iM.jot;a.PHAKM.^   Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  309 
July  1,  1871. 
t'loxi  the  pure  wax  is  obtained  as  cerotate  and  palmitate  of  ceryl,  by 
fractional  crystallization. — Ihid.^  from  Ibid.  f.  637. 
To  Prevent  Mucilage  from  Mouldiness. — Instead  of  carbolic  acid, 
corrosive  sublimate,  &c.,  the  Polyt.  Notizbl.  recommends  to  add  a 
minute  quantity  of  sulphate  of  quinia,  and  suggests  that  it  might 
also  be  useful  for  ink.— P/^.  Cent.  Halle,  1871,  182. 
-  Suhnitrate  of  Bismuth. — Dr.  Biermann  has  found  some  of  the 
commercial  articles  to  contain  notable  quantities  of  ammonia. —  Ar- 
■>c]iiv  d.  Ph.  1871,  April  6. 
Inuloid  is,  according  to  0.  Popp,  contained  in  the  tubers  of  dahlia 
and  helianthus  at  a  time  when  the  deposition  of  inulin  in  the  cells  has 
lout  just  commenced.  It  is  obtained  from  the  juice  by  precipitating 
-gum,  coloring  matter,  &c.,  by  subacetate  of  lead.  The  filtrate,  after 
standing  for  several  hours,  again  produces  a  precipitate,  more  of 
-which  may  be  obtained  on  concentrating  the  liquid.  The  white  amor- 
phous substance  shows  nearly  the  same  physical  and  chemical  beha- 
vior as  inulin,  but  differs  in  being  lighter  and  more  soluble  in  water. 
Its  ultimate  composition  being  that  of  inulin,  the  author  regards  it  as 
31  soluble  modification  of  this  principle. — Arcliiv  d.  Ph.  1871,  April., 
40—46. 
Impure  Black  Sulphuret  of  Antimony. — Dr.  R.  Mirus  calls  atten- 
tion to  the  commercial  powder  of  black  antimony,  which  always  con- 
tains powdered  quartz,  sometimes  30  to  40  per  cent.  The  latter  is 
-casually  not  removed  by  smelting  the  ore  previous  to  powdering  it. — 
Ihid.,  4—6. 
Preservation  of  Ergot. — A.  Hirschberg  recommends  to  select  un- 
broken grains  only,  and,  after  drying  them  carefully  at  a  moderate 
lieat,  to  preserve  tliem  in  small  well-sealed  vessels,  previously  dried. 
When  desirable  to  keep  on  hand  some  bruised  and  powdered  ergot, 
the  same  precautions  are  recommended.  The  absorption  of  moisture 
and  contact  with  the  air  induce  changes,  and  the  slightest  odor  of 
propylamin  is  a  sure  sign  that  decomposition  has  commenced. — Ihid.y 
88,  89. 
