,,new ,,york   ,,journal ,,of           
,,pharmacy1     ,,published ,,by        
,,authority ,,of   ,,the ,,college ,,of 
,,pharmacy ,,of ,,the ,,city ,,of ,,new 
,,york1     ,,edited ,,by   ,,benjamin  
,w4 ,mc,c,r,e,a,d,y1 ,m4 ,d4            
,,professor ,,of ,,materia ,,medica     
,,and ,,pharmacy ,,in ,,the ,,college   
,,of ,,pharmacy1     ,,assisted ,,by ,a 
,,publishing ,,committee1 ,,consisting  
,,of     ,,john ,h4 ,,currie1 ,,thomas  
,b4 ,,merrick1 ,,eugene ,,dupuy1        
,,wm4 ,,hegeman1 ,,george ,d4           
,,coggeshall4     ,,volume ,i4     ,,new
 ,,york3   ,,joseph ,w4 ,,harrison1     
,,printer1   ,,no4 #aig ,,centre1 ,,near
 ,,canal ,,street4     #aheb4    #a     
,,new ,,york    ,,journal ,,of          
,,pharmacy4    ,,january1 #aheb4        
,,to ,,our ,,readers4    ,the ,college  
of ,pharmacy was founded with a view to 
the elevation of the  professional      
standing and scientific attainments of  
,apothecaries1 as  well as to guard     
their material interests by raising a   

barrier against  ignorance and          
imposture4 ,what they have accomplished 
and how far they  have been successful  
it does not become the ,board of        
,trustees to state2  if the results have
 not1 in all respects1 been what might  
be desired1  it has not arisen from want
 of earnest effort and honest intention 
on their part4 ,as a further means of   
benefiting their profession1  of keeping
 its members acquainted with the        
progress it is making at  home and      
abroad1 and of inspiring among them a   
spirit of scientific  inquiry1 they     
believe that the establishment of a     
,journal1 devoted to  the pursuits and  
the interests of ,apothecaries1 would be
 of the highest  utility4    ,by far the
 wealthiest and most populous city in   
the ,union1 ,new ,york1  with its       
environs1 contains several hundred      
,apothecaries1 among whom  are many of  
great experience and eminent ability2 it
 contains numerous  ,laboratories where 
chemicals are manufactured on a large   

scale1 and  where the appliances and    
refinements of modern science are       
compelled  into the service of commerce2
 it contains within itself all the means
  of scientific progress1 and yet these 
means lie1 for the most part1  waste and
 idle2 the observations that are made   
and the processes that  are invented    
profit only the observer and the        
inventor4 ,both they and  their         
consequences--for even apparently       
trivial observations may contain  in    
themselves the germ of important        
discoveries1 and no man can tell  what  
fruit they may produce in the minds of  
others--are lost to the  world4    ,new 
,york is the commercial centre of the   
,union1 the point to which our  products
 are brought for exportation1 and from  
which various goods1 #b  obtained from  
abroad1 are distributed to the remainder
 of the ,united  ,states4 ,it is the    
chief drug mart of the ,union2 the      
source from which  the largest part of  
our country draws its supplies of all   

medicines  that are not the products of 
their own immediate vicinities4 ,it is  
thus  connected more intimately with the
 ,druggists of a large portion of our   
country than any other city2 many visit 
it annually or oftener2 most  have      
business relations with it4 ,is the     
spirit of trade incompatible  with that 
of science8 ,is money-getting to absorb 
all our faculties  to the exclusion of  
anything nobler or higher8 ,are we ever 
to remain  merely the commercial        
metropolis of our ,union1 but to permit 
science  and art to centre in more      
congenial and less busy abodes8 ,shall  
we not  rather attempt to profit by our 
many advantages1 to use the facilities  
thrown in our way by the channels of    
trade for the diffusion of  scientific  
knowledge1 and in return avail ourselves
 of the information  which may flow into
 us from the interior8    ,but it is not
 alone1 we hope1 by the information it  
would impart that a  ,journal such as is
 contemplated would be useful4 ,a higher

 and no less  useful object would be    
that it would excite a spirit of inquiry
 and  emulation among the profession    
itself2 it would encourage observation  
and experiment2 it would train our young
 men to more exact habits of  scientific
 inquiry4 ,in diffusing information it  
would create it1 and  would be doubly   
happy in being the means of making      
discoveries it was  intended to         
promulgate4    ,such are the views which
 have determined the ,trustees of the   
,college  to publish a ,journal of      
,pharmacy4 ,it will appear on the first 
day  of every month1 each number        
containing thirty-two octavo pages4 ,it 
will be devoted exclusively to the      
interests and pursuits of the  ,druggist
 and ,apothecary4 ,while it is hoped    
that its pages will present  everything 
that is important relating to the       
scientific progress of  ,pharmacy1 it is
 intended to be mainly practical in its 
character1  subserving the daily wants  
of the ,apothecary1 and presenting1 as  

far  as possible1 that kind of          
information which can be turned to      
immediate  account1 whether it relates  
to new drugs and formul1 or improved    
processes1 manipulations1 and apparatus4
 ,such are the aims and ends  of the    
,new ,york ,journal of ,pharmacy2 and   
the ,druggists of ,new ,york  are more  
particularly appealed to to sustain it1 
not only by their  subscriptions1 but by
 contributions from their pens4 ,this   
last1 indeed1  is urgently pressed upon 
them2 for1 unless it receives such aid1 
however successful otherwise1 it will   
fail in one great object for  which it  
was originated4 ,when special           
information is wanted on any #c         
particular subject1 the conductors of   
the ,journal1 if in their power1  will  
always be happy to afford it4    ,it is 
no part of the intention of the ,college
 to derive an income from  the ,journal4
 ,as soon as the state of the           
subscription list warrants it1  it is   
intended to increase its size so that   

each number shall contain  forty-eight  
instead of thirty-two pages4            
,,report ,,of ,,committee ,,of ,,college
 ,,of ,,pharmacy ,,as ,,amended4    ,the
 ,committee to whom was referred the    
subject of the establishment  of a      
,journal of ,pharmacy in the city of    
,new ,york1 have given their  attention 
to the subject1 and beg leave to report 
as follows3    #a4 ,that in their       
opinion it is all important that a      
,journal of ,pharmacy  should be        
established in this city as soon as     
practicable1 for reasons  well known1   
and therefore unnecessary here to       
enumerate4    #b4 ,they recommend that  
the first number of a ,journal of       
thirty-two  octavo pages be issued on   
the #ast day of ,january next1 and one  
number  each month thereafter1 to be    
called the ,new ,york ,journal of       
,pharmacy4    #c4 ,the general control  
of the ,journal shall be vested in a    
committee  of five1 which shall review  
every article intended for publication1 

