172  Gleanings  from  Foreign  Journals.  {^'^'A^Si'-mt'^' 
lard  ;  add  8  ounces  of  squill,  and  a  small  onion,  cut  into  minute  pieces; 
digest,  with  continuous  stirring,  for  about  15  minutes,  and  then  mix 
with  an  equal  quantity  of  mashed  potatoes.  When  cool,  add  20  drops 
of  oil  of  anise.  This  paste  is  said  to  be  very  efficient. — Pharm,  Ztg., 
1885,  p.  6. 
Ferrous  iodide^  dissolved  in  glycerin,  does  not  undergo  any  altera- 
tion.   The  following  formula  is  suggested  by  Sylvio  Plevani : 
Digest  20  Gm.  iodine,  10  Gm.  card  teeth  and  30  Gm.  water;  filter 
into  a  porcelain  capsule,  containing  75  Gm.  of  glycerin,  and  evaporate 
to  100  Gm. 
This  solution  contains  23  Gm.  of  ferrous  iodide,  and,  since  it  is  mis- 
cible  in  all  proportions  with  water,  alcohol  and  syrups,  and  may  also 
be  incorporated  with  fats  and  oils,  it  is  a  preparation  offering  great 
convenience  in  dispensing. — Bollet.  FarmaceuL  ;  Pharm.  Ztg.,  lSS6j 
P-9. 
Carbolic  Acid.  —The  reddish  tint  which  carbolic  acid  assumes  seems 
to  be  frequently,  but  not  always,  caused  by  the  presence  of  traces  of 
iron,  as  shown  by  Hager.  After  purifying  a  red  carbolic  acid  by  dis- 
tillation, he  was  not  able  to  find  any  indication  of  iron,  but  concludes 
that  the  coloration  may  have  been  caused  by  compounds  resembling 
corallin  or  trop?eolin. — Pharni.  Centralhalle,  1885,  p.  1. 
Pomegranate  hark,  according  to  Carl  Julius  Bender,  contains  but 
one  crystallizable  alkaloid  and  two  amorphous  bases.  He  discards  the 
name  Pelletierine  in  favor  of  "  Punicine,"  and  gives  a  process  for  the 
preparation  of  a  stable  crystallized  sulphate. — Pharm.  Centralhalle, 
1885,  p.  6. 
Aconitine  has  a  reducing  action  on  salts  of  silver  and  mercury,  by 
which  it  may  be  recognized,  according  to  Hager. 
On  dissolving  0'02  or  0*03  Gm.  aconitine  in  3  to  4  cc.  alcohol,  and 
adding  a  few  drops  of  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  instantaneous 
reduction  takes  place,  which  action  may  be  accelerated  by  heat.  The 
drops  falling  into  the  aconitine  solution  cause  turbidity  and  a  brownish 
color.  More  than  traces  of  other  salts,  especially  alkalies,  prevent 
the  reduction  until  after  repeated  boiling.  The  scaly  aconitine  of 
commerce  seems  to  have  been  obtained  by  spreading  an  alcoholic  solu- 
tion on  glass  plates. — Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1885,  p.  6. 
Reaction  of  Chloral  Hydrate. — If  calcium  sulphydrate,  Ca(SH)2,  is 
added  to  a  solution  of  chloral  hydrate,  the  liquid  assumes  a  red  color. 
The  reaction  is  less  delicate,  but  still  distinct,  if  HgS  and  then  GaHO 
