the manufacture of acetic ether, the following is a satisfactory formula: Sulphuric acid, 200 Cc.; glacial acetic acid, 250 Cc.; alcohol (90 per cent.), 250 Cc. Mix secundum artem, and allow to stand for a few hours. Distil from over a sand-bath, gradually adding 2,000 Cc. of a mixture of glacial acetic acid and alcohol (90 per cent.) in equal quantities. Digest the distillate for twelve hours or more with dried potassium carbonate, and redistil. Collect not more than 1,400 Cc. of acetic ether.-Pharm. Journ., Sept. 30, 1905, 462.

Ethyl Chloride- Characters.-The Austrian Pharmacopoeia VIII demands the following characters for ethyl chloride: Boiling-point, 12.5° C. ; specific gravity, 0.921 at 0° C.; sparingly soluble in water, readily soluble in alcohol; shall leave no residue on evaporation. The freshly-prepared aqueous solution should not react acid on litmus, and, after addition of nitric acid, should not give a precipitate with silver nitrate.-Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 28 (1906), 321.

Salicylic Ether-Properties and Therapeutic Uses.-Salicylic ether, or salicylic acid ethyl ester, CH,.OH.COOC,H,, is now an article supplied for medicinal use. It is a colorless fluid having a peculiar odor, which boils at 231° C. and is miscible in all proportions with alcohol, but practically insoluble in water. It is possibly useful as an internal remedy for rheumatism. When applied externally it is not absorbed.-Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 30 (1906), 341; from E. Merck's Report, 1905.

Chloroform-Influence of Light and Air.-N. Schoorl and L. M. van der Berg have investigated and studied the process of decomposition of chloroform produced by the action of sunlight and air, with results which in the main confirm those described by Biltz in 1898; but they point out that chlorine is not initially a product of the decomposition by sunlight, hydrochloric acid being the initial product under ordinary conditions. It is only with free access of oxygen that chlorine is eliminated. Biltz, who had attempted no quantitative determination, explained the reaction to take place according to the following equation:

2CHCl3+30=2COCI,+ H2O+2C1; COC12+H2O=CO2+2HCl.

This can be, however, formulated more simply as follows:

2CHC1, +30=COC1, +CO2+2HC1+2C1.

The authors, convinced that primarily the decomposition results in the elimination of HCl, and not of Cl, believe that under normal conditions the decomposition of chloroform by exposure to sunlight may be expressed by the formula:

CHC+0=COCI2+HCI.

If, however, the chloroform is exposed freely to air (or to oxygen) and

sunlight, then the results of the decomposition may be expressed by the formula:

2CHCI,+50=2CO,+H2O+6CI.

Intermediate between this maximum of oxidation and the normal de-. composition a series of intermediate decompositions, depending on the amount of accessible oxygen, doubtless exist, in which variable proportions of CO2, Cl, HCI, COCI, and H,O are found as products of the decomposi tion by the combined effect of sunlight and air.-Pharm. Ztg., 1, No. 90 (1905), 951; from Pharm. Weekbl., 1905, No. 43 and 44.

Chloroform-Important Precautions in Determinations of the BoilingPoint.-Arzberger calls attention to the importance of continuing the distillation of chloroform until the last drop has passed over when making determinations of the boiling-point of chloroform. In the presence of small quantities of water, which cause the rapid decomposition of the chloroform, the sample will show a perfectly normal boiling-point until the moment when the last drop vaporizes; the temperature rises markedly; but if the chloroform is perfectly pure and dry the thermometer will uni. formly show the temperature of 62° until the last drop is distilled over.— Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 28 (1906), 321; from Pharm. Post, 1906, No. 8.

Chloroformium Pro Narcosi-Preparation According to the Dutch Pharmacopeia.-The new Pharmacopoeia of Holland directs that chloroform for anaesthesia be prepared from chloral hydrate by the following process: Gradually add a solution of 30 Gm. of sodium hydroxide in 200 Gm. of water to a solution of 100 Gm. chloral hydrate in 200 Gm. of water, filter the separated chloroform, dry it during 6 hours over calcium chloride, filter it again and rectify it by distillation from a water-bath, excluding direct light and rejecting the first and last one-tenth of the distillate. To the intermediate eight-tenths add 1 per cent. of absolute alcohol; before this addition the (alcohol-free) distillate should have the sp. gr. 1.498– 1.500. Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 28 (1906), 321.

Chloroform for Anesthesia-Container.-To secure anesthetic chloroform from the action of light and air it is supplied by a Berlin firm in sealed containers, having a capacity of about 60 Cc. In use the sealed points a and b, Fig. 52, are broken off, and (as shown by Fig. 53), the chloroform is then delivered, drop by drop, as may be required for the operation, without risk of contamination from external influence.-Pharm. Ztg., I, No. 98 (1905), 1034.

Chloroform and Bromoform-Electrolytic Method of Preparation.— Tröchinsky has found it quite practicable to produce chloroform and bromoform direct from mixtures of suitably diluted alcohol and of the calcium chlorides and bromides respectively by an electrolytic process, which is carried out as follows: A solution of calcium chloride, containing

in 100 Gm. of water, 50 Gm. of CaCl,.6H,O, and 0.6 Gm. of alcohol, is subjected at 55° C., to the electrolytic action in a current of 4 Amp. to 1 Gdm. to 2.5-5 V. tension at the electrodes. This results in the conversion of the chloride into hypochlorite, and this by its action on the alcohol in

the presence of water produces chloroform-the yield in the experiment described being about 30 Cc. Bromoform is obtained in the same way, substituting calcium bromide for the chloride.-Pharm. Ztg., li, No. 11 (1906), 118; from Chem. Ztg., 1906, No. 8.

