-^^Ma^^glo: }     Extension  of  German  Chemical  Industry  355 
never  been  more  than  2  Cc.  It  is  important  to  note  that  anaes- 
thesia is  obtained  much  more  slowly  than  with  cocaine.  With  the 
latter  ten  minutes  sufficed;  but  with  guaiacol  one  must  wait  at  least 
fifteen  or  twenty  minutes.  {Med.  Press,  Dec.  31,  1919;  through 
The  Pharm.  Jour,  and  Pharm.,  Feb.  14,  1920.) 
DejterioraTion  oif  Crystalunu  Strophanthin  in  Aoukous 
Solution. — Experiments  were  undertaken  by  Levy  and  Cullen  to 
ascertain  the  cause  of  the  deterioration  of  aqueous  solutions  of 
strophanthin  in  relation  to  the  altered  hydrogen-ion  concentration, 
and  to  advise  a  method  for  preparing  a  stable  solution  for  thera- 
peutic purposes.  Many  of  the  glass  containers  commonly  used  in 
the  laboratory,  and  most  of  the  glass  ampoules  employed  in  mar- 
keting sterile  solutions  for  hypodermic  or  intravenous  medication, 
were  found  to  yield  sufficient  alkali  on  autoclaving,  to  change  the 
reaction  of  distilled  water  from  6.0  to  9-0-  T'^is  increase  in 
alkalinity  is  sufficient  to  render  biologically  inert  and  partially  to 
decompose  aqueous  solutions  of  crystalline  strophanthin  in  the  con- 
centration ordinarily  employed  in  the  clinic.  It  is  suggested  that 
for  clinical  use,  crystalline  strophanthin  be  dissolved  in  0.02  M 
standard  phosphate  solution  at  7.0,  and  marketed  in  hard  glass 
ampoules,  thereby  insuring  stability  of  reaction  with  preservation 
of  biologic  activity.  (From  Jour.  Exper.  Med.,  Baltimore,  Mar. 
I,  1920;  through  Jour.  Amer.  Med.  Assoc.,  April  10,  1920.) 
EXTENSION  OF  GERMAN  CHEMICAL  INDUSTRY.* 
By  Trads  Commissioner  C.  E.  Herring. 
BRUSSEivS,  BEI.GIUM. 
That  the  German  chemical  industry  is  determined  to  regain 
its  former  ascendancy  in  world  markets  if  possible  is  indicated  by 
a  further  increase  in  the  capitalization  of  large  German  establish- 
ments. At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  companies  mentioned  below, 
which  grouped  themselves  about  two  years  ago,  increased  capi- 
talization was  decided  upon,  although  the  capitalization  was  also 
increased  when  the  group  was  organized.  The  new  issues  will 
bring  the  total  capitaHzation  to  1,073,520,000  marks,  distributed 
as  follows : 
*  From  Commerce  Reports,  December  31,  1919. 
