Varieties. 
{Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Mar.,  1879. 
of  hydrate  of  potassa,  purified  by  alcohol  (so-called  alcoholic  potassa)  and  a  few- 
drops  of  solution  of  chloride  of  iron  are  added  to  the  oil ;  the  mixture  is  allowed  to 
stand  for  several  hours,  then  shaken,  distilled,  the  distilled  oil  separated  from  the 
water,  poured  into  a  test  tube  on  alcoholic  potassa,  and  heated.  In  case  the  oil  im- 
pure there  is  no  color  reaction,  while  there  is  a  dark  coloration  if  adulterated  ;  a  few 
drops  of  solution  of  chloride  of  lime  added  to  the  mixture  after  cooling,  will 
color  it  violet. — Schnv.  Wochenber.,  Nov.  15,  1878,  p.  399,  from  LyOrosif  bollet.  d^ 
chim.  farm. 
Piney-Varnish,  Piney-Tallow. — Piney-varnish  is  the  fresh  soft  resin  obtained  by 
incisions  into  the  bark  of  Vateria  indica  L.  (Eleocarpus  copaliferusy  Reetz),  a  usefut 
tree  indigenous  to  East  India  and  particularly  to  Malabar.  On  exposure  to  the  air 
it  hardens  into  a  glassy  substance,  appearing  in  commerce  under  the  name  of  East 
India  copal  or  anime  resin,  selected  pieces  of  which  are  used  for  making  ornaments. 
The  seeds  of  Vateria  ind'tca,  used  in  East  India  as  a  sure  cure  of  dysentery  and  pain 
in  the  stomach,  yield,  when  boiled,  a  solid  fat  or  vegetable  tallow  (piney-tallow)^ 
which  contains  about  70  per  cent,  of  palmitin  and  25  per  cent,  of  olein,  and  which,, 
rendered  colorless  by  bleaching,  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  candles. — Pharm. 
Centralb.,  Dec.  19,  1878. 
Strong  and  Durable  Iron  Cement. — Three  parts  of  sodium  chloride,  1  part  of 
powdered  sulphur  and  30  parts  of  fine  iron-filings  (preferably  powdered  iron)  are 
mixed  and  rubbed  into  a  soft  mass  with  sulphuric  acid,  diluted  in  the  proportion  of 
6  parts  of  the  acid  to  8  parts  of  water.  This  cement  will  get  as  hard  as  stone  m 
one  to  two  days.  All  grease  and  rust  should  be  previously  removed  from  the 
article  to  be  rr ended. — Pharm.  Handelsbl.,  Dec.  4,  1878,  p.  258. 
Purification  of  Rancid  Butter. — R.  W.  Barnard's  patented  process,  which,  he 
claims,  will  restore  the  most  rancid  butter,  consists  of  working  it  up  with  a  solution 
of  sodium  bicarbonate,  sodium  chloride  and  sugar,  to  which  a  solution  of  tartaric 
acid  is  added. — Pharm.  Handelsbl.,  Dec.  4,  1878,  p.  258. 
Clarifying  of  Wines,  Liquors,  Vinegar,  etc.— A  powder  which  renders  animal 
charcoal  entirely  unnecessary,  and  which  is  recommended  for  clarifying  turbid  and 
at  the  same  time  bleaching  colored  liquids,  is  made  by  Dassori  by  mixing  albumen 
30  kg.,  neutral  potassium  tartrate  300  grams,  alum  500  grams,  and  ammonium 
chloride  70  kg.  This  powder  is  used  in  the  proportion  of  60  grams  to  2  hectoliters, 
of  the  liquid,  like  albumen,  being  beaten  up  carefully  with  water,  but  not  directly 
with  the  liquid  to  be  clarified.  When  once  clarified  the  latter  will  not  become  cloudy 
again. — Pharm.  Ztschr.f.  RussL,  Oct.  15,  p.  633,  fr.  Cbem.  Ztg. 
