Among the most complex alkaloids are those of the quinine group. As yet chemists have got no further with these than the oxidation products; but the study has afforded us several new antipyretics and many interesting facts. It has been found, for example, that artificial quinine-like bodies, which fluoresce and give the green color with chlorine water and ammonia, have antipyretic properties like quinine, but their secondary effects are so pernicious as to prevent their use. If, however, such bodies are hydrogenized or methylated they lose their fluorescing property, do not give the green color, and their secondary effects are removed. Knowledge of these facts led to the discovery of thalline. It is prepared from paraquinanisol, one of the objectionable bodies, by reduction with tin and hydrochloric acid. The following formulae show the constitutional relationship of these compounds: CH CH CH CH_{2} / \ / \ / \ / \ (CH_{3}O)C C CH (CH_{3}O)C C CH_{2} | | | | | | HC C CH HC C CH_{2} \ / \ / \ / \ / CH N CH NH Paraquinanisol Thalline C_{9}H_{6}.CH_{3}.NO. C_{9}H_{10}.CH_{3}.NO. It is evident from the difficulties which have been encountered in this department of chemistry, and more especially from the costly nature of the work, that it will be many years before it will influence the manufacture of alkaloids from the drugs which yield them. Ladenburg has synthetized coniine, but he has not yet ventured to assert that his product will replace the natural alkaloid.--_Chem. and Druggist._ * * * * * The _Southern California Advocate_ reports another magnificent donation of lands to the University of Southern California by Mr. D. Freeman, the owner of the Centinella ranch near Los Angeles--six hundred thousand dollars in all given to found a school of applied sciences, $100,000 for building and apparatus and $500,000 for endowment. The buildings will be in the vicinity of Inglewood, the new and beautiful town on the Ballona branch of the California Central. * * * * * A GROUP OF HAMPSHIRE DOWNS. [Illustration]