140  Progress  in  Pharmacy.  {AmMarch.%rm* 
Cacaosin  is  the  name  given  to  a  substitute  for  oil  of  theobroma 
that  is  now  being  marketed  in  Germany.  The  substance  has  a  melt- 
ing-point of  28  5  and  a  congealing-point  of  26-6,  and  is  said  to  be 
admirably  adapted  as  a  vehicle  and  base  for  suppositories.  It  is 
probably  a  mixture  of  cocoanut  oil  with  fats  of  a  higher  melting- 
point.    {Pharm.  Zen?h.,  1908,  page  86.) 
Constituents  of  Kola  Seeds. — Perrot  and  Goris,  in  a  critical  review 
of  the  constituents  of  kola  seeds,  conclude  that  only  three  well-de- 
fined bodies  have  been  isolated  from  this  drug ;  caffeine,  theobro- 
mine and  kolatin.  The  last-named  substance  has  been  obtained 
from  fresh  seeds  in  small,  white  crystals  that  are  slightly  soluble  in 
water,  readily  soluble  in  alcohol,  acetone  and  acetic  ether.  {Pharm. 
Jour.,  January  11,  1908,  page  31,  from  Bull,  des  Sci.  Pharm?) 
Chinosol. — The  Council  on  Pharmacy  and  Chemistry  of  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association,  in  a  recent  report  {Jour.  A.M. A.,  January 
25,  1908,  page  293)  calls  renewed  attention  to  the  fact  that  this 
article  has  been  studied  in  Germany  and  found  to  be  quite  as  pois- 
onous for  rabbits  as  lysol,  and  when  given  subcutaneously  it  is  100 
per  cent,  more  poisonous,  but  when  absorbed  from  the  peritoneum 
it  is  50  per  cent,  less  poisonous.  While  it  is  admitted  to  possess 
considerable  antiseptic  action,  it  was  found  to  be  decidedly  deficient 
as  a  disinfectant. 
The  chemical  composition  of  chinosol  also  varies  from  the  claims 
that  are  made  for  it  by  the  manufacturers  and  the  American  agents, 
who  assert  it  to  be  potassium  oxychinoline  sulphonate.  Chemical 
examination  appears  to  indicate  that  it  is  really  a  simple  mixture  of 
potassium  sulphate  and  oxychinolin  sulphate. 
Alexipon. — This  is  acetylsalicylic  acid  ethyl  ester  and  has  been 
recommended  as  an  antirheumatic  {Phar.  Zeifg,  January,  1,  1908, 
page  9). 
Borovertin  is  the  trade  name  for  a  combination  formed  by  the  ■ 
reaction  of  1  molecule  of  hexamethylenamine  on  3  molecules  of 
boric  acid,  resulting  in  the  liberation  of  3  molecules  of  water,  the 
conversion  of  the  boric  acid  into  metaboric  acid  and  the  combina- 
tion of  the  latter  with  the  hexamethylenamine. 
The  trade  article  occurs  as  a  white,  slightly  acid  powder,  having 
a  salty  taste.  It  is  soluble  in  1 1  parts  of  water  and  in  48  parts  of 
96  per  cent,  alcohol.  The  composition  is  readily  decomposed  by 
heating.    {Pharm.  Zenfh.y  1907,  page  941.) 
