522  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  { Am-octuris^arm" 
due  to  the  lack  of  a  suitable  sensitive  indicator  ;  as  such  Dr.  A.  Par- 
theil  recommends  iodo-eosine,  but  to  be  of  advantage  it  must  be  used 
in  an  ethereal  solution  (0-002  in  one  litre  ether).  To  the  acid  solution 
of  the  crude  alkaloid  20  cc.  of  this  ethereal  solution  are  added,  when 
after  agitation  the  aqueous  solution  will  be  colorless  and  the  ethe- 
real solution  nearly  so  ;  by  titrating  with  T^  alkali  and  agitating,  the 
least  excess  of  alkali  causes  the  iodo-eosin  to  dissolve  in  the  aqueous 
solution  with  rose-red  color.  The  titrations  require  considerable 
time  and  must  be  carried  out  in  a  stoppered  flask  but  these  inconve- 
niences are  balanced  to  a  certain  extent  by  the  indicator  allowing 
titrations  to  be  made  with  10n00  alkali.  The  indicator  is  suitable  for 
the  estimation  of  strychnine,  brucine,  atropine,  hyoscyamine,  aconi- 
tine,  coniine,  morphine  and  cytisine;  quinine  cannot  be  titrated 
with  it,  probably  for  the  reason  that  this  alkaloid  is  so  very  soluble  in 
ether  and  so  insoluble  in  water. — Apotheker  Ztg.,  1892,  435. 
x  Pillyanine,  the  alkaloid  of  the  South  American  Lycopodium  sau- 
rurus,  has  only  recently  been  obtained  in  the  crystalline  form  as 
white  lustrous  crystals  melting  at  64-65 0  C.  It  is  easily  soluble  in 
water,  alcohol  and  chloroform,  less  soluble  in  ether;  the  salts  are 
deliquescent  and  unstable.  The  formula  for  the  alkaloid  is  very 
probably  C15H24N20.  By  distillation  in  hydrogen  a  volatile 
nicotine-like  base  is  obtained,  which  is  probably  identical  with 
oxyamyl-nicotine.  Its  powerful  physiological  action  is  exerted 
upon  the  nervous  system;  the  hydrochlorate  in  doses  of  0  I-0-2 
is  capable  of  killing  a  dog.  The  plant  itself  is  used  in  Brazil  as  a 
taenifuge. — Arata  and  Cauzoneri  {Boll.  chim.  farm.)  Apotheker 
Ztg.,  1892,  404. 
Succinic  acid,  according  to  Pasteur,  is  produced  in  the  alcoholic 
fermentation  in  a  definite  ratio  to  the  glycerin  (1  :  5),  other  investi- 
gators reporting  different  results.  Mr.  Rau  studied  the  fermentation 
of  various  sugars  at  150,  250  and  350  C;  in  the  absence  and  pres- 
ence of  air  ;  and  as  caused  by  different  kinds  of  yeast.  His  conclu- 
sions are :  Low  temperatures  will  not  decrease  the  quantity  of 
succinic  acid,  but  will  decrease  the  quantity  of  glycerin ;  the  addi- 
tion of  nourishment  to  the  fermenting  liquid  does  not  increase  the 
yield  of  succinic  acid,  but  strongly  increases  the  yield  of  glycerin  ; 
the  presence  or  absence  of  air  during  the  fermentation  is  without 
influence  upon  both  glycerin  and  succinic  acids ;  an  energetic  action 
