Jour. Pharm

, 1882

leaving a-dibromocamphor (m. p. 61°). The greater part of the product, however, is a brown-red viscid liquid, which, when mixed with alcohol, immediately deposits a crystalline powder, having, after recrystallization from alcohol, the composition CH1Br2O, and melting at 114-115°, which is the characteristic melting point of 3-dibromocamphor.

10

The differences between the two modifications of dibromocamphor are shown in the following table:

nated oil.

phor, CH1Br2NO3, m. p. 126°.

13

2

Fuming nitric acid......................... | Nitrogen and a bromi- Dibromononitrocam

-Jour. Chem. Soc., Aug., 1882, p. 864; Monatsh. Chem., iii.

'Misprinted in the original C20H32O6.

"The figures given by Zepharovich is 0·5206. Jour. Chem. Soc., 1882, p. 865.

14

DICHLOROCAMPHOR.

BY P. CAZENEUVE AND DIDELOT.

Camphor is dissolved in absolute alcohol, and treated with a current of dry chlorine for several hours at 80 to 90°. Heat is developed and hydrochloric acid is given off in large quantity. The product is repeatedly treated with water, and heated then to remove chloral and hydrochloric acid. On cooling, it solidifies to a crystalline mass, which may be purified by crystallization from alcohol. The dichlorocamphor, CHCIO, thus obtained forms large white oblique prisms, slightly soluble in cold, but very soluble in hot alcohol; soluble in ether, in the vapor of which it liquefies, but insoluble in water. It softens at 89°, and melts at 93°, at which temperature it gradually volatilizes without decomposition. Above 150° it blackens and decomposes with evolution of hydrochloric acid. On continued heating, the temperature rises to 263°, at which point it remains constant, and a colorless liquid distils over.

The formation of the dichlorocamphor is probably preceded by that of the monochloro-derivative. No higher derivative is obtained by the prolonged action of chlorine at the temperature of the experiment. Dichlorocamphor is insoluble in water, but imparts to it its peculiar odor. When placed on the surface of water, it exhibits gyratory movements, similar to those of camphor. It is insoluble in cold, but readily soluble in hot alcohol, in chloroform, carbon bisulphide, and ether. The ethereal solution crystallizes with difficulty, and the ether appears to form a molecular combination with the dichlorocamphor. The latter, unlike camphor, is insoluble in acetic acid. It combines with aldehyde in aqueous solution, forming a liquid heavier than water, but does not liquefy when triturated with chloral hydrate. Its sp. gr. is 4.2; it melts at 96°, and solidifies at 95°, but remains soft and pasty below 70°. The monochloro-camphor described by Wheeler melts at 95° The rotatory power of dichlorocamphor for [a] = + 57·3°, and is constant in both alcohol and chloroform. Dichlorocamphor crystallizes well only from alcohol, in right rhombic prisms, with brachydiagonal domes, and with difficult cleavage in two directions parallel with the faces of the prism. When the crystals form rapidly, the faces of the prism are much elongated, and the crystals are long friable needles; when, on the other hand, they form very slowly, the prismatic faces are but little developed, and the crystals have an octohedral appearance.-Jour. Chem. Soc., July, Aug., 1882, from Compt. rend., vol. 94.

GLEANINGS IN MATERIA MEDICA.

BY THE EDITOR.

Jour

, 1882

Mahonia aquifolia, De Cand., s. Berberis aquifolia, Pursh.-For description and use of this and allied plants and analysis of Berberis nervosa, consult this journal, 1878, pages 373, 374, 414 and 589. Dr. J. Moeller has submitted the root (stem?) to microscopical examination with the following results:

The wood shows scarcely an indication of annual layers. The ducts are variable in size, rarely exceeding 01 mm., scattered, frequently several united tangentially, the terminal wall perforated, the lateral wall densely dotted and occasionally spirally striate; the wood parenchyma is scanty.