four of whom shall be elected annually  
by the ,board of ,trustees at the  first
 stated meeting succeeding the annual   
election of officers2 and a  committee  
of the same number shall be now elected1
 who shall act until  the next annual   
election1 to be denominated the         
,publishing ,committee4  ,the ,president
 of the ,college of ,pharmacy shall be  
8ex officio0 a member  of this          
,committee1 and the whole number of this
 ,committee shall be  five1 two of whom 
may act4    #d4 ,that an ,editor be     
appointed by the ,publishing ,committee 
who shall  attend to all the duties of  
its publication1 and cause to be        
prepared  all articles for the ,journal1
 and to have the entire management of it
  under the control and direction of the
 ,publishing ,committee4    #e4 ,the    
compensation for the services of the    
,editor1 together with all  financial   
matters connected with the ,journal1    
shall be subject to the  control of the 
,publishing ,committee4 #d    #f4 ,the  

matter to be published in the ,journal  
shall be original  communications1      
extracts from foreign and domestic      
journals1 and  editorials4 ,no matter   
shall be published except what may      
relate  directly or indirectly to the   
subject of ,pharmacy1 and the legitimate
  business of ,druggists and            
,apothecaries4 ,no advertisements of    
nostrums  shall be admitted4    #g4 ,the
 subscription list shall be kept in the 
hands of the ,publishers1  subject to   
the disposal of the ,publishing         
,committee4     7,signed7 ,t4 ,b4       
,,merrick1     ,chairman4    ,the ,board
 then balloted for members of the       
,publishing ,committee1 when  the       
following were found to be elected4     
,,messrs4 ,,jno4 ,h4 ,,currie1          
,,thos4 ,b4 ,,merrick1                  
,c4 ,b4 ,,guthrie1                      
,,eugene ,,dupuy1   with ,ex ,officio1  
,,geo4 ,d4 ,,coggeshall1                
,president of the ,college4      ,,on   
,,two ,,varieties ,,of ,,false ,,jalap4 

,,by ,,john ,h4 ,,currie4    ,two       
different roots have for some time back 
been brought to the  ,new ,york market1 
for the purpose of adulterating or      
counterfeiting  the various preparations
 of ,jalap4 ,they differ materially from
 the  ,mechoacan and other varieties of 
false ,jalap which formerly existed  in 
our markets1 as described by ,wood and  
,bache in the ,united ,states           
,dispensatory1 while some of the pieces 
bear no slight resemblance  to the true 
root4 ,the specimens ,i have been able  
to procure are so  imperfect1 and so    
altered by the process of drying1 that  
the botanists  ,i have consulted are    
unable to give any information even as  
to the  order to which they belong4 ,i  
have not been able either to trace      
their commercial history1 nor do ,i know
 how1 under the present able            
administration of the law for the       
inspection of drugs1 they have  obtained
 admission to our port4 ,the article or 
articles1 since #e  there are at least  

two of them1 come done up in bales like 
those of  the true ,jalap1 and are      
probably brought from the same port1    
,vera ,cruz4    ,no4 #a appears to be   
the rhizome or underground stem of an   
exogenous  perennial herb1 throwing up  
at one end each year one or more shoots1
  which after flowering die down to the 
ground4 ,it comes in pieces  varying in 
length from two to five inches1 and in  
thickness from the  third of an inch to 
three inches4 ,in some of the pieces the
 root has  apparently been split or cut 
lengthwise2 in others1 particularly in  
the  large pieces1 it has been sliced   
transversely like ,colombo root4 ,the   
pieces are somewhat twisted or          
contorted1 corrugated longitudinally    
and externally1 varying in color from a 
yellowish to a dark brown4  ,the        
transverse sections appear as if the    
rhizome may have been broken  in pieces 
at nodes from two to four inches distant
 from each other1  and at which the stem
 was enlarged4 ,or the same appearance  

may have  been caused by the rhizome    
having been cut into sections of various
  length2 and the resinous juice exuding
 on the cut surfaces1 has  hindered them
 from contracting to the same extent as 
the intervening  part of the root4 ,on  
the cut or broken surfaces are seen     
concentric  circles of woody fibres1 the
 intervening parenchyma being contracted
  and depressed4 ,the fresh broken      
surfaces of these pieces exhibit in a   
marked manner the concentric layers of  
woody fibres4 ,the pieces that  are cut 
longitudinally1 on the other hand1 are  
heavier than those just  described1     
though their specific gravity is still  
not near so great as  that of genuine   
,jalap4 ,their fracture is more uniform1
 of a greyish  brown color1 and highly  
resinous4    ,this variety of false     
,jalap1 when exhausted with alcohol1 the
 tincture  thus obtained evaporated1 and
 the residuum washed with water1 yielded
  from #i #a_/b to #ae #a_/b per cent4  
of resin1 the average of ten            

experiments being #ac per cent4 ,its    
appearance was strikingly like that  of 
,jalap resin4 ,it had a slightly        
sweetish mucilaginous taste1 leaving  a 
little acridity1 and the odor was       
faintly jalapine4 ,it resembled  ,jalap 
resin in being slowly soluble in        
concentrated sulphuric acid1 but  unlike
 ,jalap resin it was wholly soluble in  
ether4 ,in a dose of ten  grains it     
proved feebly purgative1 causing two or 
three moderate liquid  stools4 ,its     
operation was unattended with griping or
 other unpleasant  effect1 except a     
slight feeling of nausea felt about half
 an hour after  the extract had been    
swallowed1 and continuing for some time4
    ,this variety of false ,jalap is    
probably used1 when ground1 for the     
purpose of mixing with and adulterating 
the powder of true ,jalap1 or  is sold  
#f for it1 or for the purpose of        
obtaining from it its resin  or extract1
 which is sold as genuine resin or      
extract of ,jalap4 ,the  powder         

strikingly resembles that of true       
,jalap1 has a faint odor of  ,jalap1 but
 is destitute1 to a great extent1 of its
 flavor4 ,the dust1  too1 arising from  
it1 is much less irritating to the air  
passages4    ,the second variety is a   
tuber possibly of an orchidate plant1 a 
good  deal resembling in shape1 color   
and size1 a butternut1 7,juglans        
cinerea47 ,externally it is black or    
nearly so1 in some places shining  as if
 varnished by some resinous exudation1  
but generally dull1 marked  by deep     
longitudinal cuts extending almost to   
the centre of the tubers2  internally it
 is yellow or yellowish white1 having a 
somewhat horny  fracture1 and marked in 
its transverse sections with dots as if 
from  sparse1 delicate fibres4 ,when    
first imported the root is comparatively
  soft1 but becomes dry and brittle by  
keeping4 ,its odor resembles that  of   
,jalap1 and its taste is nauseous1      
sweetish1 and mucilaginous4    ,this    
root contains no resin whatever4        

,treated with boiling water it  yields a
 large amount 7#ge per cent47 of        
extract4 ,this is soluble1 to  a great  
extent1 likewise in alcohol4 ,with      
iodine no blue color is  produced4      
,the extract obtained from this drug    
appears1 in ordinary doses1  perfectly  
inert1 five or ten grains producing1    
when swallowed1 no  effect whatever4 ,is
 this root employed for the purpose of  
obtaining its  extract1 and is this     
latter sold as genuine extract of       
,jalap8    ,of the effect which frauds  
of this kind cannot fail to have on the 
practice of medicine it does not fall   
within my province to speak1 but        
commercially its working is sufficiently
 obvious4 ,one hundred pounds  of ,jalap
 at the market price1 #fj cents per     
pound1 will cost #fj4 ,in  extracting   
this there will be employed about #e    
worth of alcohol1  making in all #fe4   
,there will be obtained forty pounds of 
extract1  costing thus #a #fb #a_/b per 
pound4    ,one hundred pounds of false  

