Am.  Jour.  Pharni 
June,  1881. 
I  Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica.  307 
comparing  the  intensity  of  this  reaction  with  that  produced  by  an 
aqueous  solution  of  oil  of  gaultheria,  the  presence  of  0*225  per  cent, 
of  this  oil  in  the  senega  root  was  estimated. — Phar.  Ztg.,  No.  35,  p.  260. 
Bulgarian  Opium. — In  the  district  of  Lowtscha,  Bulgaria,  opium 
of  a  strong  odor  and  bitter  taste  is  produced,  which,  according  to  A. 
Theegarten,  yields  11*2  per  cent,  of  impure  or  3  per  cent,  of  pure 
morphia.  Nearly  70  per  cent,  of  this  opium  is  soluble  in  water. — 
Ibid.;  Ph.  Zeitschr.f.  liussl. 
Adulterated  catechu  has  been  observed  by  A.  Jossart.  It  was  of  a 
rather  pale  brown  color,  and  when  finely  powdered  and  completely 
exhausted  with  alcohol,  10  grams  left  a  residue  weighing  6*5  grams, 
which,  with  the  exception  of  small  fragments  of  wood  and  bark,  dis- 
solved in  hydrochloric  acid,  with  abundant  disengagement  of  carbonic 
acid  gas;  this  solution  contained  mainly  iron.  From  60  to  65  per 
€ent.  of  this  catechu  consisted  of  ferrous  carbonate. — Jour.  Pha7'm, 
d^Anvers,  February,  p.  41. 
Testing  of  Bees'  Wax  for  Adulterations. — F.  Jean  recommends  test- 
ing for  water  by  kneading  the  wax  with  well-dried  copper  sulphate  or 
cobalt  nitrate,  when  with  the  former  salt  a  blue,  and  with  the  latter  a 
rose  color  will  be  produced.  The  quantity  of  water  is  determined  by 
heating  10  grams  of  the  wax  in  a  tared  porcelain  capsule  to  100°C.^ 
until  vapors  cease  to  be  given  off.  Mineral  and  starchy  admixtures 
remain  behind  on  dissolving  the  wax  in  rectified  oil  of  turpentine ; 
starch  is  detected  in  the  residue  by  iodine;  and  on  incinerating  the 
insoluble  portion,  the  loss  of  weight  indicates  the  organic  adultera- 
tions. The  presence  of  sulphur  is  indicated  by  igniting  the  wax,  when 
sulphurous  acid  will  be  generated.  Resin  imparts  to  wax  a  terebin- 
thinate  odor,  and  on  mastication  causes  the  adulterated  wax  to  adhere 
firmly  to  the  teeth.  On  adding  to  such  wax,  while  fused,  a  few  drops 
of  sulphuric  acid,  the  resin  causes  a  dark  red,  or  if  present  to  the 
extent  of  only  1  per  cent.,  a  greenish  color.  On  treatment  with  ether 
and  evaporation  of  the  solvent,  the  resin  is  left  as  a  brittle  mass,  when 
oold. 
If  adulterated  with  paraffin,  wax  is  brittle,  kneaded  with  difficulty 
and  has  a  lower  congealing  point.  By  heating  with  strong  sulphuric 
acid  the  wax  is  carbonized  and  paraffin  separated ;  soft  paraffins,  how- 
ever, are  not  detected  in  this  manner.  If  wax  floats  on  alcohol  of 
15°B.,  =  '961  sp.  gr.,  adulteration  with  paraffin  may  be  surmised. 
Vegetable  wax  is  detected  by  boiling  10  grams  of  the  wax  with  120 
