614  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals,    {^^  Dec.alfe^'''^' 
causes,  possibly  to  heat  and  exposure  to  air.  Oil  extracted  from  fresh 
livers  contained  from  0*3  to  0*4  per  cent,  free  acid  (calculated  as  oleic 
acid),  made  from  livers  seven  days  old  0*9  per  cent.  acid.  If  air  be 
slowly  drawn  through  fresh  oil  heated  on  a  water-bath  during  the 
first  half  hour  there  is  a  slight  loss  of  acidity ;  if  continued  longer  a 
slight  increase  of  acids  results  (to  0'7  per  cent,  in  5J  hours).  Ran- 
cidity was  noticeable  in  all  samples  heated  for  more  than  30  minutes, 
but  the  increase  of  acid  being  so  slight  it  is  impossible  that  this  is  the 
cause ;  fatty  acids  were  liberated  from  a  specimen  of  fresh  oil,  and 
these  added  to  the  oil  in  smaller  and  larger  quantities,  but  in  no  case 
did  it  give  the  peculiar  odor  and  taste  of  the  rancid  oil.  Cod-liver  oil 
carefully  stoppered  is  not  prone  to  change;  specimens  from  1884, 
1885,  1886,  1887,  showed  respectively  0-37,  0-38,  0-36,  0-36  per  cent, 
free  acid.  The  cruder  oils  for  medicinal  and  technical  uses  gotten 
through  fermentation  of  the  livers  contain  from  3*79  to  28  per  cent, 
free  acid,  and  still  were  free  from  rancidity.  Fermentation  produces 
the  excessive  acidity  of  the  cruder  oils.  The  acidity  of  oils  obtained 
from  the  livers  of  various  species  varies  decidedly  : 
Gadus  virens,  0*17  per  cent.  ;  Brosmius  brosme,  0*08  per  cent.  ; 
Molva  vulgaris,  4'36  per  cent.  ;  Raja  radiata,  4-80  per  cent. ;  Lamna 
cornubica,  2*62  per  cent. — Heyerdahl,  Chem.  Ztg.,  1888,  1475. 
Japan  wax,  examined  by  Eberhard,  is  composed  chiefly  of  palmitin 
containing  also  small  quantities  of  isobutyric  and  palmitic  acids.  The 
white  coating  which  appears  with  age  consists  of  palmitic  acid. — Rdsch., 
1888,  844. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Terpin  in  Bronchitis.- — This  remedy  seems  to  have  been  largely' 
prescribed  of  late  by  Parisian  physicians.  Cheron's  preparation  has 
been  most  frequently  used  ;  it  is  given  as  follows  in  the  Monde  Pharm. 
of  October  6th :  Terpin,  5  gra. ;  glycerin,  alcohol  of  95  per  cent., 
syrup  of  honey,  of  each,  70  gm. ;  vanillin,  0'02  gm.  A  tablespoonful 
contains  50  cgm.  of  terpin.  Two  tablespoonfuls  are  given  daily  to 
loosen  and  finally  diminish  expectoration.  In  the  above  doses  it  is 
not  liable  to  cause  gastric  disturbance,  especially  if  given  after  meals. 
Mouth  Wash. — The  following  wash  for  shrinking  of  the  gums  is 
given  by  various  French  journals  of  pharmacy :  Tannic  acid,  8  gm.  ; 
