'^"^pn^issV'^'"'}        Gleanings  from  Foreign  Journals.  171 
hoi,  and  is  obtained  from  an  alkaline  aqneous  solution  by  agitation 
with  ether.  This  alkaloid  is  reported  as  being  very  poisonous. — Pharm.. 
Centralhalle,  1884,  p.  607. 
Paraldehyd  as  a  Reagent  for  Caramel,  is  recommended  by  Dr.  C. 
Amthor,  who  finds  that  an  alcoholic  liquid  containing  caramel  (rum, 
cognac,  brandy,  wines)  gives,  on  the  addition  of  sufficient  paraldehyd, 
a  brown  precipitate,  and  becomes  decolorized.  Minute  quantities  of 
caramel  may  be  detected  as  follows : 
Mix  10  cc.  of  the  liquid  in  a  suitable  tall  vessel,  or  white  glass 
medicine  bottle,  with  from  30  to  50  cc.  paraldehyd  (according  to  inten- 
sity of  color)  and  enough  alcohol  to  obtain  a  uniform  mixture;  wine 
requires  about  15  or  20  cc.  of  alcohol.  After  24  hours,  caramel  will 
show  its  presence  by  a  brownish  to  dark  brown  sediment,  which 
adheres  to  the  bottom ;  after  washing  it  with  a  little  absolute  alcohol, 
dissolve  the  sediment  with  hot  water,  filter,  and  evaporate  to  1^  cc. ;, 
this  residue  will  give  an  indication  of  the  quantity  of  caramel  present. 
— Zeitschrift  f.  Analyt.  Chemie,  1885. 
Sugar  in  Beet  Root. — Girard  shows  by  new  assays  that  the  forma- 
tion of  sucrose  takes  place  in  the  margin  of  the  leaves  through  the 
influence  of  the  sunlight.  During  the  night  the  sugar  passes  into  the 
root,  so  that  in  the  morning  the  leaf  margins  are  free  from  sucrose,  but 
retain  a  uniform  quantity  of  reducing  sugar. — Journ.  de  Fabr.  de  Sucre, 
1884,  pp.  25,  48  ;  Chemiker  Ztg.,  1885,  p.  3. 
Mixtura  dentrificia. — 
Oil  of  pepper  mint  (English)   10*0 
Oil  of  anise  (French)   4*0 
Oil  of  star  anise   4*0 
Oil  of  Ceylon  cinnamon   1*0 
Oil  of  rose   0-5 
Oil  of  cloves   2  0 
Tincture  of  ambergris   2  0 
Tincture  of  vanilla   10  0 
Tincture  of  cochineal   25'0 
Tincture  of  logwood   2'0 
Tincture  of  orris  root   6*0 
Sugar   10-0 
Alcohol    1  liter. 
Digest  for  24  hours,  and  filter. —  Gaz.  Hebdom.  ;  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1885, 
p.  5. 
Paste  of  Squill  as  Rat  Poison. — Melt  in  a  suitable  dish  4  ounces  of 
