82 
Varieties. 
( Am.  Jour.  Phariu 
I      Feb.,  1881. 
though  the  substance  obtained  may  have  been  an  alkaloid.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  many  plants  of  this  order  owe  their  properties  chiefly 
to  alkaloids.  J.  M.  M. 
VARIETIES 
Color  Tests  of  Coal  Tar  Dyes. — In  a  paper  read  before  the  chemical 
section  of  the  British  Association,  at  their  recent  Swansea  meeting,  Mr. 
John  Spiller,  F.C.S.,  recommends  the  following: 
If  the  body  under  examination  be  dissolved  in  strong  oil  of  vitriol  a  color 
test  is  at  hand  whereby  useful  inferences  ma,y  be  derived  as  to  the  nature 
of  the  dye,  and  often  its  exact  identit}^  disclosed.  A  few  direct  confirma- 
tory tests  may  then  be  applied.  The  most  remarkable  color  reactions  are 
the  following : 
Magdala  (naphthalin  pink), 
Saffranin, 
indigo  blue  on 
Crysoidii] , 
Alizarin, 
Eosin, 
Primrose  i 
Crysaniliu , 
naphthalin  yellow 
Auriu,  .... 
Atlas  orange. 
Atlas  scarlet, 
Biebrich  scarlet,  R, 
"       B,  . 
Anilin  scarlet, 
Indulin, 
Rosanilin,  regina  and  all  violets, 
Phenyl  and  diphenylamin  blues. 
Iodine  a'reen.  ) 
Malachite  green, 
Citronin, 
i 
Blue  black. 
Grass  green,  becoming 
strongly  heating. 
Deep  oraiige,  turning  almost  to  scarlet  on 
heating. 
Rul)y-red  or  maroon. 
Golden  yellow. 
Ditticultly  soluble,  lirst  yellow,  and  color 
discharged  on  heating. 
Yellow  or  brown  solution,  of  marked 
tluorescent  character. 
Yellowish  brown,  non-fluorescent. 
Rose  color,  turning  to  scarlet  on  heating. 
Scarlet   solution,   very  permanent  on 
heating. 
Blue-black  or  deep  purple. 
Bluish  green. 
Golden  yellow,  permanent  on  heating, 
Slatey  blue  to  indigo,  according  to  shade 
of  the  dye. 
Yellow  or  brownish  yellow. 
Dark  brown  solutions. 
Bright  yellow  solutions,  the  former  giv- 
ing off  iodine  on  heating. 
Pale  cinnamon  or  neutral  tint. 
After  vitriol,  the  action  of  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid  may  be  next 
tried,  which  distinguishes  at  once  between  saffranin  and  Biebrich  scarlet, 
the  former  giving  a  violet  solution  and  the  latter  being  precipitated  as  a 
red  flocculent  powder. 
Proceeding  in  this  way,  and  combining  the  observation  with  the  dyer's 
usual  test,  every  one  of  the  substances  named  can  be  readily  identified,  and 
much  time  saved  in  the  examination  of  dye-stuffs. — Oil  and  Drug  News, 
December  21st. 
Administration  of  Podophyllin. — Dr.  Horace  DobelFs  formula  for 
the  administration  of  this  valuable  laxative,  is  as  follows: 
