*3S£2g"*}  Varieties.  151 
So-called  Platinum  Amalgam,  used  by  dentists  quite  extensively  for  filling 
teeth,  was  analyzed  by  Gustavus  Janececk,  who  found  the  following  constituents  in 
100  parts  of  two  different  samples  : 
No.  1.  No.  2. 
Zinc,          .              .              .    51-72  per  cent.  852  percent. 
Silver,               .              .           34  35     "  75'^  " 
Mercury,    .              .              .    13*93     "  16  22  " 
Total,        .  .  10000     "  ioo-oo  " 
Neither  sample  contained  a  trace  of  platinum. — Pharm,  Ztschr.f.  RussL,  Nov.  15, 
1878,  p.  687,  fr.  Allg.  IVien.  med.  Ztg. 
Celloidin,  an  Unexplosive  Substitute  for  Gun-cotton  for  making  Collodion, 
is  patented  by  Schering,  who  claims  that,  while  making  an  excellent  preparation,  it 
being  entirely  soluble  in  the  mixture  of  ether  and  alcohol,  it  has  the  advantages  over 
gun-cotton  of  neither  being  capable  of  igniting  spontaneously  nor  exploding  when 
rubbed  or  pounded,  thus  being  entirely  safe  for  transportation.  Its  only  objectiona_ 
ble  feature  is  the  length  of  time  required  for  solution,  which,  especially  when  very 
dry,  far  exceeds  that  necessary  for  dissolving  gun-cotton.  It  is  probably  made  by 
partial  evaporation  of  collodion. — Pharm.  Handelsbl.,  Dec.  4,  1878,  p.  257,  fr.  Phot. 
Not. 
Fire-Proof  Paper  and  Ink. — The  former  is  entirely  fire-proof  in  an  ordinary 
fire,  but  is  not  entirely  incombustible  if  exposed  to  an  exceedingly  great  heat,  not 
being,  however,  reduced  to  ashes.  It  consists  of  1  part  of  vegetable  fibres,  2  parts 
asbestos,  T^  part  borax  and  l  part  alum,  all  finely  ground,  mixed  to  a  paste  with 
water,  and  treated  like  other  paper  masses.  It  is  made  into  writing  and  wrapping 
paper.  The  ink  is  fire  proof,  insoluble  in  water,  and  is  made  by  boiling  in  water  a 
mixture  of  90  grams  finely  ground  graphite,  about  0-75  gram  copal  or  other  resin, 
8#o— 10  0  grams  iron  sulphate;  30*0 — 32*0  grams  tincture  of  nut-galls  and  indigo- 
carmin.  For  colored  ink  any  other  mineral  color  can  be  substituted  for  graphite. — 
Pharm.  Centralh.,  Nov.  7,  1878. 
On  Gummy  Degeneration  of  Almonds.  By  G.  Vulpius — On  certain  sweet 
almonds  which  had  been  washed  and  dried,  a  separation  of  bassorin  was  remarked, 
so  that  one  half  of  the  almond  consisted  of  this  substance,  whereas  the  other  half 
was  of  a  hard  cartilaginous  consistency,  and  had  a  brilliant  resinous  surface. 
Although  gum  is  often  formed  in  the  amygdalin,  the  above  phenomenon  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  observed  hitherto. — Jour,  of  Chem.  Soc,  Nov.,  1878.,  from 
Arch.  Pharm.  3,  xiii,  38. 
The  Furruginous  Coloring  Matter  of  Red  Wines.  By  A.  Gautier. — The 
author  re-affirms  that  the  blue  coloring  matter  which   he  obtained    by  incom- 