,jalap1 ,no4 #a1 may be obtained for    
#bj2  admitting the alcohol to cost #e1 
it will make in all #be4 ,this will     
produce thirty-six pounds of extract1   
costing rather less than #gj cents  per 
pound4    ,one hundred pounds of variety
 ,no4 #b may be had for #bj1 and no     
alcohol  is necessary in obtaining the  
extract4 ,the yield being seventy-five  
pounds1 the extract will cost rather    
less than twenty-seven cents per  pound4
    #g      ,,virgin ,,scammony1        
,,with ,,some ,,remarks ,,upon ,,the    
,,characteristics ,,of ,,scammony       
,,resin4    ,,by ,b4 ,w4 ,,bull4    ,the
 more extended use in medicine which    
this substance has acquired  within a   
few years1 and its consequent greater   
consumption1 render the  knowledge of   
its peculiarities and the modes of      
ascertaining its purity  doubly         
important to the druggist and           
apothecary4    ,an instance occurred a  
few weeks since1 showing the necessity  
of  careful and thorough examination of 

every parcel of this drug1 and          
possessing some interest1 from the fact 
that no description of any  similar     
attempt at falsification has1 ,i        
believe1 been before published4    ,the 
commercial house with which ,i am       
connected1 purchased a parcel of  what  
purported to be virgin scammony from the
 importer1 who obtained it  direct from 
,smyrna4 ,a sample of it was examined   
and found to contain  seventy per cent4 
of resinous matter1 but when the whole  
lot was  received1 it was found to      
consist evidently of two different      
grades of  the article4    ,the whole of
 it was composed of amorphous pieces1   
possessing externally  a similar        
appearance4 ,upon breaking them1        
however1 a manifest  difference was     
observable4 ,some of the pieces         
possessed the resinous  fracture1 and   
the other characteristics of virgin     
scammony1 while the  remainder1 which   
constituted about five eighths of the   
whole1 exposed a  dull1 non-resinous    

surface when freshly broken4    ,i      
selected two samples1 each possessing in
 the highest degree the  characteristics
 of the two varieties1 and subjected    
them to the action  of sulphuric ether  
with the following results1 designating 
the resinous  or best ,no4 #a1 and the  
other specimen ,no4 #b3                 
,no4 #a4    ,no4 #b4   ,specific gravity
                          #a1adc        
#a1cice                                 
,per cent4  ,per cent4   ,resinous      
matter and water                 #id4ce 
#di4hf   ,vegetable substance insoluble 
in ether     #c4bj      #de4af          
,inorganic matter                       
#b4de       #d4ih                       
#ajj4jj     #ajj4jj    #h    ,the       
vegetable substance in ,no4 #b was      
principally1 if not entirely1           
farinaceous or starchy matter1 of which 
the other contained not a  trace4 ,the  
result shows that this parcel of        
scammony was composed  partly of true   
virgin scammony mixed with that of an   

inferior quality2  and also indicates   
the necessity of examining the whole of 
every  parcel1 and of not trusting to   
the favorable result of the examination 
of a mere sample4    ,the powder in the 
two specimens was very similar in shade1
 and they  possessed in about the same  
degree the odor peculiar to the         
substance1  showing the fallacy of      
relying upon this as a means of judging 
of  the comparative goodness of         
different samples4 ,this fact may appear
  anomalous1 but on different occasions 
the powder of ,no4 #b was selected  as  
having the most decided scammony odor4  
,since examining the above1 ,i have had 
an opportunity of experimenting  upon a 
portion of scammony imported from       
,trieste as the true ,aleppo  scammony1 
of which there are exported from ,aleppo
 not more than from  two hundred and    
fifty to three hundred pounds annually4 
,the parcel consisted of a sample of one
 pound only1 which was obtained  from a 
druggist of respectability in that place

 by one of my partners1  who was assured
 that the sample in question was from   
the above source1  and the kind above   
alluded to4 ,this scammony was in       
somewhat flattish  pieces1 covered      
externally with a thin coating of chalk 
in which it  had been rolled1 the       
structure was uniformly compact1 the    
color of the  fracture greenish1 and it 
possessed in a high degree the caseous  
odor4    ,the fracture was unusually    
sensitive to the action of moisture4 ,by
  merely breathing upon a freshly       
exposed surface1 a film resembling the  
bloom upon fruit was at once perceived4 
,its specific gravity was #a1bji1       
which1 it will be observed1 approximates
 with unusual accuracy to that  given by
 ,pereira as the specific gravity of    
true scammony1 viz4 #a1baj4  ,it        
contained     ,resinous matter and water
                #hi4ec per cent4        
,vegetable substance insoluble in ether 
#g4ee per cent4   ,inorganic matter     
#b4ib per cent4    ,there was no starchy

 matter present in the portion examined4
    ,the mode of deciding upon the value
 or goodness of different samples  of   
scammony1 by ascertaining the amount of 
matter soluble in sulphuric  ether1 has 
seemed to me productive of a negative   
result in showing  #i how much          
non-resinous matter was present1 rather 
than a certain  method of ascertaining  
the actual amount of scammony resin     
present2 but  some experiments upon the 
resinous residuum lead to a more        
favorable  conclusion4    ,the results  
of the analyses made by ,johnston1 who  
seems to be the only  chemist who has   
paid any attention to its ultimate      
composition1 show  that it varies in    
composition materially from many other  
resins4     ,according to his analyses1 
as contained       in ,lwig1 it has the 
formula           ,c#dj ,h#cc ,o#h      
,while that of ,guaiac resin is         
,c#dj ,h#bc ,o#aj   ,of ,colophony      
,c#dj ,h#cj ,o#d    ,or expressed in per
 cents3                                 

