AmMa?y'i£oarm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  247 
The  literature  regarding  P.  Emodi  is  limited,  and  therefore  it  is 
impossible  to  state  whether  this  drug  is  sufficiently  abundant  to 
gather,  even  at  a  much  higher  value  than  mandrake  root ;  but  it  is 
hoped  that  we  may  have  more  than  one  source  of  this  resin. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  April  22,  1890. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Orexin  is  the  name  given  by  Prof.  F.  Penzoldt  to  phenyldihydro- 
chinazolin  hydrochlorate,  which  was  found  to  be  a  true  stomachic 
not  only  creating  an  appetite,  but  also  assisting  the  digestion  of 
foods.  This  action  of  orexin  was  not  deduced  from  its  formula,  but 
was  discovered  in  studying  its  effects  upon  the  human  system ;  the 
remedy  apparently  acts  by  producing  local  irritation  and  is  best 
prescribed  in  gelatin-coated  pills,  as  follows:  Orexin  hydrochlor., 
2-0 ;  extract,  gentianae,  and  pulv.  rad.  althaeae  aa  q.  s.  M.  f.  pilulae 
No.  20.  D.  S.  3-5  pills  to  be  taken  once  or  twice  daily  with  a  cup  of 
beef  tea. — Pharm.  Ztg.,  1890,  115. 
The  detection  of  nitrobenzol  or  oil  of  mirbane  in  oil  of  bitter 
almonds  succeeds  easily  by  warming  the  suspected  oil  with  black 
oxide  of  manganese  and  sulphuric  acid.  Nitrobenzol  does  not  lose 
its  odor  by  this  treatment,  on  the  contrary,  the  odor  becomes  more 
pronounced,  after  standing  for  awhile  an  odor  of  oil  of  cinnamon  is 
developed  ;  oil  of  bitter  almonds  at  first  develops  a  disagreeable 
odor  which,  after  some  time,  entirely  disappears. 
To  detect  nitrobenzol  in  soaps,  solutions,  etc.,  soaps  are  first  dis- 
solved in  water ;  the  solutions  are  treated  with  an  excess  of  slaked 
lime,  extracted  with  ether,  the  ethereal  solution  evaporated  to  dry- 
ness on  a  water  bath  and  the'  residue  shaken  up  with  a  little  water. 
In  a  small  porcelain  capsule  are  placed  two  drops  liquefied  carbolic 
acid  (made  by  adding  10  parts  water  to  100  parts  of  the  crystallized 
acid),  three  drops  distilled  water  and  a  piece  of  potassium  hydrate 
of  the  size  of  a  pea.  This  mixture  is  heated  to  the  boiling  point, 
care  being  taken  to  prevent  charring  of  the  mass,  and  a  few  drops 
of  the  ethereal  residue  mixture  added ;  on  continued  boiling  a 
carmine-red  ring  is  formed  around  the  edge  of  the  liquid,  the  depth 
of  color  depending  upon  the  quantity  of  nitrobenzol  present ;  the 
