AmAP0rur;iP892arm'}  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  191 
after  extracting  with  chloroform  still  had  considerable  action,  and 
that  the  red  coloring  matter  by  heating  gave  a  sublimate  of  caffeine 
which  it  was  thought  was  prevented  from  being  extracted  by  some 
resinous  matter.  Dr.  E.  Knebel  in  taking  up  this  subject  finds  that 
the  red  coloring  matter  contains  a  glucoside  for  which  the  name 
Kolanin  is  proposed,  and  which  by  heating  with  water  or  dilute 
acid  decomposes  into  caffeine,  glucose  and  Kola-red ;  it  therefore 
follows  that  in  the  above  analysis  only  the  free  caffeine  was  deter- 
mined, whilst  that  present  in  combination  was  put  down  along  with 
the  coloring  matter.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  unripe  or  ripe 
seed  contains  only  the  glucoside,  which  by  ripening  or  drying  is 
decomposed  largely  into  the  several  constituents  by  a  ferment,  which 
was  isolated  and  found  to  have  diastasic  action  upon  starch ;  the 
fresh  seed  not  being  obtainable  this  could  not  be  verified  by  an 
examination,  but  attention  is  called  to  the  almost  molecular  propor- 
tions in  which  the  caffeine  and  glucose  are  found  in  the  dry  seed; 
African  explorers  have  repeatedly  stated  that  the  fresh  seed  upon 
mastication  has  at  first  a  bitter  taste  soon  changing  to  sweet.  Kola- 
red  free  from  glucoside  was  prepared  and  by  analysis  was  found  to 
have  the  formula  CuH13(OH)5 ;  it  is  very  unstable  and  very  prob- 
ably by  oxidation  forms  the  tannic  acid  found  in  the  seed. — Apo- 
theker  Ztg.,  1892,  112. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  The  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Vesication  with  mercury. — Dr.  Aubert  [Lyon  m'ed.  through 
L  Union  pharmac,  1892,  p.  55)  uses  corrosive  sublimate  as  a 
vesicant  with  good  results.  He  uses  a  compress  moistened  with  a 
1  per  cent,  solution  of  this  salt,  and  in  6  to  7  hours  obtains  a  vesi- 
cation analogous  to  that  from  cantharides.  The  phlyctaena  is 
limited  by  the  outline  of  the  compress,  and  judging  from  the 
experiment,  which  should  be  controlled,  the  serum  is  aseptic.  The 
manner  of  applying  is  as  follows :  A  layer  of  diachylon  plaster 
is  placed  next  to  the  skin,  leaving  an  opening  of  sufficient  size  in 
the  centre,  on  this  is  applied  the  compress,  following  it  with  oiled 
silk,  cotton  and  a  bandage. 
Strontium  salts  as  tcznifuges. — Dr.  Laborde  (Rep.  de  Pharm., 
1892,  85)  uses  the  following  prescription  in  cases  of  taenia :  Stron- 