,scammony4   ,guaiac4   ,colophony4     
,carbon                  #ef4jh         
#gj4cg       #gi4ha   ,hydrogen         
#g4ic        #f4fj        #i4gg         
,oxygen                  #ce4ii         
#bc4jc       #aj4db                     
#ajj4jj      #ajj4jj      #ajj4jj       
,the resin analysed by ,johnston was    
obtained by evaporating the  alcoholic  
solution1 and he describes it as opaque1
 pale yellow1 hard1  and brittle2 when  
obtained1 however1 by evaporating the   
ethereal  solution ,i have found it     
transparent4    ,it might be inferred   
that1 with a composition so different   
from that  of the substances above      
adduced1 its behavior with re-agents    
would be  different from theirs2 and its
 action with strong acids confirms the  
supposition1 as may be seen by reference
 to the appended papers from a  late    
number of the ,paris ,journal of        
,pharmacy4    ,the ,edinburgh           
,pharmacopia has an extract of scammony 
among its  officinal preparations1      

prepared by treating scammony with proof
  spirit1 and evaporating the solution4 
,it is described as of a dirty  greenish
 brown color4 ,this color1 however1 is  
not a necessary  accompaniment1 but is  
owing either to some coloring matter    
being  dissolved in the menstruum or to 
the partial oxydation of the dissolved  
substance under the influence of the air
 and the heat of the operation4    ,the 
ethereal solution of scammony resin1    
when gradually evaporated1 and  without 
exposure to heat1 leaves a colorless or 
amber-colored resin1  perfectly         
transparent and soluble in alcohol2 when
 heated1 however1  #aj during the       
operation1 more or less insoluble matter
 of a dark  color is found4 ,sometimes  
the ethereal solution1 when             
spontaneously  evaporated1 leaves a dark
 residuum1 but a second solution and    
evaporation leave it as above described4
    ,this product1 obtained from several
 different parcels of virgin  scammony1 
,i have considered free from admixture  

with any of the  substances with which  
scammony is said to be adulterated1 and 
from the  similarity of their behavior1 
and1 as the circumstances under which   
the  sample from ,trieste above alluded 
to was obtained are such as to make  its
 genuineness very certain1 feel         
warranted in so doing4    ,sulphuric    
acid does not immediately decompose it1 
but produces the  effect described by   
,m4 ,thorel4    ,nitric acid produces no
 discoloration1 nor does hydrochloric   
acid  immediately4    ,if scammony      
should be adulterated with colophony1   
sulphuric acid would  be a very ready   
method of detection1 though it would    
seem that this  substance would hardly  
be resorted to1 unless an entirely new  
mode of  sophisticating the article     
should be adopted abroad4    ,the       
introduction of farinaceous substances  
and chalk is effected  while the        
scammony is in a soft condition1 in     
which state it would be  difficult to   
incorporate colophony completely with   

the mass4    ,an admixture of resin of  
guaiac is also detected by the same     
agent1 a  fact which seems to have      
escaped observation4    ,when brought in
 contact with sulphuric acid1 resin of  
guaiac  immediately assumes a deep      
crimson hue1 and this reaction is so    
distinct that a proportion of not more  
than four or five per cent4 is  readily 
detected4    ,the deep red mixture of   
sulphuric acid with resin of guaiac     
becomes  green when diluted with water1 
a remarkable change1 which adds to the  
efficacy of the test4 ,scammony resin1  
on the contrary1 suffers no  alteration 
by dilution4    ,in addition1 nitric    
acid affords a ready mode of            
ascertaining the  presence of resin of  
guaiac4 ,it is well known that nitric   
acid1 when  mixed with an alcoholic     
solution of guaiac1 causes a deep green 
color1  which soon passes into brown1 or
 if the solution is dilute1 into yellow4
    ,this reaction is manifest when     
scammony resin is mixed with guaiac     

resin in the proportion above mentioned1
 though the greenish blue tinge  is then
 very transient1 and sometimes not      
readily perceived4    ,chloride of soda 
is a delicate test for the presence of  
guaiac resin4  #aa ,added to an         
alcoholic solution1 a beautiful green   
color appears1  while it produces no    
effect on scammony resin4 ,this reaction
 is very  evident1 though transient1    
when a very small proportion of guaiac  
is present4 ,nitrate of silver causes a 
blue color in a solution of  guaiac     
resin1 as does also sesqui-chloride of  
iron1 neither of which  agents affects  
the color of a solution of scammony     
resin4 ,in fact1 the  evidences of the  
presence of guaiac are so numerous and  
distinct that  there can be no          
possibility of an undetected            
adulteration with this  substance4      
,the high price of resin of jalap would 
seem to be sufficient to  prevent its   
being resorted to as a means of         
sophisticating scammony2  but in case   

this substance should be made use of1   
the method proposed  for detecting it by
 means of ether is defective1 since1    
according to  authorities1 resin of     
jalap is partially soluble in that      
substance4    ,it becomes of interest to
 know whether in the preparation of     
scammony  the juice of the plant from   
which it is obtained is ever mixed with 
that of other plants of similar         
properties1 or with that of plants      
destitute of efficacy4 ,this information
 can1 of course1 only be  furnished by  
those familiar with the localities and  
with the mode of  its preparation4      
#a8;,in advancing the opinion that      
scammony should only be employed   for  
therapeutic purposes in the state of    
resin1 ,i mean that this resin   should 
only be prepared by the apothecary      
himself4 ,when1 however1 it   is        
impossible for the apothecary to do so1 
and the commercial article   is in      
consequence resorted to1 there arises a 
liability to deception4   ,we must then 

be enabled to recognise its purity4     
,to avoid detection of the fraud1 the   
admixture must either be in small       
quantity1 or it must possess nearly the 
same action4 ,in this latter   case1    
resin of jalap would be employed as     
being less in price and   nearly as     
active4     ,the method ,i propose for  
detecting an adulteration of this       
nature1 in   case it should be          
attempted1 is based on the one side upon
 the entire   insolubility of resin of  
jalap in rectified sulphuric ether1 and 
on   the other1 upon the solubility of  
scammony resin in this liquid4          
,nothing is easier than the detection of
 a mixture of these two resins1   since 
eight grammes of ether dissolve         
completely ten centigrammes of          
scammony resin4 #ab     ,thus by        
agitating for a short time a mixture of 
twenty centigrammes of   suspected resin
 with sixteen grammes of sulphuric      
ether1 we shall be   certain of the     
presence of resin of jalap1 provided    

there is no other   admixture1 if a     
portion remains undissolved4 ,this      
undissolved portion1   dried and        
weighed1 gives the proportion of the two
 resins4     ,other more culpable       
sophistications may be attempted1 either
 by   the addition of resin of guaiac1  
or by that of colophony or other        
substances4     ,the resin of guaiac may
 easily be detected by means of the     
solution   of gum1 which ,i have        
specified as one of the most certain    
re-agents   7,repertoire du ,pharmacien1
 vol4 iv41 #ahdh71 or by the means of   
nitrous   gas1 or bichloride of mercury4
     ,many re-agents disclose the       
presence of common resin or of pitch in 
the resin of scammony4 ,first1 spirits  
of turpentine1 which dissolves   the    
common resin at the ordinary            
temperature1 and which leaves   scammony
 resin almost untouched4 ,the most      
certain re-agent1 however1   in my      
opinion1 is sulphuric acid4 ,this acid  
possesses the property of   dissolving  

many resins--modifying their composition
 more or less4     ,thus1 if a small    
quantity is poured on common resin1 an  
intense   red color is produced by      
contact2 poured on scammony resin1 on   
the   contrary1 it does not produce an  
immediate change2 only after some       
minutes1 and with exposure to the air1  
does it become colored1 and   then but  
feebly1 with the production of a color  
resembling the lees of   wine1 while in 
the first case the color is a very deep 
scarlet4     ,by this method one        
twentieth part of colophony may be      
detected in   scammony resin4 ,it is    
sufficient to pour upon twenty-five or  
thirty   centigrammes of resin1 placed  
in a glass or porcelain mortar1 four    
or five grammes of commercial sulphuric 
acid1 and to give one or two   turns of 
the pestle2 if colophony is present1 the
 mixture will redden   immediately upon 
contact2 if1 on the contrary1 it is     
pure1 the liquid   will only become     
colored after the lapse of some time4   

