Amslptr,*i892arm'}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  459 
Per  Cent.        Per  Cent. 
Extracted  by  Water  : 
Mucilage,    i"35  j 
Dextrin,    .  .  ..  ,.  .  .  .   2-98      {  I2.^g 
Glucose,  3-83  I 
Undetermined,  4*12  J 
*'    Diluted  alkali  : 
Pectin  and  albuminoids,  273  ^ 
Undetermined,   5*82      J  55 
"    Acidulated  water,   4*38 
"    Boiling  water  : 
Chiefly  starch,   1*99 
Lignin,  .   .  .  3-18 
Incrusting  matter,   5 '86 
Cellulose,  31*25 
Total,   ioo'oo 
The  ethereal  extract  consisted  largely  of  chlorophyll  and  resin. 
The  alcoholic  extract  contained  red  coloring  matter,  tannin  and 
resin.    It  also  contained  a  sweet  principle  of  a  glucosidal  character. 
This  was  probably  the  andrcmedotoxin  so  prevalent  in  the  poison- 
ous plants  belonging  to  this  natural  order.  A  larger  quantity  was 
prepared  by  extracting  another  portion  of  the  leaves  with  ninety- 
five  per  cent,  alcohol,  concentrating,  and  pouring  the  solution  into 
acidulated  water.  After  filtering,  the  clear  filtrate  was  agitated  with 
ether  which  removed  the  sweet  principle,  and  yielded  it  as  an 
amorphous  mass  on  the  evaporation  of  the  ether.  Attempts  were 
made  to  purify  this  compound,  and  obtain  it  in  a  crystalline  con- 
dition by  dissolving  in  water  and  again  agitating  with  ether,  but 
decomposition  occurred  to  such  an  extent  as  to  render  the  result  of 
too  small  an  amount  to  be  of  value.  The  sweet  taste  likewise 
disappeared  with  each  purification. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Frank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.G. 
Mercurial  soaps. — The  direct  saponification  of  fats  and  oils  by 
mercuric  oxide  not  being  feasible  because  of  the  reduction  of  the 
oxide  to  metal,  and  the  precipitation  of  mercuric  chloride  solution  by 
soap  solution  yielding  a  product  from  which  the, Excess  of  mercuric 
chloride  can  only  be  removed  by  repeatedly  boiling  with  fresh  portions 
of  water  during  which  separation  of  metallic  mercury  also  occurs, 
Mr.  C.  Micko  was  compelled  to  first  separate  the  fatty  acids  from 
