SCIENTIFIC SUMMABY. 
497 
Concretions in Pears. — Those peculiar granular concretions of pears, with 
which almost every one is familiar, have been examined by Herr Erdmann, 
who has discovered a new principle in them, to which he gives the name of 
Glycodrupose. When this substance is touched with an acid, it splits up into 
glucose and a new substance drwpose , which is insoluble, and whose formula 
is C s4 H 3 0 0 1C . Herr Erdmann was led to the discovery by an analysis of 
the concretions discharged from the intestines of a patient, who had eaten 
largely of the pears. — Annalen du Chemie, cxxviii. 
The Essential Principle of Aniseed. — It has been pointed out by MM. 
Landenberg and Leverkus, in a recent memoir, that aniseed contains a pecu- 
liar essential principle, which they call anethol. It is a crystalline body, 
distilling without decomposition at 234°. It appears to be the methylic ether 
of Allylphenol. — Comptes Bendus , July 16th. 
Beactions of Quinine and Quinidine. — An important and useful distinction 
between the natures of these two substances has been pointed out by Herr 
Schwartzer. It relates to the behaviour of chlorine water, ferrocyanide of 
potassium and ammonia, toward sulphate of quinine and sulphate of quinidine. 
With both these salts, a red colouration is produced, but in the case of 
quinine, the colour rapidily disappears, whilst hi that of the quinidine a 
bulky and persistent precipitate is obtained. 
Combination of Ferro-cyanide of Potassum with Nitrates of Potassium and 
Sodium. — Herr Dr. Martins has found this curious compound in the 
mother liquor of the prussiate of potash when saltpetre has been used in 
preparation. It is of a pale yellow colour, and forms very beautiful crystals 
which become phosphorescent in a high degree when rubbed together in the 
dark. In the laboratory it may be prepared, by adding solution of the prus- 
siate to boiling solutions of the nitrates of potassium and sodium. The salt- 
petre is first allowed to crystallize out, arid then the crystals of the new 
compound are poured from the mother liquor by slow evaporation. At a high 
temperature the crystals explode like gunpowder. — Journal fur praldische 
Chemie. 
The Chemical Constitution of Albuminoid Bodies. — A very interesting essay 
on the above has been published by M. A. Commaile, who records some 
novel facts. The analysis of gluten showed this substance to consist of five 
others : (1) Inesine, the fibrin of gluten ; (2) Sitesine, the casein of gluten ; 
(3) Glutine ; (4) Mucin ; (5) Sitosine, the albumen of gluten. Coagulated 
and fresh albumen differ in chemical as well as physical properties ; they have 
different solubilities in acid, and the latter holds in suspension a peculiar 
principle which is eliminated by heat. M. Commaile put a recently-struck 
coin in fresh albumen, and having coagulated the latter by heat, he removed 
the coin, which he found absolutely corroded and blackened. Uncoagulated 
albumen has no action on silver ; nor has the yolk of egg any such action 
either in the raw or coagulated condition. — Vide Journal de Pharmacie, 
August, 1866. 
Action of Neutral Ter sulphate of Alumina on Water. — Mr. Bird, of 
Birmingham, who has just read a paper on the above subject before the 
British Association, has sent us a specimen of the fluid he employs in 
purifying water. We must question the accuracy of Mr. Bird’s assertion, 
that the tersulphate removes all the organic matter from water. When it is 
