Amsep0tu,r'if76arm  }  Gleanings  from  the  Foreign  Journals.  409 
soluble  in  dilute  mineral  acids  with  the  evolution  of  phosphoretted  hy- 
drogen. It  is  given  in  doses  ranging  from  0*005  to  0*02  (1-13  to  1-3 
grain)  three  or  four  times  a  day.  The  largest  admissible  dose  appears 
to  be  O'l  gram  (ij-  grains),  or  0*4  gram  (6  grains)  per  day. — Hager  in 
Phar.  Cent,  Halle,  No.  27. 
The  Reduction  of  Sulphurous  Acid  to  Sulphur  by  carbon  is  not  as  perfect 
as  was  formerly  supposed.  P.  W.  Hofmann  observed  that  sulphur  is 
readily  obtained  by  passing  sulphurous  acid  gas  over  calcium  sulphide 
heated  to  dull  redness,  the  latter  compound  being  oxidized  to  calcium 
sulphate  (gypsum),  from  which  the  sulphide  may  again  be  easily  prepared 
by  heating  it  with  charcoal.  The  sulphides  of  sodium,  potassium  and 
barium  will  answer  the  same  purpose. — Indust.  Ztg.y  1876,  p.  65. 
New  Reagent  for  the  Detection  of  Sulphur  in  Organic  Compounds. — H. 
Vohl  recommended  for  this  purpose,  in  1863,  to  heat  the  compounds 
with  sodium  and  prove  the  presence  of  sodium  sulphide  by  nitroprussid 
of  sodium.  This  method,  which  was  also  recommended  by  Bunsen  in 
1866,  indicates  the  presence  of  sulphur  in  all  its  combinations  ;  but  the 
following  reagent  is  now  recommended  by  Vohl  as  not  producing  a 
color  reaction  with  the  oxygen  compounds  of  sulphur  :  A  mixture  of 
one  measure  of  distilled  water  with  two  measures  of  glycerin  is  saturated 
at  the  boiling  temperature  with  slaked  lime,  and  afterwards  with  recent- 
ly precipitated  hydrate  of  lead,  or  with  elutriated  litharge  ;  after  coolings 
the  clear  liquid  is  decanted  and  preserved  in  well-stoppered  bottles  from 
contact  with  carbonic  acid.  The  regent  is  used  by  heating  it  to  boiling 
with  the  organic  body,  which  is  thereby  colored  black,  if  sulphur  not 
in  combination  with  oxygen  is  present.  Hair,  feathers,  horn,  albumen,, 
albuminous  urine,  etc.,  readily  indicate  the  presence  of  sulphur.  The 
use  of  lime  is  preferable  to  potassa  and  soda,  because  the  latter  darken 
many  organic  compounds  at  the  boiling  temperature. — Ber.  Deutsch. 
Chem.  Ges.,  1876,  p.  875-877. 
Instability  of  sublimed  salicylic  acid. — J.  Biel  observed  that  sublimed 
salicylic  acid,  which  was  in  long  silky  needles  and  entirely  inodorous, 
acquired  after  a  week  a  rose-colored  tint  which  gradually  deepened, 
the  characteristic  odor  of  phenol  becoming  likewise  apparent.  The 
presence  of  the  latter  could  not  be  demonstrated  by  chemical  reactions, 
owing  to  the  presence  of  undecomposed  salicylic  acid,  but  the  genera- 
tion of  free  carbonic  acid  was  easily  proven  by  passing  air,  deprived  of 
