S ta b ility of anaesthetic eth er. F . W. Nit a r d y
and M. W. Ta p l e y (J. Amer. Pharm . Assoc., 1928, 17, 966—968).—The influence of storage conditions on the form ation of peroxides in anaesthetic ether has been examined. E th er stored in tins or glass containers was found to develop peroxides in every case investigated.
In general, m ost aneesthetic ether will form peroxides within six m onths after m anufacture, and they will remain in the ether for one or more years and then gradually disappear w ith form ation of aldehyde, which ultim ately is transform ed into acid. W hen exposed to heat and pressure ether developed peroxides in 1 hr.
The form ation of peroxides can be prevented b y storing ether in containers the interior of which presents an adequate surface of copper or copper salts. Samples stored under these conditions developed no peroxides under storage of several years or w ith heat and pressure treatm en t for 60 hrs. Copper does not remove peroxides from ether. E. II. Sh a r p i.e s.
S ta b ility of m orp h in e in a q u eou s so lu tio n , e sp e cia lly on ste r ilisa tio n . C. St i c h (Pharm . Ztg., 1928, 7 3 , 1513).—In view of a publication by Dietzel, attention is draw n to the work of Schäfer and Stich (Münch. Med.
Wochenschr., 1917, 676), in which it was shown th a t the yellow decomposition product formed when m or
phine hydrochloride solutions are sterilised does not affect the absorption spectrum, and is probably insigni
ficant, and in which it was suggested th a t a trace of hydrochloric acid should be added to such solutions in order to counteract the alkalinity of the glass vessels.
E . W . W i g n a l l . P r o c e ss of fo rm a tio n of e sse n tia l o ils and r e sin s in con ifers. X I. C om p osition of th e oil from the
n eed les of P in u s s il v e s t r i s . P r o c e ss of fo rm a tio n of e sse n tia l o ils and r e sin in p in e tr e e s. G. W . P ig u le v s k i and X. B. R isk in a (J. Russ. Chem. Soc., 1928, 60, 1069— 1077).— The essential oil and resin obtained by steam distillation of the needles of F inns silvestris was fractionated and analysed. a-Pinene (ocp — 14-88°), esters, free alcohols (all strongly Iwvo- rotatory), and i-cadinene (an — 5-52°, ajr/ao 8-96.
b.p. 127—132°/10 mm.) were present. The non-volatile resin consisted of free acids, together w ith a certain am ount of esters. In order to elucidate the process of form ation of essential oils and resin in the needles and twigs of pine trees, the q u an tity and nature of these products were examined in a num ber of individual trees from the forests near Leningrad. The am ount of essen
tia l oils varies between 0-21% and 1 ■ 30% , an d the o pti
cal rotation from a n + 1 0 • 84° to a n —-15 ■ 94°. The resin content was 7—12% . The e s s e n tia l oil contained in twigs (0-46—1-28% ) had a n — 8-16° to 47-17°.
M . Zv e g in t z o v. See also A„ Dec., 1318, A d sorp tive p ow er of a lu m in iu m silic a te s u sed p h arm aceu tically ( Po r t i l l o). 1328, P h a rm a ceu tica l co m b in a tio n s ( Pf e i f f e r and Se y d e l). 1329, F orm ation and d eco m p o sitio n of so d iu m sa lic y la te (Da v i e s). 1332, E xpansi
b ility of anaesthetics ( Ho r n e r and Ga r d e n i e r).
1348, D eterm in a tio n of b ism u th in su b sta n ces for trea tm en t of sy p h ilis (Bo u il l e n n e and Du m o n t).
1374, D erivatives of p -m eth o x y cin n a m ic acid ( Fo o t e). 1375, P u n g en t p rin cip les of g in g er (No m u r a and Iw a m o t o). 1376, P lu m b a g in (Ma d i n a v e i t i a
and Ga i.l e g o). D ig ita lis g lu c o sid e s ( Ja c o b s and Gu s t u s). S trop h an th in ( Ja c o b s and others). 1377, O ccurrence of d -p -p in en e ( Ru t o v s k i and Vin o g r a d o v a). M ono- and se sq u i-terp en e se r ie s. W est Indian sandalw ood o il (De u s s e n). 1380, P rep a ra tio n of e th y l p h en ylm alon ate and of 5-phenyl-5-[3- h y d roxyeth ylb arb itu ric acid (Ne l s o n and Cr e t c h e r).
