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NON-EXISTENCE OP CROTONINE. 
the crude resin spirit above-mentioned a rectified resin 
spirit, obtained by passing a current of steam through the 
crude resin spirit until the condensed product which comes 
over attains a specific gravity of about 0-870; at which 
point the process of distillation must be stopped, as all pro- 
ducts of a higher specific gravity will be injurious to the 
quality of the spirit. 
The second part of this invention consists in manufacturing 
a colorless varnish from resin spirit and gum damar,or from 
resin spirit and gum mastic. 
The patentee mixes resin spirit, which has been rectified 
by steam in the manner above described, with from one- 
tenth to one-sixth of its weight of sulphuric acid of not less 
than 1-700 spec, grav., and thoroughly agitates the mixture; 
then he rectifies the spirit again by a current of steam, 
when the spirit comes over in a colorless state ; after which 
he dissolves the gum damar or gum mastic in about four 
times its weight of this purified rectified spirit, with the aid 
of a gentle heat. An inferior varnish may be obtained by 
using resin spirit which has undergone only one process of 
rectification and has not been treated with sulphuric acid. 
— Chemical Gazette, October, 4849. 
ART. XXV. — ON THE NON-EXISTENCE OF CROTONINE. 
By F. Weppen. 
According to Brandes' directions for the preparation of 
crotonine, an alcoholic extract is prepared of croton seeds, 
the greater portion of the alcohol removed by distillation, 
and the residue boiled with water and magnesia. The 
precipitate is then exhausted with alcohol, from which, 
after filtration, the crotonine crystallizes on evaporation. 
The crystals so obtained have, it is true, an alkaline 
