GLEANINGS — PHARMACEUTICAL,  ETC. 
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so  finely  divided  as  to  burn  throughout  when  any  part  is  touched 
with  a  lighted  match. — Pharm.  Jour.,  Mat/,  1857. 
Preparation  of  pure  grape  sugar — Commercial  honey,  as 
crystalline  as  possible,  is  spread  on  porous  tiles.  The  white 
crystalline  residue  is  dissolved  in  alcohol  and  purified  by  recrys- 
tallization  ;  if  necessary,  also  with  animal  charcoal.  The  honey 
yields  about  one-fourth  of  its  weight  of  grape  sugar. — Chem. 
Gaz.,  March  2d,  1857. 
Lactic  acid  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  Prof.  Wittstein  an- 
nounces (to  the  meeting  of  German  Naturalists  in  Sept.,  1856,) 
the  discovery  of  lactic  acid  in  vegetables,  especially  in  the  pe- 
duncles of  Solanum  dulcamara,  and  in  the  liquid  which  dropped 
from  freshly  cut  vine  branches.  He  likewise  mentioned  that  he 
had  obtained  salicylous  acid  (oil  of  Spiraea  ulmaria,)  by  distilling 
the  buds  of  Populus  balsamifera. — Chem.  Gaz.,  Mar.  2d,  1857. 
Preparation  of  Alizarine  ink — Hr.  Leonhardi,  of  Hanover, 
has  patented  a  process  for  making  this  ink.  24  parts  of  Aleppo 
galls  and  3  parts  of  Dutch  madder  are  digested  with  120  parts 
of  warm  water.  The  solution  formed  is  filtered,  and  mixed  with 
1.2  parts  of  solution  of  indigo,  5-2  parts  sulphate  of  iron,  and  2 
parts  crude  acetate  of  iron  solution.  The  alleged  advantages  of 
this  ink  are,  that  1st.  It  does  not  contain  gum.  2d.  The  tan- 
nate  of  iron  is  prevented  from  separating  by  the  sulphate  of 
indigo.  3d.  Mouldiness  is  prevented  by  this  addition,  and  by 
the  acetate  of  iron. — Pharm.  Jour.,  Jan.,  1857. 
Coloring  principle  of  garden  Bergamot  flowers. — M.  Belhome 
states  that  the  flowers  of  Monarda  didyma  contain  the  same  color- 
ing principle  as  the  fruit  of  the  nopal  and  cochineal,  and  that 
they  may  be  used  with  advantage  for  the  preparation  of  carmine. 
— Pharm,  Jour.,  March,  1857. 
Preparation  of  matches  Prof.  Wagner  states  that  phospho- 
rus matches  should  not  have  more  than  one-tenth  of  phosphorus, 
and  considers  that  too  large  a  proportion  is  often  used.  The  fol- 
lowing proportions  are  recommended,  viz. :  8  parts  of  phosphorus 
dissolved  in  bisulphuret  of  carbon,  21  parts  of  gelatin,  24  parts  of 
peroxide  of  lead,  and  24  parts  of  nitre.  He  considers  that  the 
binoxide  of  manganese  would  be  the  best  adapted  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  paste,  since  it  contains  a  larger  amount  of  oxygen  than 
red  lead  or  peroxide  of  lead,  and  as  the  metallic  oxide  serves  only 
