18  GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
oil-cells  and  their  contents  by  grating,  avoiding  as  far  as  possi- 
ble the  white  part  of  the  rind.  The  zestes  of  the  lemons  thus 
obtained  are  placed  in  a  bottle  and  two  kilogrammes  of  simple 
syrup  (3|  pints),  and  leave  them  in  contact  four  days,  with 
occasional  agitation,  when  the  whole  is  added  to  18  kilogrammes 
(31 1  pints)  of  boiling  simple  syrup  and  strained.  When  cold, 
add  50  grammes  (13  drachms)  of  citric  acid  dissolved  in  an 
equal  weight  of  water,  and  mix  them. 
This  process,  according  to  the  author,  gives  a  product  having 
a  very  agreeable  aromatic  taste,  which  it  preserves  a  long  time. 
Lemonade  prepared  with  this  syrup  can  be  kept  during  five  or 
six  months  without  alteration. 
The  aromatic  syrup  can  be  prepared  in  the  season  when 
lemons  are  plenty,  as  it  keeps  well.  Syrup  of  oranges  may  be 
prepared  by  a  similar  process. — Jour,  de  Pharm.  de  Toulouse 
and  Jour,  de  Pharm. 
Test  for  Chloroform. — M.  Hardy  states  that  sodium,  when 
dried  by  wiping  it  with  unsized  paper,  does  not  act  on  chloro- 
form if  pure,  but  when  it  contains  alcohol  or  ether  there  is  a 
disengagement  of  hydrogen.  This  reaction  occurs  without  heat, 
and  almost  instantaneously  Jour,  de  Phar. 
Process  for  bleaching  Gutta  percha — Dissolve  the  gutta  per- 
cha  in  twenty  times  its  weight  of  boiling  benzole,  add  to  the 
solution  plaster  of  very  good  quality,  and  agitate  the  mixture 
from  time  to  time.  By  reposing  for  two  days  the  plaster  is  de- 
posited, and  carries  down  with  it  all  the  impurities  of  the  gutta 
percha,  insoluble  in  benzole.  The  clear  liquid  decanted,  is  in- 
troduced by  small  portions  at  a  time  into  twice  its  volume  of 
alcohol,  90  per  cent.,  agitating  continually.  During  this  ope- 
ration the  gutta  percha  is  precipitated  in  the  state  of  a  pasty 
mass,  perfectly  white.  The  desiccation  of  the  gutta  percha, 
thus  purified,  requires  several  weeks'  exposure  to  the  air,  but 
may  be  accelerated  by  trituration  in  a  mortar,  which  liberates 
moisture  which  it  tends  to  retain. — Jour,  de  Pharm.,  Aout., 
1863. 
On  soluble  Citrate  of  Magnesia  M.  Hager  has  not  been 
able  to  obtain  a  soluble  citrate  of  magnesia  by  the  process  of 
