Am.  Jour.  Pharm,\ 
March,  1908.  J 
Progress  in  Pharmacy . 
143 
sodium-benzoyl-oxybenzoate,  was  examined  by  F.  Zernik,  at  the 
Pharmaceutical  Institute  of  the  University  of  Berlin,  and  found  to 
consist  essentially  of  a  mixture  of  49-48  parts  of  sodium  benzoate 
and  49/02  parts  of  sodium  salicylate  with  02  per  cent,  of  thymol. 
(Apothek.  Zeifg,  1907,  page  1091.) 
Resorbol  is  said  to  be  a  combination  of  iodine  with  some  of  the 
higher  fatty  acids  in  the  form  of  organic  salts  that  are  readily  ab- 
sorbed. It  occurs  as  a  brown  liquid  containing  10  per  cent,  of  iodine 
in  combination,  but  no  free  iodine.  Resorbol  has  a  specific  gravity 
of  1-072  and  mixes  readily  with  water  or  alcohol  in  all  proportions. 
It  does  not  stain  the  hands  or  the  clothing  and  is  readily  removed 
by  washing.  Resorbol  has  been  used  with  reputed  good  results  in 
cases  of  sciatica,  neuritis  and  inflammation.  {Pharm.  Zenfh.,  1907, 
page  858.) 
Solandrine. — Dr.  J.  M.  Petrie  has  communicated  to  the  Linnean 
Society  of  New  South  Wales  an  account  of  an  alkaloid  from  Solandra 
Icevis  to  which  he  gives  the  name  solandrine.  This  alkaloid  belongs 
to  the  atropin  group  and  resembles  hyoscine,  but  differs  from  it  and 
its  aurochloride  in  not  reddening  litmus  phenolphthalein  and  in 
yielding  atropic  acid  instead  of  tropic  acid  when  hydrolyzed.  The 
exact  constitution  of  the  alkaloid  has  not  been  worked  out,  but  the 
results  so  far  obtained  appear  to  indicate  the  existence  of  a  tropeine 
alkaloid  in  the  plant.   (Chem.  and  Drug.,  January  4,  1908,  page  14.) 
Spirosol  is  the  monoglycolester  of  salicylic  acid  and  occurs  as  an 
oily,  nearly  odorless  and  tasteless  fluid  that  is  readily  soluble  in 
alcohol,  ether,  chloroform  and  benzol,  and  in  about  1 10  parts  of 
water.    It  boils  at  from  1690  to  1700  C. 
Spirosol  has  been  recommended  to  be  used  as  a  local  application 
in  cases  of  rheumatism,  and  is  also  said  to  be  useful  in  cases  of 
objectionable  perspiration.  It  is  claimed  to  be  quite  free  from  irri- 
tating effects  and  to  be  readily  absorbed.  {Pharm.  Zenfh.,  1907, 
page  868.) 
Synthetic  Suprarenine. — This  is  said  to  be  prepared  by  condensing 
catechol  with  chloracetic  acid  to  form  chloracetyl  catechol,  which  is 
then  treated  with  methylamine  and  the  resulting  methylamine  acetyl 
catechol  is  reduced  to  dihydroxyphenylmethylaminomethylcarbinol, 
or  synthetic  suprarenine,  which,  in  the  form  of  the  hydrochloride,  is 
said  to  be  indistinguishable,  in  physiological  action,  from  the  natural 
alkaloid  of  the  suprarenal  gland.  (Chem.  and  Drug.,  January  II, 
1908,  page  48.) 
