•2IO  Gleanings  from  European  Journals. 
betaina  and  lycina  do  not  pre-exist  in  the  plants,  but  are  formed  from 
a  body  similar  to  the  animal  protagon,  by  the  prolonged  action  of  mur- 
iatic acid  during  evaporation. — Ihid.^  March,  pp.  216-218. 
Dangerous  Properties  of  Anilin  Colors  Containing  Arsenic. — A.  Huse- 
mann  reports  the  case  of  several  children  who  had  been  poisoned  by 
eating  cakes  colored  with  fuchsina.  One  death  occurring,  only  very 
minute  traces  of  arsenic  could  be  detected.  The  fuchsina  contained 
2|  per  cent,  arsenic  acid,  and  the  amount  of  coloring  matter  in  the 
cakes  was  so  small  that  not  more  then  one-tenth  or  one-fifth  milligram 
of  poison  could  have  been  eaten.  The  author  regards,  therefore,  arsenic 
in  combination  with  the  anilin  derivatives  as  infinitely  more  dangerous 
than  in  its  free  state  or  in  combination  with  other  bases  ;  and  that  this 
may  be  caused  by  the  intimate  contact  of  these  colors  with  animal  mem- 
brane.— pp.  219-222. 
Scammony  resin^  prepared  from  the  root,  contains,  according  to  Aug. 
Hess,  some  tannin,  which  may  be  readily  removed  by  animal  charcoal; 
prepared  from  scammony  it  is  free  from  tannin  ;  but  there  is  scarcely 
any  difference  in  the  medicinal  activity  of  the  two  kinds. — Ibid. ^  pp.  223— 
230. 
Test  for  Morphia. — A.  Husemann  directs  attention  to  the  delicacy  of 
the  test  proposed  by  him  some  years  ago,*  by  which  one-hundredth 
milligram  may  be  detected.  The  morphia,  or  its  salt,  is  left  in  contact 
with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  for  12  or  15  hours,  or  heated  with  it 
to  100°  C.  for  half  an  hour,  or  to  150°  C.  for  a  few  moments.  On 
the  addition  of  a  little  nitric  acid,  or  of  a  nitrate  or  chlorate,  chlorine  water,, 
chlorinated  soda  or  of  ferric  chloride,  a  beautiful  bluish-or  reddish-violet 
color  is  produced,  which  soon  passes  into  deep  blood-red  and  gradually 
becomes  paler.  The  presence  of  small  quantities  of  coloring  matter 
does  not  prevent  the  reaction,  if  the  chlorinated  reagents  are  selected 
in  applying  the  test. — Ibid..^  pp.  231-232. 
Arsenic  in  Paperhangings. — This  subject,  which  has  repeatedly  engaged 
the  attention  of  investigators,  was  again  examined  by  Dr.  N.  F.  Ham- 
berg,  of  Stockholm,  who,  from  a  series  of  carefully  performed  experi- 
ments, arrives  at  the  conclusion  that,  even  if  the  colors  are  firmly  fixed,, 
the  arsenic  is  gradually  liberated  as  arseniuretted  hydrogen,  the  atmos- 
phere of  the  room  being  vitiated  by  these  exhalations. — Ibid..^  pp.  233- 
253- 
Hydrated  Aconitia. — Hager  ascribes  the  greater  activity  of  some  aco- 
*  "  Annalen  der  Chemie  und  Pharmacie,"  Vol.  128,  p.  305. 
