^"^Mayfi^s?'^"^'}     Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  243 
Lipanin  which  has  been  recommended  as  a  substitute  for  cod  liver 
oil,  is  prepared  by  partial  saponification  of  pure  olive  oil,  and  separ- 
ating the  excess  of  oil  together  with  the  liberated  oleic  acid.  It  is  an 
oily  liquid,  closely  resembling  olive  oil,  contains  5  to  6  per  cent,  of 
free  fat  acids  (oleic),  and  readily  forms  a  milk  white  emulsion,  when 
agitated  with  an  equal  bulk  of  water  containing  a  little  soda.  The 
amount  of  free  acid  is  readily  determined  by  dissolving  2  gm.  lipanin 
in  20  cc.  ether,  adding  10  cc.  alcohol  and  a  few  drops  of  phenol  phtha- 
lein,  and  titrating  with  normal  alkali.    Phar.  Zeitung,  1888,  p.  102. 
The  properties  of  different  kinds  of  malt  have  been  studied  by  T. 
Morawski  and  M.  Glaeser  (Chem.  Repert.,  March  4, 1888,  p.  58),  with 
the  following  results :  1 .  Rye  malt  has  a  much  greater  saccharating 
power  than  oat  malt.  2.  Wheat  malt  is  of  the  same,  if  not  of  greater, 
value  as  rye  malt.  3.  The  saccharating  power  of  rye  and  wheat 
malt  is  but  little  inferior  to  that  of  barley  malt,  and  in  several  in- 
stances was  found  to  be  of  the  same  value.  4.  Oat  malt  is  inferior  in 
saccharating  power  to  malt  from  the  other  grains.  5.  Maize  malt, 
made  at  the  ordinary  temperature,  is  inferior  to  oat  malt ;  if  pre- 
pared at  30° C,  and  until  the  germ  has  twice  or  thrice  the  length  of 
the  corn,  the  saccharifying  power  is  materially  enhanced,  and  becomes 
equal  to  that  of  oat  malt. 
A  color-changing  varnish,  patented  in  Europe,  consists  of  a  solution 
of  platino-magnesium  cyanide,  to  which  gelatin,  gum,  or  similar  fix- 
ing material,  has  been  added.  The  articles  coated  or  impregnated 
with  this  solution,  after  drying  by  a  moderate  heat,  retain  their  origi- 
nal color  until  exposed  to  moist  atmosphere,  when  a  rose  or  red  color, 
modified  by  the  uatural  color  of  the  article,  makes  its  appearance,  and 
remains  permanent,  until  exposed  to  heat. — Chem.  Ztg.,  1888,  j9.  319. 
ClilOTide  of  Methyl,  according  to  Dr.  Bailly  {Prog.  Med.),  may  some- 
times be  used  to  great  advantage  by  receiving  the  spray  upon  a  tampon  of  non- 
absorbent  cotton.  This  material  holds  and  preserves  the  refrigerant  activ- 
ity of  the  medicament  so  that  it  exerts  its  power  with  great  regularity  and 
constancy. 
Borate  of  Ammonium  in  Plithisis.— Professor  Lashkevich 
attaches  a  great  deal  of  importance  to  this  salt  as  a  remedy  in  the  treatment 
of  phthisis.  It  diminishes  the  expectoration,  and  very  frequently  cuts  short 
the  fever  in  the  first  stages  of  the  disease.  The  dose  is  about  25  centigrams, 
given  three  times  a  day  with  the  addition  of  codeine  or  some  other  sedative. 
—  Weekly  Med.  Rev. 
