^■jui^'iSr111'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  371 
uents ;  from  this  solution  it  was  attempted  to  isolate  the  capsaicin 
by  evaporation  and  sublimation  at  1600  C,  but  the  sublimate  con- 
sisted of  fatty  acids  carrying  along  mechanically  a  little  capsaicin. 
It  was  possible  to  separate  the  fatty  acids  from  capsaicin  by  precipi- 
tation with  a  methyl  alcohol  solution  of  lead  acetate ;  the  excess  of 
lead  acetate  was  removed  by  addition  of  ammonium  sulphate  and 
then  by  diluting  with  water  the  capsaicin  and  coloring  matter 
was  precipitated  and  then  taken  up  in  ether.  Subsequent  attempts 
to  purify  this  product  failed,  the  red  coloring  matter  being  intimately 
mixed  or  combined  with  the  capsaicin  (which  appears  to  be  an 
amorphous  acid  from  its  behavior  towards  alkalies,  alkaline  earths 
and  metallic  salts).  The  accompanying  substances  were  identified 
as  uncombined  oleic,  palmitic  and  stearic  acids,  also  a  red  coloring 
matter  which  is  not  positively  identical  with  carotin,  but  by  saponi- 
fication was  proven  to  be  a  cholesterinester  of  the  fatty  acids. — 
H.  Pabst,  Archiv  der  Pharm.,  1892,  108-134. 
Black  Phosphorus,  obtainable  by  the  prolonged  action  of  ammonia 
and  heat  upon  ordinary  powdered  phosphorus,  until  the  powder 
remaining  becomes  permanent  in  air  and  ceases  to  smell  of  hydrogen 
phosphide,  has  been  proven  to  be  arsenic ;  the  ammoniacal  solution 
contains  the  salts  of  the  lower  acids  of  phosphorus,  but  is  free  from 
phosphates  and  arsenic  salts.  The  presence  of  the  arsenic  in  the 
commercial  phosphorus  is  traceable  to  the  sulphuric  acid  used  in  its 
preparation;  the  phosphorus  is  considered  to  hold  the  arsenic  dis- 
solved, and  when  acted  upon  by  ammonia  may  give  rise  to  a  red 
or  brown  colored  powder  which,  however,  disappears  after  some 
time,  leaving  a  black,  lustreless  powder  composed  of  metallic  arsenic. 
— F.  A.  Fluckiger,  Archiv  der  Pharm.,  1892,  159. 
A  Substitute  for  Goulard's  extract. — The  action  of  magnesium 
acetate  solution  upon  magnesium  oxide  in  hydrating  the  latter  and 
causing  a  considerable  portion  to  dissolve,  has  been  made  use  of  in 
the  manufacture  of  "  sinodor"  preparations  as  deodorizing  agents. 
Magnesium  acetate  solutions  also  have  the  power  of  dissolving  lead 
oxide,  and  this  is  the  basis  of  a  patent  for  the  manufacture  of 
4i  white  lead."  A  solution  containing  4  per  cent,  lead  oxide  is  also 
offered  as  a  therapeutic  agent  in  which  the  action  of  lead  oxide  is 
especially  desired.  It  is  made  as  follows  :  187  gm.  dilute  acetic  acid 
are  diluted  with  water  and  saturated  with  magnesium  carbonate  free 
from  chloride,  and  water  added  to  make  one  kilo.    After  filtering 