,colophony being more soluble in        
sulphuric acid is acted upon with more  
rapidity40     #b8,scammony resin       
obtained by alcohol of #hf degrees      
occurs in form   of powder or in thin   
transparent scales1 if the alcoholic    
solution has   been evaporated on a     
stove upon plates1 or upon sheets of    
tin4 #ac     ,it is characterized by the
 peculiar odor of the substance from    
which   it is obtained1 the odeur de    
brioche1 or of rancid butter4     ,if   
scammony resin has been mixed with one  
twentieth of common resin1   trituration
 in a mortar developes the odor of the  
latter to a   sufficient degree to cause
 detection of the fraud4 ,heated in a   
tube1   a peculiar odor manifests itself
 with sufficient distinctness to        
indicate its purity4     ,this pure     
resin is soluble in all proportions in  
ether of #ef degrees   7#geb74 ,this    
property affords a means of purifying   
it1 by means of   which it is obtained  
in thin flakes1 by exposure to the air  

on plates4     ,solution of ammonia at  
#bd degrees 7#iaj7 dissolves scammony   
resin   completely4 ,the solution has a 
more or less green color4 ,these        
different properties1 which the resin of
 scammony1 obtained   by alcohol1       
possesses1 are sufficiently distinct to 
assist in   distinguishing it from other
 resins or to establish its purity40    
,december1 #ahea4    #a ,methods for    
detecting ,resin of ,jalap1 ,resin of   
,guaiac1 and  ,colophony1 in ,resin of  
,scammony4 ,by ,,mr4 ,,thorel4--,from   
the ,journal de  ,pharmacie et de       
,chimie1 for ,nov4 #ahea4    #b ,note by
 ,,mr4 ,,dublanc4--,from the ,journal de
 ,pharmacie et de ,chimie1  ,nov4 #ahea4
      ,,on ,,the ,,preparation ,,of     
,,stramonium ,,ointment4    ,,by        
,,eugene ,,dupuy1 ,,pharmaceutist1 ,,new
 ,,york ,,city4    ,the powerful        
narcotic and sedative properties of the 
,datura stramonium2  added to the fact  
of its luxuriant growth in the vacant   
grounds of the  inhabited districts of  

the ,united ,states1 has made its use   
popular  with most of our practising    
physicians4 ,besides its use smoked as  
tobacco in asthmatic cases1 its         
properties analogous to those of        
hyosciamus and belladonna1 have enabled 
practitioners to use it  with success   
for producing dilatation of the pupil   
and in anodyne  fomentations4 ,in fact1 
the consequence of its demonstrated     
efficient  activity as a remedial agent1
 has prompted its adoption in the       
,united  ,states ,pharmacopia1 where the
 leaves and seeds are recognised1 and   
the ,tincture1 ,extract1 and ,ointment  
are officinal4 ,according to our        
,pharmacopia1 last edition1 to prepare  
the ointment1 one drachm of  the extract
 of stramonium is mixed to the          
proportion of one ounce of  lard4 ,such 
a mixture1 though possibly as effectual 
as need be1 lacks  the green color and  
homogeneity to which both patients and  
physicians  have been accustomed4 ,to   
remedy these objections1 ,i have found  

the  #ad following process to give a    
good preparation both in quality  and   
appearance4 ,i am inclined to think that
 the objections which have  been made to
 the former officinal ointment are      
chiefly ascribable to  the difficulty of
 obtaining readily an ointment which    
would keep one  year1 that is free from 
water of vegetation or not impaired by a
 too  protracted ebullition1 and        
consequent decomposition1 which deprives
 it  of its properties1 spoiling its    
appearance1 and giving it an unpleasant 
pyrogenous odor1 which shows the extent 
of the alteration it has  undergone1    
making of it an irritating rather than a
 soothing unguent4  ,in the process ,i  
now submit to the opinion of the        
profession1 ,i had  in view1 #ast4 ,to  
obtain at all seasons an ointment       
fulfilling the  reasonable expectations 
of practitioners2 #b;d4 ,which could be 
easily  prepared by competent           
,pharmaceutists throughout the ,united  
,states4 ,it  is as follows3            

,stramonium ,leaves1    half a pound4   
,alcohol at #ie1       a sufficient     
quantity4   ,prepared lard1             
fourteen ounces4    ,moisten the leaves1
 previously reduced to a coarse powder1 
with  sufficient alcohol1 in a tight    
vessel having a suitable cover2 melt    
the lard in a pan three times in        
capacity to the bulk of the lard1 and   
stir in it gradually the prepared       
stramonium2 keep the mixture in a  warm 
place for five hours1 stirring          
occasionally1 till the alcohol has      
disappeared from the ointment1 which may
 be ascertained by placing a  lighted   
match on the surface of the warm        
ointment just stirred4 ,filter  the     
mixture through flannel1 in an          
appropriate vessel4 ,the stramonium     
ointment thus prepared is a reliable    
preparation1 possessed of a  handsome   
green color1 a rather pleasant          
herbaceous odor1 and forms a            
homogeneous mass containing all the     
valuable constituents of the ,datura    

stramonium1 if the leaves have been     
gathered while the plant is in bud1  and
 properly preserved4 ,for the warm days 
of summer the substitution  of two      
ounces of beeswax for the same quantity 
of lard gives it the  consistence which 
it has at the low temperature of the    
remaining  seasons4    #ae              
,,compound ,,fluid ,,extract ,,of       
,,senna ,,and ,,dandelion4    ,,by      
,,eugene ,,dupuy1 ,,pharmaceutist1 ,,new
 ,,york ,,city4     ,senna 7officinal71 
two pounds4   ,torrefied ,dandelion     
,root1           one pound4             
,chamomile1                             
quarter of a pound4   ,sugar1           
twenty ounces4   ,carbonate of ,potash  
or ,soda1        one ounce4   ,oil of   
,gaultheria1                  half a    
drachm4   ,alcohol1                     
two ounces4   ,water1                   
half a gallon4    ,mix the dry plants1  
previously reduced to a coarse powder1  
with the  water holding the alkaline    
carbonate in solution2 let the mixture  

stand  twelve hours2 introduce it in a  
percolator1 and gradually pour in water 
until a gallon of liquid shall have     
passed2 evaporate it to twenty  ounces  
by means of a water bath1 then add the  
sugar1 filter1 and make  the addition of
 the alcoholic solution of gaultheria   
when cold4 ,by  following this process1 
,i believe that a kind of saponification
 takes  place1 which allows of the more 
ready solution of the active principle  
of the senna in the aqueous vehicle1    
probably because chlorophylle  being    
united to a dried essential oil1        
participating in the properties  of     
resins1 is rendered soluble1 and the    
extractive portion being  denuded of its
 resinoid covering1 is more readily     
extracted by  the percolating liquid4 ,i
 make use of a percolator possessed of a
  convenient hydraulic power2 it has    
rendered readily1 within thirty  hours1 
a highly saturated liquid1 containing in
 a gallon all the  soluble principles of
 this extract4 ,ordinary percolators    

