1 8  2  Gleanings  from  the  Foreign  Journals.  { AmApX':S78arm* 
the  mixture  of  soda  solution,  ferric  chloride  and  simple  syrup  is  poured 
into  three  times  its  volume  of  strong  alcohol,  a  resin-like  precipitate  is 
deposited,  which  is  readily  washed  by  alcohol,  and  converted  into  a 
dry  powder  with  the  requisite  quantity  of  sugar. — Archiv  d.  Fkar.,  Jan. 
1878. 
Dispensing  of  Monobromated  Camphor. — Lepage  recommends 
to  dissolve  monobromated  camphor  in  six  times  its  weight  of  expressed 
oil  of  almonds,  and  emulsify  the  solution  in  the  usual  manner. — Jour, 
de  Phar%  et  de  Chim.^  June,  1877,  p.  535. 
Bibromide  of  Acetic  Acid.— Bromine  54  grms.  and  glacial  acetic 
acid  20  grms.  do  not  react  upon  each  other  at  the  ordinary  temperature  ; 
but  in  the  presence  of  a  very  small  quantity,  4  to  10  drops,  of  carbon 
bisulphide,  the  mixture  becomes  warm  and  finally  congeals.  The 
compound  forms  orange-colored  thin  needles,  or  thicker  pale- red  crys- 
tals, which  fuse  at  about  36°C,  have  a  pungent  odor  and  are  very 
deliquescent,  producing  a  red  liquid,  which,  by  water,  is  decomposed  into 
bromine  and  acetic  acid.  It  is  also  soluble  in  carbon  bisulphide,  but 
more  freely  in  chloroform,  benzol,  ether  and  alcohol  ;  its  composition 
is  C2H402Br2. — Ber.  deutsch.  Chem.  Ges.^  1877,  p.  2103. 
The  distillation  of  castor  oil,  when  carried  on  under  a  pressure 
diminished  by  the  action  of  a  water-air-pump,  yields  at  first  about  one- 
third  of  its  volume  of  an  "oily  liquid,  nearly  one-half  of  which  is 
cenanthol.  On  continuing  the  heat,  the  thermometer  rises  more  than 
I00°C,  and  a  crystallizing  body  is  obtained,  which  appears  to  belong 
to  the  oleic  acid  group,  and  to  have  the  composition  CuH20O2. — Ibid, 
Salicylate  of  Zinc. — Ferdinand  Vigier  prepares  it  by  mixing  sali- 
cylic acid  with  distilled  water  in  a  porcelain  capsule  ;  the  mixture  is 
heated  to  boiling  and  small  quantities  of  oxide  of  zinc  added,  previ- 
ously diffused  in  a  little  water.  The  solution  is  readily  effected  and 
when  the  zinc  oxide  ceases  to  dissolve,  filtered  and  cooled  ;  the 
mother  liquor  is  evaporated  at  a  moderate  heat,  and  again  set  aside  to 
crystallize.  If  the  heat  of  the  concentrated  solution  is  raised  to  boil- 
ing, a  decomposition  into  a  sparingly  soluble  basic  zinc  salicylate  takes 
place.  The  contact  with  iron,  and  other  metallic  substances,  must  be 
scrupulously  avoided. 
The  normal  zinc  salicylate  occurs  in  glossy,  satiny  needless,  having 
a  sweet,  somewhat  styptic  and  bitter  taste;  it  is  very  soluble  in  hot 
