5;o  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  { ^m-^m2.avm' 
with  oil  of  cedar,  copaiba,  cubeb  or  turpentine,  the  resinous  mass 
produced  does  not  completely  solidify,  and  retains  always  a  dark 
tint  of  a  very  distinct  shade. 
Crystallized  ox  gall  of  Flatner. — This  is  prepared  (Joum.  de  Pharvi. 
d'Anvers ;  L  Union  pharm.,  1892,  382)  by  mixing  the  ox  gall  with 
charcoal  and  carefully  evaporating  to  dryness.  The  residue  is  then 
treated  with  absolute  alcohol,  filtered,  and  to  the  filtrate  ether  is 
gradually  added  so  as  to  form  a  perfect  mixture.  Crystals  form 
gradually,  which  are  separated  and  dried  over  sulphuric  acid.  The 
1  crystals  are  white,  inodorous,  of  a  slightly  bitter  taste  and  are  very 
soluble  in  alcohol  and  water  and  insoluble  in  ether.  The  product 
consists  of  a  mixture  of  glycholate  and  taurocholate  of  sodium. 
Ambergris. — G.  Pouchet  {Rep.  de  Phar.,  August,  1892)  observed 
that  different  samples  of  ambergris,  though  differing  in  appearance, 
have  a  close  resemblance  in  odor  and  composition.  The  drug  con- 
sists of  acicular  crystals  with  a  considerable  proportion  of  blackish 
pigment  and  a  certain  quantity  of  excremental  matters  character- 
ized by  the  presence  of  beaks  of  cephalopodes. 
The  microscopical  and  chemical  examination  of  this  product  has 
led  S.  Jourdain  {Jour,  de  Phar.  et  de  Chim.,  Aug.  25,  1892)  to  regard 
it  as  analogous  to  intestinal  calculi,  but  what  particularly  attracted 
his  attention  was  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  the  jaws  of 
cephalopodes,  either  entire  or  in  fragments.  Some  of  these  animals 
exhale  a  strong  odor,  which  does  not  disappear  after  death  or  on 
drying.  This  peculiar  perfume,  modified  by  the  biliary  products  of 
the  sperm  whale,  constitutes  the  odor  of  ambergris.  The  black 
coloring  matter  of  the  latter  is  likewise  due  to  cephalopodes,  which 
contain  it  in  considerable  quantities. 
Preparation  of  salol. — According  to  Ernst  (Rep.  de  Phar.,  August, 
1892)  nearly  the  theoretical  quantity  of  salol  is  obtained  by  heating 
salicylic  acid  to  between  1600  and  2400  C,  and  preventing  access 
of  air,  while  water  is  being  disengaged.  Salicylic  anhydride  is 
probably  formed  during  the  operation,  and  by  its  decomposition 
phenol  is  produced,  which  combines  with  unaltered  salicylic  acid  to 
form  salol. 
Phenosalyl. — Prepared  according  to  Dr.  de  Christmas  (Mcdecine 
moderne,  June  30,  '92)  phenosalyl  is  a  mixture  consisting  of  phenol 
9  gm.,  salicylic  acid  I  gm.,  lactic  acid  2  gm.,  menthol  o-io  gm.  In 
