388  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {Aml%g;$&m' 
In  the  opinion  of  the  author,  the  explosion  of  the  solution 
mentioned,  which  was  one  of  the  many  solutions  for  the  marking 
of  linen,  based  on  silver  nitrate,  is  explained  by  the  presence  of 
sodium  carbonate  and  ammonia,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  redissolve 
the  precipitate  of  argentic  carbonate,  formed  from  the  mixture  of 
the  two  solutions,  the  solution  becoming  acid,  and  decomposing  the 
sodium  carbonate  into  sodium  nitrate,  water  and  carbonic  anhydride. 
In  the  opinion  of  the  author,  the  addition  of  ammonia  in  excess, 
beside  the  use  of  yellow  glass  containers,  for  such  solutions  is 
necessary  for  preventing  such  explosions. — Jour,  de  Pharm.  et  de 
Chim.,  May,  1893,  P-  510- 
Stability  of  glycerite  of  starch. — In  M.  Patel's  opinion  this  can  be 
attained  by  heating  the  mixture  at  an  elevated  temperature  a  suf- 
ficient length  of  time  to  dissolve  all  the  starch  granules.  M. 
Chapelle,  while  admitting  the  stability  of  the  preparation  by  this 
means,  says  that  the  product  has  not  the  proper  creamy  consistence, 
and  that  success  depends  only  upon  the  nature  of  the  material  used, 
while  M.  Muller  recommends  the  addition  of  a  little  gum  traga- 
canth. — Bulletin  commercial. 
Oxalic  acid  is  prescribed  as  an  emmenagogue  by  Dr.  V.  Poulet,  in 
the  following  formula  :  Oxalic  acid,  2  gm.;  infusion  of  tea,  190  gm.; 
syrup  of  bitter  orange  peel,  75  gm.  A  tablespoonful  to  be  taken 
every  hour. — Rev.  ther.  med.  chir.,  July,  1893,  p.  353. 
Cantharidin  is  prepared  by  the  following  process,  which  is  said  to 
yield  a  product  superior  to  that  obtained  by  other  processes : 
Macerate  the  pulverized  cantharides  in  acetic  ether  and  add  a  little 
sulphuric  acid  ;  neutralize  with  barium  carbonate,  exhaust  with 
acetic  ether  and  distil  the  solution.  The  residue  is  evaporated  to 
dryness,  treated  with  petroleum-ether,  then  with  alcohol  to  remove 
resinous  coloring  matters  and  purified  by  repeated  crystallizations. 
By  this  process  Lytta  vesicatoria  yielded  o  3-045  per  cent,  of 
vesicating  principle ;  Epicanta  Gorrhami,  o  45  per  cent.,  and  Myla- 
bris  Cichorrii,  0  9- 1-03  per  cent. — Jour,  de  Pharm.  et  de  Chim., 
April,  1893. 
Diuretin,  according  to  Pawinski  (Gaz.  lek.,  Jan.,  1893,  through 
Nouv.  Rem.,  June,  1893,  p.  253),  who  studied  its  action  in  more  than 
50  cases,  does  not  regulate  the  cardiac  nerves  like  digitalis,  but  still 
regulates  the  pulse  indirectly,  in  augmenting  diuresis  and  diminish- 
