^^'lugl'ms^"^"^'}    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  405 
ers  per  cup  of  water,  two  cupfuls  to  be  taken  at  beginning  of  pain. — 
Bull,  de  la  Soc.  med.  prat,  May  31,  1888. 
Soya  hispida,  as  described  by  M.  Lecerf  (Soc.  de  mSd  prat,  May 
27,  1888),  is  a  leguminous  plant  of  Asiatic  origin — now  cultivated  in 
Austro-Hungary — which  possesses  more  proteic  substances,  phosphoric 
acid,  potash  and  fatty  matters  than  any  other  vegetable  growth,  and 
contains  but  3*21  per  cent  of  amylaceous  and  saccharated  products. 
The  analysis  gives:  Water,  9'37 ;  proteids,  36*63 ;  fats,  17*00;  acid 
phosphor,  3*16  ;  potash,  1*47.  The  Asiatics  prepare  a  sort  of  milk  from 
it  which  the  Chinese  make  into  cheese.  The  Japanese  convert  it  into 
an  alimentary  liquid  which  they  call  shoyu.  Brfead  made  from  it 
keeps  fresh  for  several  days.  Dr.  Dujardin-Beaumetz  exhibited  a 
sample  of  the  latter  at  the  Acad,  de  Med.,  May  29th,  and  recom- 
mended its  use  for  diabetic  patients. — Arch,  de  phar.,  July  5,  1888. 
Taneet's  Eeagent  for  Albumin,  Peptones  and  Alkaloids 
IN  Urine. — This  reagent — a  double  iodide  of  potassium  and  mer- 
cury— precipitates  these  substances  without  the  use  of  heat.  If  the 
precipitate  does  not  re-dissolve  with  heat,  the  substance  is  albuminous ; 
if  it  dissolves  it  is  a  peptone  or  an  alkaloid.  In  the  latter  cases  the 
cooled  precipitate  should  be  treated  with  ether,  which  dissolves  an 
alkaloidal  precipitate.  It  has  been  stated  that  this  reagent  gives  in- 
soluble combinations  with  certain  normal  elements  of  urine.  M. 
Brasse  (the  author)  finds  that  allantoine,  alloxane,  creatinine,  hypoxan- 
thine,  leucine,  tyrosine,  xanthine,  etc.,  do  not  form  such  compounds. 
When  the  urine  contains  biliary  salts  the  precipitate  does  not  re-dis- 
solve with  heat,  thus  leading  to  a  supposition  that  albumine  is  present; 
agitation  with  ether,  however,  re-dissolves  the  precipitate  if  in  reality 
the  urine  is.  free  from  albumin. — Arch,  de  phar.,  July  5,  1888. 
Assay  of  Pyridine. — Dissolve  5  ccm.  of  pyridine  in  100  ccm. 
of  water.  To  25  ccm.  of  the  solution,  add  1  ccm.  of  a  5  per  cent, 
solution  of  perchloride  of  iron.  Hydrated  oxide  of  iron  separates  in 
flakes.  If  the  pyridine  be  pure,  15.5  ccm.  of  normal  sulphuric  acid 
will  be  required  to  take  up  the  flakes  ;  German  commercial  pyridine 
takes  12.2  to  12.7  ccm.;  English  pyridine  takes  13.1  ccm. — Arch,  de 
Phar.,  July  5,  1888. 
Bromide  of  Coniine. — In  a  severe  case  of  tetanic  convulsions  in  a 
child  aet.  11,  Dr.  Demur  gave  immediately  1  cgm.  of  the  drug  hy- 
podermically,  and  followed  with  doses  of  5  mgm.  by  the  mouth  every 
