (i  :  9)  has  a  biting  and  acrid  taste,  and  applied  to  the 
skin  produces  hyperaemia  of  the  part  and  burning  \  taken  internally,  it 
produces  the  same  symptoms  as  the  bark. 
Paracotobark  and  its  tincture  act  similar  as  the  preceding,  but  the 
effect  upon  the  skin,  mucous  membrane  and  sores  is  very  weak. 
From  his  use  of  coto  bark  and  its  tincture  in  private  practice,  as  well 
as  in  the  Ludwig's  hospital  at  Stuttgart,  Dr.  Burkart  confirms  in 
