THE 
AMERICAN  JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY, 
MARCH,    1  855. 
INCOMPATIBILITY  OF  SULPHATE  OF  QUINIA  WITH  THE 
ACETATES^ 
By  John  M.  Maisch. 
In  pharmaceutical  works  we  generally  find  among  the  incom- 
patibles  with  sulphate  of  quinine,  the  alkalies,  their  carbonates, 
the  alkaline  earths,  tannin,  &c,  which  act  by  either  separating 
that  alkaloid  from  its  acid,  or,  recombining  therewith,  forming 
an  insoluble  salt ;  nothing  is  said  about  acetic  salts. 
The  acetates  of  the  alkalies  are  valuable  diaphoretics  and 
diuretics,  and  therefore  are  much  esteemed  for  their  activity  in 
febrile  diseases,  particularly  the  acetate  of  ammonia,  in  the  form 
of  spiritus  Mindereri  is  extensively  used.  It  was  a  short  time 
ago  that  a  friend  of  mine  received  a  prescription  calling  for  a 
solution  of  12  grs.  of  sulphate  of  quinine  in  I  oz.  of  water  with 
1  oz.  of  liq.  ammon.  acet.,  which  unsuspiciously  was  put  up,  but 
subsequently  returned  by  the  physician,  the  solution  having  de- 
posited many  crystals  in  the  form  of  prisms.  It  is  obvious  that 
ammonia,  which  is  the  stronger  base,  must  unite  with  the  strongest 
acid,  forming  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  acetate  of  quinine,  the 
latter  of  which,  being  nearly  insoluble  in  water,  is  precipitated. 
After  repeating  the  same,  I  determined  to  make  some  other 
experiments,  with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  peculiarities  of  this 
acetate  of  quinine,  which  has  heretofore  been  little  noticed,  it 
seems,  and  the  results  which  I  have  obtained  may  probably  be  of 
some  use  for  further  investigation. 
When  6  grs.  sulphate  of  quinine,  by  the  aid  of  sulphuric  acid, 
are  dissolved  in  \  oz.  water,  and  this  solution  is  mixed  with  liquid 
acetate  of  potassa  (10  grs.  in  1  dr.  water,)  the  precipitate  thrown 
down  is  curdy,  consisting  of  minute  crystals,  and  so  voluminous 
that  it  does  not  drop  out  of  the  glass  if  it  be  turned  upside  down. 
The  solution  of  acetate  of  ammonia  contains  about  6  per  cent. 
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