90 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Medusa. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
i        Feb..  lsS6. 
Pipitzahoic  acid  (see  Amer.  Jour.  PJiar.,  1884,  pp.  185,  193),  ac- 
cording to  F.  Mylius  (Annalen,  xssv,  p.  188,  and  Ber.  I).  Chem.  Ges., 
1885,  p.  936),  is  not  a  true  acid,  but  a  hydroquinone  containing  the 
group  C9H17,  and  should  be  called  perezone.  Its  compound  with  ani- 
line, anilidoperezone,  crystallizes  from  hot  alcohol  in  blue  needles, 
melts  at  138°  C,  is  insoluble  in  water,  sparingly  soluble  in  alcohol 
and  in  alkalies,  but  freely  soluble  in  carbon  disulphide,  petroleum 
benzin,  benzol,  ether,  chloroform  and  glacial  acetic  acid;  the  solution 
in  strong  sulphuric  acid  is  dark-blue  and  on  heating  becomes  cherry- 
red  and  yellow.  By  heating  this  compound  with  dilute  sulphuric 
acid  hydroxyperezone,  C15H2)04,  is  obtained,  which  crystallizes  in 
glossy  reddish-yellow  scales,  is  freely  soluble  in  alcohol,  chloroform, 
benzol  and  glacial  acetic  acid,  is  a  feeble  acid,  and  dissolves  in  strong 
sulphuric  acid  with  a  cherry-red  color,  changing  to  yellow  on  heating, 
with  the  formation  of  perezinone,  C15H1303. 
A  number  of  other  derivatives  were  prepared  by  the  author,  also  by 
E.  Anschiitz  and  W.  Leather  {Ber.  D.  Chem.  Ges.,  1885,  715). 
Anschiitz  (Ibid.,  p.  709),  agrees  with  Mylius  in  regarding  the  natural 
product  as  a  hydroquinone.  The  melting  points  of  the  acid  and 
derivatives  were  lower  than  those  ascertained  by  Mylius.  The  aniline- 
derivative  is  sublimable  in  steel-blue  needles. 
El  Bethina,  a  Datura  of  the  Sahara,  is  described  by  Mr.  Bouss<:>n. 
pharmacien-major  (Arch.  Med,  et  Phar.  Mil.),  who  reports  a  number 
of  cases  of  poisoning  by  the  leaves.  Complete  prostration  is  produced, 
which  after  a  long  sleep  may  pass  off  without  leaving  any  serious 
effects.  Larger  doses  produce  delirium  with  great  thirst  and  ultimately 
death.  The  Arabs  use  as  an  antidote  a  mixture  of  dates  triturated 
with  water,  and  a  sauce  containing  a  considerable  quantity  of  pepper 
(felfel)  and  butter.  The  remedy,  taken  freely  by  the  patient,  produces 
much  sweating,  and  after  twelve  hours  the  patient  is  out  of  danger, 
without  having  experienced  any  hallucinations. 
Fabiana  imbricata,  Ruiz  et  Pavon;  nat.  ord.  Solanacea?,  is  a  Chilian 
shrub,  about  15  feet  high,  with  numerous  branches,  small  imbricate 
leaves  and  purplish-colored  flowers.  In  its  native  country  it  is  known 
as  pichi,  and  has  been  employed  for  a  long  time  in  various  disease-  of 
the  urinary  organs  and  also  in  certain  diseases  of  the  sheep  and  goat. 
Dr.  A.  Rodiguez  (Diario  Med.  Farmac)  has  recently  called  attention 
to  this  plant  as  being  valuable  in  catarrh  of  the  bladder  from 
lithiasis,  in  certain  liver  affections  and  in  dropsy.    Its  strong  odor 
