28 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



A. Sulphuric acid in combination with metals (simple or prseformed 



sulphates). 



B. Sulphuric acid in combination with organic bodies, such as phenol, 

 skatol, indol, pyrocatechin, etc. (conjugate or ethereal sulphates). 



The first form of this sulphur reacts readily with barium chloride, the 

 second does not. The total quantity of sulphur excreted by way of the 

 urine, during 24 hours, varies from .5-1 gramme (1.5-3 gn^- SO3). In 

 general, the relation of the simple sulphates to the ethereal sulphates in 

 normal urine is as 10 is to i. 



Inasmuch as the proteins of the ingested food and of the tissues are 

 almost solely responsible for the sulphur which is execreted, the quantity 

 of the latter may vary considerably, depending upon the extent of protein 

 disintegration, and tissue waste going on in the body. A fairly constant 

 relation exists between the nitrogen and sulphur (H2SO4) eliminated 



(N-H2S04=5-i)- 



The excretion of etheral sulphates is increased after the ingestion of 



bodies such as Phenol, Cresol, Resorcin, etc. Also in cases of intestinal 



putrefaction, constipation, abscess, etc. In such cases, and under such 



conditions the usual relation between the ethereal and simple sulphates is 



disturbed. 



Detection of sulphates : Barium chloride causes a white precipitate 

 (barium sulphate) to form in urine acidulated with hydrochloric acid. 



( To be Continued.) 



The Microscopical Examination of Paper. 



By Smith Ely Jeli-iffe, M.D., Ph.D., and C. F. Pfister, Phar.D.* 



The microscopical examination of paper mainly involves the deter- 

 mination of the kind of fibers which make up the paper substance. The 

 fibers are not only the principle and most valuable constituents of paper, 

 but for their recognition we rely entirely upon the microscope. 



By micro-chemical means the sizing, coloring-matter and filling of 

 paper may also be determined. This is, however, possible only when a 

 sufficient quantity of the material to be examined can be obtained, which 



* Abstracted and translated from F. R. von Hohnel's, Die Mikroskopie der Tech- 

 nisch verwendeten Faserstoffe. 



t Microscopical Laboratory College of Pharmacy, City of New York. 



