A  Aprin;  mA2RM- }      Adulteration  of  Aniline  Colors,  173 
Xylol  is  said  to  have  been  used  by  Dr.  Zuelzer,  the  Senior  Physi- 
cian at  the  Charite*  Hospital  at  Berlin,  with  great  success  in  cases  of 
small-pox.  The  theory  of  its  action  would  appear  to  be  that  xylol  is 
taken  up  by  the  blood,  and  acts  as  a  disinfectant.  The  vapor  seems 
to  the  writer  to  possess  faint,  and  not  very  well  marked,  anaesthetic 
properties;  this  may  be  due  to  the  presence  of  a  small  quantity  of 
benzol,  or  the  other  hydrocarbons.  The  antiseptic  properties  of  this 
group  of  compounds  are  well  known,  and  thus,  probably,  the  specific 
action  of  this  one.  The  boiling  point  is  variously  stated  at  139°  to 
140°.  The  specimens  examined  by  the  writer  generally  commenced 
to  boil  at  about  135°  C.    The  specific  gravity  was  -866. 
It  is  said  that  the  purity  of  xylol  is  of  importance,  but  unfortu- 
nately there  is  no  very  ready  method  by  which  the  ordinary  practi- 
tioner might  detect  its  purity.  It  should  be  soluble  in  fuming  sulphu- 
ric acid,  but  it 'is  not  soluble  in  the  ordinary  sulphuric  acid  of  the 
Pharmacopoeia. 
It  has  a  faint  odor  something  like  benzol,  and  an  aromatic  taste. 
The  doses  are  three  to  five  drops  for  children  ;  ten  to  fifteen  drops  for 
adults,  every  hour  to  every  three  hours.  It  is  quite  harmless  in  rea- 
sonable doses.  In  Berlin  it  is  given  in  capsules.  As  it  is  very  inso- 
luble the  best  method  of  giving  it  would  be  in  an  emulsion  of  almonds. 
When  once  assimilated  it  is  rapidly  oxidized  in  the  body,  this  fact 
being  demonstrated  by  the  production  of  a  peculiar  odor  in  the  urine, 
which,  however,  is  quite  distinct  from  xylol  itself. — Med.  Press  and 
Circular,  Lond.,  Feb.  28,  1872. 
ADULTERATION  OF  ANILINE  COLORS. 
William  H.  Wahl,  Ph.  D. 
The  intense  tinctorial  power  of  the  aniline  dyes  seems  to  offer  irre- 
sistible temptation  to  dishonest  dealers  to  imitate  or  adulterate  them 
with  worthless  ingredients.  A  sample  of  fuchsine  (an  aniline  red)  lately 
placed  in  our  hands  by  Dr.  Genth  was  composed  entirely  of  sugar 
crystals  saturated  with  the  coloring  matter.  To  any  one  familiar  with 
the  peculiar  arborescent  appearance  of  the  pure  fuchsine  particles,  the 
sugar  crystals,  with  their  rhombic  prisms,  would  betray  the  imposition 
at  a  glance  ;  but  without  this  knowledge  the  detection  would  be  at- 
tended with  some  difficulty,  since  the  color  of  both  genuine  and  coun- 
terfeit samples  is  equally  intense.    One  of  the  simplest  methods  to 
