58 
Current  Literature. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
January,  1920. 
alcohol  (95°).  This  both  decolors  and  recolors  at  the  same  time, 
with  the  finest  and  most  constant  results.  It  has  shown  up  tu- 
bercle bacilli  in  sputum,  urine  and  stools  when  the  Ziehl  gave  nega- 
tive findings,  and  the  accuracy  of  the  lactic  acid  method  was  con- 
firmed by  the  course  of  the  cases.  The  non-acid  resisting  bacilli 
can  be  differentiated  more  readily,  and  the  whole  procedure  takes  less 
time  than  the  ordinary  technic.  (From  Jour,  Amer.  Med.  Assoc., 
October  ii,  1919.) 
InskcticidaIv  PrincipIvE). — This  principle  in  Chrysanthemum  cin- 
erariaefolium,  termed  pyrethron  by  Sato,  was  found  by  Yamamoto 
(Jour.  Tokyo  Chem.  Soc.,  40,  19 19)  to  be  present  principally  in  the 
ovary  of  the  flower,  particularly  abundant  during  the  blooming 
period,  while  the  other  parts  of  the  flower  contained  very  little 
Pyrethron  is  an  almost  neutral  mixture,  very  sensitive  to  heat  and 
air.  On  hydrolysis  it  yields  two  alcohols,  C21H34O  and  C27H46O, 
one  liquid  fatty  acid,  palmitic  acid  and  possibly  another  solid  fatty 
acid.  In  a  concentration  above  0.077  P^i"  cent,  pyrethron  checks  bac- 
terial growth.  Its  saponification  number  is  216,  iodine  number  116. 
(From  The  Chemist  and  Druggist,  October  4,  19 19.) 
Rapid  Detkrmination  of  Hydrogen  Ion  Concentrations. 
— A  new  apparatus  for  determining  the  dilution  of  hydrogen  ion  in 
bacterial  cultures  and  other  fluids  is  described  by  Jones.  As  com- 
pared with  the  colorimetric  method,  the  apparatus  here  described  has 
wider  application,  is  more  accurate,  less  cumbersome  and  only 
slightly  less  rapid.  The  hydrogen  electrode  vessel  described  was 
designed  with  two  objects,  chiefly,  in  mind:  (i)  to  provide  a  vessel 
accurate  at  least  to  o.oi  pH,  and  (2)  to  provide  a  vessel  giving  rapid 
saturation  with  hydrogen  gas,  and  yet  one  which  is  easily  con- 
structed. A  rapid  and  labor-saving  technic  combining  the  indicator, 
and  the  gas-chain  methods  is  described,  which  obviates  the  difficult 
task  of  preparing  standard  solution  for  the  former  methods,  and 
of  making  needless  repetitions  by  the  latter. — (From  Jour.  Amer. 
Med.  Assoc.,  Sept.  27,  1919.) 
MEDICAL  AND  PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES.  ' 
Saccharin  Stimui^atks  Bodii^y  Oxidation. — That  saccharin  is 
liarmless,  and  at  the  same  time  worthless  as  a  provider  of  energy  is 
now  generally  admitted.    Its  influence  on  the  process  of  oxidation 
