AmMa0yU,ri8P78arm  }  Gleanings  from  the  Foreign  Journals.  -257 
naphthilin,  C10Hg,  methylnaphthalin,  C10HU  and  methylanthracen,  C15Hlr  Colophony 
yields  the  same  products,  but  toluol  in  much  smaller  proportion.  Resin  of  benzoin, 
freed  from  extraneous  matter  and  benzoic  acid,  similarly  treated,  yielded  toluol, 
xylol,  naphthalin  and  methyl  naphthalin. — Ibid.,  1878,  269. 
Cubebin,  C10H10O3,  according  to  H.  Weidel,  is  by  nitric  acid  converted  into 
oxalic  and  picric  acids,  while  it  yields,  with  nitrous  acid,  small  yellow  crystals  of 
C10H9  (N02)  03,  which  are  soluble  in  ether,  alcohol,  ammonia  and  potassa  ;  the 
latter  solution  having  a  purple  color.  If  cubebin  is  dissolved  in  chloroform,  and 
bromine  addedj  drop  by  drop,  C10H7Br3O2  separates,  which  is  insoluble  in  the 
common  solvents,  and  obtained  in  white  crystals  from  boiling  xylene.  When  fused 
with  HKO,  carbonic,  acetic  and  protocatechuic  acids  are  obtained  ;  the  same 
products  were  yielded,  under  similar  circumstances,  by  ferulic  acid  and  eugenol,  into 
which  compounds,  however,  cubebin  could  not  be  converted — Wien.  Akad.  Ber.t 
lxxiv,  p.  377. 
Medicinal  Plants  of  Liberia. — E.  M.  Holmes  describes  the  following :  Ocymum 
<viride,  Willd.,  nat.  ord.  Labiate,  fever  plant,  is  a  shrub,  three  feet  high,  with  ovate, 
lanceolate  acuminate  leaves,  1  to  2  inches  long,  crenate  at  the  margin  and  abun- 
dantly dotted  underneath  with  oil  glands.  It  has  a  strong  odor  like  lemon  thyme, 
and  possibly  contains  thymol.  Dr.  Roberts  states  that  in  Liberia  it  is  the  common 
remedy  for  fever  of  any  kind,  and  that  he  has  entirely  substituted  it  for  quinia  in  his 
practice,  since  it  is  much  cheaper  and  equally  as  effectual.  It  is  given  in  the  form 
-  of  infusion  in  wineglassful  doses  until  perspiration  is  freely  induced,  the  patient  being 
kept  warm  in  bed. 
Aspilia  latifolia,  O.  &  H.,  nat  ord.  Composite,  haemorrhage  plant,  is  an  herb  i^to 
4  feet  high,  with  the  leaves  opposite,  very  rough,  ovate,  acuminate,  minutely  serrate 
and  very  hard  to  the  touch,  being  covered  with  short  rigid  hairs  ;  the  flowers  are 
yellow,  with  neuter  ray  florets  and  almost  obsolete  pappus.  The  fresh  leaves  and 
flowers  are  pounded  together  and  applied  to  the  wound,  the  haemorrhage  stopping 
in  a  few  minutes  and  the  wound  healing  rapidly  without  other  application.  The 
decoction,  in  doses  of  ^ss  3  times  a  day,  is  used  in  haemorrhage  from  the  lungs. 
Cassia  occidentalis,  Lin.,  nat.  ord.  Leguarinosoe,  small  senna.1  The  leaves  are 
used  in  Liberia  as  a  purgative.  Larger  leaves,  probably  of  a  Croton,  are  known 
there  as  large  senna. 
Scopariadulcis,  Lin.,  nat.  ord.  Scrophulariacea,  pipybras.  The  plant  is  used  for 
gravel  and  kidney  complaints,  in  the  form  of  infusion. 
Erythrophlceum  guineense,  Don.  Sassybark  is  used  only  as  a  poison.  (See  "Amer. 
Jour.  Phar.,"  1877,  p.  32.) — Pharm.  Jour,  and  'Trans.,  Jan.  19,  p.  563. 
Detection  of  Adulterations  of  Butter.— All  animal  fats,  with  the  exception  of 
butter,  consist  of  tristearin,  tripalmitin  and  triolein,  and  therefore  yield  between 
95*23  and  95*73  per  cent,  fatty  acids,  while  pure  butter  yields  between  85*4  and 
86  2,  occasionally  87*5  per  cent.  O.  Hehner  regards  butter  as  adulterated  if  it  yields 
iThe  plant  has  been  naturalized  in  the  Southern  United  States. — Editor. 
*7 