1386, A lk aloid s o f H y o s c y a m u s r e tic u la tu s , L.
( Ko n o v a l o v a and AIa g id s o n). C h loroarsin oso- quinine ( Er b e n). T e sts for m orp h in e and related a lk a lo id s ( Fu l t o n). C reso la rsin ic a cid s ( Fi n z i).
1387, P rep aration of 4 -ch a u Im oogrylam in ob en z- e n ea rsin ic acid (De w a r). 1388, C om pounds of a lb u m in and m eta llic sa lts (Be c h h o l d ; Sc h o r n ; He y m a n nand Op p e n h e i m e r). 1389, C olour reaction s of th e b ile acid s (Cu n y). 1393, D eterm in a tio n of th y m u s-n u c le ic acid (Wi d s t r o m). 1399, T o x ic o lo g y of anaesthetics con tain in g b rom in e and ch lorin e (Lu c a s). 1403, Isolation of secretin (Me l l a n b y).
1404, E valu ation of th yroid p rep aration s (Mo r c h).
Pa t e n t s.
M anufacture of alb u m in p reparations [con tain in g silic a te s], A. Bu s c h. Assr. to J . A. v o n Wu l f i n g
(U.S.P. 1,688,228, 16.10.28. Appl., 18.12.24).—Com
mercial sodium silicate solution is tre a te d w ith sodium hydroxide sufficient to convert i t into th e m etasilicate, and casein is added to th e diluted solution as long as it dissolves readily. The liquid is th e n evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain a water-soluble powder of therapeutic value. A. R . Po w e i.l.
B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c ts —B .
C l. X X I.— Ph o t o g r a p h i c Ma t e r i a l s a n d Pr o c e s s e s. 73
P h o to ch em ica l production of v ita m in -D from e r g o ste ro l. I. G. Fa r b e x i n d. A.-G. ( B .P . 296,093, 22.8.28. Ger., 2G.8.27).—A solution of crgosterol is exposed to ultra-violet radiation, the exposure being in te r
ru p ted before th e point of maximum absorption between X250 and >.230 is substantially exceeded. Under these conditions the presence of a small proportion of unaltered crgosterol m ay be dem onstrated. Using a photoelectric cell a device m ay be arranged whereby th e source of radiation is autom atically cut off when th e m axim um content of vitam in -/) has been attain ed , or th e ra te of flow of th e solution through th e irradiation vessel m ay be adjusted so th a t the required period of exposure
is obtained. W . J . Bo y d.
M anufacture o f d ry y ea sts for m ed ical and p harm aceu tical p u rp o ses. G. M . C l a r k - . From M a t r o Ge s.m.b.H. (B.P. 300,039, 24.12.27).—Fresh, moist (or freshly dried) yeast, if necessary a fte rtre a tm e n t w ith w ater or liquids of alkaline reaction, is extracted w ith pure or denatured alcohol a t 55—65°, pressed, washed, dried, an d finally roasted a t 150— 160° (to rem ove traces of solvent). The by-products include phosphorus derivatives resembling lecithin, a product containing phosphorus and sulphur, and crude fat.
B. Fu l l m a n. M anufacture of a n ew m e d icin e [from iris flo w ers]. C. A. Wr ig h t (B.P. 299,819, 2.6.27).— The flowers are tre a te d w ith, e.g., m ethylated spirit, the sp irit is allowed to 'evaporate, an d th e flowers, together w ith th e deposited extract, are boiled w ith w ater con
taining a small q u an tity of s u g a r ; or th e alcoholic extract is decanted, th e flowers are boiled w ith w ater containing sugar, and th e aqueous and alcoholic extracts united a fte r straining. An ointm ent is prepared by m ixing th e flowers, after pulverisation in a m ortar with m ethylated spirit, with lard etc. and sieving.
B. Fu l l m a n. H aem ostatic. F . Ma r t in e z and A. Gom ez (U.S.P.
1,690,869, 6.11.28. Appl., 10.8.26).-—The preparation consists of an aqueous ex tract of th e active content of fibres from th e outside of th e fruit of Cocos nucifera.
II. Ro y a l- Da w s o n. E nteric coated ca p su le. E. H . Vo l w il e r, Assr. to Ab b o t t La b o r a t o r ie s(U.S.P. 1,690,760, 6.11.28. Appl., 5.1.27).—A gelatin shell co n tain in g a medicine, or a gelatin m edicinal capsule, is covered w ith a cellulose ester by coating w ith a cellulose lacquer. F . G. Clarice.
