12  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals,  { jlnris^so""" 
4.  Solution  of  ammoniated  copper. — The  solution  is  made  by  adding 
ammonia  gradually  to  a  concentrated  aqueous  solution  of  copper  sul- 
phate until  the  precipitate  is  redissolved.  To  10  drops  of  the  suspected 
oil,  dissolved  in  about  4  cc.  of  pure  absolute  alcohol,  add  2  or  3  cc.  of 
the  copper  solution,  when  an  ultramarine-blue  precipitate  falls,  which 
does  not  change  its  color  if  the  oil  is  pure.  If  a  trace  of  carbon 
bisulphide  is  present  the  precipitate  turns  first  violet-brown,  and  then 
dark  reddish-brown  in  a  few  minutes;  the  presence  of  amylic  alcohol, 
phenol  or  oil  of  cloves  also  causes  a  change  of  the  color. 
5.  Test  for  carbolic  acid. — Mix  10  drops  of  the  suspected  oil  with 
10  cc.  of  water;  shake,  filter  15  minutes  later,  and  add  to  the  filtrate 
2  drops  of  solution  of  ferric  chloride  (Phar.  Ger.),  when  the  presence 
of  carbolic  acid  is  indicated  by  a  blue  coloration. 
6.  Test  for  carbon  bisulphide. — This  adulterant  was  quantitatively 
determined  by  distilling  100  grams  of  the  oil,  contained  in  a  previously- 
weighed  glass  retort,  first  in  a  water-bath  and  afterwards  in  a  glycerin- 
bath.  The  carbon  bisulphide  began  to  distil  at  6o°C.,  and  continued 
to  come  over  until  the  temperature  had  been  raised  to  I03°C. — Pharm. 
Centralh..^  Sept.  25,  1879,  P-  3^^~3^3- 
A  new  Anthelmintic,  known  at  Buenos  Ayres  as  Jlbahaca^  is 
supposed  by  Hager  ("  Pharm.  Centralh.,"  1S79,  p.  343)  to  be  not 
Ocymum  basilicum,  as  stated,  but  the  herb  of  Ocymum  incanescens, 
Martius.^  or  of  an  allied  species.  It  has  been  recommended  by  Dr. 
Lemos  as  an  always  reliable  anthelmintic,  superior  to  calomel,  san- 
tonin, kousso  and  kamala,  and  to  possess  at  the  same  time  the  decided 
advantage  over  most  other  similar  remedies  of  being  entirely  harmless. 
It  is  stated  not  to  have  the  slightest  injurious  effects,  even  if  taken  by 
patients  not  suffering  with  helminthiasis  ;  in  such  cases  it  simply  acts 
as  a  pleasant  cathartic. — Pharm.  Ztschr.  f.  Russl..,  ^^79,  p.  591,  from 
Jllg.  Med.  Centr.  Ztg. 
The  Acid  of  Drosera  intermedia. — Lucas  and  TrommsdorfF 
regarded  the  free  acid  of  this  plant  to  be  malic  ;  Reess  and  Will  be- 
lieved it  to  be  a  mixture  of  formic,  propionic  and  butyric  acids,  and  Hager, 
of  both  citric  and  malic  acid.  G.  Stein  now  proves  it  to  be  citric  acid. 
The  expressed,  intenselv  red  juice  of  D.  intermedia,  collected  shortly 
before  flowering,  was  treated  with  lead  acetate,  the  dirty,  grayish-green 
lead  salt  was  washed  and  decomposed  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  and 
the  acid,  which  is  soluble  in  water,  was  obtained  by  evaporating  the 
