"Am Apri!;  i893arm"}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  171 
skin,  so  that  this  property,  also  possessed  by  lanolin,  is  not  due  to  the 
water  contained  in  the  latter.  Lanain  is  offered  as  a  substitute  for 
the  different  fats  and  some  fixed  oils  in  the  preparation  of  ointments, 
pomades,  etc. — Dr.  H.  Hirzel,  Apotheker  Ztg.,  1893,  57. 
Permanent  physostigmine  solutions  can  be  made  by  dissolving 
physostigmine  in  carbonated  water,  transferring  to  small  tubes, 
heating  to  ioo°  C.  (which  expels  the  excess  of  carbonic  dioxide  and 
sterilizes  the  solution)  and  hermetically  sealing  the  tubes.  The 
decomposition,  according  to  Sabbatani,  is  due  to  the  alkalinity  of  the 
solution  caused  by  the  solution  taking  up  alkali  from  the  glass  and 
becoming  red  ;  the  presence  of  the  weakest  acid,  however,  prevents 
this  decomposition. — (Riforma  med.)  Rundschau,  1893,  144. 
Distinction  between  soluble  and  organized  ferments. — The  addition 
•of  one  per  cent,  of  sodium  fluoride  immediately  and  permanently 
arrests  the  fermentations  caused  by  organized  ferments  without 
interfering  with  the  fermentations  produced  by  soluble  ferments. 
M.  Arthus  and  A.  Huber,  in  examining  the  action  of  sodium  fluoride 
upon  different  fermentations,  found  that  the  process  of  decay,  the 
ammoniacal  fermentation  of  the  urine  and  the  alcoholic  fermentation 
of  sugar  were  prevented  by  the  above  chemical  while  the  action  of 
saliva,  invertin,  emulsin,  pepsin  and  pancreatin  were  not  interfered 
with.  In  the  study  of  unknown  fermentations,  the  use  of  sodium 
fluoride  will  give  important  information  in  deciding  the  cause  of  the 
fermentation. —  (Arch.  d.  Physiol.)  Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1893,  70. 
Test  for  pilocarpine. — The  hydrochlorate  of  this  alkaloid,  mixed 
with  calomel,  becomes  black,  if  exposed  to  moist  air,  or  if  it  be 
breathed  upon.  The  same  reaction  is  given  by  cocaine  hydro- 
chlorate  {Am.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1 891 ,  132)  although  the  color  is  not  so 
intense. — W.  Lenz,  Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1893,  79. 
Teucrin  is  the  name  given  by  Professor  von  Mosetig-Moorhof  to 
an  extract  of  the  plant  Teucrium  Scordium,  found  throughout  central 
Germany,  and  which  has  been  known  since  the  earliest  times  as  an 
excitant  and  anti-ferment.  The  remedy  is  prepared  by  making  a 
decoction  of  the  dried  plant,  concentrating  to  honey  consistency  and 
purifying  by  addition  of  alcohol;  the  filtered  solution  is  evaporated 
until  a  specific  gravity  of  1-15  is  obtained,  when  the  extract  is  steril- 
ized and  hermetically  sealed  in  glass  vials  holding  three  grams.  In 
appearance  it  is  a  dark  brown  liquid,  having  a  characteristic  odor;  it 
