GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS.  109 
chlorides ;  it  is  the  cheapest  material  for  the  preparation  of 
compounds  of  the  last  two  metals.  The  oxide  of  thallium  is 
readily  soluble  and  caustic,  its  carbonate  soluble  and  of  an 
alkaline  reaction,  its  double  salt  with  bichloride  of  platinum 
sparingly  soluble  in  water ;  the  thallium-alum  crystallizes  in 
octohedrons  ;  all  these  facts,  as  well  as  its  being  a  frequent 
companion  of  potassium,  sodium,  rubidium  and  caesium  give  it  a 
place  among  the  alkaline  metals. — (Ibid.  535 — 536.) 
The  leaves  of  Zostera  marina,  Najadece,  known  in  commerce 
under  the  name  of  seagrass,  yield  according  to  E.  Baudrimont, 
after  drying  at  212  of,  23-28  per  cent,  ashes,  consisting  of  24-20 
silicic  acid,  20  45  free  lime,  20-41  chloride  of  sodium,  9-54 
phosphate,  5-38  carbonate,  2-07  sulphate  of  lime,  4-21  chloride 
and  0-83  iodide  of  potassium,  3-81  sulphate  of  potassa,  1  79 
ferric  oxide,  1-54  magnesia,  -26  alumina,  and  traces  of  bromide, 
sulphides  and  cyanides,  the  balance  was  charcoal  and  loss. — 
(Ibid.  543,  from  Journ.  de  Ph.  et  de  Chim.  xlii.  388.) 
Cauterizing  sticks  of  sulphate  of  copper,  may  be  formed,  ac- 
cording to  A.  Calmberg  of  Darmstadt,  by  triturating  4  parts 
of  this  salt  with  one  part  of  borax.  By  the  water  of  crystalli- 
zation the  mixture  forms  a  paste  which  can  be  rolled  out  to 
sticks  of  any  desired  length.  If  it  should  become  too  dry,  the 
addition  of  a  few  drops  of  water  will  reproduce  the  requisite 
consistence. — (Ibid.  543.) 
The  volatile  oil  of  German  Chamomile  flowers,  Matricaria 
chamomila,  has  again  been  examined  by  G.  Bizio,  (Berichte  d. 
Wien.  Acad,  xliii.  292.)  It  is  of  a  beautiful  blue  color,  con~ 
geals  at  — 20°  C.  ( — 4  P.),  turns  green  with  diluted  muriatic  and 
nitric  acid,  reddish-yellow  with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid, 
yellowish  white  and  tough  with  chlorine,  red-brown  and  thick 
with  iodine,  and  brown  and  clastic  with  bromine.  The  boiling 
point  rises  from  240  to  300°  C,  at  which  temperature  it  de- 
composes leaving  a  resinous  residue.  It  is  little  altered  by 
fusing  potassa,  distilled  with  anhydrous  phosphoric  acid,  a 
nearly  colorless  oil  is  obtained  having  the  odor  of  petroleum, 
and  the  composition  C20  H16;  the  composition  of  the  original  oil 
is  5C20  H16  +  6  HO.— (Ibid.  550.) 
The  hydrates  of  chromic  oxide  have  been  again  examined  by 
