'^'"MayyiSi^""'  }    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  237 
gravity  of  the  former  was  1.068,  and  of  the  latter  1.072.  Benzol  dis- 
solved from  old  mastich  66  per  cent.,  and  from  the  recent  article  90 
per  cent.;  the  elementary  analyses  of  these  portions  render  it  likely 
that  they  consist  mainly  of  CioHigO  mixed  with  C10H16O2  in 
variable  proportions,  depending  upon  age  and  exposure.  The 
portion,  insoluble  in  benzol  contains  less  carbon,  and  as  ob- 
tained from  recent  mastich,  agrees  with  the  formula  CioH^gOg ,  and 
that  from  old  mastich,  with  C10H15O4.  On  dry  distillation  old  mastich 
only  yielded  a  distillate  of  a  very  slight  acid  reaction ;  the  tar  com- 
menced to  boil  at  75°,  and  yielded  a  colorless  fraction,  boiling  at  108°, 
a  yellow  portion  boiling  at  220°,  and  a  dark  green  oil,  boiling  at  350°. 
All  contained  oxygen  and  possessed  an  odor  recalling  that  of  thyme, 
lavender  or  rosemary. 
Lupinus  alhus,  Lin. — Campani  and  Grimaldi  isolated  from  the  seeds 
vanillin^  and  proved  its  identity  by  the  crystalline  form  and  by  its 
chemical  properties. — ^Chem.  Repert.  1888,  p.  76. 
Anagyris  fcetida^  Lin. — The  seeds  yielded  to  Nicola  Reale,  with 
ether,  a  fixed  oil,  resin,  resinous  anagyric  acid,  and  a  lemon-yellow 
substance,  probably  a  glucoside.  Alcohol  extracted  yellow  coloring 
matter,  glucose,  sugar  and  an  alkaloid,  anagyrine,  CnHs^NOg, 
which  is  amorphous,  deliquescent  and  bitter. — Chem.  Repert.,  1888, 
p.  77. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Mixed  Strophanthus  Seeds  and  their  Insect.  Mr.  Cat il Ion 
recently  told  the  Societe  de  Therap.;  (Prog.  Med.,  March  31,  1888), 
that  a  package  of  seeds  received  by  him  from  the  Niger  contained 
several  varieties  ,  and  that  these  were  usually  sold  together  under  the 
name  of  S.  hispidus.  The  mixed  seeds  contained  7J  per  cent,  of 
amorphous  strophanthin,  a  yellow  oil  and  13  per  cent,  of  extractive. 
The  epicarp  contained  only  a  very  minute  quantity  of  strophanthin. 
An  insect  and  its  larva  lived  in  the  interior  of  the  seeds  without  ap- 
parent inconvenience.  [It  has  been  sometimes  stated  that  the  effect  of 
strophanthus  as  an  arrow  poison  is  heightened  by  its  expression  whilst 
the  living  insects  are  within  the  seeds.  Trans.] 
