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from one-half to one hour; the camphorated compound must be removed within about 15 minutes.-Arch. Méd. Belg.; Monit. Th., Nov. 5.

PREPARATIONS OF SOZOIODOL.-A 5 to 10 per cent. solution retards the development of pyogenous cocci; 10 per cent. solutions prevent the development of microbes; 20 per cent. solutions render gelatin sterile. In doses of 1 gm. sozoiodol is not toxic to rabbits. For open wounds, 2 or 3 per cent. solutions of the acid (diiodoparaphenolsulphonic) with the salts of sodium or aluminium is used. For a prolonged action the sozoiodol of potassium is mixed dry with powdered talc or milk sugar in quantities of 5 to 10 per cent. For ointments, sozoiodol of potassium, sodium, aluminium or lead may be used in the proportions of 5 to 10 per cent., with lanolin. For insufflations, the sodic or potassic salt is mixed with sugar of milk. The same is true of the zinc salt which may contain 1 to 10 per cent. ; and the mercury salt, which should be made with 5 to 10 of the latter to 90 or 95 of sugar of milk.-Nouv. Rem., Nov. 24.

UNNA'S TOPICAL APPLICATIONS IN SKIN DISEASES.-Dr. Hallopeau in a recent visit to Unna, learned that he has been engaged in perfecting these applications, which are recommended in three forms: medicated paste; ointments spread upon muslin, and plasters similarly prepared. The paste, used as a vehicle, prolongs the action of the medicaments, retains the secreted water upon the surface of the skin, augments cutaneous respiration and quiets irritation. The applications are intended for prolonged use without re-dressing. The soft paste of Unna is made as follows: Oxide of zinc, 15; glycerin, 15; gelatin, 25; water, 25. The muslin plasters are prepared by making the fabric impermeable with caoutchouc dissolved in benzol or the oleate of aluminium. M. Vigier in recent experiments on the preparation of the plasters gives the preference to a coating of soft paraffin mixed with gutta-percha dissolved in bisulphide of carbon. Unna's paste, spread on these plasters, or used as an ointment, is said to " render great service in the treatment of pruritus, eczema, intertrigo and acné."-R. Blondel, J. de Ph. et de Ch., Dec. 1.

VERMILLONETTE.-In an aqueous solution of eosine, minium is placed in suspension and briskly agitated, while adding a solution of acetate or nitrate of lead until the color is wholly precipitated. Wash, press and bolt. The color is very brilliant, but, like all eosine colors,

it fades under the influence of light.—Monit. sci.; J. de Ph. et de Ch., Nov. 1.

TOXIC POWER OF STROPHANTIN. Prof. Sée in a communication to the Academy of Medicine (Nov. 13), said that the strophantus plant or its extracts only, should be used in medicine; strophantin, he said, had so high a toxicity that it "must not be employed clinically." At the same meeting, Dr. Dujardin-Beaumetz also recommended that strophantin be prescribed in no case, "as the quantity of strophantidin contained in it must, for the present, be more or less conjectural.” [The samples of strophantin which seem to have frightened the Paris faculty are said (Un. Méd., Nov. 15), to have been made by M. Arnaud, chief of M. Chevreul's laboratory.]

INCOMPATIBILITY OF COCAINE AND BORATE OF SODIUM. In a paper to the Société de Pharmacie, M. Levaillant said that in mixing these substances for collyria or gargarisma he had found a precipitate of cocaine. This will disappear on the addition of a few drops of glycerin. Arch. de Ph., Nov. 5.

REACTION OF PHENACETINE.-Chlorinated water gives the aqueous solution a red-violet color which soon passes to ruby red. A solution of chloride of lime will give the same reaction.-Arch. de Ph. Dec. 5.

