4/0  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {^s^'im*01' 
extract  obtained  with  carbon  disulphide  was  treated  with  alcohol 
and  the  insoluble  portion  recrystallized  from  benzoi  and  afterward 
from  acetic  ether.  The  leaves  of  Vitis  vinifera  yielded  colorless  vitol, 
CT7H340,  melting  at  740  and  boiling  near  3000  C.  Medicagol, 
C20H42O,  from  Medicago  sativa,  melts  at  8o°  and  boils  at  395°. 
Bryonan,  C20H42,  from  the  leaves  of  Bryonia  dtoica,  melts  at  690  and 
boils  at  4000.  The  alcohol  solution,  obtained  as  stated  above  from 
grape  vine  leaves,  contained  fat  acids  and  vitoglycol,  C23Hi402,  the 
latter  soluble  in  ether  in  the  presence  of  alkalies. 
This  method  may  be  used  for  separating  the  constituents  into 
different  groups.  The  extract  obtained  with  carbon  disulphide,  on 
treatment  with  alcohol  leaves  glycerides  and  the  higher  alcohols 
and  glycols  behind,  while  alkaloids,  alcohols,  glycols,  chlorophyll 
and  acids  are  dissolved,  the  latter  being  separated  from  the  other 
compounds  by  means  of  weak  alkali  solution.  On  treating  the 
leaves,  exhausted  with  CS2  with  hot  alcohol,  an  extract  is  obtained 
which  may  again  be  separated  into  different  groups  of  constituents 
by  means  of  cold  alcohol  and  by  ether. 
Artificial  coloration  of  flozvers. — The  new  industry  of  coloring 
flowers,  (pinks)  green  has  been  the  subject  of  study  by  G.  Planchon, 
who,  in  May  last,  reported  his  results  to  the  Paris  Conseil  d'hygiene. 
It  appears  that  the  florists  finding  coloring  matters  frequently  not 
rising  in  the  tissues,  overcome  the  difficulty  by  resorting  to  immer- 
sion. Basic  coloring  matters  do  not  color  flowers  by  ascension,  but 
acid  coloring  matters  generally  are  adapted  for  this  purpose.  The 
rapidity,  of  ascension  varies  considerably;  green  acids  rise  quite 
rapidly,  while  blue,  and  particularly  brown,  acids  penetrate  only 
slowly  to  the  flower.  To  color  flowers  by  immersion,  they  are 
simply  plunged  into  a  solution  of  the  appropriate  dye  stuff.  Watery 
solutions  have  usually  no  effect,  owing  to  the  secretion  present  upon 
the  surface  of  most  petals  ;  but  by  means  of  alcoholic  solutions  the 
flowers  become  dyed  after  the  evaporation  of  the  alcohol.  Such 
flowers,  however,  are  less  handsome  in  appearance  than  those  col- 
ored by  ascension.  Many  of  the  coloring  matters  that  may  be 
employed  for  the  purpose  indicated  are  harmless,  but  even  of  the 
poisonous  kinds  a  very  small  quantity  only  is  usually  required,  too 
little  to  be  hurtful. 
Coloring  matters  in  distilled  waters. — L.  Viron  has  observed 
( Compt.rend.,  cxiv,  179)  the  formation  of  coloring  matters  in  dis- 