will answer  also2 but the ingredients  
needing to be more loosely packed1 do   
not  yield so fully or so readily4 ,the 
addition of torrefied dandelion root  is
 intended to give to this fluid extract 
some greater value on account  of its   
peculiar action on the hepatic system4  
,i employ in preference  the ,german    
chamomile 7,camomila vulgaris#c71       
because of its pleasant  aroma and its  
carminative properties1 joined to a     
bitter principle1  which seems to       
increase the purgative effect of the    
senna4    #c ,matricaria4    ,this      
extract has become a favorite           
anti-bilious purgative with many of  #af
 our practitioners1 who1 some of them at
 least1 have used it with  success with 
children1 who can take it readily1 as   
well as for adults1  where an           
anti-bilious purgative is desirable1    
seldom producing pain or  nausea1 and   
not liable to induce constipation4      
,,accidents ,,caused ,,by ,a ,,very     
,,small ,,dose ,,of ,,santonine ,,given 

,,to ,a ,,child4    ,santonine1 being a 
tasteless vermifuge1 is easily given to 
children1  consequently its employment  
becomes daily more and more frequent2 we
  therefore think it useful to expose   
the accidents which may follow  the use 
of this medicine1 when given in too     
large a dose4 ,we refer  to a case given
 in the ,bulletin de ,thrapeutique1 by  
,dr4 ,spengler  7d',herborn74 ,the      
patient1 a child of four years old1 who 
had been  suffering for several months  
from intestinal worms1 had taken at     
different times1 and with success1 a    
dose of a grain and a half4 ,one  day   
they gave him three grains in two doses2
 after the first dose he  became        
troubled with pains in the epigastrium1 
colic1 and vomiting4  ,he had frequent  
stools1 in which were found a number of 
ascarides4  ,notwithstanding these      
numerous evacuations1 the bad symptoms  
continued  to increase2 his body became 
cold1 his face livid1 his eyes had a    
blue  circle round them1 a cold sweat   

broke out1 his respiration became       
embarrassed1 and his extremities        
convulsed4 ,besides these symptoms1  ,m4
 ,spengler mentions that there were     
dilatation of the pupils and  great pain
 in the abdomen 7not1 however1 increased
 by pressure74 ,he  prescribed milk in  
abundance1 and after several            
evacuations1 the potion  of ,rivire in  
an oily emulsion4 ,the little patient   
was placed in a very  warm bed2 during  
the night he was much disturbed2 the    
following day he  took some doses of    
calomel1 after which several worms were 
evacuated1  and from that time he became
 convalescent4 ,we have related this    
fact  as a caution against the accidents
 which may result from the use of       
santonine1 although the severity of the 
symptoms and the smallness  of the dose 
may make us doubt whether the santonine 
was pure1 or  whether some other cause  
might not have produced the terrible    
results  attributed to it4--,journal de 
,pharmacie et ,chimie4    #ag      ,,on 

,,poisoning ,,by ,,nicotine4    ,read   
before the ,national ,academy of        
,medicine4    ,,by ,m4 ,,orfila4        
,,gentlemen1--,in laying before the     
,academy a memoir on ,nicotine1 on the  
#bjth of last month1 ,i stated that ,i  
did not think ,i ought to read it1      
fearing that it might exercise some     
influence on the proceedings which  were
 to take place at ,mons1 eight days     
afterwards4 ,my scruples are now        
entirely removed1 because ,i was present
 at the three first sittings of  the    
,court of ,assizes at ,hainault1 and    
have heard the examination of  the      
accused persons1 and the depositions of 
some of the witnesses4 ,my  memoir1     
supposing it to be published to-morrow1 
and consequently much  before the       
sentence will have been pronounced1 will
 not aggravate the  situation of the    
accused1 nor increase the power of the  
ministers of  justice4 ,you will see1 in
 fact1 that after describing nicotine1  
,i came  to the conclusion1 that it may 

be easily detected in the digestive     
canal1 the liver1 the lungs1 and all    
those organs into which it has  been    
carried after its absorption4 ,now1 ,m4 
de ,bocarm confesses that  he prepared  
some nicotine1 that ,gustave ,fougnies  
took an appreciable  dose of it1 and    
died very shortly afterwards4           
,consequently1 he cannot  dispute the   
fact of ,m4 ,stas having found this     
alkaloid in the body of  his            
brother-in-law4 ,it is of little        
importance to us that ,madame de        
,bocarm accuses her husband of being the
 author of the crime1 whilst  he1 on the
 other hand1 attributes the death of    
,gustave to a mistake  of his wife's1   
who might inadvertently have poured the 
nicotine into  a glass instead of wine4 
,it will be for the jury to decide what 
truth  there is in these assertions2 as 
scientific men1 we ought to confine     
ourselves in this case to the solution  
of the chemical and medical  problems   
relating to this subject4    ,i think ,i

 ought to read to the ,academy the      
textual memoir1 without  the preamble1  
which ,i composed a fortnight ago1 when 
the principal  circumstances1 which have
 since been developed1 were but         
imperfectly  known4    ,the principal   
object of this paper is to show3    #a4 
,that we may characterize pure nicotine 
as easily as we can a poison  derived   
from the mineral kingdom4    #b4 ,that  
we may detect this alkali in the        
digestive canal1 and assert  its        
existence there1 although it is present 
only to the extent of a few  drops4 #ah 
#c4 ,that it is sufficiently easy to    
prove its presence in the liver and  the
 other organs1 after it has been        
absorbed4    #a4 ,pure ,nicotine may be 
characterised as easily as a ,poison    
derived  from the ,mineral              
,kingdom4--,nicotine1 discovered in     
#ahji by the  illustrious ,vauquelin1   
was studied in #ahbh by ,messrs4        
,posselt and  ,reimann1 who found it in 
different species of nicotiana1 in      

macrophylla  rustica1 and glutinosa4    
,messrs4 ,boutron1 ,charlard1 and ,henry
 described  some of its properties in   
#ahcf4 ,havanna tobacco contains two per
 cent41  that of ,maryland #bc1 that of 
,virginia #fi1 that of ,alsace #cb1 that
  of ,pas-de-,calais #di1 that of the   
,nord #ff1 and that of ,lot #h4 ,it is  
classed among the natural volatile      
vegetable alkalies1 which are only      
three in number1 namely1 conicine1      
theobromine1 and nicotine4  ,this last  
is entirely composed of hydrogen1       
carbon1 and nitrogen4 ,it  may be       
represented as a compound of one        
equivalent of ammonia 7,h#c,n71  and of 
one of a hydro-carbon containing four   
equivalents of hydrogen  and ten of     
carbon 7,h#d;,c#aj74 ,it is now obtained
 by a much more  simple process than was
 formerly adopted1 which consists in    
passing the  vapor of tobacco into water
 acidulated with sulphuric acid4        
,sulphate  of nicotine is thus speedily 
produced1 and this has to be decomposed 

