A  Dee.^'m^'}  Gleanings  from  the  European  Journals.  559 
little  water  is  very  cautiously  added,  or,  better  still,  if  a  small  drop 
of  bromine  water  is  used.  The  latter  increases  also  the  delicacy  of 
the  morphia  test  to  such  an  extent  that  0*00001  gram  is  plainly  col- 
ored rose-red,  of  the  same  depth  as  0-0001  gram  of  morphia,  if  tested 
without  bromine  water.  The  author  regards  this  test  as  being  of 
equal  value  with  the  reaction  with  ferric  chloride  and  with  Froehde's 
test  (molybdate  of  sodium  dissolved  in  concentrated  sulphuric  acid), 
and  to  even  possess  the  advantage  that  pure  morphia  is  not  requisite, 
and  that  it  will  be  successful  even  if  applied  with  little  skill. — Ibid., 
pp.  112-116. 
Iodine  as  a  Test  for  Volatile  Oils. — K.  Calmberg  reports  that  the 
relative  proportion  of  iodine  and  oil  has  a  marked  influence  on  the 
result ;  if  three  or  four  drops  of  peppermint  are  added  to  about  half 
a  gram  of  iodine,  the  mixture  will  become  heated  and  evolve  vapors, 
which  is  not  the  case  if,  to  little  iodine,  much  oil  of  peppermint  is 
added.—  Ibid.,  p.  127. 
Saccharate  of  Iron.— E.  Hoffmann  recommends  the  following  pro- 
cess as  an  improvement  on  the  one  officinal  in  the  German  Pharma- 
copoeia (see  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1873,  p.  161) : 
10  parts  solution  of  ferric  chloride,  spec,  grav.,  1*48,  containing 
15  per  cent,  metallic  iron  ; 
4J  p.  powdered  sugar,  dissolved  in  an  equal  weight  of  water ; 
12  p.  pure  carbonate  of  sodium,  dissolved  in  24  p.  of  water  ; 
5  p.  caustic  soda  or  6  p.  potassa  solution,  spec.  grav.  1*33  ; 
400  p.  boiling  water,  and 
12  p.  of  powdered  sugar. 
The  ferric  chloride  and  sugar  solution  are  mixed  in  a  large  porcelain 
dish,  and  the  carbonate  of  sodium  is  rapidly  added  in  four  or  five  por- 
tions, permitting  the  evolution  of  carbonic  acid  after  each  addition  ; 
the  caustic  alkali  is  now  added,  when  the  precipitate  will  completely 
dissolve,  and  after  a  few  minutes  the  solution  is  poured  into  the  boil- 
ing water.  The  occurring  precipitate  settles  readily,  is  washed  six 
times  with  hot  water  by  decantation,  collected  upon  a  filter,  or  upon 
muslin  covered  with  filtering  paper,  drained  and  slightly  pressed. 
After  the  addition  of  the  powdered  sugar  to  the  precipitate,  the  mix- 
ture is  evaporated  in  a  porcelain  dish  by  means  of  a  steam-bath,  and 
when  of  the  consistence  of  honey,  poured  upon  flat  plates  and  exsic- 
cated in  the  drying  closet.    Enough  sugar  is  now  added  to  make  the 
