Am  Dec^iS™-}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  603 
barbarum  and  Solanum  nigrum  contain  mydriatic  alkaloids  in  very 
minute  quantity,  which  appear  to  be  identical  with  the  alkaloids  of 
Solanum  tuberosum.  Nicotiana  Tabacum :  The  leaves  contain 
traces  of  mydriatic  alkaloids.  Anisodus  luridus :  The  seeds,  herb 
and  root  collected  in  autumn  contain  pre-formed  only  hyoscyamine. 
— W.  Schiitte,  Arch,  der  Pharm.,  1 891 ,  492. 
Andromedotoxin. — In  connection  with  his  continued  researches  on 
this  poisonous  principle  of  certain  ericacese,Prof.  Plugge  gives  in  Arch, 
■d.  Pharm.,  1891,  552,  a  complete  list  of  the  plants  examined  in  this 
respect.  The  lists  published  in  Am.  Jour.  Pharm.,  1889,  360,361, 
may  now  be  extended  as  follows : 
The  poison  is  present  in  Kalmia  angustifolia,  Lin.,  Monotropa  uni- 
flora.Z.,  Pieris  formosa,  Don,  P.  ovalifolia,  Don,  Rhododendron  Falk- 
oneri,  Hook.,K.  grande,  Wight,  R.  barbatum,  Wallich,  R.  fulgens,  Hook., 
R.  cinnabar,  Roxb.,  and  R.  punicum,  Smith.  The  poison  is  absent 
from  Arbutus  Andrachne,  L.,  A.  canariensis,  Lam.,  A.  integrifolia, 
Lam.,  A.  Unedo,  L.,  Arctostaphylos  alpina,  Spr.,  A.  glauca  Lindl., 
Erica  arborea,  L.,  Pyrola  maculata,  L.,  P.  rotundifolia,  Lin.,  Ledum 
latifolium,  Lam.,  and  Rhodo.  ferrugineum,  L. 
Test  for  cerium  salts. — To  the  solution  or  salt  to  be  tested  add  a 
slight  excess  of  sodium  hydrate  and  evaporate  to  dryness  and  then 
a  few  drops  of  a  solution  of  strychnine  in  concentrated  sulphuric 
acid  (1  :  1,000);  in  the  presence  of  o-oi  mg.  cerium  salt  a  faint  and 
vanishing  blue  violet  coloratfon  will  result ;  if  o- 1  mg.  be  present  at 
first  a  blue  and  later  a  permanent  red  coloration  results.  This  test 
is  the  reversed  strychnine  reaction  proposed  by  Sonnenschein. — 
Prof.  P.  C.  Plugge,  Arch,  der  Pharm.,  1891,558. 
The  alkaloid  of  Sophora  tomentosa,  L.,  (Am.  Journ.  Pharm.,  1. 89 1, 
231)  according  to  a  preliminary  note  by  Prof.  Plugge  is  very  likely 
to  be  proven  identical  with  cytisine  ;  the  chemical  as  well  as  physi- 
ological tests  with  a  small  quantity  of  material  gave  all  tests  for 
cytisine. — Arch,  der  Pharm.,  1 891 ,  561. 
Detection  of  Traces  of  Copper  in  Distilled  Water.  By  H.  Thoms. 
— Copper  to  the  extent  of  1  :  200,000  in  distilled  water  gave  no  indications  with 
either  ammonia  or  potassium  ferrocyanide,  but  with  potassium  iodide  solution  a 
faint  yellow  color  appeared  which  gave  a  distinct  blue  tint  with  starch  paste. 
A  comparative  test  with  pure  distilled  water  showed  no  coloration  with  iodide. 
— Phar.  Centralh. ;  Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  May,  1891. 
