6  8  Preparation  of  Medicinal  Pearls,     }  A%Je0bu^87h7!rn*' 
ing  agents  of  the  previous  white  precipitate,  K2Fe5C12N12 ;  steel  bluey 
the  product  obtained  on  treatment  of  said  white  precipitate  with  hydro- 
chloric acid,  etc.,  are  never  used  as  wash-blue,  and  therefore  out  of  the 
range  of  consideration.  In  this  connection  I  desire  to  express  my 
thanks  to  Mr.  John  F.  Grossklaus,  who  kindly  assisted  me  in  these 
investigations. 
Navarre,  O.,  Jan.  15,  1877. 
PREPARATION  OF  MEDICINAL  PEARLS. 
[Translated  from  Hagers  "  Hand-book  of  Pharmaceutical  Practice"  1876.) 
The  mass  for  forming  the  capsules  consists  of  gelatin,  gum  Arabic^, 
sugar  and  honey.  This  is  rolled  out  into  sheets  of  suitable  thickness. 
One  of  these  sheets  is  placed  on  top  of  an  iron  plate  having  a  thickness 
of  0*6  centimetre,  into  which  holes  of  a  diameter  of  1  centimetre  have 
been  bored.  The  gelatinous  mass,  while  still  pliant,  sinks  into  these 
holes  by  its  own  gravity,  forming  a  hollow  hemisphere  in  each  con- 
cavity. The  ether  or  other  medical  preparation  is  then  introduced,  and 
the  orifices  are  closed  by  another  sheet  of  the  gelatinous  compound. 
A  second  iron  plate,  furnished  with  holes  corresponding  exactly  to 
those  of  the  first,  is  now  applied  and  securely  fastened  by  suitable  screws. 
The  whole  apparatus  is  now  reversed  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
superior  plate  assumes  the  inferior  position.  Concavities  will  thus  be 
formed  in  the  second  sheet  of  gelatin  in  the  same  manner  as  they  pre- 
viously were  in  the  first.  In  order  finally  to  separate  the  pearls,  the 
entire  arrangement  is  subjected  to  strong  compression  between  iron 
plates  in  a  powerful  press.  A.  W.  M. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  FOREIGN  JOURNALS. 
By  the  Editor. 
Coloring  Matter  from  Phenol. — If  a  mixture  of  3  parts  of  sul- 
phuric acid  and  2  parts  each  of  glycerin  and  phenol  is  kept  for  some 
time  at  a  temperature  of  120  to  1300  C.  (248  to  2660  F.),  it  will 
gradually  turn  to  a  dark-red  color,  and,  on  being  dissolved  in  water, 
hydrochloric  acid  will  precipitate  the  coloring  matter  as  a  dark-brown 
powder,  which  is  sparingly  soluble  in  ether,  and  not  crystallizable  from 
its  alcoholic  or  aqueous  solution.  Alkalies  and  alkaline  salts  color  it 
handsomely  red  ;  baryta,  alumina  and  lead  oxide  unite  with  it  to  form 
