Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Marcb,  1903.  J 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
141 
In  operation  a  needle-valve  allows  a  minute  quantity  of  water  to 
drop  from  the  middle  division  onto  the  sodium  dioxide  contained 
in  the  lower  compartment  ;  this  liberates  a  corresponding  amount  of 
oxygen  gas,  which  passes  up  through  a  vent-tube  into  the  upper 
compartment  where  it  is  cooled  and  washed  by  passing  through 
the  contained  water.  Each  25  grammes  of  the  sodium  dioxide 
liberates  3-5  litres  of  oxygen. 
Hydrogen  dioxide  solution  may  be  made  according  to  Paul  Leon 
Hulin  (Zeitschr.  f.  angew.  Chemie,  1902,  page  600)  by  adding,  with 
caution  and  at  a  low  temperature,  sodium  dioxide  to  a  solution  of 
fluoric  acid,  producing  hydrogen  dioxide  and  sodium  fluoride.  This 
solution  is  then  treated  with  aluminium  fluoride,  thus  producing 
insoluble  cryolite,  the  well-known  double  fluoride  of  aluminium  and 
sodium. 
Hydrogen  dioxide  as  an  addition  to  cosmetics  and  creams.  H. 
Kuhl  (Apoth.  Zeit.,  1903,  page  81)  gives  a  number  of  formulas. 
Among  others,  for  a  toothpaste,  precipitated  carbonate  of  lime  25, 
powdered  soap  5,  glycerin  and  solution  of  hydrogen  dioxide  of  each 
sufficient  to  make  a  paste  ;  perfume  with  oil  of  bergamot,  oil  of  pep- 
permint, or  oil  of  lavender. 
Glycerin  mixture ;  glycerin  40,  rose-water,  solution  of  hydrogen 
dioxide  of  each,  20.  (A  more  efficient,  certainly  more  economical 
preparation  would  be  obtained  by  adding  sufficient  tragacanth  to 
make  a  jelly-like  paste.) 
For  a  skin-cream,  Kuhl  recommends  to  saturate  lanolin  with 
solution  of  hydrogen  dioxide. 
Hydrogen  Dioxide  as  a  Depilatory. — L.  Gallois  (Med.  Presse, 
1902,  page  438)  finds  that  the  simple  application  of  hydrogen  dioxide 
solution  is  a  simple  and  efficient  way  of  removing  superfluous  hair. 
A  piece  of  absorbent  cotton  moistened  with  the  solution  is  repeat- 
edly applied  to  the  region  to  be  epilated.  The  hair  at  first  becomes 
bleached,  finally  becomes  brittle  and  breaks  off.  This  method 
appears  to  offer  many  advantages  over  the  means  usually  employed, 
such  as  shaving,  electrolysis  or  caustic  applications.  Its  simplicity 
and  comparative  harmlessness  would  appear  to  warrant  a  trial  in 
cases  where  a  depilatory  would  be  applicable. 
Theobromine  in  leaves  of  Theobroma  cacao. — J.  Decker  {Schweiz. 
Wochens.f.  Chemie  u.  Phar.y  1902,  page  569)  has  examined  a  number 
of  leaves  of  cacao  and  found  that  old  leaves  contain  but  a  trace  of 
