Am'reb!ri8>9iarm*}    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  99 
affords  an  example  of  this  kind.  Hence,  we  see  that  Kobert  was  in 
error  when  he  stated  that  when  the  decoction  of  a  plant  gave  acid 
reactions,  the  presence  of  a  glucoside  was  demonstrated.  Some  of 
the  glucosides  may  be  precipitated  with  picric  acid ;  others  do  not 
show  this  reaction.  Some  of  them,  like  vincetoxin,  coagulate 
under  the  influence  of  heat.  Most  of  the  aqueous  solutions  of  the 
glucosides,  like  those  of  saponin,  are  persistently  frothy.  There 
remain  but  two  characteristic  reactions:  (1)  Decomposition  by 
mineral  acids  and  reduction  by  Fehling's  liquor  after  such  decompo- 
sition :  (2)  Precipitation  by  a  solution  of  molybdate  of  ammonium, 
lightly  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid. — M.  Bocquillon-Limousin, 
in  the  R'epert.  de  Phar.,  Nov.  10,  1890. 
Active  Principle  of  Bread-Crumb. — M.  Barnouvin  writes  to  the 
R'epert.  de  Phar.,  Dec.  10,  that  although  pharmacologists  tell  us  the 
reason  why  we  use  bread-crumb  in  making  Sydenham's  White 
Decoction,  viz.,  that  it  contains  an  acid  substance,  they  do  not  tell 
us  what  the  substance  is.  After  trying,  in  vain,  various  solvents, 
the  author  subjected  the  product  of  a  decoction  of  bread-crumb 
to  Uffelmann's  reagent  (phenol  and  perchloride  of  iron)  and 
obtained  the  characteristic  yellow  coloration  of  lactic  acid.  M. 
Barnouvin  considers  this  fact  as  having  a  certain  amount  of  interest 
on  account  of  Dr.  Hayem's  recent  statements  concerning  the  use  of 
lactic  acid  in  the  treatment  of  green  diarrhoea  in  children.  He 
thinks  that  the  good  effects  of  Sydenham's  decoction  may  be  due 
to  the  presence  of  lactic  acid  in  the  bread-crumb  used  in  its  prepa- 
ration. 
Antiseptic  Power  of  Salol. — At  the  November  meeting  of  the 
Paris  Society  of  Pharmacy,  a  note  from  M.  Lacroix  was  read,  in 
which  the  author  described  his  researches  on  the  antiseptic  proper- 
ties of  salol.  His  conclusions  are  that  the  products  of  the  decom- 
position of  salol  have  this  power,  and  that  it  is  impossible  to  develop 
the  pyogenic  bacillus  in  the  urine  of  persons  who  had  ingested  this 
substance.  Such  urine,  placed  in  sterilized  tubes  with  the  bacillus, 
and  subjected  to  heat  for  three  days,  underwent  no  change. — R'epert. 
de  Phar.,  Dec.  10,  1890. 
Analysis  of  a  Specific  for  Gout. — At  the  same  meeting  M. 
Barille  presented  the  qualitative  results  of  his  analysis  of  a  popular 
remedy  for  gouty  troubles.  He  found  the  mixture  to  contain 
iodide  of  potassium,  benzoate  of  sodium,  tincture  of  squill,  tincture 