by a strong alkali4 ,it is then only    
necessary to apply sufficient heat  to  
volatilize the nicotine4 ,this mode of  
preparation indicates that  smokers in  
respiring the smoke of tobacco introduce
 into their bodies a  certain quantity  
of the vapor of nicotine4    ,characters
 of pure ,nicotine4--,it is in the form 
of an oleaginous1  transparent1         
colorless1 tolerably fluid1 anhydrous   
liquid1 of the  density of #ajdh1       
becoming slightly yellow with keeping1  
and tending  to become brown and thick  
from contact with the air from which it 
absorbs oxygen2 its acrid odor resembles
 but slightly that of tobacco2  its     
taste is very burning4 ,it volatilizes  
at #gg ,f41 and leaves a  carbonaceous  
residue4 ,the vapor which rises presents
 such a powerful  smell of tobacco1 and 
is so irritating1 that it is difficult  
to  breathe in a room in which one drop 
of it has been spilt4 ,if this  vapor be
 approached with a lighted taper1 it    
burns with a white smoky  flame1 and    

leaves a carbonaceous residue as an     
essential oil would  do4 ,it strongly   
blues reddened litmus paper4 ,it is very
 soluble in  water1 in alcohols1 and in 
fat oils1 as also in ether1 which easily
  separates it from an aqueous solution4
 ,the great solubility of nicotine  in  
both water and ether forms an important 
fact in its chemical  history1 as the   
greater number of vegetable alkalies1   
not to say all1  if they dissolve easily
 in one of these liquids1 are not       
readily  soluble in the other4 #ai      
,nicotine combines directly with acids1 
disengaging heat4 ,concentrated  pure   
sulphuric acid1 without heat1 produces  
with it a wine-red color2  on the       
application of heat to this it becomes  
thick1 and acquires the  color of the   
dregs of wine2 if it be boiled it       
blackens and disengages  sulphurous     
acid4 ,with cold hydrochloric acid it   
disengages white  vapors as ammonia     
does2 if the mixture be heated it       
acquires a violet  color1 the intensity 

of which increases with prolonged       
ebullition4  ,nitric acid1 aided with a 
little heat1 imparts to it an           
orange-yellow  color1 and white vapors  
of nitric acid are first given off1 then
 red  vapors of hyponitrous acid4 ,if it
 be further heated the liquor becomes   
yellow1 and by ebullition it acquires a 
red color resembling that of  chloride  
of platinum4 ,prolonged ebullition gives
 a black mass4 ,heated  with stearic    
acid it dissolves and forms a soap1     
which congeals on  cooling1 and is      
slightly soluble in water1 and very     
soluble in heated  ether4 ,the simple   
salts of nicotine are deliquescent1 and 
difficultly  crystallizable4 ,the double
 salts which it yields with the         
different  metallic oxides crystallize  
better4    ,the aqueous solution of     
nicotine is colorless1 transparent1 and 
strongly alkaline4 ,it acts like ammonia
 on several reagents2 thus1  it gives a 
white precipitate with bichloride of    
mercury1 acetate of  lead1 protochloride

 and bichloride of tin2 a canary yellow 
precipitate  with chloride of platinum1 
which precipitate is soluble in water2 a
  white precipitate with salts of zinc1 
which is soluble in excess of  nicotine2
 a blue precipitate with acetate of     
copper4 ,this precipitate  is gelatinous
 and soluble in excess of nicotine1     
forming a blue double  acetate1 similar 
to that formed by ammonia with the same 
salt4 ,it  gives an ochre-yellow        
precipitate with salts of the           
sesqui-oxide of  iron1 insoluble in     
excess of nicotine4 ,with sulphate of   
protoxide of  manganese it gives a white
 precipitate of oxide1 which speedily   
becomes  brown by contact with the      
oxygen of the air4 ,it separates the    
green  sesqui-oxide from the salts of   
chromium4 ,the red permanganate of      
potash  is instantly decolorized by     
nicotine1 as by ammonia1 although this  
latter alkali acts more slowly and must 
be used in larger proportion4    ,the   
following reactions may serve to        

distinguish the aqueous solutions  of   
nicotine from ammonia4 ,chloride of gold
 yields a reddish-yellow  precipitate1  
very soluble in an excess of nicotine4  
,chloride of  cobalt yields a blue      
precipitate1 which changes to green2 the
 oxide  thus formed does not readily    
dissolve in excess of nicotine1 whilst  
ammonia dissolves the green precipitate 
and forms a red solution4  ,aqueous     
solution of iodine gives a yellow       
precipitate with solution  of nicotine1 
as chloride of platinum would #bj do2   
with an excess  of nicotine it acquires 
a straw color1 and it is decolorized by 
the  action of heat4 ,ammonia1 on the   
contrary1 immediately decolorizes the   
aqueous solution of iodine without      
rendering it turbid4 ,pure tannic  acid 
gives with nicotine an abundant white   
precipitate4 ,ammonia gives  no         
precipitate1 but imparts a red color4#d 
#d ,it is interesting to compare the    
physical and chemical properties  of    
nicotine with those of conicine4        

,conicine is yellow2 its smell resembles
 that of the urine of the  mouse1 and   
differs entirely from that of nicotine2 
it strongly blues  reddened litmus      
paper4 ,added to water and shaken with  
it1 it floats on  the surface and is not
 readily dissolved4 ,ether dissolves it 
easily4  ,when heated in a capsule it   
forms white vapors1 having a strong     
smell  of celery mixed with that of the 
urine of the mouse4 ,weak tincture of   
the iodine yields a white precipitate1  
which acquires an olive color  with     
excess of the tincture4 ,pure and       
concentrated sulphuric acid does  not   
alter it2 when the mixture is heated it 
acquires a greenish brown  color1 and if
 the heat be continued it becomes       
blood-red and afterwards  black4 ,nitric
 acid imparts to it a topaz color1 which
 is not changed  by the action of heat4 
,hydrochloric acid yields white vapors  
as ammonia  does1 and renders it violet1
 especially when heated4 ,tannic acid   
gives  a white precipitate1 and chloride

 of platinum a yellow precipitate4  ,the
 red permanganate of potash is          
immediately decolorized4 ,corrosive     
sublimate yields a white precipitate4   
,acetate of copper gives a  gelatinous  
blue precipitate1 less soluble in an    
excess of conicine than  is that formed 
with nicotine4 ,chloride of cobalt      
behaves with it as it  does with        
nicotine4 ,chloride of gold gives a     
light yellow precipitate4  ,neutral     
acetate of lead does not give any       
precipitate2 neither does  the          
subacetate4 ,chloride of zinc gives a   
white gelatinous precipitate  soluble in
 excess of the conicine4 ,sulphate of   
sesquioxide of iron  gives a yellow     
precipitate4 ,the words in italics      
indicate the means of  distinguishing   
conicine from nicotine4    ,if to these 
chemical characters which permit one so 
easily to  distinguish nicotine1 we add 
those resulting from the action which   
it exercises on the animal economy1 it  
will no longer be possible to  confound 

