572 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Iledica. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharni. 
Nov.,  1881. 
and  pack  it  loosely  into  another  larger  one,  to  wash  out  the  alcohol 
with  water,  and  then  recover  the  alcohol  by  redistillation.  Here  this 
occurs  in  one  operation,  and  the  drug,  which  often  becomes  partly 
decomposed,  and  is  exposed  to  the  air  during  the  time  it  is  w^ashed 
with  water,  has  the  water  reach  it  from  a  closed  end,  and  never  gives- 
rise  to  foul  gases,  etc.,  while  only  the  fluid  extract,  or  that  and  the 
proper  amount  of  reserve,  need  be  collected,  leaving  no  alcohol  to 
speak  of  in  the  dregs. 
273  Woodkmd  A  venue,  Cleveland,  O. 
GLEANINGS  IN  MATEEIA  MEDICA. 
By  the  Editor. 
Fucus  amylaceus  has  been  analyzed  by  H.  Greenish,  who  found  it 
to  be  free  from  mannit  and  glucose,  but  to  contain  not  less  than  seven 
carbohydrates,  all  of  which  yield  sugar  when  boiled  with  dilute 
mineral  acids.  These  carbohydrates  are:  1.  mucilage,  soluble  in  cold 
water;  2.  jelly-like  substance,  soluble  in  hot  water,  colorless;  3.  starchy 
colored  blue  by  iodine  and  converted  into  sugar  by  diastase;  4.  a  par- 
arabin-like  substance,  dissolved  by  very  dilute  hydrochloric  acid  and 
precipitated  by  alcohol;  5.  metarabin,  extracted  by  dilute  caustic  soda 
and  precipitated  by  alcohol;  6.  wood  gum,  extracted  by  10  per  cent, 
solution  of  potassa  and  precipitated  by  tannin;  7.  cellulose,  contained 
in  the  residue. — Fhar.  Zeitschr.f.  RussL,  July  19,  pp.  501-507. 
Volatile  Oil  of  llustard,  adulterated  with  carbon  bisulphide,  ha& 
been  noticed  before  (see  this  journal,  1880,  p.  547,  580).  E.  Johanson 
has  examined  six  samples  of  the  oil  by  carefully  distilling  a  portion  at 
a  temperature  not  exceeding  80°C.  and  mixing  the  distillate  with 
sulphuric  acid,  when  the  carbon  bisulphide  rose  to  the  surface;  the 
quantities  obtained  were  1*5,  2*0,  0'76,  14*1,  1*85  and  1*4  per  cent, 
by  weight.  The  specific  gravity  of  this  liquid,  1*2534,  corresponded 
with  that  of  carbon  bisulphide;  boiled  with  alcohol  and  ammonia,  a 
liquid  was  obtained  giving  witli  ferric  chloride  the  reaction  of  sulpho- 
cyanide;  treated  with  alcoholic  potassa,  then  acidulated  with  acetic 
acid  and  tested  with  copper  sulphate,  yellow  precipitates  of  copper 
xanthogenate  were  obtained.  The  residue  left  in  the  retort  after  frac- 
tional distillation  had  the  density  1*0195,  agreeing  with  that  of  pure 
oil  of  mustard.  This  volatile  oil  naturally  contains  carbon  sulphide^ 
which,  however,  according  to  Prof.  A.  Hofmann,  does  not  exceed 
0*56  per  cent. — Pha7\  Zeitschr.f.  Bussl.j  July  26,  p.  517-527. 
