THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



317 



]V[iscelIaneoiis. 



Pyrethrin. 

 Tn previous investigations of the root of 

 Anacyclus pyrethrutn (see Bucheitn, Phar, 

 Jotcrn. [3], vii , 315, and Thompson, Phann. 

 Journ. [3], xvii, 567, the products obtained were 

 little more than purified extracts, but Schnee- 

 gans has recently succeeded in preparing 

 pyrethrin in a state of purity. He describes it 

 as colorless, crystalizing in needles which melt 

 at 46° C. Pyrethrin has a very hot taste, is 

 soluble in absolute alcohol, acetone, ether, 

 benzine, acetic acid, chloroform or carbon 

 bisulphide. It is dissolved by concentrated 

 sulphuric acid with yellow coloration, soon 

 changing into red. For the preparation of 

 pyrethrin a dry alcoholic extract of the root was 

 digested with absolute alcohol, the solution 

 purified by adding lead acetate, and evaporated 

 to syrupy consistence, mixed with some lime 

 and sand, and then dried. By treating this 

 mixture with petroleum spirit a pale yellow 

 solution was obtained, which left on evapora- 

 tion a syrupy residue that became crystalline 

 after exposure for some time over sulphuric 

 acid. — Client. Zeit. xx., 846. 



Bryonin. 



A glucoside from Radix bryonies alba", de- 

 scribed as a very bitter powder, soluble in 

 water with ease, decomposed in moist air; ac- 

 cording to Schaller has marked purgative and 

 diuretic properties. The dose is .001 gram., 

 given in granules every two hours until the 

 desired effect is obtained. 



Chloroform. 

 A new method ot preparation consists in act- 

 ing upon tetrachlormethane (CCI4) with zinc 

 and hydrochloric acid. Chlorine is replaced by 

 hydrogen, according to the equation — 



CCI4 + 2H = CHCI3 + HCl 

 The hydrochloric acid thus formed acts upon 

 the zinc with liberation of hydrogen, by which 

 a further quantity of tetrachloride is reduced to 

 chloroform. When there is no further forma- 

 tion of hydrochloric acid, the liquid is allowed 

 to cool and the layer of chloroform separated 

 from the solution of zinc chloride. — Pharm. 

 Centralh., x;xxvii., 715. 



Bismuth Oxy-Iodide. 

 This compound has been obtained by T. R. 

 Blyth, as a result of distilling the double 

 iodide of methylamine and Bismuth (CH3 NHg- 



HI) J (Bil,)^, with caustic soda, in order to ob- 

 tain the methylamine. The new body; Bi^^ I.,- 

 O24, is described as a light crystalline powder, 

 having a slight brown tint, unaffected by boil- 

 ing water or alkalies, but soluble in dilute 

 hydrochloric acid. Nitric acid decomposes it, 

 with liberation of iodine, while sulphurated 

 hydrogen decomposes it into sulphide. The 

 oxy-iodide can also be prepared by boiling bis- 

 muth sub-iodide, BiOI with caustic soda. — 

 Chemical News, Ixxiv., 200. 



Preparation of Titanium. 

 Working with the electric furnace, H. Mois- 

 san has found that titanic acid, in the presence 

 of carbon, can be converted into crystallized 

 titanium oxide with a current of 50 amperes 

 and 50 volts, while with 350 ampheres and 70 

 volts the bronze-yellow titanium nitride, 

 Ti2N2, is obtained. Increasing the current to 

 1,200 amperes and 70 volts the nitride is decom- 

 posed, crystallized titanium carbide, TiC, being 

 formed free from nitrogen. Metallic titanium 

 containing only 2 per cent, of carbon is obtain- 

 ed by heating the carbide with excess of 

 titanic acid. It is the most refractory substance 

 yet obtained by means of the electric furnace, 

 being more infusible than vanadium. In other 

 papers the investigator deals with the prepara- 

 tion of raolj'bdenum, uranium, manganese and 

 iron and carbon borides, by the aid ol 

 the electric furnace. He claims to be 

 the discoverer of crystallized calcium carbide, 

 but gives Wilson credit for having introduced 

 its manufacture into the United States. — An- 

 nales de Chimie et de Physique [7], ix.. 229. 



INFUENCE OF OXYGRN ON YEAST. 



In reference to a statement by Chudiakow 

 that the fermentation of a sugar solution is re 

 tarded by passing air through the liquid, R, 

 Rapp suggests that the observations upon 

 which it was founded were misleading. His 

 experiments show that oxygen is essential for 

 the multiplication of yeast cells, that it does not 

 influence fermentation, but that violent agita- 

 tion of a fermenting liquid may sometimes stop 

 fermentation. — Berichte, xxix., 1983. 



GUAIACETIN (Procatechol monocarboxyiic acid) 



.OH 

 C6H4 



\OCH2COOH 



is used by Strauss in cases of phthisis and 

 similiar diseases in doses of .5 gram. (7 grn.), 

 given several times daily. The preparation 



