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PEROXIDE OF HYDROGEN. 50I

paste, which is added gradually, with constant stirring, to distilled
water acidulated with one-third of its weight of hydrochloric
acid, contained in a vessel immersed in a freezing mixture.
When the muriatic acid is saturated, a fresh quantity of the acid
in a concentrated state is added, and then more of the peroxide
of barium, and the operation repeated till the solution will hold
no more chloride of barium, which is deposited by a mixture of
ice and salt, except a small portion which is gotten rid of by
adding sulphate of silver to precipitate the sulphate of baryta and
chloride of silver. The filtered liquid is then concentrated by
sulphuric acid, and the water rising in vapor is absorbed and
protoxide of hydrogen is obtained nearly pure, in the form of a
colorless liquid of a fluid consistence.
L. Crismer explains a new and economic process for preparing
hydrogen peroxide. It depends upon the long-known property
of sulphuric ether of taking up and dissolving large quantities of
H2O2. Commercial barium oxide, containing from 85 to 90 per
cent, of BaOj is treated with an excess of hydrochloric acid
(i.io specific gravity), and the solution shaken up with an equal
volume of ether. The mixture is let stand until separation has
taken place, when the ether is drawn off and agitated with dis-
tilled water, which latter removes and takes up all the hydrogen
peroxide which the ether held in solution. The cleaned ether is
separated from the water, and is again shaken with the solution
of barium oxide, and again extracted with the distilled water.
The operation is repeated five or six times, by which the ex-
traction of H2O2 is complete. The aqueous solution will then
form 8 to 9 per cent, of the peroxide, and is entirely neutral and
free from solid matter.
Medical Properties and Physiological Action.—Peroxide of hydro-
gen " is a powerful and oxidizing agent on account of its un-
stable nature, as it immediately reacts with and destroys sulphu-
rated hydrogen, and many other compounds susceptible of change.
It possesses the advantage, sometimes a very important one, that
the product of its composition (water) is neutral and destitute of
chemical activity, while hydrogen peroxide itself has not the ex-
treme tendency to act on inert organic matter which so much di-