282  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  { Amjuneni893arm* 
the  following  glycerite  :  Oil  of  cade,  140  gm.,  emulsionized  with  15 
gm.  fluid  extract  of  quillaia  ;  and  glycerite  of  starch,  845  gm.  If 
this  is  well  tolerated  by  the  skin,  it  can  be  strengthened  according 
to  the  following  formula  :  Oil  of  cade,  460  gm.;  fluid  extract  of 
quillaia,  40  gm.;  glycerite  of  starch,  500  gm.  If  untoward  symptoms 
arise,  accidents  can  be  averted  by  administering  2  to  6  gm.  of  salol 
during  24  hours. 
Calcium  bisulphite  is,  according  to  the  clinical  observations  of 
Nils  Sjoberg  (Einay  through  Rev.  intern,  de  bibliog.  med.y  April, 
1893,  P-  T37)»  sucn  a  reliable  antiseptic,  that  the  irritation  caused 
by  it  is  an  insignificant  objection.  However,  it  cannot  be  used  in 
surgical  operations,  because  it  attacks  the  instruments  used,  but 
it  can  always  find  appropriate  application  as  an  antiseptic  in 
virulent  wounds,  ulcers,  etc.  (See  also  Amer.  Journ.  of  Pharm., 
1892,  p.  467.) 
Syrup  of  narceine. — M.  Patrouillard  proposes  the  following  formula 
for  an  efficacious  preparation :  Narceine,  0  25  gm.;  sodium  ben- 
zoate,  040  gm..  and  simple  syrup,  300  gm.  The  two  powders 
should  be  triturated  in  a  mortar,  so  that  the  solution  may  be 
perfect. — Jour,  de  Pharm.  et  de  Chim.,  April,  1893,  p.  397. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS.  _ 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Potassium  ferrocyanide,  generally  considered  to  be  a  fairly  stable 
compound,  has  been  found  in  a  recent  investigation  to  be  decom- 
posable, not  only  by  the  weakest  acids,  but  also  by  numerous  non- 
acid  organic  substances,  hydrocyanic  acid  being  liberated.  The 
dilute  mineral  acids  containing  even  less  than  01  per  cent,  formic, 
acetic,  butyric,  lactic,  tartaric,  benzoic,  etc.,  acids,  even  carbonic  acid 
and  hydrogen  sulphide,  phenols,  peptones,  casein,  etc.,  will  decompose 
potassium  ferrocyanide  more  or  less  quickly  at  temperatures  below 
100°  C,  liberating  a  portion  of  the  hydrocyanic  acid  and  forming 
white  insoluble  potassium  ferrous  ferrocyanide  K2Fe  (Fe(CN)6);  with 
carbonic  acid  the  reaction  is  2K4Fe  (CN)6  -{-  3C02  +  3H20  =  6HCN 
4-  K2Fe  (Fe(CN)6)  -j-  3K2COs.  In  the  manufacture  of  hydrocy- 
anic acid  from  the  ferrocyanide  and  sulphuric  acid  the  residue  con- 
sists of  the  above  salt,  from  which  the  sulphuric  acid  extracts  a  part 
of  the  iron  as  ferrous  sulphate  which  by  oxidation  changes  to 
