THE ANALYST. 47 ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS PUBLISHED IN OTHER JOURNALS. FOODS AND DRUGS ANALYSIS. Detection of Methyl Alcohol in Ethyl Alcohol. L. D. Haigh. (Pharm. Review, 1903, xxi., 404; through Chenz. Zeit. Rep., 1903, 300.)-This is a modifica- tion of a process recently described by Prescott (Pharm. Arch., 1903, iv., 86). One C.C. of the sample is diluted with such a quantity of water that the liquid contains 10 per cent. by volume of alcohol. I t i g poured into a, test-tube which is supported in a vessel containing cold water. A spiral of copper wire, about 3 centimetres long, is heated to redness, dipped into the spirit, and held there for a moment, this opera- tion being repeated five or six times till most of the alcohol has been oxidized. The liquid is next filtered into another tube, and gently boiled until the odour of acetalde- hyde has entirely or almost disappeared.It is then cooled and transferred to a porcelain basin, where it is mixed with 5 drops of an alkaline solution of phloro- glucinol. If methyl alcohol was present in the spirit, a, bright red colour is immediately produced, which persists for two or three minutes; but if the ethyl alcohol were free from methyl alcohol, only a faint reddish tint may appear, which will vanish rapidly. F. H. L. A Reaction of Cryogenin. G. Eetein. (Journ. Pharm. Chim., 1903, xviii., 593, 594.)--In addition to the colour reactions of oryogenin, or metabenzylamido- ssmiarbazide, described by BarraJ, the author describes a characteristic reaction * Jenkins and Winton : Compilation of Analyses of American Feeding-Stuffs, U.S.Dept. Api- culture Office of Experiment Stations, Bulletin XI., Washington, 1892, 146.48 THE ANALYST. which it gives with formaldehyde. On adding 1 C.C. of formalin (40 per cent.) to a solution of 1 gramme of cryogenin in the smallest possible quantity of alcohol, diluting the liquid with water, and shaking it with 2 or 3 drops of hydrochloric acid, the cryogenin is quantitatively precipitated in the form of a white powder. The compound is only very slightly soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform, and is insoluble in water. It begins to melt about 205" C., becoming coloured. The reaction can be used for the quantitative determination of cryogenin in aqueous solutions. For its determination in urine, however, the method has not given satisfactory results ; and as a qualitative test the reaction is regarded as less sensitive than the reactions with copper sulphate (green colour) and Fehling's solution (reduction on boiling).C. A. M. Estimation of Resin in Jalap. Q. Weigel. (Pharnz. ZentraZh., 1903, xliv., 791; through Chem. Zeit. Rep., 1903, 302.)-Five grammes of jalap in moderately fine powder are mixed with about an equal weight of weshed sand, and boiled for an hour on the water-bath with 50 or 60 C.C. of 96 per cent. alcohol in a flask fitted with an inverted condenser. The resin solution is filtered into a tared 150 C.C. beaker, the residue being washed with hot 96 per cent. spirit till the washings are practically colourless (about 30 C.C. being required.) The alcohol is then expelled on tbe water- bath, and the resin is stirred wifh a glass rod under hot water to wash it. When the water has become cold and the resin has settled, the liquid is poured off, and the solid matter dried and weighed. F. H. L.