loo  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {AmFeb.?is94arm' 
of  the  method  is  that  the  small  precipitate  is  not  collected  upon  a 
filter,  and  can  be  more  easily  examined.  In  the  decomposition  of 
ammonium  sulphide  solutions  of  the  sulphides  of  arsenic,  antimony, 
tin,  etc.,  by  hydrochloric  acid,  the  agitation  of  the  acid  solution  with 
carbon  disulphide  removes  the  precipitated  sulphur  by  dissolving  it 
so  that  it  is  possible  to  say  at  once  if  the  sulphur  was  accompanied 
by  any  of  the  above-mentioned  sulphides  as  the  latter  are  not  sol- 
uble in  the  solvent ;  in  the  presence  of  these  sulphides  the  carbon 
disulphide  is  opaque  due  to  the  suspended  sulphides,  while  the 
aqueous  solution  is  perfectly  clear. — Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1893,  737. 
Pern  balsam. — A  systematic  method  of  examining  this  drug  for 
the  adulterants,  alcohol,  resin,  turpentine,  Canada  balsam,  copaiba, 
rosin  oil,  gurjun  balsam,  castor  oil,  other  fixed  oils,  storax,  tolu  bal- 
sam and  benzoin  is  offered  by  E.  Hirschsohn.  3  parts  of  the  bal- 
sam are  thoroughly  agitated  with  15  parts  petroleum-ether,  allowed 
to  stand  until  the  petroleum-ether  solution  is  perfectly  clear,  when 
it  is  decanted  and  used  for  the  following  tests  :  A  portion  is  agi- 
tated with  half  its  volume  of  water ;  a  transient  turbidity  of  the 
petroleum-ether  and  the  iodoform  test  with  the  aqueous  layer  (addi- 
tion of  KOH  and  iodine  solution  after  warming)  indicate  the  pres- 
ence of  alcohol.  Another  portion  is  agitated  with  an  equal  volume 
of  cupric  acetate  solution  (1  gm.  in  one  liter  water) :  A,  an  intense 
bluish-green  color}  imparted  to  the  petroleum-ether  indicates  the 
presence  of  resin,  turpentine,  Canada  balsam,  copaiba,  rosin  oil ;  B, 
a  colorless  or  pale  green  colored  petroleum-ether  may  indicate  storax, 
fixed  oils,  tolu  balsam,  benzoin  and  gurjun  balsam. 
A.  I.  The  petroleum-ether  solution  mixed  with  half  a  volume  of 
brom-chloroform  (one  part  bromine  dissolved  in  twenty  parts  chloro- 
form) gives  a  red-violet  color ;  the  balsam,  2  gm.  heated  upon  a 
water-bath  for  one-half  hour  with  1  gm.  freshly  prepared  calcium 
hydrate  forms  a  solid  mass  ;  one  volume  balsam  and  four  volumes 
80  per  cent,  acetic  acid  give  a  turbid  mixture,  separating  oily  drops 
after  several  hours'  standing.    These  several  tests  indicate  copaiba. 
A.  II.  Brom-chloroform  gives  no  coloration. 
(a)  The  balsam  with  Ca(OH)2  forms  a  soft  mass,  with  acetic  acid 
a  turbid  solution  from  which  oil  drops  separate  after  a  short  time ; 
the  residue  of  the  petroleum-ether  solution  is  soluble  in  90  per  cent, 
alcohol — rosin  oil. 
(b)  The  balsam  with  Ca(OH)2  forms  a  solid  mass,  with  acetic  acid 
