364       Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy.  {Am-/uw%iavm- 
FUNGICIDAL  ACTION  OF  VOLATILE  OILS. 
Interesting  to  compare  with  above  is  an  article  by  T.  Borkorny 
{Ph.  Cent.,  1 90 1,  159,  and  172)  in  which  he  reports  elaborate  experi- 
ments on  the  destruction  of  mould  (Schimmelpilz)  and  putrefaction 
bacteria  with  ethereal  oils  and  their  derivatives,  drawing  therefrom 
interesting  conclusions  as  to  chemical  structure  and  relative  tox- 
icity. Quoting  Loew's  classification  of  toxicological  action, in  which 
he  assumes  that  death  of  organisms  by  poison  is  due  to  the  chem- 
ical decomposition  of  the  protoplasm — be  it  by  complete  dissocia- 
tion, or  by  formation  of  substitution  products. 
The  writer  cites  the  following  oils  as  most  toxic  to  mould,  deduc- 
ing the  reason  for  toxicity  from  their  chemical  structure. 
First  comes  eugenol,  a  phenol,  and  all  phenols  form  substitution 
products  with  the  protoplasmic  constituents.  It  likewise  contains 
an  allyl  group — CH  =  CH2,  and  all  unsaturated  groups  are  more 
poisonous  than  the  corresponding  saturated  body.  Thus  allyl 
mustard  oil  is  much  more  toxic  than  ethyl  mustard  oil.  Second  in 
antiseptic  nature  is  cinnamic  aldehyde,  C6H5CH  =  CH  CHO,  which 
is  toxic  because  of  its  CHO  group.  Aldeyhdes  are  more  toxic  than 
their  corresponding  alcohols  (note  antiseptic  action  of  formaldehyde, 
as  compared  to  its  congener,  methyl  alcohol)  because,  according  to 
Loew,  they  react  with  the  amido  groups  found  in  the  protoplasm. 
Cinnamic  aldehyde,  moreover,  contains  the  unsaturated  group — 
CH  =  CH — which  contributes  to  its  toxic  action.  Salicylic  aldehyde, 
C6H4CHO,  is  more  toxic  to  fungi  than  its  alcohol,  saligenin,  or  its 
oxidation  product,  salicylic  acid,  again  showing  influence  of  the 
aldehyde  group.  Lastly,  all  bodies  containing  the  phenyl  group, 
C6H5,  show  more  toxic  character  than  corresponding  substances  of 
the  marsh  gas  series.  H.  V.  A. 
CLARIFICATION  OF  ALBUMINOUS  URINE. 
The  clearing  of  urine  prior  to  testing  for  albumin  is  sometimes 
difficult,  and  such  foreign  bodies  as  magnesia,  aluminum  hydrate, 
red  lead  or  talc,  have  been  recommended  for  the  purpose.  All, 
however,  carry  down  considerable  albumin,  hence  are  not  advised. 
Infusorial  earth  is  the  least  objectionable  clarifying  agent,  and  even 
this  should  be  used  in  small  amounts  only,  not  exceeding  y2  per 
cent.  After  all,  shredded  filter  paper  is  the  most  reliable  clarifying 
agent.— (Dr.  Grutzner,  Ph.  Zt.,  1901,  78.)  H.  V.  A. 
