Am'reb.!'i89iarm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  93 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Creolin- Pearson. — A  very  elaborate  analysis  of  this  preparation 
by  M.  Pfrenger,  can  be  summarized  as  follows:  Phenols,  12-67; 
hydrocarbons,  4494;  organic  bases,  276;  sodium,  1-45;  resin, 
32  45  ;  sulphur,  0-248  ;  chlorine,  0-14  ;  water  (by  difference),  5-342. 
The  phenols  consist  of  traces  of  carbolic  acid,  smaller  quantities  of 
//z-xylenol  and  <?-xylenol,  in  the  main  of  ortho-  and  meta-cresol.  The 
hydrocarbons  are  mixtures  of  small  quantities  of  the  higher  homo, 
logues  of  benzol  (boiling  between  i6o°and  i90°C.)with  naphthalene 
tf-methylnaphthalene,  acenaphthene  and  anthracene.  The  bases 
belong  largely  to  the  chinoline-group.  The  emulsifying-property  of 
the  preparation  is  due  to  the  presence  of  resin-soap. — Archiv  der 
Pharm.,  1 890,  701-713. 
Birch-wood  creasote  contains  the  following  phenols :  Guaiacol  and 
creasol  (making  up  the  bulk  of  the  phenols ) ;  cresol  and  xylenol 
(in  smaller  quantities  )  ;  phenol  (carbolic  acid)  was  not  positively 
identified. — M.  Pfrenger,  Archiv  der  Pharm.,  1890,  713-719. 
Test  for  Vanillin. — Vanillin  in  powder  or  in  alcoholic  solution, 
mixed  with  a  small  quantity  of  thiophene  and  concentrated  sulphuric 
acid,  gives  upon  addition  of  alcohol  a  deep  green  or  blue-green 
coloration.  Wood  contains  vanillin  as  an  incrustating  substance; 
this  may  be  proven  by  moistening  wood  with  a  mixture  containing 
one  or  two  drops  thiophene^  20-30  drops  alcohol  and  an  equal  vol- 
ume of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  after  a  short  time  a  beautiful 
green  color  develops.  Of  various  aromatic  substances,  vanillin  was 
the  only  one  to  produce  the  above  reaction. — Anton  Ihl,  Chemiker 
Ztg.,  1890,  1707. 
The  Volatile  Alkaloid  of  Ipecacuanha  (Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1889, 
78)  has  been  further  studied  by  its  discoverer,  Dr.  E.  M.  Arndt, 
establishing  its  identity  with  choline  (trimethyloxethylammonium 
hydrate,  N(CH3)3(C2H4.OH)(OH) ).  In  the  estimation  of  emetine, 
this  volatile  body  is  likely  to  cause  errors  ;  it  is  known  that  in  prepa- 
rations of  ipecac  containing  acids  more  alkaloid  is  found  than  in 
preparations  in  which  no  acid  was  used ;  this  is  explained  by  the 
emetine  being  present  in  the  ipecac  in  a  soluble  form,  while  the 
choline  is  present  in  insoluble  form,  but  easily  rendered  soluble  by 
use  of  acids. — Apothekery  Ztg.,  1890,  780. 
