32 
GLEANINGS  FROM  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
remains.  By  boiling  about  19-20ths  of  the  remaining  ammo- 
nia is  expelled,  and  the  clear  solution  contains  about  80  Si03  to 
1NH3.  Dried  at  ordinary  temperature  the  residue  has  about  the 
same  composition,  but  water  takes  up  mere  traces  of  it.  The 
results  give  a  hint  of  the  manner  in  which  silica  may  be  admin  < 
istered  internally,  and  how  plants  most  likely  take  up  this  com- 
pound.   (Wittst.  Viertelj.  1867,  30—41). 
Sulphite  of  magnesia.  J.  C.  Sticht  mixes  concentrated  warm 
solutions  of  sulphite  of  soda  and  sulphate  of  magnesia  ;  the  crys- 
talline magma  is  expressed  and  dried.    (Ibid  49). 
Sulphocyanide  of  ammonium.  J.  C.  Sticht  fuses  2  parts  dry  - 
ferrocyanide  of  potassium  with  1  of  sulphur,  dissolves  in  water,  fil- 
ters, boils  with  solution  of  carbonate  of  potassa,  filters,  evapo- 
rates to  30°  B.,  when  it  contains  46  per  cent,  sulphocyanide  of 
potassium,  and  adds  to  19  parts  of  this  solution  9  parts  pure  sul- 
sulphate  of  ammonia  dissolved  in  water.  Sulphate  of  potassa 
crystallizes  out ;  the  filtrate  is  mixed  with  twice  its  volume  of 
strong  alcohol,  the  precipitate  separated,  the  alcohol  distilled  off, 
the  residue  diluted  with  water,  decolorized  with  animal  charcoal 
and  evaporated  to  crystallize.    (Ibid  48). 
Tinctura  Rosce  centifolice.  J.  B.  Enz  calls  attention  to  Kast- 
ner's  observation  that  the  brownish  yellow  tincture  is  colored 
rose-red  by  acids,  and  greenish  yellow  by  alkalies  ;  the  beautiful 
odor  becomes  apparent  on  diluting  it  with  16  to  20  parts  water. 
It  contains  4-8  per  cent,  solid  ingredients,  which  after  evapora- 
tion have  lost  their  behavior  towards  acids  and  alkalies.  It  con- 
tains potassa,  lime,  magnesia  combined  with  malic,  tartaric  and 
phosphoric  acids,  tannin,  fat,  resin,  red  coloring  matter,  bitter 
principle,  sugar  and  volatile  oil.    (Ibid  53 — 56). 
Cochineal.  E.  Dietrich  found  that  select  Honduras  cochineal 
yields,  after  deducting  carbon,  3-211  per  cent,  ashes,  consisting 
of  NaCl  -506,  NaO  13-404,  KO  18-630,  CaO  2-404,  MgO  6-437, 
A1203  1-390,  Fe203  1-152,  P05  47-951,  SiOs  7-923.    (Ibid  57). 
Carbolic  acid,  according  to  Parisel  (Annuaire,  1866),  like  cre- 
asote  from  beechwood  tar,  does  not  possess  the  property  of  crys- 
tallizing; the  commercial  crystallized  article  is  obtained  by  the 
addition  of  a  little  naphthalin.    (Ibid  125). 
