AmAP°riir;£92arm-}  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  195 
of  iodine  liberated  in  the  dark  was  only  0  06  gm.  The  decomposi- 
tion is  retarded  by  keeping  the  solution  in  yellow  glass  bottles, 
which  are  preferable  to  blue  glass.  The  decomposition  is  increased 
by  a  rise  of  temperature.  In  neutral  solutions  the  decomposition 
of  iodoform  is  very  slight,  but  it  is  hastened  on  by  the  addition  of 
acids.  In  making  iodoform  collodion  it  is,  therefore,  important  that 
the  vehicle  be  of  neutral  reaction,  and  that  the  preparation  be  kept 
in  well-stoppered  yellow  glass  bottles,  in  a  cool  place,  and  exposed 
to  the  light  as  little  as  possible. 
Guaiacol  biniodide,  a  new  aristol. — Dr.  Vicar io  (Prog:  Th'erap., 
January,  1892)  proposes  guaiacol  biniodide  as  a  probable  pulmo- 
nary antiseptic.  It  is  prepared  from  guaiacol  sodium  by  the  action 
of  iodine  in  potassium  iodide  solution.  The  guaiacol  is  treated 
with  an  excess  of  caustic  soda,  which  produces  a  whitish  mass 
gradually  becoming  greenish  and  violet.  The  guaiacol  sodium  is 
obtained  in  a  pure  and  crystalline  state  by  recrystallization  from 
guaiacol.  The  guaiacol  can  be  recovered  by  distillation.  The 
crystalline  compound  is  dissolved  in  water  and  to  this  is  added  a 
solution  of  iodine  in  potassium  iodide  as  long  as  precipitation  takes 
place.  The  precipitate  is  of  a  reddish  brown  color  possessing  the 
odor  of  iodine,  readily  decomposable  on  heating,  fusible  on  a  water 
bath  and  soluble  in  alcohol  and  fixed  oils. 
Valuation  of  creasote. —  E.  Merklen  (L  Union  pharm.y  1892,  5) 
gives  easily  applied  tests  for  the  valuation  of  beech  wood  creasote. 
(1)  Water,  of  which  it  can  take  up  9  per  cent.  Ten  cc.  creasote  are 
heated  with  about  2  gm.  calcium  chloride  in  a  test  tube  until  the 
salt  melts.  The  two  are  then  well  mixed  and  set  aside  to  cool.  In 
case  water  is  present  the  calcium  chloride  remains  liquid.  Anhy- 
drous copper  sulphate  could  be  used  for  the  same  purpose,  the 
white  salt  becoming  blue  in  presence  of  water.  (2)  Phenol.  The 
well-known  tests  of  collodion  and  perchloride  of  iron  are  of  no  use 
in  case  a  mixture  of  phenol  and  creasote  is  to  be  examined.  The 
best  test  is  that  proposed  by  Fliickiger.  Four  cc.  creasote  and  1  cc. 
ammonia  are  heated  to  6o°  C.  (1500  F.),  well  mixed  and  poured 
into  a  large  capsule.  This  is  then  tilted  from  side  to  side  so  as  to 
make  the  liquid  cover  as  large  a  surface  as  possible.  A  small  vial 
of  bromine  is  then  inclined  toward  the  centre  of  the  capsule,  so 
that  the  vapor  can  readily  come  in  contact  with  the  liquid.  Where 
