Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
December,  1913.  J 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
569 
lon-4-amido-methan-sulphonate,  the  sodium  salt  of  I-phenyl-2,3,- 
dimethyl-5-pyrazolon-4-amidomethan-sulphonic  acid,  differing  from 
antipyrine,  C11H12N20,  in  that  a  sodium-amido-methan-sulphonate 
group,  NH.CH2.S03Xa.  has  replaced  a  hydrogen  atom  of  the  pyra- 
zolon  group.  It  is  a  white,  odorless,  almost  tasteless  crystalline  pow- 
der, readily  soluble  in  water,  but  slightly  soluble  in  alcohol.  The 
aqueous  solution  is  neutral  in  reaction  but  unstable. — /.  Am.  M, 
Assoc.,  1913,  v.  61,  p.  869. 
Mesothorium. — Berlin  Correspondent:  All  Germany  is  obsessed 
with  the  idea  of  procuring  mesothorium  to  be  used  as  a  panacea  for 
cancer.  It  is  said  to  have  the  power  of  emanating  rays  similar  to, 
but  much  more  effective  than  radium,  and  the  cost  seems  to  be  about 
as  great.  The  substance  is  derived  from  the  thorium  waste  in  the 
manufacture  of  gas  mantles,  but  proof  is  still  wanting  of  the  efficacy 
of  the  remedy. — Chem.  &  Drug.,  1913,  v.  83,  p.  447. 
Methyl  Alcohol. — Kroeber,  Ludwig :  Reviews  the  different  theor- 
ies in  the  famous  Berlin  poisoning  case,  and  concludes  that  pure 
methyl  alcohol  has  not  the  great  toxicity  attributed  to  it  by  certain 
authors.  He  finds  that  traces  of  dimethylic  sulphate  formed  in  the 
course  of  purification  of  the  product  are  capable  of  poisonous  action. 
— Chem.  &  Drug.,  1913,  v.  83,  p.  488. 
Ninhydrin  occurs  in  the  form  of  colorless  crystals  readily  soluble 
in  water.  When  heated  it  becomes  red  at  125 0  C,  swells  at  1390  and 
melts  at  239-240 0  C.  The  aqueous  solution  colors  the  skin  violet  and 
reduces  Fehling's  solution.  When  heated  to  the  boiling  point  in 
aqueous  solution  it  gives  a  blue  color  in  the  presence  of  protein  bodies 
or  amino  acids  derived  from  them  which  have  the  amino  group  in 
the  alpha  position  in  relation  to  the  carboxyl.  It  gives  this  reaction 
with  compounds  that  no  longer  respond  to  the  biuret  reaction.  Nin- 
hydrin is  not  employed  therapeutically,  but  is  used  as  a  reagent  to 
determine  the  presence  of  albumin,  peptone,  polypeptids,  and  amino 
acids.  This  test  is  especially  applied  to  demonstrate  the  presence  in 
blood  serum  of  specific  proteolytic  ferments,  especially  in  the  diag- 
nosis of  pregnancy,  according  to  the  method  of  Abderhalden. — 
/.  Am.  M.  Assoc..  1912,  v.  61.  p.  1377. 
Ninhydrin  Reaction. — Pearce,  Richard  M. :  Reports  negative  re- 
sults with  the  ninhydrin  reaction  as  a  test  for  amino  acids  in  the 
serum  of  nephritics  and  others.  A  few  tests  were  made  also  with 
ascitic  fluid,  but  with  like  negative  results. — J.  Am.  M.  Assoc.,  1913, 
v.  61,  pp.  1456-1457. 
