190 
Varieties. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Phabm- 
|     Apr.  1, 1874. 
The  liquid  of  higher  boiling  point  appears  to  consist  mainly  of  thio- 
cymene  or  cymyl-sulphydrate,  apparently  identical  with  that  recently 
obtained  by  Flesch  from  the  products  of  the  action  of  phosphorus 
sulphide  on  camphor.  The  boiling  point  of  the  pure  substance  lies 
close  to  235°,  and  it  corresponds  in  all  respects  with  thiocymene  de- 
scribed by  Flesch,  especially  in  the  production  of  a  mercury  salt 
crystallizable  from  hot  alcohol,  and  a  silver  salt  only  slightly  soluble 
in  hot  alcohol.  The  properties  of  this  body  are  undergoing  further 
examination. 
The  reason  for  publishing  this  notice  is  the  appearance  of  a  paper 
by  Beilstein  and  Kupffer  (Deut.  Chem.  Ges.  Ber.,  vi,  1183)  a  few 
days  ago,  wherein  the  authors  state  that  by  the  action  of  phosphorus 
sulphide  on  absinthol,  cymene  results,  from  which  a  sulpho  acid  can 
be  prepared,  giving  salts  identical  with  those  similarly  obtained  from 
the  cymene  of  cumin  oil  and  that  of  camphor. 
When  oil  of  citronella  is  distilled,  the  main  constituent  seems  to  be 
an  unstable  body  of  formula  C10H]8O  (Gladstone  found  C10H16O.  Not 
improbably  essential  oils  vary  in  composition  according  to  the  climate, 
soil,  etc.)  The  action  of  dehydrating  agents  on  this  oil  seems  to  give 
rise,  not  to  cymene,  but  to  a  terpene.  By  careful  addition  of  two 
proportions  of  bromine,  a  product  is  obtained  which  on  heating  splits 
up  thus  : — 
C10H18Br2O  =  H20  +  2HBr  +  C10H14, 
the  resulting  cymene  being  apparently  identical  with  that  already 
known. 
It  is  proposed  also  to  examine  the  oil  of  cajeput,  borneol,  and  other 
substances  of  formula  C10H18O  in  the  same  way. — Journ.  of  the  Chem.. 
Society,  London,  January,  1874. 
Action  of  Aerated  Water  on  Lead. — M.  Fordos — The  danger  arising  from 
the  employment  of  leaden  pipes  has  been  much  exaggerated,  and  is  certainly 
far  smaller  than  that  resulting  from  the  use  of  shot  in  cleaning  out  bottles. 
The  author,  having  shaken  up  shot  in  bottles  in  the  ordinary  way,  filled  four  of 
them  respectively  with  white  wine,  red  wine,  quinine  wine,  and  vinegar.  After 
allowing  the  liquids  to  stand  for  a  few  days,  he  discovered  lead  in  solution. 
These  experiments  may  serve,  he  adds,  to  explain  the  frequent  presence  of 
lead  in  the  human  system,  a  phenomenon  so  general  that  Hervy,  Devergie  and 
Orfila  have  considered  it  a  normal  constituent. —  Chemical  News,  Jan.  30,  1873., 
from  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Chimique  de  Paris,  tome  xx,  No.  11,  Dec.  5,  1873. 
