154 
ON  CYCLAMIN,  ETC. 
Sometimes  only  a  column  or  a  luminous  ring  appears  stationary 
at  the  point  where  the  vapors  are  cooled,  and  a  luminous  fog  or 
sparks  gradually  sink  into  the  receiver,  or  a  sudden,  frequently- 
repeated  lightening  is  observed.  If  the  heat  is  raised  too  high, 
or  the  cooling  is  insufficient,  the  luminescence  passes  through 
the  long  gas-tube,  at  the  mouth  of  which  the  gases  take  fire,  if 
the  volatile  oils  from  cruciferse  (mustard,  &c.)  have  been 
present. 
Coffee,  mustard,  smoked  meat,  highly-seasoned  food  and  beve- 
rages, and  medicines  containing  odorous  gum-resins,  volatile 
oils,  musk,  castor,  camphor,  chlorine,  &c,  have  the  property  of 
covering  the  odor  of  a  small  portion  of  phosphorus ;  minute 
quantities,  which  yet  produce  the  symptoms  of  gastro- enteritis, 
may  not  be  recognized  by  the  odor  in  the  contents  of  the  stomach. 
The  reaction  is  not  prevented,  except  by  the  presence  of  much 
alcohol,  volatile  oils  and  mustard.  If  the  quantity  of  phosphorus 
be  not  too  insignificant,  the  phosphorescence  is  observed,  either 
momentary  or  constant,  at  the  beginning  of  the  distillation,  and 
after  the  alcohol  has  passed  over. 
The  reaction  is  not  interfered  with  by  the  presence  of  ipecac, 
tartar  emetic,  magnesia,  hydrated  oxide  of  iron,  musk,  castor, 
opium,  albumen,  neutral  acid,  or  basic  salts  and  double  salts, 
volatile  organic  acids,  chlorides,  iodides  and  sulphides,  and  by 
free  acids ;  but  iodine,  chloride  and  bichloride  of  mercury  in 
considerable  proportion,  and  metallic  sulphides  in  the  presence 
of  free  sulphuric  acid,  and  particularly  oleum  cinae,  (artemisise,) 
interfere  with  or  prevent  the  reaction. 
Numerous  experiments,  by  distilling  the  brain  of  various  ani- 
mals, blood,  albumen,  casein,  fibrin,  legumin  and  other  protein 
compounds  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  yielded  not  the  least 
photospheric  reaction. — Archiv.  d.  Pharm.,  1859,  Oct.,  22-26. 
J.  M.  M. 
ON  CYCLAMIN  AND  THE  TUBER  OF  CYCLAMEN  EUROPiEUM,  L. 
Dr.  T.  W.  C.  Martius  has  published  in  Buchner's  N.  Repert. 
viii.  388-395,  an  account  of  his  experience  in  preparing  cycla- 
min.     The  author  recommends  the  following  method: — Six 
