348  Gleaming s  from  German  Journals.  {Amju"iy"ri887harrn' 
Co.  consisted  of  asclepin  with  a  small  quantity  of  a  substance  having 
a  tetanic  action ;  while  that  prepared  by  Keith  &  Co.  was  a  mixture 
of  asclepiadin,  asclepin  and  asclepion,  the  latter  being  a  constituent  of 
vincetoxicum  and  of  milkweed. 
Mutisia  viciafolia,  Cavanilles. — This  plant  is  stated  by  Mr.  Naudin 
(Jour,  d' Hygiene,  1886),  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Sacc  of  Coehabamba, 
Bolivia,  to  enjoy  the  reputation  of  curing  phthisis  and  all  pulmonary 
diseases.  The  plant  is  indigenous  to  the  western  part  of  South 
America  from  Chili  to  Peru,  and  belongs  to  the  labiatifloral  composite 
which  are  confined  chiefly  to  South  America,  and  the  leaves  of  which 
are  usually  mucilaginous,  somewhat  bitter,  and  occasionally  more  or 
less  aromatic.    A  number  of  species  are  locally  used  as  expectorants. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Geo.  H.  Ochse,  Ph.  G. 
Spermaceti  is  frequently  adulterated  with  stearic  acid.  To  detect 
the  adulteration  a  definite  quantity  is  fused  in  a  capsule  and  ammonia 
added,  stirring  several  moments.  Stearic  acid  forms  an  ammonia  soap 
which  is  subsequently  decomposed  with  hydrochloric  acid.  By  this 
process  1  per  cent,  of  stearic  acid  can  be  detected. — Phar.  Zeit.  f. 
Russl.,  xx vi,  249. 
Invisible  or  Postal  Card  Ink. — 16  grams  of  chloride  of  cobalt  are 
dissolved  in  500  grams  of  distilled  water.  The  writing  on  heating 
turns  blue.1 — Phar.  Zeit  f.  Bussl,  xxvi,  239. 
The  following  formulas  are  recommended  by  Soxhlet  (Neue  Erjind. 
und  Erfahrungen) : 
Extract  of  new  mown  hay. — Cut  tonka  beans  5'0,  orris  root  10*0 
vanillin,  0'05 ;  oil  of  bergamot  30  drops ;  oil  neroli,  2  drops ;  oil  rose, 
2  drops ;  oil  lavender,  2  drops ;  oil  cloves,  1  drop ;  patchouly  leaves, 
0*20  ;  benzoic  acid,  0  50  ;   herb  urticaria,  2  0;  cologne  spirit,  207*0. 
Digest  14  days  and  filter. 
Millefleurs  oil  for  perfuming  hair  oil  and  pomade  : — Oil  cinnamon, 
10  drops;  oil  of  neroli,  20  drops  ;  oil  of  rose,  20  drops  ;  oil  of  cloves 
and  oil  of  orange,  each  2'0 ;  oil  of  calamus,  20  drops  ;  oil  of  geranium, 
10*00 ;  oil  of  lemon,  15*00 ;  oil  of  bergamot,  15*00 ;  oil  of  verbena,  5*00. 
1  This  is  Hellof  s  sympathetic  ink,  an  old  preparation.  Any  soluble  cobalt 
salt  may  be  used,  with  or  without  the  addition  of  a  little  sodium  chloride. 
— Editor. 
