176  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {AmAprn?i88^arm' 
GLEANINGS  FKOM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Mcerk,  Ph.  G. 
Creolin.—Th.  Weyl,  in  Per.  d.  D.  Chem.  Ges.,  1889,  138,  gives 
analyses  ol  the  two  brands  found  in  the  market  at  the  present  time  J 
it  will  be  seen  that  they  only  have  the  name  in  common.  Pearson's 
article  is  quite  soluble  in  ether  which  is  a  simple  distinctive  test. 
Pearson's.  Artmann's. 
Hydrocarbons   56'9  84'9 
Phenols   22  6  34 
Acids   04  1-5 
Sodium   2-4  0*8 
Meconarceine  and  Meconate  of  Narceine. — A  French  preparation  under 
the  former  name,  according  to  E.  Merck,  appears  as  a  neutral  yellow 
solution,  odor  of  camphor,  containing  0*5  per  cent,  alkaloid,  composed 
chiefly  of  codeine,  with  some  narceine,  combined  with  an  ether-soluble 
acid.  A  German  firm  has  introduced  a  white  powder  sold  indiscrimi- 
nately under  the  above  names,  which  is  a  mechanical  mixture  of  nar- 
ceine and  meconic  acid,  melting  at  110°  ;  in  dissolving  this  powder  a 
chemical  reaction  takes  place  and  the  recrystallized  product  melts  at 
126°.  Pure  meconate  of  narceine  was  obtained  by  uniting  equal 
molecules  of  narceine  and  meconic  acid ;  it  is  of  a  lemon-yellow  color, 
soluble  in  boiling  water,  the  solution  possessing  an  acid  reaction ;  dif- 
ficultly soluble  in  alcohol,  the  best  solvent  is  50  per  cent,  alcohol ; 
melts  at  126°.— Pharm.  Ztg.,  1889,  90. 
Picrotoxin  is  recommended  by  Prof.  Bokai  as  the  most  rational 
antidote  for  morphine,  it  having  been  experimentally  demonstrated  to 
possess  properties  directly  antagonistic  to  those  of  morphine. — Apoth. 
Ztg.,  1889,  139. 
Dammar  contains,  according  to  researches  of  B.  Graf :  1  per  cent, 
of  a  dibasic  acid,  formula  C18H3303 ;  40  per  cent,  insoluble  in  alcohol, 
which  is  not  a  hydrocarbon  as  has  been  announced,  but  which  still 
contains  some  2  per  cent,  oxygen,  melts  at  140°-145°  ;  and  about  60 
per  cent,  soluble  in  alcohol  of  formula  C20H42O2,  containing  one  alco- 
holic hydroxyl  group,  does  not  possess  acid  properties,  melts  at  61°. 
—Arch,  der  Pharm.,  1889,  97. 
Tests  for  Creasote: — 1.  Specific  gravity  1*070-1*080  (xylenol  and 
phlorol  have  specific  gravity  1*036,  guaiacol  1*117,  creasol  1*089) ;  2. 
the  presence  of  guaiacol  and  creasol,  indicated  by  formation  of  potas- 
sium salts  insoluble  in  alcohol,  is  ascertained  approximately  quanti- 
