Reactions  of  Albumins. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pharm . 
I      March,  1891. 
the  alcohol  allowed  to  evaporate,  and  the  substance  treated  with 
a  little  dilute  sulphuric  acid  containing  ferric  sulphate,  colored  pro- 
ducts are  formed.  Egg-albumin  and  blood-albumin,  blood-fibrin, 
and  casein  give  a  bluish-violet ;  legumin,  a  brownish-violet ;  vege- 
table fibrin,  a  brownish-yellow ;  and  sheep's-wool  and  skin,  violet- 
blue  compounds.  After  some  time,  the  solid  mass  dissolves,  form- 
ing a  solution  having  the  same  color.  The  bluish-violet  solution 
obtained  from  egg-albumin  shows  an  absorption-band  in  the  spec- 
trum between  C  and  D,  and  contains  a  base  which  may  be  precipi- 
tated by  alkalies.  In  order  to  recognize  albumin  in  solution  by  this 
test,  the  liquid  is  mixed  with  a  drop  of  the  alcoholic  solution  of  the 
aldehyde,  an  equal  volume  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  added, 
cooled,  without  shaking,  and  finally  a  few  drops  of  ferric  sulphate 
are  poured  in.  According  to  the  strength  of  the  solution,  a  blue  or 
violet  zone  is  sooner  or  later  formed.  Salicylaldehyde  gives  a  similar 
blue  or  violet  solution  when  treated  with  scatole.  The  oil  from 
Spircea  nlmaria  gives  the  same  reactions  with  the  albuminoids  as 
salicylaldehyde,  but  the  color  is  not  so  intense. 
Reaction  zvitJi  Anisaldcliydc . — Egg- albumin,  vegetable-albumin  and 
casein  give  a  violet  coloration;  blood-albumin  and  sheep's  wool,  a 
violet-red  ;  blood-fibrin,  a  blue  ;  legumin,  a  brownish-violet  colora- 
tion. The  violet  solution  from  egg-albumin  gives  an  absorption- 
band  between  D  and  F.  Alkalies  precipitate  a  base  which  is  appa- 
rently a  scatole  compound. 
Reaction  with  Vanillin,  Piperonal,  Cinnamaldehyde  and  Furfur- 
aldehyde. — All  these  substances  give  colored  products  with  the 
albuminoids  and  similarly  colored  products  with  scatole. 
The  aromatic  aldehydes,  in  presence  of  sulphuric  acid  and  ferric 
sulphate,  give  colored  condensation-products  with  phenols,  but  these 
have  an  acid  character,  and  unite  with  bases  to  form  new  colored 
compounds.  It  consequently  follows  that  in  albumin  it  is  the  scatole- 
group  which  furnishes  the  colored  compounds  above  described. 
The  production  of  these  substances  forms  not  only  a  very  delicate 
test  for  albumin,  but  may  be  used  conversely  as  a  test  for  the  pres- 
ence of  aldehydic  compounds  in  wood,  in  resins,  and  in  ethereal  oils. 
Injections  of  iclit.hyol  have  been  found  of  value  in  the  treatment  of  gonor- 
rhoea and  gonorrhoeal  cystitis.  Dr.  Koster  (  Wiener  Med.  Presse,  Novbr.,  1890) 
has  used  a  one-per-cent.  solution  of  the  ammonium  compound  for  the  purpose 
stated,  giving  the  injection  two  or  three  times  daily. 
