14  Gleanings  from  the  European  Journals \  {AMj£.°i;  i?7A™'' 
crucible  was  dissolved  in  water  acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  and 
the  solution  concentrated,  when  upon  the  addition  of  platinic  chloride 
a  precipitate  of  the  double  chloride  of  platinum  and  potassium  was 
produced. 
The  mixed  precipitate  and  supernatant  liquid  was  evaporated  to 
dryness,  and  yielded  to  a  small  portion  of  water  a  nitrate  which  col- 
ored the  flame  of  a  Bunsen  burner  a  bright  yellow,  and  gave  a  crys- 
talline precipitate  of  sodium  antimoniate,  when  a  solution  of  potas- 
sium antimoniate  was  added. 
As  the  original  powder  charred  when  placed  upon  platinum  foil  and: 
heated,  the  presence  of  one  of  the  organic  acids  was  indicated,  and 
another  portion  of  the  powder  was  boiled  in  water,  filtered,  and  the 
magnesium  salt  separated  as  before.  The  filtrate  from  this  produced 
a  precipitate  with  barium  chloride,  partly  soluble  in  nitric  acid,, 
showing  the  presence  of  a  small  quantity  of  sulphuric  acid,  probably 
existing  in  combination  as  sodium  sulphate.  With  another  portion  of 
this  filtrate  argentic  nitrate  produced  a  white  precipitate,  soluble  in 
solution  of  ammonium  hydrate,  and  in  nitric  acid.  This  precipitate^, 
upon  being  heated  to  212°  F.,  instantly  blackened  from  the  reduction 
of  the  silver. 
To  another  portion  of  the  filtrate  solution  of  calcium  hydrate  was 
added,  and  a  dense  white  precipitate  was  the  result.  This  precipitate- 
was  soluble  in  solution  of  ammonium  chloride,  tartaric  acid,  and  also* 
in  solution  of  potassium  hydrate,  from  which,  upon  boiling,  it  was 
reprecipitated.  This  corroborative  testimony  proved  the  presence  of 
tartaric  acid,  which  ^existed,  combined  with  potassium  and  sodium,  as 
Rochelle  salt  in  the  powder,  mixed  with  magnesia  and  imported  for 
our  market  and  sold  under  the  name  of  Heavy  Magnesia. 
Philadelphia,  Dec.  23,  1872. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  EUROPEAN  JOURNALS. 
By  the  Editor. 
Nitrate  of  silver  and  crystallized  sugar,  when  acting  upon  eack 
other,  (at  130°  C),  do  not  yield  optically  neutral  sugar,  as  stated  by 
Maumene\  N.  Borodylin  obtained  instead  invert  sugar  and  oxalate 
and  cyanide  of  silver. — Pharm.  Zeitsch.  f.  Bussl.  1872,  No.  17. 
Analysis  of  Barberries. — Dr.  Graeger  fouud  in  100  parts  of  the  re- 
cently collected  ripe  fruit  of  Berberis  vulgaris,  Lin.,  exclusive  of  the 
