148 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [April 



MICROSCOPICAL MANIPULATION. 



Determination of Falsifications of Ground Black Pep- 

 per. — To demonstrate the presence of ground olive kernels, 

 almond and other nutshells in black pepper, Martelli extols 

 the method of Weisner for the micro-chemical demonstration of 

 lignin by the aid of phloroglucin. He dissolves about 1 gm. of 

 that substance in from 50 to 60 ccm. of hydrochloric acid of 1.10 

 by digesting for twenty-four to forty-eight hours. In a 

 small, shallow porcelain dish about 50 cgm. of the suspected 

 pepper is placed and moistened with the turbid phloroglucin 

 solution and the dish is carefully heated over a spirit lamp un- 

 til fumes of the acid are given off. Examination under the 

 microscope will then show such falsifications, if they exist, 

 colored in a strong cherry red, while the pepper is colored a 

 yellow or a reddish brown. If much of the contaminating 

 material be present, this differentiation will be plain to the un- 

 aided eye. On levigation and decantation the foreign material 

 may be isolated and will show as a red violet color. — National 

 Druggist. 



BACTERIOLOGY. 



Importance of Chemistry in the Diagnosis of Bac- 

 teria- — Dr. Fritz Kiesshng calls attention to the importance of 

 this subject. It is a well known fact that the differentiation 

 of the colon bacillus from the typhoid fever germ offered, 

 serious difficulties till Dr. Theobald Smith used the fermenta- 

 tion-tube test in differential diagnosis. Dr. Kiessling calls at- 

 tention to such well-known physiological properties as pepton- 

 izing of gelatin and blood serum. Such products of vital activ- 

 ity as the coloring of the medium as is Bacillus pyocyaneus 

 Attention is called to acid and alkaline curdling of milk. Species 

 that have the power of reducing nitrates to nitrites, the pro- 

 duction of indol. Phenol is another common product. The 

 production of acids and alkaline substances, scatol, kreatine. 

 Acid or alkaline condition of the medium is important. Kiess- 

 ling mentions many other substances that must be taken into 

 account for special organisms. (Pharmaceutische Rundschau. 

 XIII, 266.) 



