Am,Aug.?i89oarm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  401 
Russian  peppermint  oil  does  not  give  an  absorption  spectrum  of 
itself,  but  a  mixture  containing  10  cc.  of  the  oil,  5  cc.  glacial  acetic 
acid  and  5  cc.  nitric  acid  will,  after  two  minutes,  show  2  bands,  one 
in  the  red  and  the  other  in  the  orange  part  of  the  spectrum  ;  after  5 
minutes  a  third  band  is  found  in  the  green ;  after  20  minutes  the 
three  bands  unite.  The  mixture  viewed  by  transmitted  light  was 
green,  after  5  minutes'  standing  a  blood-red  fluorescence  was  visible, 
and  after  20  minutes  the  color  by  transmitted  light  had  changed 
to  a  pure  blue.  These  spectroscopic  results  do  not  show  much 
difference  from  the  English  peppermint  oil,  but  the  several  changes 
occur  more  quickly  with  the  Russian  oil. — Pharm.  Ztschr.f.  Russ- 
land,  1890,  341  and  357. 
Medicinal  Soaps. — Neutral  fluid  soaps  are  at  present  claiming 
considerable  attention.  A  pamphlet  of  Dr.  A.  Gude  &  Co.,  of 
Leipzig,  on  the  subject,  contains  the  following  information :  Iodine 
soap,  containing  free  iodine,  deteriorates  rapidly,  and  can  be  pre- 
served only  for  8  days.  Resorcin  must  be  incorporated  in  neutral 
soap  only ;  hydroxylamine  can  only  be  preserved  in  acid  soaps  ;  in 
neutral  or  alkaline  soaps  there  is  constant  decomposition,  rendered 
visible  by  the  evolution  of  gas.  Chrysarobin  is  not  soluble  in 
neutral  soap,  but  easily  soluble  in  alkaline  soaps.  Thiol,  Peru  bal- 
sam and  tar  make  permanent  mixtures  with  fluid  soaps.  Soft 
neutral  soaps  of  ointment-like  consistence  answer  very  well  for 
insoluble  substances  like  sulphur,  which  would  separate  from  fluid 
soaps.  In  using  neutral  or  excessive-fat  soaps,  hot  water  should  be 
taken,  so  as  to  dissolve  the  soap  and  allow  its  removal  from  the  skin. 
— Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1890,  384. 
Menthol- glycerin-cream,  for  the  cleansing  of  teeth,  is  made  by 
mixing  20  parts  precipitated  calcium  carbonate,  10  parts  powdered 
medicinal  soap  and  5  parts  magnesium  carbonate,  with  sufficient 
glycerin  to  form  a  soft  mass,  then  coloring  with  carmine  and  flavor- 
ing with  menthol. — [Ind.  Blatter)  Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1890,  384. 
Potassi7im  tellurate  is  recommended  by  Dr.  E.  Neusser  for  the 
treatment  of  night  sweats  in  pulmonary  diseases  ;  it  is  given  in  pill 
form  in  doses  of  0-02  gm  grain),  generally  this  dose  is  sufficient, 
but  double  the  dose  can  be  taken  without  any  other  disagreeable 
effect  save  the  appearance  of  the  tellurium-breath.  (Wr.  Klin.  JVoeh. 
Pharm.  Post.,  1 890,  467. 
Discoloration  of  Antipyrine. — Dr.  Griiner   has  noticed   that  a 
