92  Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica.         { AmFJe0bU'"i8P8Garm' 
On  treating  the  alkali  solution  with  stannous  chloride,  and  then  super- 
saturating with  hydrochloric  acid,  ether  will  extract  a  substance,  the 
solution  of  which  on  exposure  to  the  air,  acquires  a  color  similar  to 
that  of  a  cochineal  solution,  and  like  the  latter  becoming  violet-red  on 
the  addition  of  alkali. 
Lanolin  is  a  cholesterin  fat  which  may  be  obtained  from  keratin- 
holding  tissues,  such  as  sheep's  wool,  hair,  feathers,  skin  and  hoofs  of 
horses.  Dr.  Oscar  Liebreich  (Bed.  Klin.  Woehenschr.,  1885,  No.  47), 
recommends  it  as  a  base  for  ointments  superior  to  glycerin-fats  and 
paraffins,  since  it  is  capable  of  taking  up  its  bulk  of  water,  is  with 
difficulty  decomposed  and  is  very  readily  absorbed.  Its  presence  is 
easily  ascertained  by  Liebemann's  test,  the  solution  in  acetic  anhydride 
acquiring  on  the  addition  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  a  rose  color 
changing  rapidly  to  deep  blue  and  green.  A  5  per  cent,  carbolic 
acid  ointment  made  with  lanolin,  produced  in  one  or  two  minutes  a 
feeling  of  numbness  without  irritation,  and  an  ointment  containing 
roW  corrosive  sublimate  will  give  the  characteristic  metallic  taste  a 
few  minutes  after  inunction.  The  proper  consistence  of  the  ointments 
is  bast  preserved  by  the  addition  of  5  or  10  per  cent,  of  fat  or  of 
glycerin. 
American  Petroleum,  according  to  C.  Engler,  contains  a  little  over 
0*2  per  cent,  of  pseudo-cumol  and  mesitylene.  The  two  hydrocarbons 
are  also  present  in  Caucasian  petroleum,  and  it  is  very  probable  that 
cumols  and  other  homologues  of  benzol  are  present  in  all  rock  oils. — 
Ber.  D.  Chem.  Ges.,  1885,  p.  2234. 
Aseptol,  according  to  a  report  by  Mr.  Anneessens,  is  freely  soluble 
in  water,  glycerin  and  alcohol,  is  far  less  caustic  than  phenol,  and  in 
its  disinfectant  and  antiputrescent  properties  is  superior  to  salicylic  acid 
or  phenol ;  it  deserves  therefore  to  be  preferred  to  the  latter  as  a  pro- 
phylactic and  disinfectant.    (See  also  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1884,  p.  647). 
Formic  aeid  is  recommended  by  Dr.  Schulz  (D.  Med.  Woehenschr.) 
as  a  valuable  antiseptic,  which  in  very  weak  solutions  effectually  pre- 
vents the  decomposition  of  organic  substances. 
Roasted  Coffee  is  highly  recommended  by  Dr.  Oppler  (Nouv.  Pern.) 
as  an  antiseptic  dressing  for  wounds,  for  destroying  the  odor  of  twice, 
or  even  four  or  five  times  its  weight  of  iodoform,  and  for  disguising 
the  taste  of  castor  oil.  These  valuable  effects  are  attributed  to  the 
charcoal  and  the  aromatic  decomposition  products,  formed  during  the 
roasting  of  coffee. 
