■^"aJhT'iS?'"'"}    Ancdytical  Researches  and  Investigations,  193 
into  15  times  its  volume  of  90  per  cent,  alcohol.  After  standing  for 
24  hours  the  obtained  precipitate  is  collected  and  pressed,  and  dried 
between  filtering  paper.  The  mass  so  obtained  possesses  a  shining, 
brown,  resinous  appearance,  an  agreeably  aromatic  odor  and  taste,  dis- 
solves slowly  in  water,  with  the  formation  of  a  turbid  liquid,  and  pro- 
duces in  animals,  even  when  administered  in  small  doses  (about  10 
grams),  acute  jaundice,  as  also  the  other  symptoms  of  lupinosis. — Ber. 
der  Deutsch.  Chem.  Ges.,  No.  4,  1883,  p.  461. 
The  Detection  of  Organic  Acids  in  Carbolic  Acid.  By  W.  Bach- 
meyer. — An  aqueous  decoction  of  red-wood  becomes  decolorized  by 
the  addition  of  one  drop  of  a  concentrated  inorganic  acid,  but  upon 
the  further  addition  of  acid  it  becomes  again  red ;  organic  acids  pro- 
duce a  permanent  decoloration,  whereas  carbolic  acid,  or  phenol,  pro- 
duces scarcely  any  change  of  color. — Chem.  Zeitung,  No.  76,  p.  1346, 
from  Ztschr.  Anal.  Chem.,  21,  p.  552. 
A  New  Volumetric  Solution  for  the  Estimation  of  the  Hardness  of 
Water.  By  C.  R.  C.  Tichborne. — The  estimation  is  accomplished  with 
a  solution  of  soap,  which  is  prepared>,in  the  following  manner:  5  cubic 
<;entimeters  of  oleic  acid  are  measured  off  with  a  pipette,  and  mixed 
with  50  cubic  centimeters  of  alcohol  in  a  beaker,  then  8  drops  of  phe- 
nolphthalein  solution  are  added,  and  subsequently  normal  soda  solu- 
tion, ^^^^y  until  a  pale  red  coloration  is  just  produced.    The  liquid 
is  then  diluted  with  equal  parts  of  alcohol  and  water  until  the  required 
volume  of  normal  solution  is  obtained.  32  cubic  centimeters  of  this 
solution,  when  required  for  100  cubic  centimeters  of  water,  indicate 
16°  of  hardness  per  gallon,  according  to  Clark^s  scale. — Ibid.,  p.  1347, 
from  Chem.  News,  46,  p.  235. 
The  Separation  of  Asparagin  from  Liquids.  By  E.  Schulze. — A 
precipitant  for  asparagin  has  heretofore  remained  unknown,  and  the 
author  recommends  as  such  mercuric  nitrate.  By  the  decomposition  of 
the  white  precipitate  so  obtained  by  hydrogen  sulphide,  the  asparagin 
can  again  be  obtained.  This  reaction  may  also  be  utilized  for  the 
separation  of  asparagin  from  plant  extracts. — Ihid.,  No.  82,  p.  1441, 
from  Ber,  der  Deutsch.  Chem.  Ges.,  15,  p.  2837. 
On  the  Poisonous  Action  of  Human  Urine.  By  Balduino  Bocci. — 
Normal  human  urine,  when  injected  under  the  skin  of  frogs,  produces 
under  certain  conditions  a  lameness  of  the  animal,  which  results  also 
13 
