Ams*Str;is92arm-}  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  465 
Sarsaparilla  constituents. — According  to  Prof.  Robert's  researches 
there  are  three  glucosides  present.  Parillin  (C26H41O10  +  H20), 
insoluble  in  water;  saponin  (sarsaparill-saponin)  5(C20H32O10  + 
2]/2  H20)  soluble  in  water;  sarsasaponin  i2(C22H36O10  -j-  2H20) 
easily  soluble  in  water  and  the  most  poisonous  of  the  constituents. 
These  substances  injected  into  the  blood,  the  red  corpuscles  are 
destroyed  more  rapidly  than  by  most  of  the  known  poisons ;  they 
have  action  similar  to  the  quillaia  glucosides,  but  are  weaker.  These 
constituents  are  not  absorbed  into  the  system  when  administered, 
except  by  injured  membranes,  hence  the  questionable  value  of 
sarsaparilla.  Robert  denounces  the  simultaneous  administration  of 
mercurials  and  sarsaparilla,  since  the  lesions  of  the  intestinal  mem- 
branes frequently  caused  by  the  former  may  allow  of  the  absorption 
of  the  poisonous  sarsaparilla  glucosides. — Rundschau,  1892,  611. 
A  new  ancesthetic,  similar  to  cocaine,  has  been  found  in  eugenol- 
acetamide.  By  successive  reactions  eugenol  is  changed  into 
eugenol-sodium,  eugenol-acetic  acid,  ethyl  eugenol-acetate  and 
eugenol-acetamide.  Crystallized  from  water  it  forms  lustrous  scales, 
from  alcohol  delicate  needles  melting  at  1  io°  C.  Applied  in  the  form 
of  a  fine  powder,  it  produces  local  anaesthesia,  without  any  caustic 
action  ;  this  effect,  in  conjunction  with  the  strong  antiseptic  prop- 
erty of  eugenol-acetic  acid,  speaks  for  the  new  compound  securing 
a  place  in  the  treatment  of  wounds.  Patents  for  its  preparation  have 
been  applied  for  by  the  Farbwerken. — Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1892, 441 . 
Jalapin. — The  examination  of  the  resin  of  so-called  jalap  stalks 
(root  of  Ipomcea  orizabensis,  Ledanois),  has  been  continued  under 
the  supervision  of  Prof.  Poleck,  who  regards  this  resin  as  probably 
identical  with  tampicin  of  Ipomoea  simulans,  Hanbury,  and  confirms 
its  identity  with  scammonin.  The  formula,  C34H56016,  determined 
by  W.  Mayer  in  1855,  is  confirmed;  also  the  various  derivatives, 
except  jalapinol,  which  had  also  been  noticed  by  Samelson  in  1883, 
but  which  could  not  be  isolated  by  Poleck.  Jalapic  acid  is 
H2C17H2S09,and  jalapinolic  acid  HC16H2903 — Oest.  Ztschr.f.  Pharm., 
1892,  391,  423  and  447. 
The  name  jalapin  should  be  discarded  in  favor  of  orizabin,  the 
former  name  being  improper  and  misleading. 
Camphor  for  hypodermic  injection  is  dissolved  by  Dr.  Rosauer  in 
warm  paraffin  oil. — Zeitschr.  f.  Ther. 
