504 
GLEANINGS — MISCELLANEOUS. 
liver  oil.  As  a  difference  of  opinion  exists  in  regard  to  cod-liver 
oil,  as  to  whether  it  is  the  pure  oil  or  the  associated  ingredients 
that  are  curative,  it  should  not  be  hastily  assumed  that  this  ex- 
tract is  medicinally  valuable. 
Ailanthiis  glandulosa. — Alonzo  Lilly,  Jr.,  in  a  thesis  present- 
ed to  the  Maryland  College  of  Pharmacy  last 'spring,  states  the 
following  to  be  the  constituents  of  the  bark  and  leaves  of  this 
tree : — ■ 
Bark, — Starch,  tannin,  albumen,  gum,  sugar,  oleoresin  and  a 
trace  of  volatile  oil,  potassa,  phosphoric  acid,  sulphuric  acid, 
iron,  lime  and  magnesia. 
Leaves. — The  same  oro;anic  ino;redients  with  the  addition  of 
pectin  and  chlorophylle,  and  minus  lime  and  phosphoric  acid. — 
(Journ.  and  Trans.  Md.  Coll.  Ph.) 
Soluble  Salts  of  Copper^  Lead  and  Tin  in  newly  distilled 
Spirits. — Dr.  A.  A.  Hayes,  of  Boston,  expresses  his  conviction 
that  strychnia  and  analogous  bodies  are  not  used  as  agents  to 
adulterate  spirits,  as  has  been  alleged,  both  from  his  chemical  re- 
searches and  the  testimony  of  parties  most  likely  to  know  if 
su3h  was  practised.  But  whilst  dismissing  this  bugbear,  Dr. 
Hayes  points  out  a  source  of  danger  not  thought  of,  derived 
from  the  organic  acids  of  the  impure  spirit,  and  the  metals  of 
the  still.  The  quantity  of  copper  contained  in  the  bulk  usually 
taken  at  a  draught  is  sufficient  to  produce  the  minor  eifects  of 
poisoning.  The  cumulative  character  of  these  poisons  may  even 
lead  to  fatal  consequences.  Dr.  Hayes  believes  that  all  new 
spirit  is  liable  to  these  contaminations,  bat  that  all  of  them  lose 
it  by  age,  the  metallic  oxides  being  precipitated  in  some  form  in 
the  vessels  in  which  the  liquors  are  kept.  Hence,  in  the  process 
called  "ripening,"  at  least  one  cause  of  the  changed  character 
of  the  liquor  may  be  due  to  this  cause.  The  particular  acids 
which  occasion  the  difficulty  are  chiefly  acetic  and  butyric,  but 
probably  valerianic  and  succinic  acids  may  be  concerned,  as 
those  acids  are  more  or  less  present  in  the  fermenting  vats. — 
(Amer.  Journ.  Science  and  Arts,  July,  1861.) 
The  Cork  Trade  of  Bordeaux. — There  are  at  present  in 
Bordeaux  25  cork  factories,  employing  75  workmen,  using  an- 
