and finally distilling over sodium in a current of carbonic anhydride. Its analysis and vapour-density correspond with the formula CH12. It is a mobile colourless liquid, soluble in alcohol and ether, sp. gr. 08031 at 20°; it has a peculiar odour, and is without action on polarized light. It absorbs oxygen from the air, evolving carbonic anhydride. = When treated with chlorine, it forms a resinous mass, with evolution of hydrochloric acid. Bromine acts on the hydrocarbon with great violence. If, however, it is dropped slowly into the cooled hydrocarbon, and the mixture containing excess of bromine be allowed to stand in the shade for two or three days, a thick liquid is obtained which, after washing with alkalies, yields a yellow oil. By extracting the oil with ether and allowing the ethereal solution to stand, crystals of a hexa-bromo-compound, C, H, Br, separate out, (m. p. 134°), which decompose at 150°. 6 By allowing the above mixture of hydrocarbon and bromine to stand for 8-10 days in the sunlight, an isomeride of the above compound is obtained; a thick, oily brown liquid, decomposing at 150°. 12 A dibromide, C, H12 Br2, is obtained by dropping a solution of the hydrocarbon in ether into a cooled solution of bromine in ether, keeping the bromine in excess. On allowing the solution. to evaporate spontaneously white crystals are formed, which are very unstable, decomposing a few minutes after their formation. Nitric acid (sp. gr. 1·15) acts on the heptene at 80° C., forming acetic, formic, oxalic and succinic acids, with evolution of carbonic oxide and carbonic anhydride. Fuming nitric acid acts with great violence on the hydrocarbon. Gaseous hydrochloric acid forms a green liquid with heptene, but no hydrochloride is formed. An aqueous solution of the gas is without action. By treating the cooled hydrocarbon with concentrated or fuming sulphuric acid, an oily liquid is obtained, consisting of a mixture of unaltered heptene and diheptene, C14 H24 (b. p. 235–240° C.). Diheptene is readily oxidized, absorbing oxygen eight or ten times more quickly than heptene. It has no action on polarized light. A sulphonic acid is also formed, which yields a very soluble barium salt. Heptene unites with the elements of water, forming a crystalline hydrate. Aldehyde Resin. G. L. Ciamician. (Wien. Akad. Ber. [2 Abth.], 346-357.) This paper contains a description of decomposition products formed from aldehyde resin by reduction with zinc dust, by oxidation with nitric acid, and by fusion with potash. The resin used in these experiments was obtained by heating aldehyde with sodium acetate in sealed flasks at 100° C., and afterwards removing the soluble products by distillation. On submitting this resin to the action of zinc dust, the author obtained a mixture of hydrocarbons composed of ethyl-benzol, meta- and para-ethyltoluene, and methyl-naphthalene. The oxidation with nitric acid yielded isophthalic acid, while the fusion with potash furnished hydroxyisophthalic acid, metahomosalicylic (hydroxytoluic) acid, and metaxylenol. The Constitution of Benzol. J. Thomsen. (Liebig's Annalen, ccv., 133.) The author's investigation points to the conclusion that the six carbon atoms of benzol are united together by nine single bonds, and that the hypothesis hitherto adopted of a constitution of benzol with three single and three double bonds is not confirmed by experiment. PART II. MATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY. Notes on Indian Drugs. W. Dymock. (Pharm. Journ., 3rd series, xi., 21, 22, 169, and 170.) This is a continuation of the author's previous reports on the same subject, and comprises notices of the following drugs: The rhizome of Acorus calamus, Araceae; the fruit of Arum margaritiferum, Araceae; the root of Curculigo orchioides, Hypoxideœ; the bulb and leaves of Crinum asiaticum, Liliacea; the tubers of Cyperus rotundus, Cyperaceae; the corm of Hermodactylus, Colchicaceae; and the root of Smilax china, Smilaceæ. A description of the botanical characters and microscopical structure of each of these is given, together with the history, uses, etc. Studies of the Genus Strychnos. G. Planchon. (Journal de Pharmacie [5], i., 19, 193, 293, 380, 488, and ii., 105; also Pharm. Journ., 3rd series, xi., 469, 491, 529, 589, 693, and 754.) In this elaborate report the author deals with the following subjects: I. The characters and structure of the barks and woods of II. Plants entering into the composition of Curare. IV. The Curare of the Upper Amazon. V. The Curare of French Guiana. VI. The Curare of British Guiana. For details respecting these reference must be made to the original article in the Journal de Pharmacie, or to the translation in the Pharmaceutical Journal, as they are not suited for abstraction. Strychnos Triplinervia. MM. Couty and De Lacerda. (Zeitschr. des oesterr. Apoth. Ver., 1880, 428, from Journ. de Pharm. et de Chim.) Strychnos triplinervia is the commonest of the Brazilian species of strychnos, and is distinguished from S. castelnaea and S. toxifera by being tree-like and not climbing, having smooth oval triplinerved leaves, and the very numerous flowers arranged in |