I 
70  Gleanings  from  the  Foreign  Journals.  {AmFJeb^i£8?#nw 
merce.  Dr.  J.  E.  de  Vry. — The  hydrochloric  solution  of  quinoidin 
is  heated  in  the  water-bath,  and  mixed  with  a  solution  of  caustic  soda 
(containing  40  grms.  hydrate  of  soda  per  liter)  to  remove  a  black  resi- 
nous matter.  From  the  solution  remaining  the  quinidia  is  separated, 
either  by  means  of  tartaric  acid,  or  of  potassium  iodide.  The  author 
remarks  that  all  the  neutral  salts  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  have  an 
alkaline  reaction. — Ibid. 
Sanguinaire  or  the  arabe.— John  R.  Jackson  has  examined  this 
tea,  which  is  put  up  in  Algeria,  and  is  recommended  in  colds,  catarrhs  and 
chest  affections  ;  likewise  as  being  useful  in  alleviating  fevers,  and  in 
contributing  to  the  enrichment  of  the  blood.  It  was  found  to  consist 
of  the  flower-heads  and  large  silvery  bracts  of  Paronychia  argentea 
and  nivea.  The  infusion  had  scarcely  any  color,  very  little  smell,  and 
reminded  rather  of  boiled  hay. — Phar.  your,  and  Trans.,  Jan.  5,  1878. 
Fraudulent  Quinia. — Dr.  Pratesi  reports  on  a  chemical  product, 
said  to  be  of  German  origin,  and  offered  as  adapted  for  the  fraudulent 
substitution  of  quinia.  It  resembles  quinia  sulphate  in  appearance  and 
in  the  behavior  to  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform  and  ammonia,  but  is  freely 
soluble  in  water,  not  precipitated  by  barium  chloride,  not  persistently 
bitter,  and  when  heated  upon  platinum  foil  burns,  giving  off  violet 
vapors. — Pharm.  Zeitung,  Dec.  5,  from  Ann.  di  Chimica. 
Detection  of  Small  Quantities  of  Morphia. — The  suspected 
substance  is  dissolved  in  concentrated  muriatic  acid,  to  which  a  small 
quantity  of  pure  sulphuric  acid  is  added,  and  the  solution  evaporated  at 
ioo°  to  I20°C.  A  purple  coloration  is  observed,  even  in  the  pres- 
ence of  substances  which  are  readily  carbonized.  After  the  evapora- 
tion of  the  hydrochloric  acid,  a  fresh  portion  of  it  is  added,  and  then 
some  sodium  bicarbonate,  when  a  violet  coloration  is  produced  which 
is  unalterable  in  contact  with  the  air  and  yields  nothing  to  ether.  On 
the  addition  of  a  few  drops  of  a  concentrated  solution  of  iodine  in 
hydriodic  acid,  the  violet  color  passes  into  green,  and  the  compound  is 
soluble  in  ether  with  a  purple  color.  This  reaction  is  due  to  the  forma- 
tion of  apomorphia.  Codeia  gives  the  same  reaction,  but  can  be  sepa- 
rated from  the  morphia  by  ether. 
Brucia  treated  in  the  same  manner  gives,  on  neutralization  with  the 
sodium  salt,  a  blue  coloration,  passing  into  red  on  the  addition  of  iodine  ; 
but  this  reaction  is  not  very  delicate. — G.  Pellagri,  in  Ber.  d.  deutsch^ 
Chem.  Ges.,  from  Phar.  Cent.  Halle,  1877,  No.  47. 
