548  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {^iT/Jm^ 
at  ordinary  temperature,  fused  at  135°  C,  dissolved  in  nearly  all 
ordinary  solvents,  particularly  in  carbon  bisulphide,  but  were  insolu- 
ble in  water,  and  were  precipitated  from  their  solution  in  abso- 
lute alcohol  by  an  excess  of  water.  These  properties  point  to  the 
identity  of  the  crystals  with  the  trichlormethylsulphurous  chloride, 
obtained  by  Kolbe  from  the  action  of  manganese  dioxide  and 
hydrochloric  acid  on  carbon  bisulphide,  and  possessing  the  formula 
Qn  oca, 
bU\Cl 
Action  of  aldehydes  on  polyvalent  phenols,  aromatic  acetals. — From 
a  thesis  presented  by  M.  Causse  for  obtaining  the  diploma  of  a 
pharmacist  of  the  first  class,  the  Jour,  de  Pharm.  et  de  Chim  (Oc- 
tober, 1893,  p.  319)  abstracts  the  following:  By  the  action  of  alde- 
hydes on  phenol  either  diluted  or  in  acid  solution,  a  molecular  com- 
bination of  a  phenol  ether  and  the  aldehyde  employed  is  formed  ; 
and  to  designate  the  combinations  the  author  uses  the  generic  name 
acetals.  The  diatomic  resorcin  phenol  of  the  mcta  series  forms 
with  ordinary  aldehyde,  ethylresorcinic  acetal,  in  which  two  mole- 
cules of  resorcin  are  combined  for  one  of  aldehyde.  The  same  phe- 
nol acting  upon  chloral  or  upon  glyoxylic  acid  forms  one  and  the 
same  acetal,  glyoxylresorcic  acetal,  the  constitution  of  which 
resembles  the  preceding.  One  molecule  of  this  phenol  also  enters 
into  combination  with  pyrogallol,  forming  ethylpyrogallic  acetal. 
Estimation  of  total  bromine  in  urine. — A  Nicolle  publishes  the 
following  process,  based  upon  Dechau's  process  for  estimating 
alkaline  bromides;  50  cc.  urine  and  2  gm.  caustic  potassa  are  mixed, 
and  carefully  incinerated.  The  alkali  is  added  for  the  purpose  of 
decomposing  any  volatile  ammonium  bromide,  which  is  liable  to  form 
in  the  course  of  the  operation,  into  ammonium  and  potassium  bromide. 
The  mixture  is  heated  to  dull  redness,  recovered  with  boiling 
water,  filtered  and  the  volume  made  up  to  about  40  cc;  10  cc. 
pure  sulphuric  acid  are  now  cautiously  added  and  the  whole 
introduced  into  a  long-necked  flask,  containing  20  gm.  potassium 
bichromate,  and  connected  by  means  of  a  glass  tube  with  another 
flask  immersed  in  cold  water,  and  containing  20-25  cc.  of  a 
4  per  cent,  potassium  iodide  solution.  All  joints  of  the  appara- 
tus should  be  made  with  caoutchouc,  previously  boiled  with  caustic 
alkali.    On  heating  the  liquid  to  ebullition,  bromine  vapors  are  at 
