^'^£r''^sso!'"'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals,  131 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Louis  von  Cotzhausen,  Ph.G. 
The  unpleasant  and  offensive  Odor  of  Iodoform  is  easily  over- 
come by  E.  Biermann  by  the  addition  of  from  5  to  8  drops  of  volatile 
oil  of  fennel  to  i  gram  of  iodoform.  Its  efficacy  is  really  surprising, 
and  far  exceeds  that  of  oil  of  peppermint  (see  '^Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.," 
April,  1879,  p.  190)  and  of  balsam  of  Peru. — Pharm.  Ztg.^  Jan.  10, 
1880,  p.  16. 
The  Odor  of  Musk  is  rendered  less  penetrating,  according  to  E. 
Biermann,  by  the  addition  of  powdered  fennel-seed  (for  other  methods 
see  "Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,"  1879,  p.  25  and  487). — Ibid, 
Salicylic  Acid  Tampons. — As  employed  in  the  German  army, 
they  consist  of  pieces  of  soft  gauze  of  about  13  or  16  square  centi- 
meters, which  are  loosely  tied  around  i  or  2  grams  of  cotton,  so  as  to 
be  readily  forn^d  into  any  desired  shape  by  pressure.  One  kilo  of 
these  tampons  is  impregnated  with  a  solution  of  110  grams  of  salicylic 
acid  and  40  grams  of  castor  oil  in  3J  or  4  liters  of  95  per  cent,  alco- 
hol. They  are  afterwards  dried  in  a  well-ventilated  room,  and  are 
intended  to  be  used  in  applying  a  temporary  bandage  until  the  services 
of  a  surgeon  may  be  procured.  Bernbeck  suggests  the  use  of  glycerin 
in  place  of  the  castor  oil,  considering  it  far  preferable. — Ibid.^  ^^795  P* 
704- 
Compound  Solution  of  Carbolic  Acid. — Hager  recommends  the 
following: 
Take  of    Sumatra  benzoin  (2d  quality),  .  .  ioo"o 
Aloes,  ....  50'o 
Crude  salicylic  acid,  .  .  .         25  0 
Reduce  to  powder,  and  add 
Oil  of  spike,  ....  50*0 
Oil  of  star  anise,  .  .  .  io"o 
Alcohol,  .  •  •  *  lOOQ-O 
Macerate  for  i  day,  shaking  occasionally,  then  add: 
Oleic  acid,     ...  *  loco 
And  a  previously  prepared  solution  of 
Crude  caustic  soda,  .  .  .  6o'o 
Borax,  ....  25-0 
Water,  .....  500*0 
Digest,  shaking  occasionally,  for  i  day,  and  add  to  the  warm 
mixture 
Crude  carbolic  acid  (containing  90  to  95  per  cent. 
phenol),     ....  3ooo"o 
Shake  for  half  hour,  then  set  aside  in  a  cold  place  for  a  week,  and  decant  the 
liquid. 
