THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



The subdivisions will of course show 

 }^s and }4s of K, but that offers no im- 

 pediment more than the present j^s and 

 yis of lb. 



These suggestions, by eliciting dis- 

 cussion, may help diffuse a better knowl- 

 edge of the universal system and hasten 

 its advent, and, though so trifling, they 

 bear something of the same relation to 

 the system that a lubricant does to a 

 machine. 



At the gardens of the Royal Botanic 

 Society, on June 7th, Dr. D. Morris deliv- 

 ered the first of two lectures upon the Ro- 

 mance of Plant Life, with lime-light 

 illustrations. The lecturer discussed 

 some of the most striking features of the 

 vegetation of the Canary Islands. Chief 

 amongst those were the singular dragon 

 trees, which were closely related to trees 

 distributed over widely-separated parts 

 of Africa. They were regarded as the 

 survivals of" a very old African flora, 

 which once flourished on that Continent 

 at a time when the climate was much 

 colder than at present. It was suggested 

 by Balfour and others that, as the ice in 

 the Ice age gradually receded northward 

 and the climate got warmer, these plants 

 were driven to higher regions, and hence 

 on the high peaks of Central and South 

 Africa, the Canary Islands, the slopes of 

 Ruwenzori, and the mountains of Abys- 

 sinia, the remains were found at the 

 present day of an old African flora, 

 which, by climatic changes, had been 

 gradually driven out and replaced by 

 more tropical plants. The study of these 

 and similar plants afforded one of the 

 most interesting problems in botanical 

 science. The lecturer concluded by dis- 

 cussing the Canary native palm, which 

 incidentally led up to an interesting ac- 

 count of curiosities occurring in palm 

 life. — Brit, and Col. Dr. 



ABSTRACTS AND NOTES ON NEW RE/1- 

 EDIES. 



By VIRGIL COHLKNT/., A. M.. Ph. •',., p H , D. 



Kreosal.— Messrs. Balland and Dubois have 

 applied this title to a preparation prepared 

 from tannin and creosote. To a mixture 

 of equal parts of tannin and creosote heated to 

 8o° C. phosphorus oxychloride is added, the 

 heating being continued until the generation of 

 gas ceases. The mass is then poured into cold 

 diluted sodium hydrate solution, whereby kreo- 

 sal separates, the precipitate is then well wash- 

 ed and dried on a water bath. Kreosal forms a 

 very hygroscopic, da; k -brown powder which is 

 readily soluble in water, alcohol, glycerin and 

 acetone, but insoluble in ether. It is employed 

 either as a dusting powder or in solution in 

 treatment of inflammations of the air passages. 



Ly solum Bohemicum. — A tar preparation 

 made by Brdlik in Kralup (Bohemia). It forms 

 a dark-brown liquid of agreeable odor, which 

 mixes with water in all proportions forming a 

 yellowish colored solution. As a 1 or 2 percent, 

 solution it is employed for disinfecting wounds; 

 for disinfecting instruments a 0.2 percent, solu- 

 tion is sufficient. 



Aluminium Potassium Salicylate. — Prepared 

 according to Athenstsedt by the action of potas- 

 sium acetate on aluminium salicylate. Recom- 

 mended as an astringent and antiseptic. 



Anaesthyl. — According to Bengue consists of 

 a mixture of Aethylchlorid , 5 parts, and Methyl- 

 chloride, 1 part. It is recommended as a local 

 anaesthetic. 



Iodogen. — A mixture of charcoal and potas- 

 sium iodate (KICK), moulded in the form of 

 candles, which when ignited emit vapors of 

 iodine, serving thereby as a disinfectant. 



Detection of Cane in Milk Sugar. — Conrady 

 {Jour, de Pharm , '95-ror) recommends Resor- 

 cin as a reagent, whereby o. 1 per cent, may be 

 detected. One gramme of the sample of milk 

 sugar is dissolved in 10 Cc. of water, adding 

 0.1 Gm. resorcin and 1 Cc. of concentrated 

 hydrochloric acid, then boiling five minutes. If 

 traces of cane sugar are present the liquid will 

 be colored red. 



Salicylic Methyl Ester in Java Coca Leaves. 

 — M. P. Rombergh has found in the fresh coca 

 leaves cultivated in Java, from 0.06 to 0.02 per 

 cent, of methylsalicylate. Leaves of other 

 species of erythroxylon as E. bolivianum con- 

 tained 0.004 per cent, of the ester, while the E. 

 ecarinatum contained traces of salicylic acid. — 

 Chem. Ztg , No. 11- '95. 