ESCHSCHOLTZIA CALIFORNICA.-According to a recent examination. of this plant by M. Bardet, (J. de Ph. et de Ch., Dec. 1), its narcotic power is weak; doses of 10 to 12 gm. of the extract were necessary to kill a rabbit. In seeking the active principle, the author took up the extract with acidulated water and treated it with ammonia, which gave a viscous product capable of reducing iodic acid, a violet precipitate with molybdate of sodium, and an orange color with nitric acid ; briefly, it offered the reactions of morphine. This is the first time, so he believes, that morphine has been obtained from plants other than papaver'. After extracting the morphine, another substance remained which gave a yellow precipitate with phospho-molybdate. It appeared to be a glucoside. M. Bardet is now studying it.

1 That Walz found in Eschscholtzia in 1844 sanguinarine and two other alkaloids was mentioned in Amer. Journ. Phar., 1887, p. 296. Charbonnier obtained a little morphine from the leaves and capsules of Argemone mexicana in 1868; see Jour. de Phar. et de Chim, 4 ser., vii, p. 348–358.-EDITOR OF AMER. JOUR. PHAR.

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REACTIONS OF CERTAIN ALKALOIDS WITH FLUONIOBATE OF POTASSIUM AND CHLORINE IN SULPHURIC ACID.-The fluoniobate reagent is prepared by dissolving 1 gm. of the salt in 40 ccm. of concentrated sulphuric acid, and then heating to drive off the hydrofluoric acid. With apomorphine, this solution gives a very intense red, slightly brownish, which becomes of an ochre yellow color on adding water. Morphine acts in the same manner, but the coloration is weaker. The chlorine reagent is easily prepared by saturating concentrated sulphuric with pure, dry chlorine. With this, narcotine gives a very beautiful violet coloration, which passes rapidly to wine-red and yellow; heated slightly, the mixture becomes red. Narceine turns of an olive green color which turns gradually blue, with streaks of red. Brucine takes a red color, as with nitric acid.-A. I. Brociner, in J. de Ph. et de Ch.; Union Ph., October.

ACTION OF HYPOBROMITE OF SODIUM UPON CERTAIN AROMATIC DERIVATIVES; AND DIFFERENTIAL REACTION BETWEEN HIPPURIC AND BENZOIC ACIDS.-If hypobromite of sodium containing an excess of alkali be boiled with hippuric acid, gaseous bullæ are disengaged and the liquid clouds with a reddish-yellow tint. The precipitate, which goes down on cooling, appears as a powder of a kermes-red color. Benzoic acid under like conditions gives no reaction. Glycocol causes a decoloration of the hypobromite, with a disengagement of azotic gas. Testing the action of hypobromite of sodium upon a large number of azotized products of the aromatic series, the following results were obtained: Benzamide and Benzonitril gave nothing when cold; on ebullition, gave a kermes-red precipitate. Aniline; the aqueos solution—even when largely diluted-gave an orange precipitate; the reaction was nearly as sensitive as that of the hypochlorite of lime. Methylaniline; a yellow precipitate slightly greenish when cold, but becoming red on boiling. Toluidine; same results as for aniline; the precipitate is browner. Anilides; nothing with cold; on a reddish precipitate. An odor of cyanide of methyl is disengared. Hydrochlorate of diamine-metaphenylene, diamido-benzoic acid, diamine-toluilene; all gave-hot or cold-a red maroon precipitate. Ferrocyanides, ferricyanides, nitro-prussiates; on boiling, all gave a red precipitate of ferric hydrate. Pyridine; no reaction. Quinoleine; does not give the orange-red precipitate except-which is frequently the case-aniline is present.-Acad. des Sci., evii, 662, 1888; J. de Phar. et de Chim., Dec. 1, 1888.

boiling,

GLEANINGS FROM THE GERMAN JOURNALS.

BY F. X. MOERK, PH. G.

Carbohydrates in urine.-N. Wedenski, by precipitation with benzoyl chloride in presence of NaOH, obtained the compound ethers of two carbohydrates, of which one was decomposed by boiling with excess of NaOH; the other was not acted upon by this reagent but was afterward easily decomposed by boiling with dilute H2SO. The former corresponds to the compound ether of the starch group, the latter to the glucose group. Fehling's solution is reduced by the latter, but only after treatment with dilute acids by the former; this also answers to the test for animal gum found by Landwehr in urine by precipitating with copper sulphate, washing, drying, dissolving in HCl adding alcohol when the substance is reprecipitated, especially on warming to 60°.-Ztschr. f. Physiol. Chemie, xiii, 122.

