425 
well be replaced by wine. — Drug. Circ. & Chem. Gaz. N. Y., 1906, v. 
50, p. 393. 
A review suggests making wine of pepsin extemporaneously by 
mixing the necessary wine with a glycerite of pepsin. — Pharm. Ztg., 
Berl., 1906, v. 51, p. 491. 
Apple, F. M., presents the results of an analysis of 1,000 prescrip- 
tions showing the amount and the kind of digestive ferments used 
by physicians. — Proc. Pennsylvania Pharm. Ass., 1906, pp. 135-143. 
Iscovesco, Henri, concludes from his preliminary researches that a 
gastric juice which is normally very acid (e. g., that of the dog) will 
bear a very great increase in acidity before its digestive action is im- 
paired. On the contrary, a digestive juice much less acid (e. g., that 
of swine) is much more sensitive to the action of an excess of HC1. — 
Compt. rend. Soc. de biol., Par., 1906, v. 61, p. 282. 
Roger and Gamier find that for the ferment as well as for the 
acid there is an optimum dose, and this dose varies considerably 
according to the proportion of hydrochloric acid. — Ibid., v. 61, p. 314. 
Ferranini, Andrea, states that in certain cases the peptones act as 
correctives or antidotes to the antipeptic action of HC1. — Ibid., v. 61, 
p. 689. 
Jacoby, M., (Biochem. Zeitschr., 1906, v. 1, pp. 53-74) discusses 
the relations of pepsin and rennet action and reports a number 
of experiments on the properties of pepsin and rennin. — Abstr. in 
Biochem. Centralbl., Leipz., 1906-7, v. 5, p. 491. 
Papasotirion, J., (Arch. f. Hyg., 1906, v. 57, p. 269) presents some 
observations on the influence of bacteria on pepsin. He concludes 
that putrefaction bacteria destroy pepsin rapidly. — Ibid., v. 5, p. 787. 
Additional references on the use of pepsin will be found in the 
Index Medicus and the J. Am. M. Ass. 
PETROLATUM. 
Richardson, Clifford, presents an exhaustive paper, in which he 
reviews the occurrence, nature, and composition of the petroleums 
of North America, and records considerable information relating to 
the petroleums obtained from the several American sources. — J. 
Franklin Inst., Phila., 1906, v. 162, pp. 57-70, 81-128. 
Walden, P., discusses the optical activity of petroleum and of 
petroleum products. Also reviews the literature relating to optical 
activity and to the origin of petroleum and concludes that from the 
available data we are justified in concluding that vegetable sub- 
stances supplied the material for the formation of petroleum oils. — 
Chem. Ztg., Cothen, 1906, v. 30, pp. 390-393. 
MacFadden, W. Lester, says the petrolatums are negative almost to 
the point of having no impurities. They enter into no reactions, are 