M anufacture of a m in o -a ro m a tic e ste r s for u se as anaesthetics. E. Rit s e r t (U.S.P. 1,692,224, 20.11.28.
Appl., 27.4.26. Ger., 14.5.25).—See B.P. 260,493; B., 1927, 60.
M anufacture of anaesthetics, b en zam in e borate, and p harm aceutical p rod u cts. W . J . Po p e, A s sr . to Br i t. Dr u g Ho u s e s, Lt d. (U.S.P. 1,692,695—8,20.11.28.
Appl., [a] 18.3.26, [b—d] 7.12.26. Renewed [dJ 11.9.28).
—See B .P. 260,346 ; B „ 1927, 29.
M anufacture of th era p eu tica lly -a ctiv e arom atic com pound con tain in g m er cu ry in a lateral chain.
M. Bo c k m u h l a n d A. Sc h w a r z, Assrs. to Win t h r o p
Ch e m. Co. (U.S.P. 1,693,432, 27.11.28. Appl., 5.5.23.
Ger., 12.5.22).—See A ustr. P. 99,678 ; B ., 1926, 218.
E g g -y o lk proteids (B.P. 283,866). M edicated anim al feeds (B.P. 274,915).—See X IX .
XXI.— PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS AND PROCESSES.
P h otograp h ic e m u lsio n s. F. We ig e r t and F . Lu h r (Z. Elektrochem ., 1928, 3 4 , 605—610).—E xperi
ments show th a t the light-sensitive constituent both in process emulsions and also in silver halide emulsions not containing excess of soluble silver salts is m ainly metallic silver in complex combination with the silver halide in the gelatin. “ Prim ary- (or ripening-) silver ” and “ photo-silver” (cf. AVeigert, B., 1926, 109) have different colours and absorption spectra, which explains the varying behaviour of emulsions of different opacities and under differently coloured illuminations. The
“ primary-silver ” in unillum inated emulsions is deter
mined b y the analytical method of Cox (A., 1925, 999).
Relatively large quantities occur in process emulsions, due to reduction of the excess of soluble silver salts by the gelatin during the ripening. The am ounts formed of both the “ prim ary- ” and “ photo-” silver increase during illum ination more and more rapidly in successive equal tim e intervals ; the to ta l q u an tity of such silver increases rapidly w ith th e ripening tim e in the cases of chloride and bromide emulsions, and decreases slowly in the case of iodide emulsions. The light sensitivity increases w ith the am ount of “ prim ary-silver.” The results of Eggert and Noddack are adversely criticised (cf. A., 1925, 573). S. K. Tw e e d y.
P hotographic ap p lication s of diazo com p ou n d s.
D. A. Sp e n c e r (Phot. J „ 1928, 68, 490—494).—Diazo compounds suitable for photographic papers should be sufficiently sensitive to light, and stable towards heat, mechanical shock, and to the paper base upon which they m ay be coated in sufficient concentration by disso
lution in an inert solvent. They should couple readily with amines and phenolic compounds to give dark- coloured substances which are insoluble in w ater and stable to light. The decomposition products should not interfere w ith the colour or stability of the image. The following types of paper are possible : (a) the diazo compound is decomposed by light and is developed by application of an alkaline coupler which reacts only w ith th e unchanged diazo com pounds; (6) the diazo com
pound and coupler are coated together, b u t reaction is prevented by the presence of an organic acid, such papers being developed by weak alkali solutions or ammonia v a p o u r; (c) the diazo compound is coated with a coupler in an unreactive state, e.g., as an additive compound, developm ent being effected by breaking up the additive compound by heat, ammonia, e t c .; {d) the diazo compound is decomposed b y light into a substancc which will react w ith the original diazo compound either on keeping or in presence of alkali.
.J. W . Gl a s s e t t. F o g g in g b y a cid s and o x id isin g a g e n ts and the in ten sification of the photograp h ic laten t im a g e .
E. P. Wig h t m a n (J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 1928,50, 2923—
B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c ts —B .
74 Cl. X X II.—Ex p l o s i v e s ; Ma t c h e s.
2929).—F u rth er evidence is given in support of the author’s theory of the cause of the la te n t fog produced by the action of certain oxidising agents and acids on silver emulsions (cf. B., 1927, 765), in answer to the criticism of Liippo-Cramer (B., 1928, 285, 731).
