Am'sJepltf;i?9iarm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  459 
zinc  oxide,  2-o ;  vaselin,  20-0.  Dermatol-zinc-paste :  Dermatol,  2-0 
to  5-0;  zinc  oxide,  24  0;  wheat  starch,  24-0;  vaselin,  50-0.  Der- 
matol-zinc-gelatin :  Dermatol,  5-0;  zinc  oxide,  5-0;  gelatin,  30-0; 
glycerin,  30-0  ;  distilled  water,  30  0.  As  a  dusting  pozvder  for  fetid 
feet  the  following  has  been  recommended  :  Dermatol,  200 ;  talcum, 
70  o  and  starch,  100.  Other  forms  of  application  for  special  pur- 
poses are  Dermatol-collodium-emulsion,  10  per  cent.;  Dermatol- 
glycerin-emulsion,  10-20  per  cent.;  Dermatol-gauze,  10-20  per 
cent,  and  dermatol-suppositories. — Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1 891,  436, 
and  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1891,  480. 
Europhen  is  the  latest  of  the  iodoform  substitutes  ;  chemically 
speaking  it  is  isobutyl-orthocresol  iodide.  The  method  of  prepara- 
tion patented  by  the  "  Farbenfabriken  "  is  as  follows  :  Orthocresol 
is  made  to  react  with  isobutylalcohol  at  higher  temperatures  in  the 
presence  of  zinc  chloride  forming  isobutylorthocresol ;  this  in  alka- 
line solution  is  mixed  with  an  aqueous  solution  of  iodine  and 
potassium  iodide,  the  new  compound  separating  as  a  yellow,  amor- 
phous precipitate  which  after  washing  is  dried  in  the  dark.  It  then 
contains  27-6  per  cent,  iodine,  a  proportion  indicating  one  atom 
iodine  in  combination  with  two  molecules  isobutylcresol,  and  has 
the  composition  C22H3102I.  The  powder  adheres  firmly  to  the  skin  ; 
has  an  aromatic  odor ;  it  is  insoluble  in  water  and  glycerin,  but  solu- 
ble in  alcohol,  ether  and  chloroform,  hence,  in  collodium  and  trau- 
maticin  ;  it  is  also  soluble  in  fixed  oils  (a  25  per  cent,  solution  can 
be  obtained  in  the  cold  by_  trituration) ;  in  these  various  solutions 
iodine  is  slowly  liberated,  especially  in  the  presence  of  a  little  water; 
this  possibly  explains  its  efficacy  due  to  the  nascent  iodine.  Owing 
to  this  decomposition  it  should  not  be  prescribed  with  starch, 
metallic  oxides  (zinc,  mercury)  or  mercurial  salts ;  made  into  oint- 
ments with  fat,  vaselin  or  lanolin  it  can  be  kept  for  considerable 
periods ;  the  last  named  is  the  one  to  which  preference  is  given. — 
Dr.  F.  Goldmann,  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1891,  440. 
Iodine  absorption  of  Peppermint  oils. — Hugo  Andres,  to  decide 
which  of  the  several  commercial  varieties  of  peppermint  oil  is  the 
best  for  medicinal  purposes,  made  use  of  the  iodine-absorptions. 
The  iodine-absorption  figures  become  smaller  as  the  percentage  of 
menthol  increases,  hence  the  oil  with  the  smallest  iodine-absorption 
figure  would  be  the  most  valuable  since  it  is  admitted  that  the  active 
constituent  of  peppermint  oil  is  menthol.    From  0-4-0-8  of  the 
