GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
Ill 
mn  is  regarded  as  the  alcohol  of  salicylic  acid,  the  above  reac- 
tion agrees  with  the  well  known  cases  of  reduction  of  the  alde- 
hydes.—(Ann.  d.  Chem.  und  Ph.  1863,  No.  179). 
Decompositian  of  chloride  of  ammonium  by  boiling  R. 
Fittig  has  instituted  a  series  of  experiments,  taking  all  due  pre- 
cautions with  regard  to  the  purity  of  the  materials  and  appa- 
ratus, and  comes  to  the  conclusion  that  at  the  boiling  point,  a 
solution  of  chloride  of  ammonium  becomes  acid  by  the  decompo- 
sition of  this  salt  and  the  elimination  of  ammonia,  and  that  the 
amount  of  ammonia  evolved  decreases  with  the  duration  of  the 
experiment,  most  probably  in  consequence  of  the  contiguous 
evaporation  of  some  muriatic  acid,  which  combines  again  over 
the  surface  of  the  liquid  with  an  equivalent  portion  of  ammonia, 
so  that  the  distillate  is  free  from  chloride. — (Ibid.  189 — 193). 
Preparation  of  Bromides. — Liebig's  well  known  method  of 
preparing  iodides  with  the  aid  of  phosphorus  (see  Am.  Jour.  Ph., 
p.  289  and  437),  has  been  employed  by  Dr.  F.  Klein  for  brom- 
ides with  favorable  success. — (Ibid.  237 — 240). 
Expressed  oil  of  Nutmegs.  A.  Ricker  obtained  from  four 
pounds  of  nutmegs,  by  two  expressions  between  heated  plates, 
sixteen  and  a  half  ounces  of  oil,  the  residue  yielded  now  only 
half  a  drachm  of  volatile  oil,  and  very  little  fat.  The  expressed  oil 
is  pale  yellow,  not  yellowish  red  like  the  commercial  article, 
possesses  a  much  stronger  odor,  less  fatty  to  the  touch,  with 
greater  difficulty  absorbed  by  paper,  and  solidifies  much  quicker 
after  fusion,  forming  warty  excrescenses  upon  the  surface.  The 
specific  gravity  of  the  former  is  -998,  of  the  latter,  -995  ;  the 
fusing  point  is  45°  C,  while  the  commercial  oil  liquifies  at  41.25°; 
the  saturated  solution  of  the  former  in  boiling  ether  solidifies  to 
a  solid  crust,  while  the  solution  of  the  latter  remains  soft  on 
cooling  ;  the  former  solution  mixed  with  absolute  alcohol  and 
spontaneously  evaporated,  left  microscopic  crystals  of  the  form 
of  a  cross;  the  latter  did  not  crystallize.  The  author  believes 
that  the  commercial  oil  is  either  mixed  with  another  fat,  or  else 
nutmegs,  previously  deprived  of  the  volatile  oil,  are  used  in  its 
preparation.  lie  recommends  its  preparation  by  the  apothecary, 
not  only  because  a  pure,  better,  and  more  active  product  is 
