410 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
3.  There  is  no  regular  proportion  between  the  lactic  acid  and 
alcohol;  the  more  diluted  the  solution  of  milk  sugar,  the  more 
rapidly  fermentation  sets  in,  and  the  more  alcohol  is  formed. 
4.  The  estimation  of  alcohol  is  scarcely  possible,  inasmuch 
as  all  conditions  are  present  for  its  oxidation  to  acetic  acid, 
5.  The  little  cheese  contained  in  the  whev  of  milk,  supplies 
the  ferment,  which  soon  finishes  the  process  of  vegetation,  and 
then  ceases  to  exert  any  influence,  which  is  proven  by  concen- 
trated solutions.— (Wittst.  V.  Schr.  x.  207-214.) 
Reaction  of  Qainia. — Dr.  Leube  confirms  the  reaction  first 
observed  by  Brandos  and  Vogel;  a  beautiful  red  color  is  pro- 
duced on  shaking  \  gr.  sulphate  of  quinia  with  2  drachms  chlo- 
rine water,  and  adding  5  or  6  drops  of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium 
and  4  or  5  drops  of  ammonia  ;  the  color  disappears  by  muriatic 
acid,  but  is  reproduced  by  ammonia.  Leube  employs  the  same 
test  for  proving  the  presence  of  quinia  in  cinchona  barks.  He 
digests  1  drachm  powdered  cinchona,  with  15  drops  dilute  sul- 
phuric acid,  and  2  oz.  boiling  water  for  15  minutes,  cools  by 
setting  the  vessel  in  cold  water,  and  adds  to  1  drachm  of  the 
filtrate,  1  drachm  chlorine  w^ater,  1  drop  concentrated  solution 
of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  and  1  drop  ammonia  ;  after  shak- 
ing, a  scarlet  red  color  or  precipitate  is  formed.  Diluted  solu- 
tions of  quinia  require  for  1  drachm  but  8  drops  chlorine  water 
and  1  drop  each  of  the  ferrocyanide  and  amn  onia.  1  gr.  sul- 
phate  of  quinia  in  16  oz.  water  may  thus  be  detected,  and  like- 
wise quinia  adhering  to  cinchonia  salts. — (N.  Jahrb.  f.  Ph.  xiv. 
161.) 
Dr.  FlUckiger  (Schweiz.  Zeitschr.  f.  Ph.  vi.  65),  confirms  these 
observations,  and  adds,  that  chlorine  water  and  ferrocyanide  of 
potassium  may  be  substituted  by  1  drop  of  ferridcyanide  of  potas- 
sium ;  1  drop  of  ammonia  will  then  produce  the  same  reaction 
in  infusions  of  bark,  but  not  in  solutions  of  quinia  ;  in  the  latter 
case,  however,  the  coloration  will  appear  by  using  chlorine  water, 
ferridcyanide  instead  of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  and  ammonia. 
Examination  of  Cochineal  The  W.  Gewerbezeitung,  No.  8, 
recommends  the  following  method  for  estimating  the  value  of 
cochineal  :  9i.  cochineal  is  treated  with  §i.  hot  water  and  ^ss. 
solution  of  potassa;  ^i.  water  is  added  to  the  solution,  and  grad- 
