98  Gleaiiings  from  the  German  Journals.  {AmFeb.y'i894arm" 
hastily  written.  In  opposition  to  some  of  the  views  expressed  very 
flattering  reviews  were  quoted.  I  have  no  intention  of  replying  to 
my  critical  friend  who  so  evidently  has  misconstrued  my  position, 
nor  is  any  defence  needed.  But  I  would  assure  him  that  it  is  much 
easier  to  flatter  than  to  conscientiously  criticise ;  to  swim  with  the 
current  than  to  stem  the  tide.  But  the  latter  may  be  the  position 
of  duty,  and  a  review  to  be  of  any  value  must  be  the  expression  of 
independent  thought,  and  devoid  of  flattery. 
I  am  aware  that  it  has  become  fashionable  for  reviewers  not  to 
look  much  beyond  the  preface,  and  this  is  so  well  known  that 
shrewd  authors  now  so  word  their  prefaces  as  to  purposely  give  the 
flattering  critic  material  for  his  adulation.  The  true  friend  is  not 
the  flatterer. 
I  would  also  assure  him  that  whatever  progress  is  made  by  phar- 
macy, and  introduced  in  the  next  Pharmacopceial  revision  will  be 
the  result  of  criticism  and  not  flattery. 
I  would  finally  assure  him  that  the  writer  would  assume  a  posi- 
tion not  second  to  any  one  in  desiring  a  true  advance  and  a  scien- 
tific elevation  of  pharmacy. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Vanillin  according  to  an  investigation  of  Professors  Jorissen  and 
Hairs  is  present  in  cloves,  and  can  be  isolated  by  extracting  cloves 
with  ether,  agitating  the  ethereal  solution  with  a  solution  of  acid 
sodium  sulphite,  separating  the  latter,  decomposing  the  sulphite 
with  a  mineral  acid  and  agitating  with  ether ;  the  ethereal  solution 
leaves  a  white  crystalline  residue,  having  all  of  the  properties  of 
vanillin. — Sudd.,  Apoth.  Ztg.,  1893,  591- 
Cocaine  phenylate. — Three  formulas  have  been  proposed  for  this 
substance  to  which  Dr.  v.  Oefele  again  calls  attention.  (1)  The  pre- 
paration proposed  by  Viau  was  a  mixture  of  cocaine  hydrochlorate 
and  phenol ;  phenol  being  more  soluble  in  solutions  of  cocaine 
hydrochlorate  than  in  water,  suggested  the  above  preparation.  (2) 
Oefele  proposed  the  fusion  of  molecular  proportions  of  cocaine 
and  phenol,  or  about  three  parts  of  cocaine  and  one  part  phenol ; 
this  preparation  differs  from  that  of  (1)  by  being  almost  insoluble  in 
water.    (3)  Poinsot  introduces  under  the  same  title  a  mixture  of  one 
