170  Gleanings  from  Foreign  Journals.        { ^"Vprii'^'isss''^"'' 
of  glycerin  to  the  pint,  gave  permanent,  bright  syrups.  The  syrup 
was  made  by  the  following  formula  : 
Wild  Cherry  bark   ^v, 
Bitter  Almond   ^v, 
Water   Ixvi, 
Glycerin     ,^ii, 
Sugar   ^xxiv, 
Made  according  to  the  pharmacopoeial  method  a  handsome  syrup  is 
obtained,  permanent,  and  having  a  strong  odor  and  taste  of  hydrocy- 
anic acid.  These  results  show  that  glycerin  in  somewhat  increased 
amounts  would  make  the  syrup  permanent. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  FOREIGN  JOURNALS. 
By  J.  KOBERT  MOECHEL. 
Thorough  Extraction  of  Vegetables. — A  considerable  quantity  of 
water  and  sometimes  application  of  heat  is  necessary  for  completely 
extracting  tannin  and  coloring  matters  from  plants.  Dr.  O.  Kohl- 
rausch,  of  Vienna,  claims  that  a  small  amount  of  water  is  needed,  and 
that  very  concentrated  solutions  are  obtained  at  a  low  temperature,  by 
operating  as  follows : 
The  material  to  be  extracted  is  covered  with  water,  and  macerated 
for  some  time  at  a  i)ressure  of  one  atmosphere.  The  water  penetrates 
the  cellular  tissue,  dissolves  the  coloring  matter,  and,  by  way  of  diffu- 
sion, the  water  becomes  saturated  to  the  same  degree  as  the  liquid  in 
the  cells.  Separating  the  liquid,  and  repeating  the  operation  several 
times,  under  tlie  same  conditions,  secures  the  complete  extraction  of 
coloring  matter. — Erfindungen  nnd  Erfahrungen,  Wien,  i,  J  885. 
Ergot. — Dr.  R.  Kobert's  interesting  investigations  show  the  pres- 
ence in  ergot  of  three  physiologically  active  bodies — two  acids  and  one 
base. 
I.  Ergotic  Add,  being  the  principal  constituent  of  the  sclerotic  acid 
of  Dragendorff  and  Podwyssotzki.  Its  isolation  depends  upon  its  being 
precipitated  by  ammoniacal  subacetate  of  lead. 
II.  Sphacelic  Acid  (from  the  old  name  of  ergot,  Sphacelia  segetum). 
Its  isolation  depends  upon  the  insolubility  of  the  free  acid  in  water, 
and  its  solubility  in  alcohol. 
III.  The  alkaloid  Cornutine  is  not  identical  with  the  crystallized  nor 
with  the  amorphous  ergotinine  of  Tanret ;  it  is  readily  soluble  in  alco- 
