372  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {Am'juiyr;i892arm* 
this,  the  specific  gravity  should  be  about  10377,  the  solution  con- 
taining 10  percent,  magnesium  acetate  ;  it  is  then  heated  in  a  water- 
bath  for  one  hour  with  7  per  cent,  lead  oxide,  and  by  the  addition 
of  water  the  original  weight  (one  kilo)  restored ;  after  standing  24 
hours  the  specific  gravity  is  again  determined,  a  difference  of  0001 
indicating  1  per  cent,  lead  oxide  ;  if  the  difference  is  greater  than 
0-004  tne  solution  must  be  correspondingly  diluted.  From  the  fin- 
ished preparation  an  efficient  lead  water  can  be  made  by  the 
addition  of  4  parts  to  96  parts  water. — Dr.  Kubel,  Archiv  der 
Phann.,  1892,  173. 
Anemonin. — In  taking  up  the  chemical  examination  of  this 
substance,  preliminary  trials  were  made  with  a  number  of  plants  to 
ascertain  its  most  productive  source.  The  herbs  of  Anemone 
nemorosa  L.,  A.  Pulsatilla  L.,  and  A.  pratensis  L.,  Ranunculus 
reptans  L.,  R.  acer.  L  (45  pounds  yielded  11*5  gr.)and  R.  secleratus 
L.,  and  the  leaves  of  Clematis  angustifolia  and  C.  integrifolia  all 
contain  the  principle ;  the  leaves  and  tubers  of  Aconitum  napillus 
L.,  probably,  although  not  certainly,  also  contain  it.  Of  these 
several  herbs,  those  containing  it  in  largest  amount,  A.  Pulsatilla, 
A.  pratensis  and  ranunculus  acer,  were  used  in  the  fresh  state,  cut 
up  and  distilled  in  a  current  of  steam  ;  the  first  distillates,  strongly 
pungent,  were  collected  separately ;  the  later,  weaker  distillates 
were  used  in  macerating  fresh  portions  of  the  herbs.  From  these 
aqueous  distillates  chloroform  extracted  the  pungent  principle  ; 
by  distillation  most  of  the  solvent  was  recovered,  and  the  con- 
centrated solution  then  set  aside  to  crystallize.  Anemonin  crystal- 
lizes first,  and  after  washing  with  chloroform  (in  which  it  is  not 
very  soluble)  forms  odorless  crystals,  melting  at  150-1520  C. 
The  mother-liquor  from  the  anemonin  crystallization  solidified  to  a 
mass  of  hard,  lustrous,  rhombic  prisms,  which  are  called  Anemon- 
camphor ;  this  at  1500  C,  losing  water,  sinters  together;  at  higher 
temperature  it  evolves  pungent  vapors  and  carbonizes  at  3000  C  ; 
it  possesses  a  very  sharp,  irritating  odor,  acting  especially  upon 
the  eyes  and  mucous  membranes  of  the  nose  and  respiratory 
organs;  placed  upon  the  skin,  it  first  causes  reddening,  and  later 
produces  painful  blisters  ;  the  chloroform  solution  is  neutral,  but 
decomposes  (as  does  also  the  aqueous  solution),  and  then  has  an 
acid  reaction,  due  to  the  formation  of  anemonin  and  amorphous 
isoanemonic  acid;    if  this  change  is  due  to  oxidation  or  to  the 
