90  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  [  ^""'Feb^risgtr"^ 
cian,  recently  revived  its  use  by  employing  it,  in  connection  with  other 
substances,  for  cancer,  claiming  wonderful  curative  properties  for  it,, 
which,  however,  are  considered  doubtful  by  Hager.  The  leaves  and 
stems  of  the  plant  are  ysually  used  in  the  West  Indies,  and  have  an 
unpleasant,  aromatic,  bitter  taste  ;  the  leaves  and  stems  of  Mikania 
saturejaefolia,  Willd.,  are  considered  equally  efficacious. — Pharm.  Cen- 
iralh,^  Nov.  20,  1879,  p.  438. 
The  Efficacy  of  Koosso  resides,  according  to  Professor  Arena,  not 
in  koossin  but  altogether  in  the  green,  slightly  bitter  resin,  which  is 
soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether.  It  is  contained  in  the  fresh  powder,  but 
on  exposure  to  air  turns  yellow  and  loses  its  bitterness  and  medicinal 
efficacy. — Pharm.  Ztschr.  f.  Russl.^  Nov.  i,  1879,  p.  655,  from  Jllg, 
Med.  Centr.  Ztg. 
Morphia  tartrate  has  been  recommended  by  Erskine  Stuart  as  a 
morphia  salt  particularly  suitable  for  hypodermic  injections,  because 
more  concentrated  solutions  can  be  obtained  of  it  than  of  the  muriate 
or  acetate.  It  is  very  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  forms  neutral,  wart- 
like crystals  consisting  of  needles,  and  is  made  by  disolving  10  grams 
crystallized  morphia  and  2*5  grams  (or  sufficient)  tartaric  acid  in  40 
grams  hot  distilled  water,  and  evaporating  in  a  moderately  warm  place. 
— Pharm.  Centralh..^  Nov.  20,  1879,  P-  434- 
Characteristic  Tests  for  Papaverina  and  Codeia. — I.  Papaverlna. 
—  S.  Tattersall  heats  the  substance  to  be  tested  with  a  few  drops  of 
sulphuric  acid  until  dissolved,  adds  a  small  piece  of  arseniate  of  sodium 
and  heats  again  over  a  small  flame  ;  the  solution  soon  turns  wine-red,, 
and  finally,  us  soon  as  sulphuric  acid  vapors  begin  to  escape,  dark 
blueish-violet ,  this  color  is  very  permanent.  After  cooling,  about  10 
cc.  of  water  are  added ;  the  now  orange-colored  liquid  is  poured 
into  a  bottle,  diluted,  and  caustic  soda  added  until  slightly  alkaline,, 
when  the  liquid  turns  very  dark — almost  black.  Other  alkaloids — like 
strychnia,  brucia,  morphia,  salicin,  atropia,  narcotia,  narceia,  digitalin, 
picrotoxin,  curarin,  colchicia  and  cantharidin — turn  light-orange  or 
dirty-ye]low  on  the  addition  of  alkalies. 
II.  Codeia.^  heated  with  sulphuric  acid  and  NagAsO^,  yields  a  dark 
blue  coloration — much  darker  than  that  produced  by  ferric  chloride 
under  the  same  circumstances.  On  the  addition  of  water  and  alkalies 
ji  turns  orange,  which  is  a  characteristic  reaction  of  this  alkaloid. — 
Pharm.  Ztschr.  f.  Russl.^  Dec.  11,  1879,  p.  721,  fr.  Chem.  CentralbL 
