May. 1918 C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL 81 



content of certain Pacific coast trees. The following figures are given, as repre- 

 sentative of the tannin content of the trees examined : 



Western Larch ( Larix occidentalis), wood 6.70%, bark 10.6%; Western 

 Yellow Pine (Pinus ponderosa), wood 8.90%, bark 10.90%; Western Hemlock 

 (Isuga heterophilla), wood 1.10%, bark 10.93%; Dogwood (Cornus nuttalli), 

 wood 1.30%, bark 1.70%; Cottonwood ( Populis trochocarpa ) , wood 1.80%, bark 

 4.70% ; Alder (Alnus Oregona), wood 0.70%, bark 3.30%. The Western Larch 

 tannin is found to impart a light-red color to the hide, which makes it com- 

 mercially more valuable. The wood of this tree, when hydrolized, produces a 

 high yield of alcohol, and thus makes it more valuable for chemical utilization, 

 than for timber. In some instances the timber value of the tree is so high, that 

 it is not generally available as a source for tannin. In such event it is suggested 

 that the waste of the saw mills be at least so utilized. 



Antiseptic Solution 



L. Menciere, in Comptes rend., 1917, 165, reports on the use of an anti- 

 septic solution, among whose constituents are guaiacol and benzoic acid, together 

 with other aromatic compounds, such as eucalyptol. These solutions have been 

 used very extensively in the hospitals of France with great success, for the treat- 

 ment of wounds. They are said to possess antiseptic properties to a high degree, 

 and are not toxic toward cellular protoplasm, and have no solvent action on 

 animal tissue as have the hypochlorite solutions. Experiments conducted with 

 a view of ascertaining the preservative qualities of these solutions, established 

 that pieces of meat, immersed in a solution containing in each liter 5 grammes 

 of guaiacol, i gramme of benzoic acid, and 4 grammes of alcohol, showed no 

 signs of decomposition after 15 months. Meat so treated, when subsequently 

 exposed to the action of air, seemed to be immune from putrefaction. Much 

 stronger solutions, when injected intravenously in rabbits, showed no evil results. 



Lubricating Aeroplane Motors 



C. Frabot, in Ann. Chim. Analyt., 1918, 23, 7-11, gives the results of further 

 investigations of the value of castor oil as a lubricating agent for aeroplane 

 motors. He shows that the detection of foreign oils in castor oil, based upon 

 the solubility of the latter oil in petroleum benzin, and the solubility of the 

 petroleum benzin in castor oil, is entirely dependent upon the character of the 

 petroleum benzin employed. When castor oil is tested for impurities in the cus- 

 tomary manner (for foreign oils), the kind of petroleum benzin used is of prime 

 importance. Thus it is found that fractions of the petroleum benzin dissolve 

 varying quantities of castor oil, a fraction, b. p. 33.2° C. dissolved 6.51 grammes 

 of castor oil, and fraction boiling at 76° C. dissolved 13 grammes of the oil. 

 The solubility of the castor oil increases with the boiling point of the petroleum 

 benzin. The increased volume of the oil, due to dissolved petroleum benzin, is 

 subject to less variation, and depends less upon the kind of benzin used. The 

 suggestion is made, that in order to obtain the very best results, the fraction of 

 petroleum benzin, boiling between 35° and 65° C. only be used. 