S. K. Tw e e d y. See also A ., Dec., 1295, S p ectru m tem p eratu re of m a g n e siu m - and fla sh -lig h t (Ar e n s and Eg g e r t).
1297, P h o to -electric p ro p erties of alk ali m e ta ls (Ca m p b e l l). 1321, A ction of lig h t on silv er hydro- s o ls (Ga l e c k iand Sp y c h a l s k i). 1338, L igh t reaction b etw een ferric ch lorid e and o x a lic acid ( Ko r n f e l d
an d Me n c k e). 1339, P h o to ly sis of m ed iu m -free silv e r b ro m id e ( Ki e s e r). 1340, P h o to ch em istry of silv er h a lid es (Sc h m id t). 1341, A ction of lig h t on cellu loid stain ed w ith m a la ch ite -g reen ( Ra y
l e i g h).
Pa t e n t s.
P h otograp h ic p la tes. E . S. Vil a s e c a (B.P. 300,809, 9.12.27).— One side of the glass to be used for the support of photographic emulsions, n o t the coating side, is roughened by means of sand or hydrofluoric acid.
Retouching pencils etc. may then be applied directly to the rear side of finished negative w ithout the necessity of varnishing. J. W . Gl a s s e t t.
P yro -reco rd in g paper and the lik e, su ita b le for u se in pictu re and the lik e telegrap h receivin g ap p aratu s. M a r c o n i ’s W i r e l e s s T e l e g r a p h Co., L t d . (B.P. 282,759, 31.12.27. U .S., 31.12.26).—The following solutions, if coated upon a suitable paper base, will aiford recording papers which are practically insensitive to light and rapidly give a perm anent dis
coloration by the application of heat alone w ithout any subsequent tr e a tm e n t: (a) 100 pts. of water, 10 pts. of gelatin, 5 pts. of sodium chloride, and i p t.
of phenolphthalein ; (6) 9 • 8 g. of aniline hydrochloride, 99 c.c. of water, 0-026 g. of gelatin, and 8 g. of potassium n itrate ; (c) 100 c.c. of water, 5 g. of nickel nitrate, 3 g. of sodium thiosulphate, 3-6 g. of sodium nitrite, and 5 c.c. of a 1% solution of gelatin. The best results are obtained if th e heat is applied by means of a je t of hot air which travels backwards and forwards across the paper ; the heat from an electric spark m ay also be
used. J . W . Gl a s s e t t.
C o m p o sitio n for jo in in g str ip s of m o tio n -p ictu re film s . 0 . W. Co o k, Assr. to Ea s t m a n Ko d a k Co.
(U.S.P. 1,690,622, 6.11.28. Appl., 6.5.25).—A dye which absorbs light having wave-lengths in the red and orange portions of the spectrum is added to the com
position in order to render it visible under light of these
wave-lengths. F. G. Cl a r k e.
C olouring th e im a g e on p h otograp h ic p la tes, film s , etc. G. Wh e e l e r (U.S.P. 1.693,500, 27.11.28.
Appl., 19.1.27. U.K ., 27.2.26).—See B.P. 271,578;
B., 1927, 621.
P roduction of coloured p ictu res from p h o to g rap h ic p rin ts. E. H . Fa r m e r (B.P. 289,411, 26.4.28.
U.S., 26.4.27).—See U.S.P. 1,669,869 ; B., 1928, 549.
XXII.— EXPLOSIVES ; MATCHES.
R apid d e term in a tio n of picric acid in p a stes obtained b y the n itration of p henol. L . De s v e r g n e s
(Ann. Chim. analyt., 1928, [ii], 10, 317—320).—The volume V of a large weight P of the paste of picric acid and its saturated solution in w ater are determ ined ; then if }>1 is the weight of dry picric acid in the mixture, and -p.2 the weight of the saturated solution present, Pl + p 2 = P and p 2 - (1-561787 — 1 ;005P)/0-551.
From these equations the weights of acid and water in the m ixture are calculated and the percentage of dry acid in the m ixture is then readily found.
A. R. Pow ell. B leach in g of gangv/a w ood (E xccecaria q g a llô h a ) in the m anufacture of m a tch es. 11. L. Datta and T. Basu (Dept. Industries, Bengal, Bull. No. 18, 1928, 6 pp.).—In the bleaching of gangwa wood so as to render it suitable for m atch splints, a cold, alkaline, aqueous solution of bleaching powder containing 0-20% of available chlorine gave the best results.
