616  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {AmDec.1;is9oarm' 
after  cooling,  the  wax  separates  above  the  liquid,  which  should  be 
only  opalescent.  In  the  presence  of  Japan  wax,  stearic  acid  or  resin, 
the  wax  forms  with  the  soda  solution  an  emulsion,  from  which,  after 
even  a  day's  time,  the  wax  does  not  separate,  nor  does  the  solution 
become  almost  transparent.  Dr.  H.  Rbttger  states  that  tallow  also 
prevents  the  separation  of  the  wax  and  the  obtaining  of  an  almost 
transparent  solution ;  mixtures  which  he  made  would  indicate  that 
2  per  cent.  Japan  wax,  stearic  acid  or  resin  could  be  detected  by  an 
abnormal  emulsion;  tallow  could  only  be  detected  if  5  per  cent,  or 
more  was  present. —  Chemiker  Ztg.,  1890,  1474. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Preparation  of  Syrup  of  Tolu. — M.  Barnouvin  (R'epert.  de  Phar., 
Nov.  10),  reviews  the  various  causes  to  which,  from  time  to  time, 
have  been  attributed  the  disagreeable  benzinic  odor  often  noticed  in 
tolu  preparations  which  have  arrived  at  a  certain  age.  After  a  good 
deal  of  experimentation,  he  concludes  that  the  change  arises  either 
from  the  use  of  too  much  heat  in  the  preparation  of  the  syrup,  or 
from  the  use  of  an  indifferent  quality  of  tolu.  With  too  much 
heat,  as  in  using  an  open  fire  instead  of  the  water-bath,  as  directed 
by  the  Codex,  a  certain  amount  of  dry  distillation  goes  on  which 
produces  a  small  quantity  of  toluene;  hence  the  benzinic  odor.  Con- 
cerning the  other  cause  cited,  M.  Barnouvin  says :  "  Balsam  of  tolu 
of  inferior  quality,  which  is  poor  in  cinnamic  acid,  may  undergo 
this  transformation,  and  I  have  observed  dry,  friable  samples  to  be 
almost  deprived  of  balsamic  constituents.  Such  a  balsam,  under  the 
influence  of  heat,  is  transformed  into  a  soft,  resinous  mass  well  cal- 
culated to  retain  caloric.  This  is  the  more  exposed  to  the  modifi- 
cation cited,  from  the  fact  that,  being  poor  in  aromatic  principles, 
long  exposure  to  heat  is  necessary  for  preparation." 
A  Digit alix  Mixture  was  prepared  by  M.  Carles,  at  the  request 
of  several  physicians  ;  his  formula  is  :  Chloroformic  digitalin  of  the 
Codex,  20  mgm. ;  alcohol,  60  per  cent.,  10  gm.  ;  chloroform  water^ 
90  gm,  The  digitalin  is  triturated  with  a  small  quantity  of  white 
sugar;  the  alcohol  is  then  added,  and,  afterward;  the  chloroform 
water.  To  get  an  immediate,  complete  and  stable  solution  the 
above  order  of  mixing  must  be  strictly  adhered  to.  Each  tea- 
spoonful  of  the  mixture  will  contain  I  mgm.  of  digitalin.    It  keeps 
