586  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.   { AmNov.!'Sarm' 
which  result  in  the  formation,  among  other  products  of  the  sodium 
salt,  NaN3,  which  by  treatment  with  sulphuric  acid  gives  the  new 
compound — Dr.  Curtius,  Pharm.  Ztg.,  1890,  623. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Preparation  of  Benzoate  of  Mercury. — Two  solutions  are 
made,  the  first  containing:  Mercuric  oxide,  125  gm. ;  nitric  acid 
sp.gr.  1, 20),  250  gm.  ;  distilled  water,  4,000  gm.  ;  and  the  other 
containing:  Benzoate  of  sodium,  188  gm.;  distilled  water,  4,000 
gm.  The  solutions  are  slowly  mixed  while  stirring.  A  white, 
voluminous  precipitate  is  formed,  which  is  taken  up  on  cloth  and 
washed  with  distilled  water  until  no  acid  reaction  can  be  obtained. 
The  precipitate  is  then  dried  in  a  stove  ;  it  is  a  white,  light  powder, 
wholly  insoluble  in  water,  but  soluble  with  heat  in  solutions  of 
chloride  of  sodium.  The  preparation  for  hypodermic  use  is  made 
as  follows:  Benzoate  of  mercury,  30  cgm. ;  chloride  of  sodium, 
10  cgm.;  hydrochlorate  of  cocaine,'  15  cgm.  ;  distilled  water,  40  gm. 
This  gives  a  limpid  solution,  but  the  presence  of  cocaine  causes  the 
precipitation  of  a  small  quantity  of  the  mercury.  The  amount  usu- 
ally given  is  the  contents  of  a  Pravaz  syringe,  once  daily,  until  15 
to  30  injections  have  been  administered.  The  formula  is  that  used 
by  Drs.  Balzer  and  Thiroloix  in  the  treatment  of  syphilis. — Jour,  de 
Med.,  Sept. 
Test  of  Salicylic  and  Salicyluric  Acids  in  Urine. — M.  Gren- 
ouillet  (Jour,  de  Ph.  ct  de  C/i.,  Sept.  1),  evaporates  500  ccm.  of  urine 
to  150  ccm.  After  filtering  and  cooling,  he  agitates  the  liquid  with 
1 50  ccm.  of  ether.  On  evaporation  of  the  ether,  the  residuum  is 
taken  up  by  boiling  water  and  this  gives,  with  perchloride  of  iron, 
the  violet  coloration  characteristic  of  salicylic  compounds.  As  the 
coloration  may  be  due  to  either  salicylic  or  salicyluric  acid,  it  is 
necessary,  in  cases  in  which  it  is  desirable  to  know  which  of  these 
substances  is  present,  to  heat  the  residuum  obtained  after  the 
evaporation  of  the  ether,  when  the  salicylic  acid  volatilizes.  Benzin 
may  be  employed  in  place  of  ether.  The  author  used  this  method 
in  recent  examinations  of  urine  containing  naphthalol  (or  naphtho- 
salol),  a  salicylate  of  phenol.    As  his  experiment  was  successful,  he 