Boiling with w ater or treatm ent with sulphurous acid or potassium perm anganate solution was unsuitable.
S. Bin n in g. P reparation of a solu tion containing p h osp h oric acid d irect from bone ash for the im p reg n a tio n of m atch stic k s to render th em n o n -g lo w in g . R. L. Datta and T. Basu (Dept. Industries, Bengal, Bull. No. 27, 1928, 6 pp.).—The sticks are im pregnated with a solution containing phosphoric acid obtained by extracting 3 pts. of bone ash w ith 3 pts. of commercial sulphuric acid (d 1-55). A suitable density for this solution is 1-035; i t then contains 3-78% P 20 5 and 0-19% H 2S 0 4 of which 0-05% is free acid. This free acid turns the splints brown, b u t neutralising the acid w ith ammonia solution overcomes this defect where
nccessary. S. Bin n in g.
C hem ical co m p o sitio n for m a tch es. R. L. Datta
and T. Basu (Dept. Industries, Bengal, Bull. No. 23, 1928, 4 pp.).—Unsuccessful attem pts were made to form a damp-proof composition for m atches by rendering the glue in it insoluble by treatm en t w ith formaldehyde or tannin before the remaining components were added.
Compositions containing potassium dichromate gradu
ally became damp-proof as a result of the oxidation of the glue by this ingredient. S. Bin n in g.
See also A., Dec., 1366, R eaction s of sta b le azid es (Berthô).
E x p lo sib ility of coal d u sts. M ason and Wh e e l e r.
—See II.
Pa t e n t s.
N itration of g ly cer in , g ly c o l, and sim ila r alco h o ls.
A. Schmid and J. Me iss n e r (B.P, 284,700, 28.1.28.
Ger., 5.2.27).—Glycerin etc. is, n itrated by circulating the reaction m ixture, by means of a screw or air-injector, between two separate com partm ents in the same nitrator, the separation between the two being formed by cylindrical cooling coils, the innerm ost coil of which has its windings in close contact w ith one another.
One com partm ent serves for cooling the m ixture, and
B r itis h C h e m ic a l A b s tr a c ts — B .
Cl. X X III.— Sa n i t a t i o n ; Wa t e r Pu r i f i c a t i o n. 7 5
the other for mixing acid and glycerin etc. and distri
buting the heat of the reaction. N itration m ay be carried out continuously by withdrawing a small portion of the reaction mixture. S. Binning.
D en itration of w a ste su lp h u ric acid m ix tu r e s.
W. Busching (B.P. 276,972, 9.8.27. Ger., 3.9.26).—
Sulphuric acid vapours from the dephlegmating column of a still in which sulphuric acid is being concentrated are used to denitratc a waste sulphuric acid-nitric acid m ixture in a second column. The nitric acid vapours given off during the denitration m ay be washed and dried by sulphuric acid in a third column and condensed to give concentrated nitric acid. B y combining the processes a continuous denitration of mixed acid with recovery of concentrated sulphuric and nitric acids is
effected. S. Binning.
N itro g ly cerin d y n a m ite. T. O’Her n, Assr. to A. T. O’He r n (U.S.P. 1,690,872, 6.11.28. Appl., 2.4.26).— The dynam ite contains sodium nitrate 64 pts., infusorial earth 30 pts., comminuted wood product 20 pts., potassium nitrate 3 pts., ground magnesium carbonate 3 pts., and nitroglycerin 180 pts. by wt.
H. Ro y a l-Da w s o n. M anufacture of h ea v y -m eta l azid es. 0 . Ma t t e r
(B.P. 300,401, 25.11.27).—Sodium azide for use .in the manufacture of lead azide is freed from alkali carbonate by adding hydroxides or salts of alkaline- earth metals to its aqueous solution; the alkaline-carth carbonate is precipitated and m ay be removed by filtration. The filtrate m ay be converted into solid sodium azide or used directly in solution for the pre
paration by a highly active lead azide, free from con
tam ination by lead carbonate. S. Bi n n i n g. M anufacture of sm o k e le ss [fla sh less] e x p lo siv es.
F. I. and E. du P o n t , and U .S .F . Powder Co. (B.P.
298,543, 7.4.27).—See U .S .P . 1,627,638—9 : B., 1927, 542.