628 
Stains  of  Oinchonic  Red. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
1      Dec,  1882. 
resin  J  is  not  affected  by  a  25  per  cent,  solution  of  soda.  The  varnish 
dries  rapidly  in  the  air  and  is  well  adapted  for  painting  upon  glass 
and  porcelain. — Phar.  Zeits.  RussL,  Oct.  3,  1882,  p.  75.  from  JouT' 
Fhar.  Chem. 
The  Poisonous  Constituents  of  Tobacco  Smoke  (see  also  this  volume 
p.  492),  according  to  R.  Kissling,  are  carbonic  oxide,  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  hydrocyanic  acid,  picoline  bases  and  nicotine,  the  first 
three  being  present  in  too  small  a  proportion,  and  their  volatility 
being  too  great  for  exerting  any  important  influence.  The  picolines 
are  likewise  present  in  relatively  small  quantities  and  the  toxic 
action  of  tobacco  smoke  is  mainly  due  to  nicotine,  of  which  but 
little  is  destroyed  in  smoking  cigars. — Dingl.  Polyt.  Jour.y  vol.  244, 
p.  234-246. 
Effect  of  Potassa  upon  Strychnine. — H.  Goldschmidt  observed  that 
on  melting  1  part  of  strychnine  with  10  parts  of  potassa  and  a  little 
water  a  milky  liquid  having  a  chinoline-like  odor  distils  first,  after- 
wards heavy  yellow  drops,  Avhich  partly  congeal  in  the  condenser. 
This  substance  is  decomposed  by  dilute  acids  yielding  a  compound 
agreeing  in  its  reactions  with  indoL — Chem.  Ztg.,  1882,  No.  61,  from 
Berichte,  xv,  1977. 
Stains  of  Cinchonic  Eed. — 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy : 
Having  found  the  red  stain  produced  by  tincture  cinchona  comp. 
upon  bottles  in  which  it  is  kept  very  difficult  to  remove,  I  have  expe- 
rimented with  several  solvents,  and,  taking  advantage  of  the  well- 
known  solubility  of  cinchonic  red  in  alkalies,  have  found  that  the 
ordinary  strength  aqua  ammonise  dissolves  it  at  once  and  completely, 
no  matter  how  old  or  dry  it  may  be. 
Yours,  etc., 
Henry  H.  Wetherill,  M.D.,  Ph.G. 
Pennsylvania  Hospital  for  Insane^  50th  and  Haverford  road, 
November  14,  1882. 
