Am  Jour  Pharm. \ 
February,  1899.  J 
Notes  and  News. 
V 
NOTES  AND  NEWS. 
Croton  Oil. — M.  Javillier  {Jour,  de  Pharm.  etde  Chim., Vol.  VII,  No.  2)  finds 
that  the  oil  prepared  by  simple  pressure,  by  lixiviatiou  with  ether  at  0758,  or 
by  double  digestion  at  750  in  alcohol  at  950  has  different  appearances,  gives 
different  results  on  analysis  and  also  different  returns  ;  the  first  gave  12*5  per 
cent,  the  second  38  per  cent.,  and  the  third  12  per  cent.  In  summing  up  the 
results  of  analyses,  it  appears  that  the  oil  extracted  by  alcohol  differs  consider- 
ably from  the  other  two,  which  are  almost  identical.  —  Chemical  News,  Novem- 
ber 18,  1898. 
Comparison  of  Standard  Methods  for  the  Estimation  of  Starch. — 
H.  W.  Wiley  and  W.  H.  Krug  {J.  Am.  Chem.  Soc,  20,  253-266)  give  a  large 
amount  of  experimental  data  which  prove  all  the  existing  polarimetric  methods 
for  determining  starch  are  unreliable.  The  Lindet  method  is  only  approxi- 
mate. The  diastase  method  gives  satisfactory  results  providing  precautions  are 
taken  to  pulverize  the  sample  to  extreme  fineness  and  allow  sufficient  time  for 
the  action  of  malt,  preferably  containing  pepsin.  It  is  recommended  to  remove 
the  fat  first  and  also  to  repeat  the  malt  treatment  after  boiling  and  cooling. 
While  noting  that  the  results  of  cereal  analyses  are  at  best  but  approximate, 
the  authors  do  not  believe  that  any  constituents  are  present  that  are  unac- 
counted for  unless  amounts  of  complex  carbohydrates  so  small  as  to  be  reason- 
ably negligible. —  Technology  Quarterly,  Vol.  XI,  No.  2,  p.  60. 
Green  Gutta  Percha,  according  to  Technische  Berichte,  is  now  produced 
from  the  leaves  of  the  caoutchouc  tree,  and  is  said  not  only  to  possess  all  the 
advantages  of  the  article  obtained  by  incision  into  the  stem,  but  even  to  excel 
it  in  durability,  so  that  it  can  enter  into  use  industrially  and  commercially  in 
a  hitherto  unknown  way.  It  is  readily  prepared  and  cheap  in  price,  not  requir- 
ing an  expensive  purification,  which  heretofore  increased  the  price  of  the  pro- 
duct 15  to  25  per  cent.  Besides,  it  is  highly  plastic,  very  strong,  can  be  divided 
into  the  thinnest  leaves  and  receives  the  most  delicate  and  at  the  same  time 
most  distinct  impressions  by  molding  and  pressing.  Moreover,  it  withstands 
the  action  of  water  and  the  strongest  acids,  and  even  in  a  worn  and  broken-up 
condition  is  still  worth  25  per  cent,  of  its  cost  of  production.  The  French  mail 
and  telegraph  department  has  already  commenced  its  use  for  the  construction 
of  submarine  cables. 
Schweinfurth,  by  the  way,  is  said  to  have  discovered  in  Central  Africa  a  tree, 
called  "tsofar  "  by  the  natives,  from  which  also  exudes  a  gum  already  intro- 
duced in  commerce.  This  tree  possesses  the  remarkable  quality  of  giving  off 
flute-like  sounds  when  the  wind  blows  through  its  branches.  These  are  caused  by 
an  insect  penetrating  into  the  wood,  in  order  to  obtain  the  gummous  substance, 
thus  transforming  the  tree  into  a  huge  Pan  flute. — Scientijic  American,  Vol. 
LXXIX,  No.  7,  p.  102. 
The  Effect  of  Tobacco  on  the  Development  of  the  Young  is  the 
subject  of  an  editorial  in  the  issue  of  Pediatrics  of  December  1st.  It  is  pointed 
out  that  the  cigarette  habit  with  the  young  is  so  enormously  on  the  increase 
in  many  countries  of  the  world,  notably  England,  that  much  alarm  is  expressed 
with  regard  to  its  evil  effects,  and  legislative  measures  are  said  to  be  in  con- 
templation to  restrict  the  sale  of  tobacco.    Commenting  further  on  the  sub- 
