GLEANINGS  FROM  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
19 
emetia,  curarin  and  cytisin.  These  precipitates  are  flocculent 
and  white,  but  become  for  the  most  part  crystalline.  Quinia 
and  strychnia,  diluted  with  10,000  parts  of  water,  are  entirely 
precipitated.  The  precipitates  are  insoluble  in  ether,  soluble 
in  alcohol,  slightly  soluble  in  water,  but  soluble  in  an  excess 
of  the  precipitant.  These  compounds  abandon  their  alkaloids  by 
agitation  with  a  suitable  solvent  in  the  presence  of  an  alkali, 
and  are  clearly  analogous  to  the  alkaline  iodomercurates  and 
iodobismuthates.  Iodide  of  cadmium  and  potassium  does  not 
precipitate  the  glucosides  amygdalin,  salicin,  saponin,  cyclamin, 
ononin,  digitalin,  phloridzin,  &c. — Bull,  de  la  Soc.  Chimique  et 
de  Journ.  de  Pharm.^  Sept.^  1868. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  John  M.  Maisch. 
BicJiloro- acetic  acid  as  a  cauterizer. — Dr.  F.  A.  Urner  has 
made  a  number  of  interesting  experiments  with  this  chemical, 
and  arrived  at  the  following  conclusions  : 
The  acid  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  cauterizers,  not  inferior 
in  intensity  to  fumigating  nitric  acid.  It'  is  well  adapted  for 
small  and  large  surfaces,  may  be  applied  concentrated  or  di- 
luted, and  acts  uniformly  in  depth  only  upon  those  places  upon 
which  it  is  applied.  It  does  not  produce  a  strong  inflammation 
upon  the  surrounding  parts,  and  is  accompanied  with  less  pain 
than  other  cauterizers,  stronger  as  well  as  weaker  ones.  The 
scab  formed  is  not  heavy,  it  is  soon  thrown  off  and  small  granu- 
lations are  found  underneath.  The  scars  are  rather  smooth  and 
subsequently  not  much  contracted.  In  no  case  were  symptoms 
of  toxication  observed.  Very  small  quantities  are  sufficient  for 
one  successful  cauterization. 
The  author  applies  the  acid  upon  small  surfaces  and  deep 
ulcerations  with  a  glass  rod,  allowing  the  adhering  drop  to  fall 
oil  previous  to  the  application  ;  larger  surfaces  are  conveniently 
touched  with  a  glass  or  asbestos  brush.  Buchners  N.  Repert.^ 
1868,  513-534. 
Chloroform. — Chr.  Rump,  of  Hanover,  has  made  a  series  of 
experiments,  and  arrived  at  the  result  that  pure  chloroform  ex- 
