20 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
ding  calcined  magnesia.] — Pharm.  Centralhalle  and  Jour,  de 
Pharm. 
Caffeidin,  a  new  base  derived  from  Caffein.- — M.  Strecker,  in 
submitting  a  concentrated  aqueous  solution  of  caffein  to  distil- 
lation with  a  hot  saturated  solution  of  baryta,  obtained  water, 
ammonia,  and  methylamine,  which  M.  Wurtz  has  already  ob- 
tained by  means  of  potassa  and  caffein.  In  the  fixed  residue  in 
the  retort  M.  Strecker  has  found  carbonate  of  baryta  as  well 
as  caffeidin,  a  new  base. 
After  filtering  and  neutralizing  with  sulphuric  acid,  the  liquid 
is  evaporated  in  a  water-bath,  which  yields  colorless  needles, 
which  are  increased  in  quantity  by  adding  alcohol  to  the  mother- 
liquid.  These  crystals  are  the  sulphate  of  caffeidin,  very  solu- 
ble in  water,  and  not  precipitated  by  potassa  or  ammonia  in 
solution. 
Solid  potassa  separates  from  its  solution  oily  drops,  not  crys- 
tallizable,  but  soluble  in  water,  and  alcohol.  Ether  dissolves  it 
but  slightly, 
This  oily  liquid  constitutes  caffeidin,  CuH12N402.  It  is  not 
volatile,  and  loses  nothing  at  212°  F. — Jour,  de  Pharm.,  Sept., 
1863. 
Compound  of  Quinia  and  Oil  of  Anise. — M.  Hesse,  in  dis- 
solving five  parts  of  quinia  and  one  part  of  oil  of  anise  in  boil- 
ing alcohol,  found  that  brilliant  crystals  are  deposited,  derived 
from  an  oblique  prism,  the  composition  of  which  accords  with  the 
formula  2(C40HJtT2O4)  +  C20H12O2  +  HO.  Without  odor  at 
common  temperatures,  they  smell  of  anise  only  at  230°  F.  when 
decomposition  commences.  This  compound  is  very  soluble  in 
ether,  but  is  insoluble  in  water,  cold  or  hot,  but  fuses  at  the 
temperature  of  boiling  water. 
The  author  has  not  succeeded  in  effecting  similar  compounds 
of  quinia  with  phenic  acid,  creasote  or  essence  of  mint,  roses, 
and  cummin. — Jour.de  Pharm.,  Sept.,  1863. 
New  Collodion,  soluble  without  Ether.  By  M.  Sutton. — The 
pyroxylin  employed  for  this  preparation  is  soluble  in  alcohol, 
and  is  obtained  in  the  following  manner  :  throw  into  a  porce- 
lain vessel  of  the  capacity  of  700  grammes,  about  100  grammes 
(1543  grs.  troy)  of  sulphuric  acid  of  sp.  gr.  1«83,  and  add  to  it 
