Am  jln"ri?79?rm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  23 
Solubility  of  Sulphur  and  Phosphorus. — After  Liebermann  had 
found  sulphur  soluble  in  concentrated  acetic  acid,  Dr.  G.  Vulpius  made 
a  series  of  experiments,  which  resulted  in  establishing  the  solubility  of 
phosphorus  in  concentrated  acetic  acid,  and  also  that  of  minute  quan- 
tities of  sulphur  and  phosphorus  in  formic  acid  (spec.  grav.  1*220). 
At  ioo°C,  2,800  parts  of  the  latter  dissolved  1  part  of  sulphur,  which 
partly  separates  again  on  cooling  \  phosphorus  is  still  less  soluble,  the 
acid  scarcely  dissolving  o*o  1  per  cent.  The  author  also  calls  attention 
to  the  solubility  of  sulphur  and  phosphorus  in  stearic  acid  at  a  high 
temperature,  and  considers  it  probable  that  both  will  also  be  found  solu- 
ble in  propionic,  butyric  and  the  other  fatty  acids. — Ibid.,  p.  229. 
Collodium  iodoformiatum  is  made  by  dissolving  1  part  of  iodo- 
form in  15  parts  of  flexible  collodion.  It  was  successfully  used  by 
Moleschott  for  alleviating  intense  pain  caused  by  gouty  swellings,  in 
orchitis,  glandular  swellings,  etc. — Pharm.  Centralh.,  Oct.  3,  p.  373. 
Copaivic  Acid  and  Copaivate  of  Soda. — Roquette  considers  the 
etheiial  oil  and  the  balsamic  constituents  of  copaiba  inert,  and  regards 
its  efficacy  solely  due  to  the  copaivic  acid,  which  forms  salts  with  the 
alkalies  existing  in  the  human  body,  and  is  thus  excreted  through  the 
urine.  Dr.  Zlamal  agrees  with  him  in  this  opinion  after  having  suc- 
cessfully treated  various  important  cases  with  copaivate  of  sodium,  pre- 
pared at  his  suggestion  by  Geza  Lucich.  For  obtaining  the  copaivic 
acid,  copaiba  is  distilled  with  water  to  separate  volatile  oil,  and  the 
residuary  resins  are  repeatedly  treated  with  purified  petroleum  and 
strong  alcohol.  Copaivic  acid  forms  white  prismatic  crystals,  which, 
on  exposure  to  the  air,  become  opaque.  Its  sodium  salt,  NaC20H29O2, 
is  made  by  combining  equivalent  quantities  of  the  acid  and  soda,  and  is 
likewise  white  and  crystalline.  Lucich  recommends  sugar-coated  pills 
of  copaivate  of  soda,  containing  each  2  grains  of  the  latter,  corres- 
ponding to  6  grains  of  balsam  copaiva  ;  analyses  made  by  him  of 
Brazil-  and  Para-balsam  proved  it  to  consist  of  etherial  oil  38*00  per 
cent.,  yellow  crystallizable  resin,  copaivic  acid,  52*75  per  cent.,  brown 
soft  resin  1*66  per  cent,  and  water  7*59  per  cent. — Ibid.,  p.  374. 
New  Method  of  Milk  Analysis.  By  A.  Adam. — 10  cc.  of  75 
per  cent,  alcohol,  containing  1-206  of  its  volume  of  caustic  soda  ;  10 
cc.  of  neutralized  milk,  and  12  cc.  of  pure  ether  are  placed  into  a 
glass  tube  of  40  cc.  capacity,  closed  at  the  top  with  a  cork,  widening 
