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Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
which did not give the color reactions of glycogen, and did not reduce Fehling's solution until after hydration with mineral acids. On distilling with hydrochloric acid, a distillate could be obtained which yielded a small amount of furfural. An osazone could be obtained which was soluble in hot water and in alcohol, and whose melting-point was 205' C. I t was further learned that the substance was a conjugate sulphuric acid, which after treatment with baryta water yielded glycuronic acid. On analysis of the substance it yielded
s .................................. ................................. N
Per cent.
3. 5.43
According to its composition it is closely allied to the chondroitin sulphuric acids. F. P. UNDERHILL.
PHARIlACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY. A Method for the Preparation of lledicinal llanganese Dioxide. BY AUGUST GOTTHELF,PH.D. A m . Jour. Pharm., 75, 214.-All methods for the preparation of pure manganese dioxide of approximately constant composition, with the exception of the one here proposed, were found open to the objection of being either beyond the means of the average pharmacist, or they yield products exceedingly difficult to purify. The process described by the author is that proposed by Prof. Jannasch for the quantitative estimation of manganese. T h e composition of the precipitate according to this authority is (MnO,. 2H,O). According to the author the precipitate obtained is never a pure hydrated manganese dioxide but always contains some of the lower oxide, the percentage of which depends largely upon the temperature of drying. T h e method is as follows : 250cc. each of aqua ammonia ( I O per cent.) and hydrogen dioxide ( 3 per cent.) diluted to 1000 cc. are added with constant stirring, to a solution of 50 grams crystallized manganese sulphate (MnSO,.qH,O) in 1000cc. water. T h e precipitate, after washing several times, by decantation, is transferred to a filter and washed until free from sulphate and dried at 150' C. If the manganese is poured into the alkaline solution, the proportion of dioxide falls below 43 per cent., with a corresponding increase in manganoso-manganic oxide. I t is impossible to remove all of the water of hydration of the precipitated oxide, a temperature of 150' C. being sufficient to remove a greater percentage of water without converting into the manganoso-manganic acid. The precipitate has approximately the composition 4MnO : 20 to 25 MnO,. T h e approximate yield from 50 grams of manganese sulphate is 20 grams. J. 0. SCHLOTTERBECK. Essential Oils of Fireweed and Erigeron. BY LYMAN F. KEBLER AND GEORGER. PANCOAST. A m . Jour. Pharm., 75,
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Review of Anzericaii Chemical Research.
2 16.-The authors state that genuine oil of fireweed, from Erechthitis hievan~olia,is a commercial rarity. When it is remembered that the name fireweed is applied to no less than six different wild plants and that the chief sources of supply are the sniall stills of farmers whose botanical knowledge is almost nil, it is not strange that little genuine oil finds its way into trade. Orders for fireweed oil are boldly filled with oil of Erigenm canadense. I n the course of many years, the writers niet with only two consignments that met the recognized normal constants of oil of fireweed. The sp. gr. of this oil, according to A. M. Todd, is F. B. 0.84j-0.8j~~ while the optical rotation is -4' to +1'. Power determined these constants on another sample and gave as sp. gr. 0 . 8 3 8 at 18.jo C. and optical rotation as -2' to + 2 O . The two consignments above spoken of gave for No. I , sp. gr. 0.8422, optical rotation S1'32'. S o . 2 , sp. gr. 0.8jo' too.870°, optical rotation f j 2 O . In this connection the authors note that either the coniniercial Erigeron oils are themselves adulterated or they may vary materially i n physical properties. J . 0. SCHLOTTERBECK. Some Notes on Essential Oils. M. 0. WILBERT. Am. / O I L Y . Pharm., 75, I j 5-2 18.-This article, which is continued in two numbers of the Journal, is merely a compilation from the United States, British, German, and Universal Pharmacopoeias, the annual reports of the United States Treasury Department, and such standard authorities as Gildenieister and Hoffniann, Schimmel and Co., and the papers of specialists in essential oil chemistry as Wallack, Tieniann, Beckniann, Parry, Holmes, Kremers, etc. I t does not represent any original work and tells nothing new, but in a concise and accurate manner states and discusses the most important facts bearing upon the source, sp. gr., and other physical constants, synthetic production, and commercial aspects of the following oils : Bitter almond, cinnamon, cloves, eucalyptus, juniper berries, lavender flowers, mustard, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, wintergreen, bergamot, lemon, limes, orange flowers, orange, anise, caraway, coriander, and fennel. In concluding this survey of essential oils, the author favors the adoption of the active constituents of essential oils as representing the most desirable portion from a medical point of view. Thus, for example, anethol, cinnamic aldehyde, carvoiie, eucalyptol, eugenol, safrol, should preferably be employed in place of the respective oils from which they are derived, and to which they J . 0. SCHLOTTERBECK. give their character.
I NDUSTRI A L CHEMISTRY. Cassava as a Competitor of Maize in the Production of Starch PH.D. /.SOC. and Allied Products. BY GEORGEARCHBOLD, Chenr. Id.,January 31, 1go3.-Prefacing this paper b y the state-
