202 



THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



tively. Both compounds possess similar thera- 

 peutic properties (antiseptic). A mixture of 

 both salts is sold under the name Dithion. If 

 an aqueous solution of Dithion, which has been 

 rendered alkaline by sodium hydrate, is brought 

 ioto reaction with a solution of bismuth ni- 

 trate, a basic bismuth compound is precipita- 

 ted, which, like most of such organic bismuth 

 compounds, is rendered more basic by wash- 

 ing. 



This compound has probably the following 

 composition : 



employed, otherwise an acid oxalate will be 

 formed. The reaction is as follows : 



(2 COOH) .2H.^O -f Na., CO,, .2H2O 



S— C« H3 <0H) COO 



O— BiO 



^BiO— Bi<' 

 S— Cs H3 (OH) COO O— BiO 



+2H,,0 



and is represented by the so-called Thioform of 

 Messrs. Speyer & Gruno, of Frankfurt a. M. — 

 Dr. Thoms, Apoth. Ztg. 1894—760. V. C. 



Thioform. — This is entirely non-poisonous, 

 as has been proven by large doses administered. 

 In treatment of profuse suppurations it has 

 shown itself superior to iodoform and dermatol. 

 In treatment of moist eczemas it is applied in 

 the form of a ten per cent, ointment. V. C. 



Sodium Oxalate as Substitute for Oxalic 

 Acid as Standardizing Agent. — Sodium Ox- 

 alate, because of the absence of crystal 

 water, and the ease by which it is obtained 

 of constant composition, offers a convenient 

 substitute for oxalic acid, as the standardiz- 

 ing agent for volumetric solution of potas 

 sium permanganate. It may be prepared after 

 the following : 



In the necessary amounts of warm water dis- 

 solve 12.5 parts of pure anhydrous sodium car- 

 bonate and 10 parts of pure oxalic acid. The 

 solution of the oxalic acid is poured with con- 

 stant stirring into the warm solution of sodium 

 carbonate. Carbonic acid is given off, and so- 

 dium oxalate precipitates as a granular powder 

 in const quence of its comparative insolubility. 

 The supernatant fluid is decanted off, and the 

 precipitate is thrown in a Witts' filter, and by 

 means of a pump washed rapidly with cold dis- 

 tilled water until the wash water reacts neutral. 

 The precipitate is then dried at 70'' C. This 

 sodium oxalate forms a permanent fine white 

 powder soluble in 31.5 parts of water at 15^ C. 

 In the preparation of the ^. volumetric solution 

 6.7 Gm. of this correspond to 6.3 Gm. of oxalic 

 acid. 



In the preparation of this it should be ob- 

 served that an excess of sodium carbonate is 



126 



142 



COONa 



I + CO., + 5H2O 



COONa 



— Pharm. Centralh, 1894, p. 605. V. C. 



Microscopic Study and the Origin of Ores. — 

 The method ot the origin of ores by igneous 

 injection has found few modern supporters. A 

 modification of it as applied to masses of iron 

 oxides or sulphides in basic igneous rock has 

 strong claims to confidence. Microscopic 

 study of rock sections has shown that these 

 minerals are universally present in all gneiss 

 rocks, though in small amounts in all of the 

 acidic ones. They are among the first to crys- 

 tallize. Microscopic work, in this accurate de- 

 termination of minerals themselves and of their 

 succession in order of formation, has done us a 

 real service, and now we are greatly increasing 

 our knowledge of their chemical and profound 

 genetic relationsh p, we may expect no less 

 significant advances as regards the enclosed ore 

 deposits. The passage of basic rocks into 

 masses of iron oxide have been recorded, and 

 there can be little doubt that in this excessively 

 basic development of an already quite basic 

 magma large masses of iron ore can and do 

 originate The same method has been advo- 

 cated by Vogt, of Sweden, for bodies of nickel- 

 iferous pyrrhotite in connection with diorite. — 

 J. F. Kemp in Mineral Industry, 1893. Vol. II., 

 P- 839- 



Calcium Borate. — Calcium borate is prepared 

 by mixing solutions of lodium borate and 

 Calcium chloride. It forms a white, inodorous 

 and comparatively tasteless powder. Employed 

 externally it forms a valuable deodorant and 

 antiseptic. Internally it is employed in treat- 

 ment of diarrhoea of children. Its antiseptic 

 value depends upon its decomposition in the 

 system. — Rep. Phar., 1894, p. 50. V. C. 



Soluble Cresol Preparations. — An examina- 

 tion of the most important soluble preparations 

 of the market gave the following results. 



Sapocarbal — An aqueous solution of pure or 

 crude phenol in soap, intended as a substitutg 

 for lysol. This contained from 37 to 44 per cent, 

 phenol. 



Lysol — An aqueous neutral solution of cresol 

 jU soap. This contained 50 percent, of cresol. 



