6 io  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  {Am-£ec.?i892arm* 
Losophan  or  tri-iodo-meta-cresol  is  prepared  by  the  action  of  iodine 
upon  //z-oxytoluic  acid  in  the  presence  of  the  calculated  quantity  of 
alkaline  hydrate  or  carbonate  ;  the  carboxyl  group,  present  in  the 
acid,  suffers  oxidation  to  carbonic  oxide  and  the  new  compound, 
C6HI3.CH3.OH,  results.  It  appears  in  the  form  of  white  needles, 
melting  at  121-5°  C;  it  is  difficultly  soluble  in  alcohol,  but  readily 
soluble  in  ether,  chloroform,  benzol  and  at  a  temperature  of  6o°  C. 
also  in  fixed  oils ;  dilute  sodium  hydrate  solution  dissolves  it,  but  a 
concentrated  solution  changes  the  losophan  into  a  greenish-black, 
amorphous  body.  The  preparation  contains  about  80  per  cent, 
iodine  and  upon  ignition  yields  copious  iodine  vapors.  Solutions  in 
dilute  alcohol  (50  per  cent.)  are  subject  to  decomposition,  but  a 
solution  in  75  per  cent,  alcohol  remains  unchanged  for  considerable 
periods.  Saalfeld  has  used  a  one  per  cent,  alcoholic  solution  or  a 
2-3  per  cent,  ointment  (containing  petrolatum  or  a  mixture  of  lanolin 
80  per  cent,  and  petrolatum  20  per  cent,  as  the  base)  with  success  in 
skin  diseases  (Herpes  tonsurans,  Pityriasis  versicolor,  etc.). — (Therap. 
Monatsh.)  Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1892,  613. 
Cocaine  cantharidate,  made  according  to  directions  of  Hennig 
(by  union  of  2  molecules  cocaine  hydrochlorate  with  1  molecule 
cantharidin  dissolved  in  2  molecules  NaOH),  is  not  a  chemical  com- 
pound, but  merely  a  mixture  from  which  the  sodium  chloride,  how- 
ever, is  removed  by  an  unpublished  process ;  it  is  claimed  to  have 
notable  therapeutic  advantages  over  the  cantharidates  in  the  treat- 
ment of  pulmonary  tuberculosis  and  chronic  catarrhal  affections  of 
the  air  passages.  The  remedy  presents  an  amorphous,  white, 
odorless  powder  of  unpleasant,  pungent  taste ;  it  is  soluble  in 
boiling  water  and  insoluble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  benzin.  Because 
of  greater  stability  the  following  solution  is  recommended  for  sub- 
cutaneous injections:  cocaine  cantharidate  0-075-0-15  dissolved 
in  chloroform  water  50-0 ;  the  dose  representing  milligram 
cantharidin.—  [Berl  Klin.  Wochenschr.)  Apotheker  Ztg.,  1892, 
522. 
Tetrathiodichlordisalicylic  acid  (C6HC1  (OH)  CO.OH)2  S4  made  by 
slowly  heating  27-6  salicylic  acid  with  55-0  sulphur  chloride  to  120° 
C.  and  later  to  140°  C,  is  stated  to  have  antiseptic  properties ;  it 
softens  at  1500  C.  and  at  1600  C.  is  completely  melted. — Pharm. 
Centralhalle,  1892,  648. 
