AmDe0cU,ri3^9.arm"}      Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  609 
Precipitated  zinc  sulphide  has  been  used  both  internally  and  exter- 
nally, with  good  results  in  chronic  eczema  and  psoriasis.  For  internal  use 
Barduzzi  prescribes:  Zinc  sulphide  0*50,  extract  of  gentian,  sufficient 
to  make  50  pills;  from  3  to  12  pills  are  taken  daily.  Externally  it  is 
applied  :  Zinc  sulphide  5*0,  lanolin  20:0,  lard  30*0. — (D.  M.  Ztg.) 
Apoth.  Ztg.,  1889,  1184. 
Annidalin,  a  patented  substitute  for  iodoform,  is  an  iodine  derivative 
of  thymol  made  by  the  action  of  iodine  upon  an  akaline  solution  of 
thymol.  It  is  of  a  red  color  and  in  the  dry  state  retains  its  color  for 
months,  if  kept  in  the  dark;  in  the  presence  of  moisture  or  on  exposure 
to  light,  iodine  is  liberated.  This  preparation  is  one  of  a  new  class  of 
phenol  derivatives;  the  corresponding  compound  of  phenol  or  carbolic 
acid  has  the  formula  C6H3I2.OI  and  is  isomeric  with  the  well-known 
triodophenol  C6H2I3.OH;  This  forms  an  odorless,  violet-red  prepara- 
tion, insoluble  in  water  and  dilute  acids,  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  benzol 
and  chloroform;  it  melts  at  157°C,  decomposing  at  the  same  tempera- 
ture.— (Ber.  D.  Chtm.  Ges.)  Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1889,  637. 
Oil  of  Cinnamon. — The  adulteration  of  commercial  oils  with  rosin 
(Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  1889,  575)  is  confirmed  by  the  work  of  Dr.  H. 
Gilbert,  who  also  advances  a  simple  test  for  the  detection  of  this  adul- 
terant and  gives  some  data  on  ,the  resinification  of  oils  of  cinnamon. 
The  detection  of  non-volatile  matter  is  effected  by  exposing  one  gram 
of  the  oil  in  a  flat  watch-crystal  to  110°-120°  C.  in  an  air-bath  until 
constant  weight  is  obtained.  Various  cassia  oils  yielded  from  5  to  30 
per  cent,  residue,  two  oils  (guaranteed  pure)  6  and  11  per  cent,  and 
in  genuine  Ceylon  oil  2  to  3  per  cent,  residue.  To  determine  if 
exposure  to  light  and  air  could  cause  such  an  increase  of  residue  (20— 
30  per  cent.)  a  steady  current  of  air  was  passed  through  a  sample  of 
pure  cassia  oil  (leaving  6  per  cent,  residue)  and  also  one  of  pure  Cey- 
lon oil  (with  2  per  cent,  residue)  for  forty  hours ;  the  experiments 
were  conducted  near  a  window  so  as  to  expose  to  as  much  sunlight  as 
possible  during  the  time.  The  residue  from  the  cassia  oil  amounted 
to  6*5  per  cent.,  from  the  Ceylon  oil  to  3'5  per  cent. ;  wThile  resinifi- 
cation could  be  detected  under  these  favorable  conditions,  still  it  was 
so  slight  that  exposure  could  not  account  for  very  high  percentages  of 
residue.  A  sample  of  pure  cassia  oil  (specific  gravity  1*060)  after  the 
addition  of  20  per  cent,  rosin  had  the  specific  gravity  1'065.  The 
crystals  obtained  by  mixing  the  oil  with  nitric  acid  can  not  be  consid- 
ered as  a  reliable  test,  as  adulterated  oils  will  also  give  the  crystals 
