Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
Mar.  1,  1873.  J 
German  Cherry  Juice. 
about  one  minute.  Then  dilute  with  1 J  volumes  of  water,  and  remove 
the  gas  contained  in  the  upper  part  of  the  test-tube  by  blowing  it  out 
with  a  bent  glass  tube.  It  is  advisable  not  to  omit  this  precaution, 
since  otherwise  the  subsequent  addition  of  ammonia  is  frequently  ac- 
companied by  a  vivid  flash  of  light.  Pour  upon  the  liquid  in  the  tube 
solution  of  ammonia,  without  shaking,  so  that  the  latter  will  float  upon 
the  liquid  to  the  depth  of  about  a  half  inch,  and  remove  the  white 
clouds  of  chloride  of  ammonium  by  blowing  gently  through  a  glass 
tube  as  before.  Now  add  a  few  drops  of  the  liquid  suspected  to  con- 
tain carbolic  acid,  by  pouring  it  down  the  sides  of  the  tube.  If  any 
be  present,  the  upper  previously  colorless  ammoniacal  layer  will  as- 
sume a  color  varying  from  the  darkest  brown  through  all  the  shades 
of  red  brown,  blood  red,  rose  red,  according  to  the  quantity  of  car- 
bolic acid  present.  The  color  appears  first,  either  at  the  top,  when 
much  acid  is  present,  or  below  at  the  point  of  contact  of  the  two  layers 
of  liquid,  when  the  quantity  of  acid  is  small,  in  the  form  of  a  colored 
ring.  One  part  of  carbolic  acid  in  12,000  may  yet  be  distinguished. 
The  same  reaction  is  produced  with  creasote ;  but  I  have  not  been 
able  to  produce  it  with  any  other  substance.  In  the  meantime  this 
test  will  no  doubt  prove  useful  as  a  negative  one  :  the  failure  of  the 
reaction  proving  the  absence  of  a  notable  quantity  of  carbolic  acid. 
New  York,  Jan.  24,  1873. 
GERMAN  CHERRY  JUICE. 
By  A.  W.  Miller,  M.  D. 
This  article  is  at  present  imported  from  Germany  in  large  quanti- 
ties, being  manufactured  principally  in  the  vicinity  of  Magdeburg.  It 
is  obtained  by  expressing  the  common  black  cherries,  which  are  there 
cultivated  for  this  express  purpose.  In  this  country  it  is  chiefly  con- 
sumed by  the  compounders  of  liquors  in  a  number  of  their  prepara- 
tions. Finding  that  it  also  can  be  advantageously  employed  for  phar- 
maceutical purposes,  it  appeared  to  possess  sufficient  interest  to  war- 
rant  calling  the  attention  of  the  profession  towards  it. 
The  importance  of  cherry  juice  to  the  liquor  trade  may  be  estimated 
from  the  fact  that  a  single  firm  in  this  city  imports  annually  from 
350  to  500  casks,  while  the  entries  at  the  New  York  Custom  House 
are  at  least  1500  casks  per  annum.  Each  of  these  casks,  which  are 
similar  to  those  in  which  German  wine  is  imported,  contains  from  150 
to  200  gallons. 
