GLEANINGS  FROM  FOREIGN  JOURNALS. 
15 
trarj  to  Dr.  Farrel,  Mr.  Crookes  thinks  that  where  the  perspira- 
tion is  acid  in  its  normal  state  no  danger  exists ;  but  that  when 
the  perspiration  is  alkaline,  as  in  certain  abnormal  conditions, 
the  dje  would  be  absorbed  and  become  active. — Pharmaceutical 
Journal,  Nov.  1868.  * 
Tincture  of  Pyrethrum  Roseum.  F.  Jager,  a  German  traveller 
in  the  East,  after  speaking  of  the  well  known  ''insect  powder" 
derived  from  this  plant,  says  (Brit.  Med.  Jour.,  May  30,  1868)  : 
"  A  tincture  prepared  by  macerating  one  part  of  pyrethrum  roseum 
in  four  parts  of  diluted  alcohol,  and  when  diluted  with  ten  times 
its  bulk  of  water,  applied  to  any  part  of  the  body,  gives  perfect 
security  against  all  vermin.  I  often  passed  the  night  in  my 
boat  on  the  ill-reputed  rivers  of  Siam,  without  any  other  cover, 
even  without  the  netting,  and  experienced  not  the  slightest  in- 
convenience. The  'buzzing,'  at  other  times  so  great  a  disturber 
of  sleep,  becomes  a  harmless  tune,  and,  in  the  feeling  of  security, 
a  real  cradle  song.  In  the  chase,  moistening  the  beard  and 
hands  protects  the  hunter  against  flies  for  at  least  twelve  hours, 
even  in  spite  of  the  largely  increased  transpiration  due  to  the 
climate."  Mr.  Jager  found  it  specially  destructive  to  ants,  the 
great  plague  of  tropical  countries. — Phar.  Jour.,  July,  1868. 
Poisonous  exhalations  from  Quinces.  A  Lyons  paper  records 
the  fact  of  death  by  asphyxia  suffered  by  a  lady  who  slept  in  a 
room,  previously  used  as  a  bed-room,  where  a  large  quantity  of 
quinces  were  stored.  According  to  scientific  evidence  given  in 
this  instance,  the  air  of  the  room  was  largely  vitiated  with  a 
peculiarly  suffocating  perfume,  and  a  very  considerable  amount 
of  both  carbonic  acid  and  carbonic  oxide  gases.  No  fire  had 
been  lighted  in  it,  nor  was  there  any  other  discernible  cause  of 
death  found  but  the  exhalations  of  the  fruit. — Chem.  News, 
October  30. 
Purificatio7i  of  Sulphuret  of  Carbon.  M.  Millon  proposes  the 
following  method  :  the  sulphuret  of  carbon  is  washed  many  times 
with  distilled  water,  as  in  washing  ether,  then  it  is  put  in  a  large 
retort  on  quick  lime.  After  twenty-four  hours  contact  it  is  dis- 
tilled on  the  lime  and  the  sulphuret  is  received  in  a  flask  con- 
taining a  large  quantity  of  copper  turnings,  which  have  previ- 
