AMja^'j873RM'}  Gleanings  from  ilie  European  Journals.  15 
stalks,  15.58  integuments  and  seeds,  17.20  soluble  solid  constituents 
and  67.22  water.  The  constituents  of  the  juice,  calculated  for  100 
parts  of  fresh  berries,  are  5.92  malic  acid,  4.67  sugar,  6.61  gum, 
67.16  water  and  0.06  salts  of  potassium  and  calcium.  The  integu- 
ments and  seeds  yielded  2.20  ashes,  mainly  consisting  of  phosphate 
of  calcium.  The  berries  are  well  adapted  for  the  preparation  of 
malate  of  calcium.—  N.  Jahrb.f.  Pharm.,  1872,  Oct.  201-203. 
Hyoseyamia,  according  to  Dr.  G.  Merck,  is  generally  obtained  in 
the  form  of  a  soft  amorphous  mass.  If  this  mass  is  carefully  dis- 
tilled in  a  current  of  hydrogen,  a  colorless  distillate  is  obtained, 
which  is  probably  the  pure  alkaloid.  It  is  a  somewhat  oily  liquid, 
resembling  conia  in  odor  and  appearance,  readily  soluble  in  alcohol 
and  ether,  also  in  water,  partly  soluble  in  benzin  and  chloroform  ; 
in  contact  with  the  air  it  rapidly  becomes  yellow  and  brown,  acquires 
a  thicker  consistence  and  an  intense  disagreeable  odor,  and  is  then 
but  partially  soluble  in  ether.  It  has  a  strong  alkaline  reaction  and 
neutralizes  the  acids  completely.  The  salts  are  crystallizable  with 
difficulty.—  Ibid,  203,  204. 
Depilatory. — Prof.  Boettger  recommends  the  following  as  safe :  1 
part  of  crystallized  sulphhydrate  of  sodium  is  rubbed  to  a  very  fine 
powder,  and  mixed  with  three  parts  of  prepared  chalk.  The  mixture 
keeps  well  in  closed  vials.  Mixed  with  water  and  applied  to  the  skin, 
the  hair  becomes  soft  in  two  or  three  minutes  and  is  readily  removed 
by  water.  A  longer  application  is  apt  to  corrode  the  skin. — Ibid.,  p. 
230. 
[This  appears  to  be  an  improvement  on  Boudet's  depilatory,  which 
consists  of  3  parts  of  crystallized  sulphhydrate  of  sodium,  10  parts  of 
quick-lime  and  10  p.  of  starch. — Editor.] 
An  unlmrtful  hair-dye  is  suggested  by  Dr.  Hager,  as  follows :  10* 
parts  of  subnitrate  of  bismuth  and  150  p.  of  glycerin  are  mixed  in  a 
glass  vessel  and  heated  in  a  water-bath ;  solution  of  potassa  is  then 
added  in  small  portions  and  with  continued  agitation,  until  a  clear 
solution  has  been  obtained,  to  which  a  concentrated  solution  of  citric 
acid  is  added  until  merely  a  slight  alkaline  reaction  is  observed. 
Enough  orange-flower  water  is  added  to  make  the  whole  liquid  weigh 
300  parts ;  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  solution  of  an  anilin 
color  completes  the  preparation. — Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1872,  No.  46. 
