616  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {^"^'ilZ'Sm'''^ 
Test  Papers  for  Urine. — As  described  to  the  Soc.  des.  Sci.  Med. 
de  Gannat,  these  consist  of  small  leaves  of  paper  which,  having  been 
dipped  into  the  proper  solutions  and  dried,  are  boundinto  small  books 
which  may  be  carried  in  the  pocket.  The  papers  for  albumin  tests  are 
made  with  ferrocyanide  of  potassium,  tungstate  of  sodium,  picric  acid, 
potassio-mercuric  iodide  and  citric  acid ;  those  for  sugar  consist  of  in- 
digo carmine,  carbonate  of  lime,  etc.  Litmus  papers  are  included. 
With  these,  a  test  tube  and  a  few  "  densimeters,"  the  physician  or 
pharmacist  is  able  to  make  rapid  tests.  Twenty  ccm.  of  the  urine  is 
placed  in  a  tube  and  its  reaction  is  ascertained.  If  alkaline  one  or 
two  citric  acid  papers  are  added  and  the  mixture  clouds  with  albumin, 
mucin  or  the  urates,  With  heat  the  urates  re-dissolve,  as  also  resinous 
substances  (which  are  rarely  present).  Mucin  is  easily  recognized  by 
its  characteristic  appearance.  One  of  the  papers  for  albumin  is  then 
dipped  into  the  solution  and  that  substance  is  precipitated.  To  find 
sugar,  10  ccm.  of  pure  water  are  placed  in  the  tube  with  an  indigo 
carmine  paper,  heating  slightly.  A  soda  paper  and  a  drop  of  urine 
are  added.  The  liquid  is  then  heated  for  one  minute  and  urine 
added,  drop  by  drop,  until  the  change  takes  place.  The  ^^densi- 
meters'' are  the  well-known  specific-gravity  beads  which  float  or 
sink  in  accordance  with  the  density  of  the  solution,  Union  Med., 
Oct.  9,  1888. 
Test  for  Arsenic. — To  the  suspected  liquid  is  added,  in  a  test 
tube,  a  solution  of  caustic  potash  or  soda,  and  then  a  fragment  of 
aluminium.  The  mouth  of  the  tube  is  then  closed  with  paper  dipped 
in  a  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver.  If  arsenic  be  present  the  paper 
turns  black.  Aluminium  is  preferable  to  zinc,  for  the  latter  may  con- 
tain arsenic,  while  aluminium  is  always  free  from  it. — Farm.  Ital. ; 
Arch,  de  Pharm.,  October  5,  1888. 
Benzoic  Acid  in  Aliments. — Its  use  in  beer  and  in  foods  of 
all  kinds  has  been  reported  against  by  the  Comite  d^ Hygiene  on  the 
ground  that substances  having  antiseptic  qualities  are  injurious  to 
the  normal  evolution  of  the  digestive  processes." — Ai^ch.  de  Phar., 
October  5,  1888. 
Payesi's  Cosmetic. — The  formula  for  this  solution — used  for  dis- 
colorations  of  the  skin — is  given  in  the  Monde  Phar.,  Nov.  5,  1888, 
as  follows  :  Borate  of  sodium,  10  gm.  ;  glycerin,  20  gm. ;  rose-water, 
150  gm. ;  alcoholic  tincture  of  benzoin,  15  gm. ;  let  the  mass  rest  for 
several  days  and  then  filter.    To  be  applied  twice  daily. 
