174  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {ArXAp°rii;-if89arm- 
are  the  same  as  those  of  cholesterin.  But  concentrated  sulphuric  acid 
colors  the  latter  brown,  and  makes  an  incomplete  solution,  which, 
agitated  with  chloroform,  gives  an  orange  yellow  color  passing  to  red, 
and  then  to  violet.  Concentrated  sulphuric  acid  completely  dissolves 
ergosterin  however,  and  when  the  solution  is  agitated  with  chloroform 
the  latter  remains  colorless,  though,  on  evaporation,  a  faint  violet 
coloration  appears  if  a  notable  quantity  of  ergosterin  be  used. 
Comptes  rendus  de  VAcad.  des  ScL,  Jan.  14,  1889  ;  BSpert.  de  phar., 
Feb.  10. 
Oleandrine  and  Nereine. — In  a  recent  article  (Nouv.  rem., 
Feb.  8),  on  the  comparative  value  of  the  extracts  and  the  alkaloids  of 
plants,  Dr.  Bardet  writes  thus  :  "  I  am  surprised  that  Prof.  See  should 
consider  as  settled  the  question  of  the  similarity  of  oleandrine  to  digi- 
talein,  and  of  nereine  to  digitalin.  I  do  not  know  if  M.  See  has 
ever  possessed  these  substances,  but  I  have  sought  for  them  in  the 
market  for  a  year  without  being  able  to  procure  them.  I  have,  with 
M.  Adrian,  tried  to  get  a  defined  active  principle  from  oleander,  but 
we  have  not  succeeded  in  getting  more  than  a  very  active  extract.  In 
fact,  oleandrine  and  nereine  have  no  practical  existence.  Like  many 
of  the  alkaloids,  they  are  purely  scientific  products,  found  once,  and 
sometimes  sought  for  afterwards  in  vain.  Druggists  will  perhaps 
dispense  a  substance  obtained  by  an  indicated  process  for  oleandrine, 
but  it  will  be  no  more  than  an  unknown  residuum." 
Toxic  Power  of  Digitalis. — At  a  meeting  of  the  Societe  de 
Biologie,  M.  Roger  said  :  "  The  toxicity  of  digitalis  diminishes  very 
notably  when  the  product  of  maceration  is  concentrated  by  the  water- 
bath.  Thus,  a  5.  per  cent,  maceration,  which  is  toxic  in  doses  of  2  cgm., 
no  longer  kills  save  in  doses  of  1'8  gm.,  when  it  is  concentrated  by  4 
per  cent.  If  reduced  by  6*6  per  cent.,  3  gm.  would  be  required  to 
produce  the  same  toxic  effect. — Nouv.  rem.,  Feb.  24. 
A  Dangerous  Chlorate  of  Potassium  Prescription. — A 
pharmacist  writes  to  the  Bull,  com.,  Jan.,  stating  that  he  often  gets  a 
prescription  as  follows :  Chlorate  of  potassium,  5  gm.;  dist.  water, 
120  gm.;  simple  syrup,  30  gm.;  a  dessert  spoonful  every  half  hour. 
"  Children  who  take  this,"  adds  the  pharmacist,  "always  die."  M. 
Brouardel  cites  six  cases  of  death  in  children  after  using  a  similar 
potion.  Can  I  refuse  to  dispense  this  mixture  ? "  The  editor  says 
the  pharmacist  cannot  refuse  ;  he  can  only  state  the  facts  to  the  doctor, 
"  who  will  be  likely  to  attribute  the  cause  of  death  to  the  gravity  of 