Chloroform-Direct Preparation from Gaseous Methane.-According to a French patent, secured by H. S. Elworthy and D. Lange, chloroform may be prepared by the direct action of gaseous methane and chlorine upon each other by the intervention of suitable gaseous diluents, such as nitrogen and carbonic dioxide, to modify the reaction and to permit careful supervision of the process. The reaction, which without this precaution often takes place with explosive violence, is explained by the equation, CH,+6C1=CHCI,+3HCl. The methane may be derived from any source, but the chlorine is preferably that obtained by electrolytic methods. Measured volumes of the gases are mixed with the indifferent gas in suitable chambers, and the mixture is passed through a series of retorts

in which the combination is effected quietly, danger from reversion of flame into the mixing chamber being prevented by the interposition of a platinum web. The chloroform is purified by suitable methods, while the hydrochloric acid produced is absorbed by soda. Under the same patent

Iodoform is produced by mixing potassium iodide with an alcoholic solution of chloroform, the reaction being explained by the equation, CHCI,+3KI=CHI,+3KCl. The resulting iodoform is collected on the suction-filter (washed) and dried.-Pharm. Ztg., 1, No. 96 (1905), 1008.

Iodoform-Convenient Method of "Home" Preparation.-Luther F. Stevens, in a paper entitled "Iodoform at Home," gives and recommends the following formula and process for the convenient preparation of iodoform: Potassium iodide, 100; dissolve in water, 2,000; add sodium hydroxide, 2 and acetone, 7. Mix well, and add fresh and properly prepared solution of sodium hypochlorite of U. S. P. strength, drop by drop, as long as a precipitate is formed, as evidenced by a light-yellow ring as it comes in contact with the reacting solution. An excess of hypochlorite must be avoided. When the formation of the light-yellow ring, and consequent precipitate ceases, it is a sign that the iodide is used up. Should a dark color appear, then the acetone is gone; if an orange, then iodates are forming from an excess of hypochlorite. After decanting the mother liquor, the iodoform is collected on a filter and dried in the dark between layers of absorbent material. Prepared in this way, 993.36 of potassium iodide and 57.87 of acetone, yield 785.12 of iodoform.-Proc. N. Y. State Pharm. Assoc., 1905, 92-94.

Iodoform-Influence of Light and Air.-N. Schoorl and L. M. van der Berg, having studied the nature of the influence of light and air on chloroform (which see), extended their inquiries in the same direction to iodoform. Contrary to their experience with chloroform, the character of the decomposition of iodoform is not influenced by the amount of air (oxygen), iodine, carbon dioxide and monoxide, and water being formed under all conditions. But here also two distinct processes come under consideration, these being explained by the following equations :

and

2CHI,+50=2CO2+H2O+61

2CHI,+30=2CO+H2O+61.

In practice the second reaction is the one that occurs under normal conditions. Hydriodic acid was not discoverable among the products of decomposition under any conditions that came under observation. As regards the preservation of iodoform, the authors do not consider the exclusion of air important. It suffices to exclude exposure to the direct sunlight. Pharm. Ztg., 1, No. 90 (1905), 951; from Pharm. Weekbl., 1905, Nos. 43 and 44.

Aldehydes-Action on Mercuric Oxide.-Alexander Leys prepares a reagent which may be made available for differentiating certain aldehydes, as follows: One Gm. of powdered mercuric oxide is dissolved by gently warming in 100 Cc. of a freshly made 5 per cent. solution of sodium sulphite; on cooling, the solution is carefully filtered out of contact with ammoniacal vapors. This liquid, treated with a few drops of an aldehyde solution and the same volume of very dilute caustic soda, produces in the cold a heavy white precipitate. The reaction is only given by aldehydes containing the CH,.CHO group, and may therefore be used as a distinction between acetic and formic aldehydes. For the success of the reaction both the aldehyde and the alkali must be dilute. The white precipitate is insoluble in water, potassium iodide, boiling dilute sulphuric acid and in alcohol; it dissolves readily in a solution of potassium cyanide, but with difficulty in warm dilute nitric acid, the solution so obtained giving no reaction for a sulphate; it dissolves in warm dilute hydrochloric acid. Alcohol has no influence on the reagent, and may be used to keep the aldehyde in solution. The presence of terpenes must be avoided, as they also produce precipitates. Acetone and acetyl acetone produce precipitation, but only after warming.-Pharm. Journ., Oct. 21, 1905, 554 ; from Jour. de Pharm. et Chim., 1905 (6), 22, 107–112.

Acetaldehyde-Quantitative Determination.-Seyewitz and Bardin recommend the following convenient method for the quantitative determination of aldehyde, which is not interfered with by the presence of alcohol, paraldehyde, or acetal: The acetaldehyde solution is diluted so as to contain not more than 7 or 8 per cent.: then 10 Cc. of the diluted solution are mixed with about 40 Cc. of a 10 per cent. solution of anhydrous sodium sulphite, a few drops of alcoholic phenolphthalein solution (previously carefully neutralized with acid) are added, and, after the mixture has cooled to 4-5° C. it is titrated with volumetric sulphuric acid, the percentage of aldehyde being calculated according to the equation: 2SO,Na,+2CH3.COH+SO,H2=(SO,HNa+CH.COH)2+SO,Na,.-Pharm. Ztg., 1, No. 80 (1905), 843; from Bull. Soc. Chim., 1905 (3), 1000.

Formaldehyde-Specific Gravity of Aqueous Solutions.-F. Auerbach. and H. Barshall have made careful determinations of the specific gravity of aqueous solutions of pure formaldehyde, with the results shown in the following table:

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