Am.  Jour.  Pliarm.  \ 
Sept.,  1885.  J 
Gleanings  from  Foreign  Jowmah. 
435 
celled,  many-seeded,  and  filled  with  a  pulp  which  in  the  fresh  state 
is  greenish  white,  but  after  drying  is  black,  and  then  resembles  the 
pulp  of  cassia  fistula ;  it  contains  much  sugar,  a  notable  quantity  of 
gum,  tannin  and  woody  fibres.  The  pulp  is  recommended  as  an  excel- 
lent remedy  for  allaying  cough  and  in  contusions.  The  leaves  are 
astringent,  and  are  used  in  diarrhoeas,  also  for  promoting  the  growth 
of  the  hair  and  preventing  its  falling  out. 
Cuauchalata,  Rajania  subsamarata,  Fl.  Mex.  ined.;  Dioscoreaceae ;  in 
Matamoras,  etc.    The  bark  is  astringent. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  FOREIGN  JOURNALS.' 
By  J.  Robert  Moechel. 
Purification  of  Potable  Waters. — The  process  given  by  Prof.  Almen 
is  recommended  by  Prof.  Th.  Husemann.  To  1  liter  water  add  3  cc. 
of  a  5  per  cent,  solution  of  chloride  of  iron  and  also  a  quantity  of 
lime-water  corresponding  to  the  hardness  of  the  water,  about  50  cc. 
The  resulting  brown  precipitate  is  a  basic  iron  salt  and  hydrated  iron- 
oxide,  which  may  be  separated  by  straining  or  filtering  through  sand. 
40  to  80  per  cent,  of  the  dissolved  organic  matters,  besides  the  sus- 
pended organic  matters,  are  said  to  be  precipitated  by  this  process. — 
Schwig.  W.f  Ph.,  No.  21,  1885. 
Phenol  and  Chloral  hydrate  mixed  in  the  proportion  of  17  to  10 
give  a  liquid  which  is  miscible  with  water  in  all  proportions. — i'  Union 
Pharmac. ;  Leitm.  Pdsch.,  No.  28,  1885. 
Solutions  of  Iodine  in  Oils. — The  20  per  cent,  solution  in  castor  oil 
is  of  a  brown  color  and  thick ;  in  olive  and  almond  oil  of  brownish 
red  color  and  somewhat  thinner.  For  practical  purposes  the  solution 
in  castor  oil  is  of  special  interest  as  being  miscible  with  strong  alcohol 
and  mitigating  some  inconveniences  resulting  from  the  use  of  tincture 
of  iodine.  G.  Greuel  recommends  the  following  formula :  Dissolve 
with  a  gentle  heat  iodine  10,  in  castor  oil,  and  alcohol  (93  per  cent.) 
each  45. — Archiv  d.  Phar.,  June,  1885. 
Boric  Acid  is  recommended  by  Artimini  in  epidemics  of  cholera, 
etc.,  as  an  antiseptic  and  for  destroying  microorganisms,  and  as  being 
not  injurious  if  taken  in  small  doses,  which  may  be  added  to  food  or 
drink — L'Orosi,  8,  p.  44;  Archiv  d.  Phar.,  Mai,  1885. 
The  symptoms  of  poisoning  by  boric  acid,  according  to  Molodenkow, 