Digitalis ambigua, which in some countries is more common than D. purpurea, contains according to Paschkis, the same constituents found in D. purpurea. Following the method of Schmiedeberg he obtained digitonin, digitonein, digitoginin, digitalin, digitalein and digitoxin. In an aqueous extract chrysophanic acid was detected. The medicinal properties of the two drugs are identical.—Apoth. Ztg., 1888, 869.

Diphenylmethylpyrazol analogous in composition with antipyrine. and used for the same purpose, is made by the action of benzoyl-acetic ether upon phenyl-hydrazine and then introducing the methyl group. It forms white needles melting at 150°, is difficultly soluble in water and ether, easily soluble in alcohol and glacial acetic acid, and differs from antipyrine in being a strong base; also in the reactions with nitric acid and with ferric chloride, these not being so characteristic.-(Ztschr. f. Angew. Chem.) Pharm. Centralh., 1888, 463.

Iodoform in its behavior towards ether differs considerably, some brands marked absolute giving with this solvent dark colored solutions owing to liberation of iodine, probably due to an impurity of the iodoform which is decomposed by ether.-Neuss, Pharm. Ztschr. f. Russl., 1888, 681.

Benzoic Acid crystals on vanilla beans may be distinguished microscopically from vanillin; the former are needle-shaped, the latter tabular crystals. Dilute sodium carbonate will extract the former and on acidifying with sulphuric acid and adding a little metallic magnesium

or zinc the odor of oil of bitter almonds will be developed.-Schimmel & Co., Pharm. Centralh., 1888, 537.

Antiseptic sponges for gynecological operations.-The sponges are placed for 2 hours in a solution composed of corrosive sublimate 10, carbolic acid 5.0, alcohol 60'0, water 5000; after expression they are allowed to dry in the air and may be impregnated with one of the following solutions: I. Boric acid 15.0, boiled water 500; II. Tannin 30, boiled water 5000; III. Solution ferric chloride 40·0, boiled water 500.0.-Pharm. Centralh., 1888, 558.

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Filicic Acid.-G. Daccomo prepared the acid by agitating the ethereal extract (oleo-resin) with a mixture of two volumes 95 per cent. alcohol and one volume ether, which precipitated the acid as a brown resinous mass. After purification a glistening, odorless pale-yellow crystalline powder was obtained, melting at 179-180°. Heated above 100°, it assumes a golden color, taking the original color again on cooling. Insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in absolute alcohol; more soluble in glacial acetic acid, ether, amylic alcohol and toluol; easily soluble in chloroform, carbon disulphide and benzol. Its formula is CHO, Heated in a sealed tube to 170-190°, it is decomposed into isobutyric acid, and a red substance, having the formula CH18O7. CHO+H2O=C,H2O2+C10H10O4. Two molecules of the last substance, by loss of one molecule of H2O, give the compound CHO. By oxidation with K,Mn,O,, and also with HNO3, butyric and oxalic acids are formed. If the compound C2HO, be allowed to stand several days with HNO3, from the solution can be obtained pearly scales, melting between 198° and 202°, sublimable, the sublimate melting at 127-129°; by analysis found to be phthalic acid; oxalic acid is also formed by this oxidation. These reactions indicate that filicic acid is the isobutyrate of oxynaphthoquinone.—Ber. d. d. Chem. Ges., 1888, 2962.

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Cantharides.-Baudin has found that this drug appears in the market, partially deprived of the cantharidin by extraction with a menstruum containing sulphuric acid; the ash then contains an undue amount of sulphate. In determining the cantharidin, he recommends it to be carried out in two stages; first, exhausting with chloroform, which removes the free cantharidin, and then with chloroform containing 2 per cent. HCl, which dissolves the combined cantharidin. Cantharides contain about 1 per cent. total cantharidin, 0.72 per cent. free, and about 0.3 per cent. combined.-Apoth. Ztg., 1888, 921.