358 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS IN CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. 
herbs flowers, and other drugs are often kept in drawers or places in which 
they are imperfectly protected from humidity. In damp weather or moist 
situations such substances absorb an appreciable amount of moisture. As a 
consequence they are apt to deteriorate in quality, losing their colour, acquiring 
a musty odour, or becoming mildewed. Even in establishments possessing a 
properly warmed store-room, it might, nevertheless, be of advantage to possess 
a simple means of preserving the contents of the shop-drawers in a state of 
perfect dryness. . . . 
The method which he suggests for this purpose is inexpensive and readily 
applied. It is to place a shallow sheet-iron tray, fitted with a cover of metallic 
gauze or muslin at the bottom of the drawer or box, which should also be fur¬ 
nished with a good tight-fitting lid. Fused carbonate of potash is placed m the 
tray, and the drugs allowed to rest on its porous cover. It is easy with this 
apparatus to effect the perfect desiccation of drugs; and substances possessing 
delicate odours which it is desired to preserve are better dried by this means 
than any other. Squills which have become damp and acquired an unpleasant 
smell, if placed in a box furnished with a tray of carbonate of potash, will m a 
short time lose their odour completely and become dry aud brittle, so that they 
may be readily powdered. Rose leaves may be thus dried perfectly, their pel - 
fume being admirably preserved. # 
The author prefers fused carbonate of potash to chloride of calcium, quick¬ 
lime, or any other desiccating agent. In cases where the substance to be dried 
contains a great deal of water, it is necessary to change the carbonate of potash 
once or twice and re-fuse it. 
A Test for Alcohol. 
hi. A. Lieben states that the following reaction affords the means of detecting 
small quantities of alcohol. 
A small quantity of the suspected liquid is introduced into a test-tube with 
some grains of iodine and a few drops of caustic soda. The mixture is heated 
slightly, but without boiling ; if alcohol is present, a yellowish crystalline pre¬ 
cipitate of iodoform is deposited. He avers that 2 Anffh °f alcohol dissolved in 
water can be thus detected. 
By applying this test to the examination of ether, M. Lieben has found that 
it is very difficult to remove the last traces of alcohol from that substance by 
washing with water. To avoid so many washings, he thinks it better to sub¬ 
mit the”ether to an oxidizing mixture of bichromate of potash and sulphuric 
acid ; then to remove the products of the oxidation of the alcohol by washing 
once or twice with water. . . 
lVl. Lieben has also applied his reaction to the examination of urine alter 
drinking alcoholic liquids. He can always detect alcohol in the first portions of 
the distillate. 
Preservation of Eggs. 
M. H. Yiolette finds that eggs may be preserved perfectly good for the space 
of six months by rubbing them over with linseed oil. At the expiration of the 
above time they are full, and quite uninjured in odour and taste. 
On Rice Spirit. 
Mr. James Bell* has carefully investigated the nature of the impurities present 
in spirit made from rice. It is well known that such spirit possesses a peculiar 
pungent aud disagreeable odour, which unfits it for a number of purposes. It 
is manufactured by converting the starch of the rice into glucose with sulphuric 
* ‘Chemical News,’ vol. xx., no. 512. 
