Am'Feb.?iSoarm' !    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  93 
kept  to  a  proper  strength,  may  be  used  repeatedly.  The 
author  has  called  this  "  soluble  tar  "  because  it  is  integrally 
soluble  in  2  or  3  times  its  weight  of  distilled  water.  Greatly 
diluted,  the  preparation  takes  the  form  of  a  persistent  emul- 
sion resembling  absinthe  liquor. — Nouveaux  Remedes,  Nov.  24. 
Sulphoricinic  Acid  as  a  Solvent  for  Antiseptics.— 
Berlioz  and  Ruault  find  that  sulphoricinic  acid,  made  by  treat- 
ing oil  of  ricinus  with  sulphuric  acid,  makes  an  excellent  dis- 
solvent for  salol,  naphthol,  creosote,  phenic  acid,  etc.  This 
acid  emulsionizes  perfectly  with  water,  whether  or  not  mixed 
with  the  substances  described.  Ten  per  cent,  solutions  of 
naphthol  and  phenol  are  easily  made  in  this  way,  and  these  are 
superior  to  the  camphorated  solutions  of  these  substances  on 
account  of  the  readiness  with  which  they  unite  with  the 
moisture  of  the  damp  surfaces  to  which  they  are  applied. — 
Nouv.  Rem.,  Dec.  8. 
Preparation  of  Oxamide  and  Oxamic  Acid. — M.Mathieu- 
Plessy  introduced  oxalate  of  ammonia  into  fused  nitrate  of 
ammonia  and  maintains  the  mass  at  a  heat  of  3380  to  3470  F., 
for  four  hours.  He  thus  obtains  a  compound  which,  taken  up 
by  water,  yields  6^  per  cent,  of  oxamide,  and  a  quantity  of 
oxamic  acid  corresponding  to  54percent.  of  oxamate  of  baryta. 
-Acad,  des  Sci.;  J.  de  PJiar.  et  de  Chim.,  Nov.  15. 
Iodinated  Muslin. — Taking  advantage  of  the  property- 
possessed  by  cellulose  of  fixing  iodine,  which  is  afterward  set 
free  under  the  influence  of  gentle  heat,  M.  Mehu  lately  pro- 
posed a  method  of  making  "  iodinated  squares  "  to  be  applied 
in  the  same  way  as  ordinary  sinapisms  of  paper  impregnated 
with  the  oil  of  mustard.  The  iodinated  muslin  is  said  to  have 
certain  advantages  over  applications  of  tincture  of  iodine, 
apart  from  its  convenience.  It  acts  more  evenly,  there  is  less 
irritation  or  blistering  and  the  desired  effect  may  be  longer 
continued.  In  preparing  the  muslin,  MM.  Breaudat  and 
Cathelineau  have  improved  upon  M.  Menu's  process.  They 
first  place  the  fabric  for  a  few  minutes  in  a  2  to  100  solution 
of  bi-carbonate  of  soda.  They  then  press  and  wash  it  and 
let  it  remain  for  half  an  hour  in  a  4  to  100  solution  of  chloride 
of  lime.  Then  it  is  again  washed  until  no  alkaline  reaction 
is  observed,  when  it  is  plunged  into  a  5  to  100  solution  of 
