AnVarch,Ii89aomi'j  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  129 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Aristol  or  diodo-dithymol  C20H24O2I2  is  made  by  the  action  of  a 
solution  of  iodine  in  potassium  iodide  upon  a  solution  of  thymol  in 
sodium  hydrate.  It  forms  a  brown-red  amorphous  powder  contain- 
ing 45-80  per  cent,  iodine,  and  is  insoluble  in  water  and  glycerin, 
but  easily  soluble  in  ether  and  fixed  oils  ;  the  solutions  must  be 
made  without  heating,  as  heat  and  also  light  bring  about  decompo- 
sition. It  is  inodorous  and  is  especially  valuable  in  the  treatment 
of  psoriasis  and  lupus. — Dr.  F.  Goldmann,  Apoth.  Ztg.,  1890,  45. 
Chloral  hydrate  and  Antipyrine  triturated  together  liquefy ;  from 
the  liquid,  after  some  time,  separate  white  crystals,  which,  examined 
by  L.  Reuter,  were  found  to  be  an  additional  product  of  the  two 
molecules  or  trichloraldehyd-phenyldimethylpyrazolon.  The  com- 
pound was  found  to  be  therapeutically  inactive.  —  Apoth.  Ztg., 
1890,  45. 
N aphthalin-camphor  packages  in  place  of  naphthalin  paper  are 
recommended  by  L.  Keutmann  to  be  made  by  melting  together 
four  parts  naphthalin  and  one  part  camphor  and  pouring  into  paste- 
board or  metal  boxes.  They  are  used  by  fastening  them  to  the 
upper  part  of  a  wardrobe  or  trunk,  and  the  evaporation  of  the  mix- 
ture can  be  regulated  by  opening  the  lid  of  the  box.  The  cam- 
phor very  nicely  conceals  the  odor  of  the  naphthalin.  In  the  same 
way  a  disinfectant  may  be  made  and  used,  but  substituting  carbolic 
acid  for  the  camphor ;  in  this  case  it  is  best  to  impart  a  red  color 
by  the  addition  of  a  little  alkali. — Pharm.  -Centralhalle,  1890,  17. 
A  delicate  test  for  copper  is  based  upon  the  liberation  of  iodine 
when  potassium  iodide  is  added  to  a  solution  of  a  cupric  salt ;  in 
very  dilute  solutions  the  addition  of  starch  paste  is  made  to  reveal 
the  presence  of  the  free  iodine.  The  test  is  applicable  to  solutions 
not  containing  other  substances  which  liberate  iodine  or  which  pre- 
vent its  liberation ;  it  is  especially  adapted  to  water  analysis. 
Compared  with  other  copper  tests  one  part  crystallized  copper  sul- 
phate in  500,000  parts  of  water  can  be  detected  after  the  addition 
of  a  little  starch  paste;  potassium  ferrocyanide  added  to  solutions 
(I  :  100,000)  hardly  shows  any  change,  with  solutions  (1  :  10,000)  a 
distinct  red  coloration  is  produced  ;  ammonia  is  not  applicable  to 
solutions  more  dilute  than  I  :  10,000,  and  in  this  dilution  only  a  very 
faint  blue  coloration  results. — Dr.  H.  Thorns,  Pharm.  Centralhalle 
1890,  31. 
