538  Gleanings  from  the  European  Journals.  {  AMf)ec.T, 'SS? 
40°  and  50°  C.  (104°  and  122°  F.),  the  copper  is  readily  precipi- 
tated, while  the  precipitation  of  silver  commences  near  60°  C.  (140° 
F.) — N.  Jahrb.f.  Pharm.,  1873,  October,  from  Upsala  Ldkarefbre- 
nings  Forhandl. 
Fat  in  ergot. — Oscar  Ficinus  estimates  the  amount  of  fat  in  ergot 
at  30  per  cent.,  and  regards  it  as  the  cause  of  the  ready  decom- 
position of  the  powder.  Hefsuggests  that  powdered  ergot,  if  de* 
prived  of  fat  by  ether,  will  keep  much  "better  ;  but  the  dose  of  the 
powder  will  have  to  be  reduced  one-third,  or  else  the  loss  in  weight 
will  have  to  be  compensated  for  by  the  addition  of  some  inert  pow- 
der, like  liquorice  root  or  milk  sugar. — Archiv  d.  Pharm.,  1873, 
Sept. 
Valerianic  acid  from  fusel  oil. — Oscar  Ficinus  has  made  the  in- 
teresting observation  that  valerianic  acid  may  be  obtained  in  a  simi- 
lar manner  as  acetic  acid  by  the  quick  vinegar  process,  if  beechwood 
chips  are  substituted  in  the  cask  by  cut  valerian,  and  the  diluted 
fusel  oil  is  slowly  percolated  through  it  at  a  temperature  of  30°  to 
40°  C.  (86°  to  104°  F.)  The  process,  however,  is  not  applicable  on 
a  large  scale,  owing  to  the  length  of  time  required  and  on  account  of 
the  loss  sustained  by  the  evaporation  of  fusel  oil  and  the  simultane- 
ous formation  of  amyl-aldehyde  and  valerianate  of  amyl-oxide. — Ibid- 
Analysis  of  the  bark  of  Remijia  Velozii. — This,  one  of  the  so-called 
false  cinchona  barks  is  known  in  Brazil  as  Casca  della  quina  de  Remi- 
jia. Dr.  J.  Nowak  found  in  it  much  tannin,  coloring  iron  salts  greeny 
pectin  compounds,  dextrin,  mucilage  and  two  compounds,  either  iden- 
tical or  closely  allied  to  kinovin  and  kinovic  acid.  The  air  dry  root 
yielded  12*2  per  cent,  ashes,  containing  7  per  cent,  iron,  21  per  cent- 
silicic  acid,  potassium,  sodium,  calcium,  magnesium,  chlorine,  and  phos- 
phoric, sulphuric  and  carbonic  acids. — Zeitschr.  d.  (Esterr.  Apothi 
Ver.,  1873,  Oct.  10. 
Tecoma  lpe,  Mart.,  nat.  ord.  Bignoniacece,  is  called  ipe-tabaco  ir* 
Brazil ;  its  pale  brownish  wood,  the  raspings  of  which  have  the  color 
of  snuff  (hence  the  popular  name)  is  used  against  herpes  in  the  dose 
of  one  ounce  taken  morning  and  evening  in  the  form  of  decoction. 
The  decoction  of  the  bark  is  employed  in  herpetic  affections  and  as  a 
gargle  in  angina  tonsillaris.  The  juice  of  the  leaves  is  used  as  a  rem- 
edy in  paralysis  of  the  eyelids,  and  the  infusion  in  ophthalmia  impe- 
tinosa,  particularly  in  photophobia. 
