192 APPENDIX. 
the residue dissolved in petroleum ether, and the solution agitated with 
proof spirit ; by this means most of the colouring matter was removed. 
The cholesterol was finally several times crystallized from petroleum 
ether, and was obtained perfectly white. A benzoyl derivative was 
also prepared. Evaporated with a drop of nitric acid and the d 
residue moistened with ammonia, an orange colour developed, but 
no change was induced by the addition of caustic potash, The violet 
reaction with ferric chloride and HCl applied as described by Forti 
was very marked. The sulphuric acid and chloroform reaction was 
conducted in a stoppered bottle ; the chloroform layer at first became 
yellowish-brown, then blood-red, finally darkening to reddish-purple ; 
the sulphuric acid and stratum was of a pink colour, and in some 
experiments fluoresced, (By C.J. H, Warden, and Assistant Surgeon 
C, L, Bose, Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government of Bengal.) 
LABIATAE. 
Salvia macrosiphon, Boiss, 
The Kanocha seeds referred by us (Vol. II,, p. 265) to Phyllan- 
thus madraspatensis have been shown by Dr. O. Stapt to belong to 
a species of Salvia. Dr. Stapt bought the drug in the bazaars of 
Ispahan, where it was known by the Persian name Marv. A dru 
called ‘‘Merw” was mentioned by Abu Mansur in 1055, and Selig- 
mann refers it to Origanum Marv, L., a ative of Syria. Aitchison, 
in his Notes on the Products of Western Afghanistan, mentions 
‘Salvia (?)” as the origin of the nutlets known as Kanoucha or 
Kanouncha. (Pharm, Journ., March. 11, 1893.) 
Influence of Menthol on the gastric functions.* 
Following Professor I. T. Tchiidnoysky’s suggestion, Dr. Vladi- 
mirsky has carried out a set of experiments on seven healthy subjects 
(six men, including himself, and one woman), aged from 24 to 32, 
the drug being administered with food, in the dose of 0°3, 1-0 and 29 
grammes. The author has arrived at the following conclusions :— 
(1) The drug (in any of the doses stated) very markedly dimi- 
nishes the proportion of free hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice, 
the decrease attaining its maximum in about 1 or 1} hours 
the ingestion. 
* §t. Petersburg Inaugural Dissertation, 1891, No. 77, p. 44; Medical 
Chronicle, August, p. 367. | 
