Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
August,  1920.  ( 
Current  Literature. 
599 
than  0.025  Cc.  of  alcohol)  is  mixed  with  i  Cc.  of  5  per  cent,  potas- 
sium permanganate  solution,  2 . 5  Cc.  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  (sul- 
phuric acid,  19  Gms.,  water  200  Cc),  and,  after  standing  two  min- 
utes, the  mixture  is  decolorized  by  the  addition  of  i  Cc.  of  10  per 
cent.  oxaUc  acid  solution.  To  o .  5  Cc.  of  this  mixture  are  then  added 
I  drop  of  peptone  solution  (=  2.5  Mgm.  of  peptone),  and  i  Cc. 
of  sulphuric  acid  containing  iron  (0.05  Gm.  of  iron  alum  dissolved 
in  I  Cc.  of  water  and  added  to  300  Gms.  of  sulphuric  acid).  A  deep 
blue  color  is  obtained  if  the  spirit  contained  i  per  cent,  of  methyl 
alcohol;  a  red-blue  color  is  produced  by  0.3  per  cent,  of  the  alcohol. 
Pure  ethyl  alcohol  gives  a  yellowish  red  coloration  with  the  test. 
If  an  indication  of  the  presence  of  methyl  alcohol  is  obtained,  it 
should  be  confirmed  by  the  morphine  and  magenta-sulphurous  acid 
tests.  {Pharm.  Zentr.,  61:  177-182,  1920;  through  /.  Soc.  Chem. 
Ind.,  39:  345 A,  1920;  through  The  Analyst,  June,  1920.) 
,  DktkcTion  of  Cinnamic  Acid. — Traces  of  cinnamic  acid,  either 
free  or  as  a  salt  or  ester,  can  be  detected  by  means  of  a  ferric  salt  and 
hydrogen  peroxide.  To  every  2  Cc.  of  a  solution  of  cinnamic  acid 
or  a  cinnamate  one  drop  of  solution  of  ferric  chloride  is  added  and  the 
mixture  heated  to  boihng;  one  drop  of  hydrogen  peroxide  is  then 
added  and  the  tube  shaken  for  a  few  seconds ;  if  no  odor  of  benzalde- 
hyde  is  developed  the  tube  is  agian  heated  to  boiling.  It  is  possible 
by  this  means  to  detect  0.02  Gm.  of  cinnamic  acid  in  a  liter  of  water ; 
if  the  amount  present  exceeds  o.  i  liter  the  quantity  of  ferric  chloride 
and  hydrogen  peroxide  may  be  doubled.  Cinnamic  esters  should  be 
boiled  with  5  Cc.  of  water  and  two  or  three  drops  of  solution  of  soda 
for  twenty  to  thirty  seconds  and  acidified  with  diluted  sulphuric 
acid;  the  ferric  chloride  is  then  added,  the  mixture  boiled,  the  hydro- 
gen peroxide  added,  and  again  boiled,  when  the  odor  of  benzaldehyde 
will  easily  be  detected.  A  similar  procedure  is  adopted  with  balsam 
of  Peru  or  tolu.  (M.  G.  Deniges,  Bull.  Soc.  Ph.  Bordeaux,  57:  209; 
through  The  Pharm.  Jour,  and  Pharm.,  Feb.  14,  1920. 
Serum  Test  for  Echinococcus  Disease. — Gasbarrini  applied 
the  test  by  the  intradermal  technic  and  obtained  a  positive  response 
in  all  his  twelve  cases  of  hydatid  cyst,  except  in  one  case  in  which  the 
cyst  had  suppurated  and  thus  had  ceased  to  be  "active."  He 
commends  the  ease  and  harmlessness  of  the  test.  It  is  made  with 
serum  from  bovine   hydatid  cysts,  filtered;  after  addition  of  one 
