378  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  { Am Aug.?i893arm' 
The  results  obtained  in  a  limited  number  of  determinations  by 
both  methods  are  given  in  the  foregoing  table. 
A  small  amount  of  alkaloid  is  retained  by  the  mother-liquor,  for 
which  perhaps  a  correction  ought  to  be  made.  The  quantity  thus 
lost  is  proportionate  to  the  amount  of  alcohol  present  and  in  a 
solution  of  the  pure  alkaloid  under  the  exact  conditions  of  the 
assay  process  amounts  to  -038  gram.  Whether  or  not  this  correctly 
represents  the  amount  retained  by  the  mother-liquor  in  the  assay  of 
the  fluid  extract  is  a  point  that  remains  to  be  determined  before  the 
correction  can  be  applied.  The  process  has  not  yet  been  adapted  to 
the  assay  of  the  drug,  the  tincture,  the  so-called  non-alcoholic  fluid 
extract  and  the  various  fluid  preparations  of  hydrastine. 
In  conclusion,  I  will  say  that  this  assay  process  could  be  utilized 
in  the  manufacture  of  the  alkaloid,  and  considering  the  largeness  of 
the  yield  and  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  isolated,  there  seems  to 
be  no  reason  why  it  should  continue  to  command  the  enormously 
high  price  that  has  prevailed  in  the  past. 
Analytical  Laboratory,  Eli  Lilly  &  Co. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Narceine  and  Aponarceine, — When  commercial  narceine  is  heated 
with  a  concentrated  alkaline  hydrate  solution,  the  narceine  loses  a 
molecule  of  water  and  forms  the  alkali  salt  of  a  new  compound 
called  aponarceine'.  C23H29N09  -f  NaOH  =  C23H26N08Na  -f  2  H20. 
This  alkali  salt  in  aqueous  solution  upon  the  addition  of  an  acid 
reunites  with  one  molecule  of  water  and  forms  chemically  pure 
narceine  melting  at  1630  C:  C23H26N08Na  +  HC1  +  H20  =  NaCl 
-f-  C23H29N09 ;  if,  however,  to  the  alcoholic  solution  of  the  sodium 
aponarceine  an  alcoholic  solution  of  an  acid  be  added  either  free 
aponarceine,  C23H27N08,  melting  at  157-1580  C.  or  one  of  its  salts 
like  C23H27N08  HC1  will  be  formed  dependent  upon  the  quantity  of 
the  acid  added.  These  several  preparations  are  intended  for  medicinal 
use  and  are  covered  by  a  German  patent. —  Ckemiker  Ztg.,  1893,  840. 
Sun-flower  oil,  used  considerably  for  adulterations,  according  to 
Dr.  A.  Jolles  and  E.  Wild,  has  an  iodine-absorption  figure  of  127 
and  with  Becchi's  test  gives  a  more  pronounced  brown  coloration 
than  cotton  seed  oil ;  the  test  found  to  answerjbest  in  distinguish- 
