316    .  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {AmjSe'iSarm- 
in  capsules  containing  15-20  cgm.  eight  or  ten  being  given  during 
a  day,  when  the  patient  is  without  fever.  In  the  treatment  of 
affections  of  the  respiratory  tract  it  may  be  used  hypodermically. 
The  solution  used  is  1  part  of  myrtol  to  4  parts  of  liquid  paraffin 
or  oil  of  sweet  almonds.  Two  injections  of  3-5  gm.  of  the  solu- 
tion are  given  a  day. 
Iodized  liquid  Paraffin. — According  to  Dr.  Crismer,  liquid  paraffin 
dissolves  iodine  in  the  proportion  of  3-5  to  100,  a  more  concen- 
trated solution  prepared  by  heating,  precipitates  on  cooling.  E. 
Sohet  (Bull,  de  la  Soc.  de  Pharm.  Brux.,  Jan.  15,  1892;  Rcp.de 
Pharm.,  1892,  106)  got  over  this  difficulty  by  dissolving  the  iodine 
in  the  smallest  quantity  of  ether  and  mixing  this  solution  with  the 
paraffin, oil. 
Examination  of  icteric  Urine  for  Albumin. — Dr.  Grocco  (Rev.  gen. 
ital.  di  clin.  med.,  1891,  through  Rep.  de  Pharm.,  1892,  168)  finds 
that  the  reagents  used  for  the  detection  of  albumin  in  icteric  urine 
at  times  produce  a  precipitate  having  the  appearance  of  coagulated 
albumin,  but  being  soluble  in  alcohol  and  not  giving  the  biuret 
reaction.  To  avoid  being  misled  by  this  reaction,  it  is  necessary  to 
treat  the  urine  with  ^  or  -gL  of  its  volume  of  concentrated  acetic 
acid  and  putting  it  aside  for  six  or  eight  hours  at  a  low  temperature. 
It  is  then  filtered  and  the  usual  test  for  albumin  applied.  The 
author  furthermore  found  that  this  pseudo-albuminous  precipitate 
is  composed  of  biliary  pigments,  principally  biliverdin. 
Elastic  Crayons  of  Iodoform. — Dr.  Guy  (Bull,  de  Pharm.,  Bordeaux, 
1892,  58)  gives  the  following  formula  for  the  preparation  of  these 
crayons:  Glycerin,  10  drops;  distilled  water,  16  drops;  pow- 
dered tragacanth,  I  gm.;  powdered  iodoform,  12  gm.  Beat  the 
gum,  glycerin  and  water  to  a  paste  in  a  mortar,  incorporate  the 
iodoform,  make  into  crayons,  and  dry  in  a'n  oven  at  40-500  C.  for 
two  hours.  Heat  also  for  half  an  hour  some  opodeldoc  bottles, 
their  corks  and  lycopodium.  After  these  have  cooled  in  the  oven, 
introduce  the  crayons  while  still  warm  and  stopper  the  vials 
carefully. 
Method  for  distinguishing  vegetable  fibres  in  Silk  or  Wool. — 
This  method,  recommended  by  S.  Fubino  (II  Selmi;  Revue  internat. 
de  bibliog.,  March,  1892,  p.  75)  is  based  upon  the  conversion  of 
cellulose  into  sugar,  and  upon  the  decolorization  of  the  coloring 
matter  of  orchil  in  the  presence  of  sugar  and  alkali.    A  small  piece 
