VARIETIES.  185 
fcirely  in  hot  water,  taking  an  orange  color  with  iodine,  soluble  in  diluted 
and  warm  alkaline  solutions,  &c.  To  this  new  immediate  principle,  the 
author  has  given  the  name  of  cubilose,  which  implies  the  use  and  natural 
state  of  the  secretion  in  question. — Chem.  News,  Dec.  24,  1859. 
Solubility  of  Alkaloids  in  Olive  Oil. — We  have  already  furnished  our 
readers,  Pettenkoffer's  experiments  on  the  solubility  of  alkaloids  in  chloro- 
form (page  17  of  this  volume).  We  now  furnish  the  result  of  his  observa- 
tions on  their  solubility  in  olive  oil.  It  is  suggested  such  solutions  might 
be  employed  instead  of  pomatums  or  ointments  for  external  application  of 
these  agents. 
100  parts  of  olive  oil,  at  ordinary  temperatures,  will  dissolve  of 
Morphia,  .  .  .  0.00  parts. 
Narcotina,  ....  1.25  " 
Cinchonia,  .  .  .  1.00  " 
Quinia,  ....  4.20  " 
Strychnia,  .  .  .  1.00  " 
Brucia,  ....  1.78  " 
Atropia,  .  .  .  2.62  « 
Veratria,     .  .  :  .1.78  " 
Jour,  de  Pharm. — Jour  a,  and  Trans,  of  Md.  Col,  of  Pharm.  Dec.  1859. 
Detection  of  Plumbago  in  Iron  reduced  by  Hydrogen. — M.  Lienart  has 
found  that  the  pulvis  ferri,  or  iron  reduced  by  hydrogen  for  medicinal  pur- 
poses, is  sometimes  sophisticated  with  plumbago  or  black  lead.  This  fraud 
is  easily  detected  by  dissolving  the  iron  first  with  weak  sulphuric  acid,  and 
terminating  the  operation  with  aqua  regia  ;  the  plumbago  remaining  can 
be  collected  upon  a  filter  and  examined.  The  author  has  found  as  much 
as  14  per  cent,  in  some  specimens. — Chem.  News,  Dec.  10,  1859. 
Beinsch's  Test  for  Arsenic. — In  experimenting  on  different  solutions  of 
the  salts  of  arsenic  by  Keinsch's  test,  it  is  very  important  to  know  that 
there  is  a  considerable  difference  in  point  of  time  before  the  copper  wire 
becomes  coated  with  Arsenic.  The  Arseniates  show  it  almost  the  instant 
the  liquid  boils  ;  whereas  the  Arsenites,  or  more  highly  oxidised  salts,  re- 
quire a  longer  time  and  greater  degree  of  concentration  before  any  deposit 
is  obtained.  A  knowledge  of  this  fact  may  prevent  an  erroneous  conclu- 
sion being  drawn  as  to  the  presence  of  arsenic,  although  it  may  not  be  im- 
mediately detected. 
In  combination  with  chlorates,  as  proved  by  Dr.  Taylor  in  Smethurst's 
case,  no  deposit  is  obtained,  the  arsenic  remaining  in  solution  ;  whilst 
the  copper  is  dissolved,  and  imparts  a  blue  color  to  the  liquid. 
The  delicacy  of  Reinsch's  test  has  been  greatly  underrated  by  Taylor, 
Brande,  and  others,  who  state  that  arsenic  fails  to  be  detected  when  dilu- 
