566  Scientific  and  Technical  Abstracts.  {AmA^rsCmim' 
Rapid  Detection  of  Morphine  in  the  Toxicological  Anal- 
ysis of  Viscera. — By  means  of  the  following  method  morphine  was 
detected  in  the  viscera  after  ingestion  by  the  subject  of  only  0.002 
gram.  One  hundred  and  twenty  grams  of  viscera  are  mixed  with 
magnesia  to  a  compact  paste,  which  is  completely  dehydrated  on  the 
water  bath.  The  powdered  residue  is  boiled  with  acetone,  and  the 
filtered  extract  treated  with  2-3  cc.  of  water  and  a  few  drops  of  acetic 
acid.  The  liquid  is  again  filtered  and  evaporated  on  the  water  bath, 
The  residue  containing  the  morphine  is  purified  by  treatment  with 
5%  acetic  acid,  filtration,  and  extraction  with  boiling  chloroform, 
after  addition  of  excess  of  ammonia. — Through  the  Pract.  Druggist. 
Constituents  of  Siam  Benzoin. — The  author  has  isolated 
d-siaresinolic  acid  by  treating  the  crude  benzoin  with  aqueous  solu- 
tion of  sodium  hydroxide  (4-5  per -cent.),  and  recrystallizing  the 
sodium  d-siaresinolate  from  alcohol.  The  free  acid  has  a  specific 
rotation  at  250  of  -f~.  37-793  in  alcoholic  solution,  and  melts  at  2600  C. 
It  does  not  contain  a  methyl  group,  and  plays  no  part  in  the  gradual 
discoloration  suffered  by  the  resin  when  preserved.  The  potassium 
salt  crystallizes  in  needles,  which  dissolve  freely  in  water  and  alcohol. 
The  name  /-prabangic  acid  is  proposed  for  the  substance  C27H40O4 
isolated  by  Zinke  and  Lieb  by  the  oxidation  of  d-siaresinolic  acid  by 
chromic  acid  in  acetic  acid  solution.  Lubanyl  benzoate  is  described 
by  the  same  author  as  the  substance  which  exhibits  a  series  of  color 
changes  analogous  to  those  shown  by  the  crude  resin.  It  crystallizes 
in  plates  melting  at  72.80  C,  and  contains  one  methoxy  group.  It 
readily  loses  benzoic  acid  when  heated  to  I20°-I40°  C,  and  on  fur- 
ther rise  of  temperature  emits  and  an  odor  of  carnations  and  subse- 
quently of  guaiacol.  It  is  optically  inactive.  The  benzoate  is  very 
readily  hydrolyzed  either  in  acid  or  alkaline  solution,  but  the  isola- 
tion of  lubanol  itself  in  the  pure  condition  has  been  impossible  owing 
to  its  susceptibility  to  change.  Lubanol  is  probably  identical  with, 
or  closely  related  to,  coniferyl  alcohol. — Reinitzer,  Archiv.  Pharm., 
1921,  259,  1-6,  60-69;  through  Pharm.  Journ.  and  Pharm.,  June, 
192 1. 
Volatile  Oil  of  Pimenta  Jamaicensis  (Amomis  Jamaicen- 
sis). — The  oil  derived  from  the  leaves  of  the  wild  pimento  of  Jamaica 
have  been  investigated  by  the  author.    It  has  an  odor  resembling 
