Am'/an.?iS)3arm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  n 
extract,  which  in  all  probability  was  adulterated  with  an  extract  from 
a  species  of  Ferreira.  The  barks  of  Andira  inermis  and  A.  anthelmin- 
tic a  also  contain  this  principle.  It  is  proposed  to  call  this  principle 
(methyl-tyrosin)  andirin  and  drop  the  names  surinamine,  geoffroyin, 
rhatanin  and  angelin. — 0.  Hiller-Bombien,  Arch,  der  Pharm.,  1892, 
513-548. 
Strychnos  Alkaloids. — The  wood  of  S.  Nux  vomica,  according  to 
F.  A.  Fliickiger,  yields  0-23  per  cent,  strychnine  and  0-08  per  cent, 
brucine;  in  the  leaves  Hooper  found  0  3  per  cent,  brucine,  but  no 
strychnine;  the  bark,  according  to  Beckurts  and  Vilmar,  contains 
1*6  per  cent,  alkaloid  (considering  the  alkaloids,  present  in  equal 
quantities),  an  examination  of  the  residue  disclosed  that  the  bark 
contains  brucine  with  Only  traces  of  strychnine. 
The  seeds  of  S.  potatorum,  L.  fil.,  according  to  Fliickiger  and 
Maisch,  contain  neither  brucine  nor  strychnine  ;  but  according  to 
the  authors  of  the  Pharmacographia  indica  they  contain  brucine,  but 
no  strychnine  ;  according  to  Beckurts  and  Peinemann  there  is  neither 
alkaloid  present,  confirming  the  first-mentioned  investigators. — 
Arch,  der  Pharm.,  1892,  549. 
Amyloid. — A  constituent  of  milk  and  dairy  products.  Dr.  F.  J. 
Herz,  in  a  microscopic  examination  of  milk,  cream,  cheese  of  various 
kinds,  and  even  in  what  is  called  chemically  pure  casein,  found  struc- 
tures which  in  appearance,  size  and  behavior  to  iodine  showed  strik- 
ing similarity  to  starch.  A  point  of  difference  was  found  in  the 
action  of  boiling  water,  which  failed  to  gelatinize  them  ;  heated 
they  become  soft  and  can  be  enveloped  by  casein  or  gluten,  but 
without  forming  an  intimate  mixture,  as  iodine  will  sharply  define 
the  position  of  this  substance,  called  ''  amyloid."  It  has  not  been 
determined  if  it  is  a  constant  constituent  of  milk  nor  if  it  has  any 
bearing  upon  the  use  of  the  milk. —  Chemiker  Ztg.,  1892,  1594. 
The  Oxidation  and  Saponification  of  Mineral  Oils. — By  the  joint 
action  of  sulphuric  acid  and  atmospheric  oxygen,  the  naphthene 
hydrocarbons  undergo  a  partial  oxidation,  since  the  resinous  or  bitu- 
minous constituents  obtained  are  found  by  analysis  to  be  oxygenated 
and  the  practical  utilization  of  the  products  substantiate  this.  The 
solid  constituents  (bitumen)  in  crude  oil  are  undoubtedly  produced 
in  the  interior  of  the  earth  by  oxidation  under  pressure,  and  the 
products  at  least  partially  enter  solution  in  the  crude  oil.  It 
appears  that  the  presence  of  natural  oxidation  products  greatly 
