604  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {AmDe°c.j8P9iarm' 
The  conclusions  reached  by  this  analysis  were  that  the  drug  does 
not  possess  any  compounds  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  a 
belief  in  its  medicinal  activity. 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  The  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Formic  aldehyde,  according  to  Berlioz  and  Trillat  {Compt.  rend.y 
cxv,  290),  is  a  powerful  antiseptic,  arresting  in  very  small  propor- 
tion the  development  of  bacteria,  and  preventing  the  putrefaction 
of  animal  substances,  the  gas  being  rapidly  diffused  through  the 
tissues.  On  the  other  hand,  the  authors  state  that  the  inhalation 
of  the  vapor,  even  when  continued  for  some  hours,  has  no  poisonous 
effect. 
Preparation  of  carvacrol. — A.  Reychler  obtained  (Bull.  Soc.  Chim.y 
3  ser.,  vij,  31)  90  parts  of  carvacrol  from  IOO  parts  of  carvol  hydro- 
chloride, by  heating  it  with  2  p.  anhydrous  zinc  chloride  in  the 
presence  of  glacial  acetic  acid,  33  p.,  whereby  the  violent  reaction 
is  moderated ;  HC1  is  evolved,  the  heat  is  finally  raised  to  about 
1200,  most  of  the  acetic  acid  is  then  distilled  off,  the  residue  washed 
with  water,  then  distilled  and  the  distillate  washed  with  diluted 
alkali.  Anhydrous  carvacrol  dissolved  in  absolute  alcohol  is  not 
affected  by  ferric  chloride,  but  if  a  trace  of  water  be  added  the  solu- 
tion acquires  a  green  color. 
Preparation  of  pyrogallol. — A  mixture  of  gallic  acid,  I  p.,  and 
aniline,  2  p.,  solidifies  in  a  short  time.  P.  Cazeneuve  {Compt.  rend.y 
cxiv,  1485)  heats  this  mass  to  1200  C.  until  C02  ceases  to  be  given 
off,  when  on  cooling  aniline  pyrogallate  will  crystallize  in  long 
needles  ;  on  treating  these  with  benzol  or  toluol,  aniline  is  dissolved 
and  pure  pyrogallic  acid  remains  behind  ;  the  melting  point  of  the 
latter  is  1320,  not  1 1 5 °,  as  is  usually  stated. 
Galactagogue  remedies. — From  observations  made  by  Miss 
Griniewitch  (Thesis,  in  Bull.  gen.  de  Th'erap.,  August  30,  1892)  it 
was  demonstrated  that  the  herb  of  Galega  officinalis  (goat's  rue), 
the  nettle,  cumin,  anise  and  fennel  are  reliable  galactagogues,  their 
activity  being  in  the  order  named.  No  undesirable  effect  was 
observed  from  these  remedies,  either  upon  the  women,  while  taking 
the  medicine,  nor  the  children  whom  they  nursed.  The  milk  was 
normal  in  density,  a  slight  increase  of  fat  being  noticed.    The  herbs 
