Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
March,  1914.  / 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
1.  One  per  cent,  or  less  of  alcohol  markedly  accelerates  fermen- 
tation in  syrup  of  average  densities. 
2.  1.25  per  cent,  alcohol  has  very  little  influence. 
3.  Beginning  with  1.25  per  cent,  the  presence  of  alcohol  retards 
fermentation  in  these  syrups,  the  amount  of  retardation  increasing 
with  the  increase  in  the  percentage  of  alcohol. — /.  Ind.  and  Eng. 
Chem.,  1914,  v.  6,  p.  141. 
•  Theoform. — A  condensation  product  of  theobromine  with  a  for- 
maldehyde-liberating substance  has  been  put  on  the  market  under  the 
name  of  theoform.  It  is  claimed  to  contain  85  per  cent,  of  theobro- 
mine, and  is  therefore  richer  in  that  base  than  diuretin  or  agurin.  A 
white,  bitter  powder,  soluble  1 :  50  in  water  at  ordinary  temperatures, 
but  is  not  stable  in  neutral  or  alkaline  solution. — Pharm.  /.,  1914, 
v.  92,  p.  62. 
Thymolphthalein  occurs  in  colorless  needles,  melting  at  245- 
2460  C. ;  readily  soluble  in  alcohol  and  in  acetone ;  sparingly  dissolved 
by  chloroform  or  by  ether.  It  dissolves  in  caustic  alkalies  with  the 
formation  of  a  blue  color;  it  may  therefore  serve  as  an  indicator  for 
alkalimetry,  for  the  color  is  not  affected  by  excess  of  alkali. — 
Pharm.      1913,  v.  91,  p.  881. 
Thyroideum  Siccum. — Bennett,  Reginald  R.,  discusses  the  rela- 
tive weight  of  dried  and  of  fresh  thyroid  gland,  and  questions  the 
frequently  made  statement  that  1  part  by  weight  of  the  dried  thyroid 
represents  5  parts  by  weight  of  the  fresh  thyroid.  Some  observa- 
tions of  his  own  lead  him  to  believe  that  the  relation  is  more  nearly 
1  to  4. — Pharm.  J.,  191 3,  v.  91,  p.  804. 
Tyrene. — Para-iodo-ortho-sulpho-cyclo-hexa-triene  pyridine  is 
conveniently  shortened  for  ordinary  purposes  to  tryene.  An  odor- 
less, non-toxic  powder,  soluble  in  hot  water,  it  is  introduced  as  an 
antiseptic.  Specially  recommended  for  use  in  gynaecology  and  as  a 
dressing  for  wounds,  either  as  a  dusting  powder,  gauze  or  on  tam- 
pons.— Phanm.  J.,  1914,  v.  92,  p.  62. 
Ulsanin. — Described  as  "  hydroiodoborate,"  is  put  forward  as 
a  new  non-poisonous  but  active  disinfectant  and  healing  application 
for  the  treatment  of  wounds.  It  is  a  somewhat  hygroscopic  powder, 
which,  in  contact  with  wound  secretions,  liberates  iodine  and  oxygen. 
— Pharm.  J.,  1913,  v.  92,  p.  102. 
Vaccine. — Anon.  The  virus  of  variola  and  of  vaccinia  is  less 
sensitive  to  the  action  of  glycerin  than  bacteria  in  general,  and  for 
this  reason  it  is  possible  to  obtain  an  almost  pure  virus  of  practically 
