Am  No^;i8?3arm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  5  53 
such  a  volume  of  water  (about  20  volumes)  that  precipitation  of  the 
basic  salt  commences ;  after  some  time  the  precipitate  is  collected, 
washed  with  water  until  the  acidified  washings  cease  to  react  with 
silver  nitrate  ;  the  product,  apparently,  has  the  formula  C6H3  (OH) 
02  (BiOH).— Dr.  A.  Voswinkel,  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1893,  594. 
B or 0 -Salicylic  acid  solution,  containing  four  grams  each  of  boric 
and  salicylic  acid  in  a  liter,  proposed  by  Cesaris  and  Carcano,  has 
been  found  of  such  value  in  an  Italian  hospital  that  it  completely 
replaced  the  mercuric  chloride  solution.  The  addition  of  the  boric 
acid  adds  permanency  to  the  salicylic  acid  solution;  the  strength  of 
the  solution  can  be  increased  so  as  to  contain  six  grams  salicylic 
acid  per  liter,  although  this  solution  was  only  occasionally  used. — 
(Bollet.  Chim.  Farm.),  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1893,  594. 
Cocaine  reaction. — To  0  02  gm.  cocaine  hydrochlorate  dissolved  in 
one  drop  of  water  is  added  1  cc.  concentrated  sulphuric  acid;  the 
colorless  solution  upon  addition  of  a  drop  of  potassium  chromate  or 
bichromate  solution  gives  a  precipitate  which  rapidly  redissolves  ; 
upon  moderate  heating  the  yellowish  red  color  changes  to  green, 
while  stronger  heating  causes  the  escape  of  benzoic  acid  vapors. 
Other  reducing  alkaloids  like  morphine  are  distinguishable  by  other 
tests  as,  for  example,  the  action  of  sodium  hydrate  which  dissolves 
morphine  but  not  cocaine. — Dr.  Schaerges  [Schwz.  Wochenschr.  f. 
Chem.  und  Pharm.),  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1893,  602. 
Cocaine  salts  in  aqueous  solution  are  precipitated  by  borax,  the 
precipitate  dissolving  upon  the  addition  of  glycerin.  The  explana- 
tion is  that  the  alkaline  borax  precipitates  the  cocaine  which  is  dis- 
solved again  when  the  added  glycerin  liberates  boric  acid  from  the 
borax.  If  the  solution  containing  glycerin,  borax  and  some 
cocaine  salt  be  warmed,  a  turbidity  is  noticeable  commencing  at  the 
top  of  the  solution  and  travelling  downward  throughout  the  entire 
solution ;  during  cooling  the  solution  becomes  perfectly  clear  again. 
No  explanation  is  given  for  this  peculiar  behavior  which  results 
with  solutions  containing  o-i  per  cent,  of  cocaine  hydrochlorate. — 
M.  Lewy,  Pharm.  Zig.y  1893,  614. 
Malakin,  or  salicyl-phenetidine  closely  related  to  phenacetin  (acet- 
phenetidine)  is  recommended  as  an  antipyretic,  antirheumatic  and 
antineuralgic;  the  single  dose  is  one  gram,  the  daily  dose  4-6  gms. 
Insoluble  in  water,  cold  alcohol  and  alkaline  carbonates,  it  is  quite 