The young bark has no sclerotic cells; in older bark the parenchyma becomes thick-walled, forming layers resembling concentrically

arranged bast layers; but bast fibres are entirely absent, and the parenchyma is short, rarely forming more than three r layers. The primary medullary rays are composed of 10 or 15 rows of cells and widen gradually to a layer of 1 mm., or more. Later on secondary medullary rays are formed singly in each bark ray and attain, centripetally, considerable width. The inner cell-groups of the medullary rays become sclerotic without changing size or shape. The middle bark consists of thinwalled, tangentially elongated parenchyma and is covered by delicately flat-celled cork. The parenchyma contains a golden yellow substance, soluble in water, while the sclerotic cells of the wood and bark retain the color. Berberine nitrate could not be obtained by Bödeker's microchemical reaction; only traces of calcium oxalate are present and crystals are rarely observed; but sulphuric acid causes the separation of a few needles of calcium sulphate. Starch is absent, indicating that the root is collected in summer.-Phar. Centralhalle, 1882, p. 356 and 357.

Veronica salicifolia and V. parviflora are known in New Zealand as "koromiko" and employed as a remedy for diarrhoea. The drug has been used by Dr. J. Jardine, of Kiukiang in China, who reports that cases of dysentery, which had varied in duration from six weeks to four

years, were cured by four or five doses of the drug.-Phar. Jour. and Trans., July 29, p. 85.

Jacaranda procera, Sprengel.-The dry leaves, examined by Dr. J.

Different forms of the leaflets of Caroba, natural size.

Moeller, are of various shades of light green and brown, and variable in size and shape; but there are intermediate forms, agreeing in all other characters, which renders it probable that the drug is derived from one species only. They are assymetric, particularly near the base, are somewhat leathery, slightly revolute, the upper surface glossy, apparently smooth, the lower surface on the veins and near the margin velvety hairy; the petioles are occasionally short, and the secondary nerves anastomosing near the margin. The cuticle of the upper surface is thicker than upon the lower surface, the palissade layer is simple,

the mesophyll rather dense. The

epidermis consists of sinuate cells Lower surface of Caroba leaf × 300.

J

with numerous stomata on the lower surface, and upon both surfaces with two kinds of hairs, either one-celled, conical, obtuse-pointed, rough, thick-walled and about 0.5 millimeter long, or short-stiped, flat, formed of 6 or 8 stellately arranged cells and containing an amber colored secretion.

The drug is inodorous and has a bitter and astringent taste. became first known in Germany in 1828, and about 15 years ago was recommended as blood-purifying, diuretic and antisyphilitic. Hesse (1880) found it to contain no alkaloid. For constituents, synonyms and allied plants consult this volume, page 135.-Phar. Centralhalle, 1822, p. 342-344.

Frankenia grandifolia, Cham. and Schl., s. Velezia latifolia, Eschscholtz, known as yerba reuma, grows near the seashore from San Francisco to San Diego and southward, and eastward in the desert of

Arizona and S. Nevada. Dr. J. Moeller describes the drug as follows: Stem terete somewhat woody, little branched, about 15 centimeters (6 inches) high, leaves decussate, small, obtusely-ovate, or spatulate, the upper ones more linear, entire, one-nerved, fleshy. The young leaves and branch-tops are short-hairy, the older ones nearly smooth, sparcely hairy near the base and slightly ciliate. The branches terminate with a flower, which has frequently two lateral flowers upon short branchlets, and an involucre formed from the two last pairs of leaves. The calyx is tubular, angular, four-ribbed and four-toothed; the petals are pale reddish, clawed, small. The dry herb is gray-green, inodorous, of a saline taste, due to an incrustation of salt; after washing it is tasteless.—Phar. Centralhalle, 1882, No. 30.

Branch of Frankenia grandifolia (natural size).

Arctostaphylos glauca, Lind., Manzanita.—The leaves are elliptic or ovate, 25 to 40 millimeters long, 15 to 25 millimeters broad, short petiolate, mucronate, leathery, the margin slightly thickened, smooth, pale green, one-nerved, the secondary nerves not prominent and with marginal termination, both surfaces delicately and evenly nettedwrinkled, inodorous, astringent and bitter. Dr. J. Moeller describes the vascular bundles as being of an interesting structure, not roundish,