414  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {^a^usmssT"' 
volumetric  solution  of  iodine,  from  time  to  time,  showed  deterioration ; 
this  he  accounted  for  by  assuming  atmospheric  oxidation  (change  of 
arsenite  into  arsenate)  and  by  experiment  proved  that  the  full  amount 
of  arsenic  was  present  but  for  the  above  method  of  estimation  re- 
quired previous  reduction  of  the  arsenate  to  arsenite  by  use  of  sulphu- 
rous acid.  A  carefully  titrated  one  per  cent,  solution  kept  for  eight 
weeks  indicated  0*96  per  cent,  but  by  previous  reduction  with  sulphu- 
rous acid  the  full  per  centage  was  again  found.  Kassner  thinks  this 
oxidation  accelerated  by  an  excess  of  alkali. — Pharm.  Ztg.,  1889,  549. 
Improved  Test  for  Arsenic. — Increased  delicacy  of  Gutzeit's  test 
(Amer.  Jour,  of  Phar.,  1889,  133)  is  obtained  by  E.  Eitsert 
through  the  use  of  filtering  paper  moisiened  with  an  ammoniacal 
solution  of  silver  nitrate;  0*0005  mgm.  As203  still  gives  a  light 
brown,  while  0*001  mgm.  As203  will  cause  a  decided  black  stain. 
By  using  parchment  paper  instead  of  filtering  paper  metallic  mirrors 
are  obtainable.  Besides  greater  delicacy  this  modification  has  the 
advantage  that  ammoniacal  silver  nitrate  is  not  so  easily  decomposed 
by  paper.— Pharm.  Ztg.,  1889,  368. 
Oil  of  lycopodium  has  been  examined  by  A.  Bukowsky  who,  receiv- 
ing results  differing  materially  from  those  gotten  by  A.  Langer  (Amer. 
Jour,  of  Phar.,  1888,  455),  attributes  this  to  the  latter  working 
with  some  very  old  lycopodium  in  which  the  oil  had  become  rancid. 
Personally  gathered  spores  were  extracted,  after  trituration,  with 
ether;  the  yield  was  48*50  per  cent,  of  an  odorless  oil  resembling 
almond  oil  in  color  and  consistency;  sp.  gr.  0*925  at  18°;  does  not 
solidify  at  — 22° ;  is  optically  inactive;  is  non-drying;  easily  soluble  in 
ether,  glacial  acetic  acid,  petroleum  ether,  chloroform,  oil  of  turpentine, 
benzol  and  hot  alcohol,  difficultly  soluble  in  cold  alcohol  and  in  amyl 
alcohol.  Contains  the  following  constituents  in  approximate  quan- 
tities :  Phytosterin,  C25H420,  0*3  per  cent. ;  lycopodic  acid,  C18H3604, 
2  per  cent.,  this  acid  is  isomeric  but  not  identical  with  dioxystearic 
acid,  melts  at  90 — 92°  C,  solidifies  at  87 — 84°,  forms  a  lead  salt 
insoluble  in  ether  but  rendered  soluble  by  the  presence  of  oleate  of 
lead ;  oleic  acid,  80  per  cent. ;  arachidic,  stearic  and  palmitic  acids,  3 
per  cent.;  glycerin,  8*2  per  cent. — Pharm.  Ztschr.f  Russl.,  1889,  359. 
Ferrum  dialysatum  is  obtained  by  dialysis  of  such  dilution  that  it 
requires  concentration  to  be  of  use  in  medicine ;  Hager  concentrates 
by  evaporation  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  60°  to  prevent  the 
coagulation  of  ferric  hydrate.    Kranzfeld  attempted  to  make  this 
