236  Gleanings  from  the  European  Journals.  {k*K^,mt*m 
Fluid  extract  of  Chestnut  Leaves. — Dr  J.  Eisenmann,  assistant 
physician  at  the  policlinic  of  Vienna,  has  experimented  with  this 
preparation,  made  from  the  leaves  of  the  European  variety  of  Castanea 
vesca,  collected  during  the  months  of  June,  July  and  August.  The 
remedy  was  tried  only  in  such  cases  of  whooping-cough  which  had  but 
recently  entered  into  the  spasmodic  stage,  and  in  which  the  subse- 
quent course  of  the  disease  could  be  well  ascertained.  Tried  in  com- 
parison with  belladonna,  extr.  cannabis  indicse,  chloral  hydrate,  inha- 
lation of  petroleum  vapor,  etc.,  the  results  were  such  that  the  author 
calls  the  attention  of  European  physicians  to  this  remedy,  which  was 
prepared  by  the  formula  published  in  this  Journal,  1871,  p.  530. — - 
Zeitschr.  d.  Oesterr.  A  path.  Ver.,  1874,  192,  from  Wiener  Mediz. 
Presse. 
Permanganic  Acid  and  the  Volatile  Oils. — A  mixture  of  two  parts 
of  perfectly  dry  permanganate  of  potassium  with  two  or  three  parts  of 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid  is  a  most  powerful  oxidizing  agent,  owing 
to  the  separation  of  permanganic  acid  and  its  immediate  decomposition 
with  the  liberation  of  oxygen,  Volatile  oils  are  violently  affected  by 
this  mixture,  if  about  ten  drops  are  placed  in  a  little  dish  and  then 
touched  with  a  stout  glass  rod  previously  dipped  into  the  mixture. 
The  following  produce  explosions,  often  most  violently  :  oils  of  thyme, 
mace,  turpentine  rectified,  spike,  cinnamon,  origanum,  rue,  cubeb  and 
lemon.  The  following  oils  are  simply  inflamed,  particularly  if  poured 
upon  blotting  paper  and  then  touched  with  the  mixture,  though  under 
certain  still  unknown  circumstances  explosion  may  occur  :  Oils  of 
rosemary,  lavender,  cloves,  rose,  geranium,  gaultheria,  caraway, 
cajuput,  bitter  almond  and  rectified  petroleum.  The  following  sub- 
stances are  ignited  without  explosion  :  alcohol,  ether,  wood  spirit,  ben- 
zole, chlorelayl,  sulphide  of  carbon  and  cotton.  Gun  cotton  and  gun- 
powder are  not  ignited. — N.  Bepert.  f  Pha?-m.,  1874,  177. 
lodo-Bromide  of  Calcium  Compound,  By  J.  R.  Black,  New  York, 
recommended  as  an  alterative  and  in  cholera,  cutaneous  diseases,  etc., 
has  been  analyzed  by  Dr.  Goddefroy  of  Vienna  and  found  to  contain 
the  chlorides  of  calcium,  aluminium,  magnesium  and  sodium  ;  bromide, 
iodide,  sulphate,  phosphate  and  silicate  of  sodium,  and  nitrate  of  po- 
tassium. It  is  probably  identical  with  the  so-called  chloralum. — 
Pharm.  Zeitung,  1874,  No.  22. 
Neutral  Iodide  of  Potassium.* — T.  B.  Groves  finds  the  following 
*  See  page  141  of  the  March  number  of  this  Journal. 
