90  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  { Ara"Feb.?iSoarm' 
The  purification  of  alcohol  by  Schmitt's  method  consists  in 
taking  crude  alcohol  containing  30  per  cent,  by  volume,  add- 
ing potassium  carbonate  (not  enough  to  cause  two  layers  to 
form),  and  agitating  with  petroleum  ether;  this  solvent 
removes  completely  the  fusel  oil  from  the  alcohol.  After 
separating  the  light  layer,  potassium  carbonate  is  added  to 
the  alcohol  in  sufficient  quantity  to  form  two  layers,  the  lower 
one  consisting  of  a  saturated  solution  of  potassium  carbonate, 
the  upper  one  of  94  per  cent,  alcohol  containing  a  small  quan- 
tity of  potassium  carbonate.  The  alcohol  layer  is  syphoned 
off  and  mixed  with  just  sufficient  strong  sulphuric  acid  to 
precipitate  the  potassium  salt  as  sulphate  which  is  insoluble 
in  alcohol  of  94  per  cent.,  and  which  can  then  be  removed. 
Alcohol  purified  in  this  manner,  without  distillation,  it  is 
claimed,  can  not  be  distinguished  from  that  purified  by  the 
usual  method.  - {Ztschr.  f.  landw.  Gov.)  Pharm.  Centralhalle, 
1889,  722. 
A  convenient  disinfectant  is  made  by  forming  into  pastilles 
paraffin  9-5;  iodine,  ro,  and  salicylic  acid  2*0.  These  pas- 
tilles are  burnt  in  the  rooms  to  be  disinfected  or  deodorized; 
the  products  of  the  combustion  contain  iodine  and  carbolic 
acid,  upon  which  their  value  depends. — (D.  Med.  Ztg.)  Oesterr. 
Ztschr.  f.  Pharm.,  1889,  622. 
Kesorcin  as  an  Antivomicnm. — J.  Andeer  has  noticed  that 
chemically  pure  resorcin,  unlike  the  impure  resorcin  which 
always  causes  vomiting,  is  the  best  of  the  remedies  for  check- 
ing vomiting,  especially  in  disorders  of  the  stomach.  Other 
investigators  have  confirmed  the  accuracy  of  the  above.  It 
has  also  been  used  successfully  as  an  antidote  for  various 
emetics. — (Ztschr.  f.  Ther.)  Oesterr.  Ztschr.  f.  Pharm.,  1889, 
649. 
Two  New  Antipyretics. — Prof.  Dr.  Michaels  has  applied  for 
patents  for  the  preparation  of  acetylethylenphenylhydrazin  and 
ethylenphenylhydrazinsnccinic  acid,  which  will  soon  be  intro- 
duced and  claim  the  attention  of  practitioners.  The  former 
is  prepared  by  dissolving  ethylenphenylhydrazin  in  an  excess 
of  acetic  anhydride,  and  boiling  for  a  short  time,  after  cooling 
acetylethylenphenylhydrazin  crystallizes  out,  and  is  purified 
by  recrystallization  from  alcohol ;  it  forms  colorless  needles, 
