Am'j[i°nuej8£frm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  307 
mere  traces  of  aldehyde  were  obtainable  by  distilling  these  solu- 
tions, indicating  the  difficult  solubility  of  the  substance;  the  insolu- 
ble residue  distilled  with  acidulated  water  gave  a  distillate  which 
appeared  to  contain  the  full  quantity  of  aldehyde.  These  experi- 
ments conclusively  prove  that  the  aldehyde  is  produced  by  the  action 
of  a  ferment  upon  one  or  more  substances,  since  treatment  with 
alcohol  and  subsequent  distillation  with  water  failed  to  give  more 
than  traces  of  aldehyde  (this  because  the  alcohol  coagulated  the  fer- 
ment) ;  distillation  with  acidulated  water  then  effected  the  decomposi- 
tion of  the  substance  with  production  of  the  aldehyde.  An  impure 
substance  was  obtained  from  the  flowers  which  did  not  reduce 
Fehling's  solution  until  after  boiling  with  dilute  acid ;  this  behavior 
would  speak  for  the  presence  of  a  glucoside  which  by  decomposition 
produced  the  aldehyde — salicin  was  not  found  directly  or  indirectly 
in  the  flowers.  This  investigation  also  disclosed  that  the  odor  of 
the  oil  of  spiraea  ulmaria  did  not  depend  upon  the  presence  of 
salicyl-aldehyde,  but  upon  the  presence  of  methyl  salicylate, 
vanillin  and  coumarin ;  of  these  only  the  last  mentioned  was  not 
positively  identified. — Dr.  Schneegans  and  J.  E.  Gerock,  Journ.  der 
Pharm.y  Els.-Lothr.,  1892,  3  and  55. 
Solution  of  Strontium  Lactate. — 44-84  grams  of  strontium  nitrate 
(previously  washed  repeatedly  with  96  per  cent,  alcohol  to  remove 
calcium  nitrate)  are  dissolved  in  one  litre  of  distilled  water  and  10 
grams  dilute  sulphuric  acid  added  (this  precipitates  barium  salts 
that  may  be  present  along  with  some  strontium) ;  after  filtering  the 
filtrate  is  mixed  with  a  solution  of  sodium  carbonate  (60  grams  in 
a  litre),  the  strontium  carbonate  collected  upon  a  filter,  thoroughly 
washed,  transferred  to  a  tared  beaker,  36  grams  pure  lactic  acid 
diluted  with  200  cc.  water  added,  solution  effected  by  gentle 
warming,  and  lastly  diluted  with  water  to  551  grams.  The  result- 
ing solution  contains  10  per  cent,  of  anhydrous  strontium  lactate. — 
A.  Thumann,  Jour,  der  Phar.,  Els.-Lothr.,  1892,  84. 
Assay  of  Chlorine  Water. — To  determine  if  this  preparation  is  of 
pharmacopceial  strength  016  gram  (more  exactly  01558  gram) 
potassium  iodide  is  placed  in  a  glass-stoppered  flask,  dissolved  in  a 
little  water,  and,  after  taring  the  flask,  weighing  into  it  50  grams 
chlorine  water  ;  if,  after  agitation,  the  liquid  remains  perfectly  clear 
and  without  separation  of  iodine,  the  preparation  contains  0-4  per 
cent,  of  chlorine  ;  the  presence  of  free  iodine  indicates  an  inferior, 
