"^^sepu'S^"^™'}      Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  451 
a  yellow  color,  deepening  into  red.  With  sulphuric  acid  and  binoxide 
of  manganese  the  yellow  color  changes  to  green  and  then  to  violet. 
Concentrated  nitric  acid  gives  reddish  purple.  The  author  says  the 
substance  is  a  powerful  intoxicant  and  the  fruit  kills  animals  which 
eat  of  it. — Nouv.  Rem.,  June  24,  1888. 
Action  of  Sulphate  of  Sparteine. — Dr.  Pawinsky,  in  an 
elaborate  study  of  this  drug  [Gaz,  Lehars,  1888),  arrives  at  the  fol- 
lowing conclusions,  based  (clinically)  upon  experiments  in  33  cases. 
In  small  doses  of  2  or  3  cgm.  or  6  to  8  cgm.  daily  it  slows  and 
strengthens  the  cardiac  contractions.  Doses  of  8  to  12  cgm.  or  1  gm. 
daily  paralyze  the  heart-action ;  the  pulse  becomes  slow,  weak  and 
arhythmic.  Small  doses  irritate  the  pneumo-gastric,  large  ones  paralyze 
it.  Small  doses  augment  the  tonicity  of  the  vessels;  the  effect  is 
observed  in  40  minutes  after  ingestion.  Xo  cumulative  action  was 
observed,  or  gastric  disturbance.  The  author  cannot  say  that  spar- 
teine has  a  direct  diuretic  action,  but  it  favors  diuresis  and  dissipates 
oedema  and  sanguineous  stasis. — Bull.  gen.  de  therap.,  July  15,  1888; 
see  also  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1886,  p.  103,  and  1887,  p.  157. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moeek,  Ph.  G. 
Tincture  of  guaiac,  a  sensitive  reagent  for  pus.  The  urine  is  filtered 
and  a  little  of  the  reagent  poured  over  the  moist  filter,  a  beautiful 
blue  color  is  produced  in  presence  of  pus.  Moderate  warming  favors 
whilst  excessive  heat  entirely  prevents  the  reaction.  Reducing  agents 
and  caustic  alkalies  also  prevent  it.  Saliva,  nasal  mucus,  and  milk 
also  give  the  reaction  although  not  so  intense. —  Vitali  (Bollet.  Farm.) 
Rundsch.,  1888,  p.  531. 
Olea  JEtherea  sine  terpeno  is  the  name  proposed  by  Dr.  Schweisin- 
ger  for  concentrated  volatile  oils  made  so  by  the  removal  of  the 
non-fragrant  hydrocarbon,  and  which  represent  from  two  to  thirty 
volumes  of  the  ordinary  essential  oils.  Thus  one  volume  of  the  con- 
centrated oil  represents  two  volumes  of  the  oils  of  anise,  cassia,  fen- 
nel, ginger-grass,  mentha  crispa,  mentha  piperita,  cloves,  sassafras  and 
star  aD'ise ;  two  and  one-half  volumes  of  the  oils  bergamot,  caraway 
and  lavender ;  four  volumes  of  cumin  and  rosemary ;  five  volumes 
of  thyme;  six  volumes  of  coriander;  eight  volumes  of  calamus;  ten 
