AmMarch,Pi892rm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  143 
(which  answers  better  if  it  be  mixed  with  bicarbonate  of  soda  or 
powdered  liquorice),  and  this  mixed  with  the  antipyrine  by  using 
a  spoon  instead  of  a  pestle,  a  powder  is  obtained  that  can  readily  be 
dispensed  in  a  single  cachet. — Rundschau,  1892,  3. 
Aceta. — The  observation  made  by  Dieterich  that  in  this  class  of 
preparations  the  percentage  of  acetic  acid  gradually  decreases,  is 
confirmed  by  M.  C.  Traub ;  accompanying  this  decrease  of  acetic  acid 
is  a  change  in  the  odor  of  the  preparations,  which  is  undoubtedly 
due  to  the  formation  of  acetic  ether. 
Ethyl  bromide. — An  examination  of  an  article  made  by  the  Ger- 
man Pharmacopoeia  process,  proved  that  it  contained  an  impurity 
which  had  a  very  irritating  effect  upon  the  nose  and  eyes  before  it 
was  purified  by  treatment  with  sulphuric  acid ;  by  fractioning  100 
kilos,  there  was  obtained  506  grams  of  a  difficultly  volatile  sub- 
stance, which  after  purification  yielded  a  fraction  boiling  at  150- 
15  1°  C,  and  which  was  identified  as  bromoform;  the  very  irritating 
substance  was  later  isolated  and  found  to  be  mono-brotn-acetone. 
These  impurities  originate  from  an  impure  alcohol  (denaturized  by 
addition  of  pyridine)  containing  acetone,  which  latter  is  acted  upon 
by  bromine  liberated  from  the  hydrobromic  acid  employed.  If  the 
ethyl-bromide  be  very  thoroughly  purified  by  the  action  of  sulphuric 
acid  it  can  be  kept  for  a  long  time,  an  occasional  opening  of  the 
bottle  not  tending  to  decompose  it ;  cork  stoppers,  however,  should 
not  be  used,  since  this  promotes  decomposition. — Schwz.  Wochensch. 
f.  Chem.  u.  Pliarm.®  1892,  3. 
Sweetened  castor  oil  is  prepared  by  thoroughly  washing  with  hot 
water,  freshly  expressed  castor  oil,  and  incorporating  sufficient 
saccharin  to  give  it  a  sweet  taste ;  it  is  then  flavored  by  adding 
small  quantities  of  oil  of  cinnamon  and  extract  of  vanilla.  The 
preparation  is  stated  to  keep  very  well  and  to  be  very  agreeable  in 
taste. — Standke,  Rundschau,  1892,  ill. 
Nitro-jute. — In  the  manufacture  of  pyroxylin,  cotton  was  primarily 
used;  later,  explosives  were  prepared  by  using  wood  and  straw 
cellulose.  Dr.  O.  Miihlhauser  recently  experimented  with  jute  and 
with  good  results.  Taking  5  parts  nitric  acid  and  10  parts  sulphuric 
acid  for  one  part  jute,  and  keeping  the  temperature  150  C.  during 
the  whole  operation,  there  is  principally  produced  cellulose  penta- 
nitrate  C12H1505(O.N02)5.    The  product  is  insoluble  in  water,  alco- 
