376 
Varieties. 
(Am.  jowr.  Pharm. 
t     Aug.  1,  1873. 
being  separated,  washed  and  dried,  differed  from  starch  dextrin  only  in  its  rota- 
tory power,  which,  although  nearly  double  that  of  glucose,  is  still  below  that  of 
the  natural  product. — Amer.  Chem.,  May ,  from  Bull,  de  la  Soc.  Chim. 
Detection  of  Adulteration  in  Coffee. — J.  Miiller. — In  order  to  ascertain 
whether  ground  coffee  has  been  mixed  with  either  roasted  corn  or  amylaceous 
substances  generally,  it  is  only  necessary  to  treat  the  powder,  first  with  dilute 
caustic  potassa,  and,  after  filtration  and  addition  of  a  large  quantity  of  pure 
water,  a  solution  of  iodine  is  added,  whereby  the  starch  is  detected. —  Chem. 
News,  May  30,  from  Dingl.  Polyt.  Journ. 
Estimation  of  Acid  in  Fatty  Oils. — M.  Burstyn. — The  oils  are  well  mixed 
with  twice  their  bulk  of  strong  alcohol,  90  per  cent,  at  the  least  ;  this  dissolves 
the  acids  which  may  be  present  in  the  oils,  while  hardly  any  of  the*  latter  are 
taken  up.  The  alcoholic  solution  can  be  readily  neutralized  with  a  caustic- 
soda  solution  of  known  strength.  It  is  best  to  take  100  c.  c.  of  the  oil  to  be 
tested,  to  which  an  equal  bulk  of  alcohol  is  added,  care  being  taken  to  mix  the 
fluids  thoroughly.  After  some  time  the  alcohol  floats  on  the  oil,  and  20  c.c.  of 
the  former  fluid  should  then  be  taken  for  titration.  100  c.c.  of  good  machinery 
oil  should  not  require  more  than  from  0*04  to  1-4  c.c.  of  normal  caustic  soda 
solution  for  neutralization. — Ibid. 
Distribution  of  Potassa  and  Soda  in  Plants. — E.  Peligot. — The  author  has 
endeavored  to  determine  whether  a  plant,  watered  during  the  entire  period  of 
its  growth  with  water  holding  in  solution  common  salt  and  nitrate  of  soda,  ab- 
sorbs a  certain  quantity  of  soda;  and  whether  it  takes  from  the  soil  other  ele- 
ments from  plants  of  the  same  species  cultivated  under  identical  circumstances, 
but  watered — some  with  common  water  and  others  with  potassic  and  magntsian 
solutions?  The  tabulated  observations  show  that  the  common  salt,  and  the 
nitrate  of  soda  have  been  totally  left  by  the  plants  ;  none  of  the  ashes  contained 
soda.  Nitrate  of  soda  acts  only  in  consequence  of  the  acid  it  contains  which 
probably  combines  by  double  decomposition  with  potassa  or  lime. — Ibid.,  May 
23,  from  Compt.  rend. 
The  Dose  of  Carbolic  Acid.— Dr.  W.  G.  Cotton,  East  Bethlehem,  Washing, 
ton  Co.,  Pa. — The  following  case  is  of  interest,  as  showing  that  we  may  yet  be 
unacquainted  with  what  should  be  the  proper  dose  of  carbolic  acid  in  some  in- 
stances. Mrs.  Moffitt,  aged  70,  was  suffering  from  diarrhoea,  for  the  relief  of 
which  she  requested  her  husband  to  pour  out  twenty-four  drops  of  laudanum. 
He  by  mistake  gave  her  that  amount  of  crude  carbolic  acid.  It  "burnt"  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth  and  throat  considerably,  and  produced  a  mod- 
erate amount  of  nervous  prostration,  which  did  not  last  long.  She  at  once  was 
aware  there  had  been  a  mistake  made,  but  thought  the  drug  taken  was  "pain- 
killer." In  about  an  hour  afterwards  the  discovery  was  made  that  carbolic  acid 
had  been  taken,  and  milk  was  then  freely  used  as  an  antidote.  The  evil  which 
resulted  was  immediate,  but  immaterial,  and  the  good  accomplished  was  the 