it with any other body4 ,the following  
are the results of the  experiments ,i  
undertook in #ahdb on this alkali1 and  
which ,i published  in #ahdc4 7,see the 
#dth edition of my work on ,toxicology47
    ,first ,experiment4--,i applied     
three drops of nicotine on the tongue   
of a small but sufficiently robust dog2 
immediately afterwards1 the  animal     
became giddy1 and voided urine2 at the  
end of a minute1 its  breathing was     
quick and panting4 ,this state lasted   
for forty seconds1  and then the animal 
fell on its right side1 and appeared    
intoxicated4  ,far from showing any     
stiffness or convulsions1 it was feeble 
and  flabby1 although the fore paws     
slightly trembled4 ,five minutes after  
the administration of the #ba poison1 he
 uttered plaintive cries1 and  slightly 
stiffened his neck1 carrying his head   
slightly backwards4 ,the  pupils were   
excessively dilated2 the respiration was
 calm1 and in no  way accelerated4 ,this
 state lasted ten minutes1 during which 

the animal  was not able to stand4 ,from
 this time the effects appeared to      
diminish1  and soon after it might have 
been predicted that they would speedily 
disappear entirely4 ,next day1 the      
animal was quite well4 ,the nicotine ,i 
used was evidently not anhydrous4       
,second ,experiment4--,i repeated the   
experiment with five drops of  nicotine 
on a dog of the same description4 ,the  
animal showed the same  effects1 and    
died at the end of ten minutes1 although
 during four  minutes he showed slight  
convulsive movements4    ,opening of the
 ,body the day following4--,the         
membranes of the brain  were slightly   
injected1 and the superficial vessels   
were gorged with  blood2 this injection 
was especially observed on the left     
side1 and  in the lower part of the     
brain4 ,the brain itself of the ordinary
  consistence1 had the two substances of
 which it is composed1 slightly         
disintegrated1 the striated substance   
was much injected1 as well as  the pons 

varolii4 ,the membranes which envelope  
the cerebellum were  still more injected
 than the other parts4 ,between the     
first and second  cervical vertebr on   
the right side1 that is1 on the side on 
which the  animal fell1 there was a     
rather considerable effusion of blood4  
,the  lungs appeared to be in their     
natural state4 ,the heart1 the vessels  
of which were gorged with blood1 was    
greatly distended1 especially  on the   
right side1 with clots of blood2 the    
auricles and the right  ventricle       
containing much1 and the left ventricle 
none4 ,the superior  and inferior vena  
cava1 and the aorta1 were equally       
distended with  clots of semi-fluid     
blood4 ,the tongue was corroded along   
the middle  line1 and towards the       
posterior part1 where the epithelium    
separated  with facility4 ,in the       
interior of the stomach there were found
 a black  pitchy matter and a bloody    
liquid1 which appeared to have resulted 
from  an exudation of blood4 ,the       

duodenum was inflamed in patches2 the   
rest  of the intestinal canal appeared  
in a healthy state4    ,since the above 
period ,i have made the following       
experiments1 which  ,i have frequently  
repeated with the same results1 only    
that in some  cases ,i have found the   
blood contained in the cavities of the  
heart in  a fluid state1 even when      
proceeding to dissection immediately    
after  death2 nevertheless the blood    
speedily coagulated4    ,third          
,experiment4--,at eleven o'clock ,i     
administered1 to a dog of  moderate     
size1 twelve drops of nicotine4 ,a few  
instants afterwards #bb  giddiness came 
on1 and he fell on the right side2 he   
soon manifested  convulsive movements1  
slightly at first1 then sufficiently    
strong to  constitute a tetanic fit with
 opisthotonos2 he was in a remarkable   
state of drowsiness1 and uttered no cry4
 ,his pupils were dilated2 there  was no
 action of the bowels1 nor vomiting4 ,he
 died at two minutes after  eleven4 ,the

 body was immediately opened4 ,the      
abdomen and thorax1 on  being cut open1 
sometimes emitted a very decided smell  
of tobacco4  ,the heart contained a     
considerable quantity of black          
coagulated  blood4 ,there was more in   
the right auricle and ventricle than in 
the  left4 ,the lungs appeared in a     
normal state4 ,the stomach contained    
about forty grammes of a thick1 yellow1 
slimy liquid2 and here and  there parts 
of the mucous membrane were inflamed4   
,the sophagus1 the  intestines1 the     
liver1 the spleen1 and the kidneys1 were
 in a normal  state4 ,the epithelium was
 easily detached from the tongue2 the   
base of  this organ was red and slightly
 excoriated4 ,the brain was more        
injected  than its enveloping membranes2
 the pons varolii was the same as in    
the second experiment4    ,fourth       
,experiment4--,i applied on the eye of a
 dog of moderate size one  drop of      
nicotine2 the animal instantly became   
giddy and weak in its  limbs2 a minute  

afterwards he fell on his right side and
 manifested  convulsive fits1 which     
became more and more powerful2 the head 
was  thrown back4 ,at the end of two    
minutes the convulsions ceased1 and     
extreme weakness ensued4 ,five minutes  
afterwards the animal could  stand1 but 
was unable to walk4 ,ten minutes later  
he was in the same  state without having
 vomited or had any action of the       
bowels4 ,urged to  walk1 he made a few  
undecided steps1 then vomited about one 
hundred  grammes of a greyish alimentary
 paste4 ,at the end of half an hour he  
was in the same state4 ,it was evident  
that he was recovering4 ,the            
conjunctiva was sensibly inflamed1 and  
the transparent cornea was1 to a  great 
extent1 opaque4    #b4 ,we may detect   
nicotine in the digestive canal1 and    
affirm its  existence there1 although it
 may be only present to the extent of a 
few  drops4 ,i would call the particular
 attention of the ,academy to this      
paragraph2 ,i have never1 in the course 

of my numerous experiments1 seen        
animals whose death has been almost     
instantaneous1 either vomit or have  any
 action of the bowels4#e ,if it be the  
same with man1 as everything  tends to  
prove it is1 the ,chemist will1 under   
such circumstances1 be in  the most     
favorable #bc condition for detecting   
the poison1 as there  will most         
frequently be a sufficient quantity in  
the canal to determine  its presence4   
#e ,if life is prolonged the animals    
vomit4    ,before describing the two    
processes to which ,i had recourse for  
the  determining the existence of       
nicotine in the stomach and intestines1 
as  well as in the sophagus1 it may be  
observed that ,i acted separately  on   
the liquid and solid matters contained  
in these organs1 and on the  organs     
themselves4    ,first ,process4--,the   
contents of the stomach and intestines1 
or the  organs themselves1 are placed in
 a considerable proportion of sulphuric 
ether2 after twelve hours of maceration1

 it is to be filtered2 the  ether passes
 through1 holding nicotine in solution2 
most frequently  when the matters on    
which the ether has acted are fatty1 the
 ether  holds in solution a soap        
composed of nicotine and one or several 
fatty  acids2 it may also happen that it
 contains non-saponified nicotine4  ,the
 ethereal liquid is evaporated almost to
 dryness by very gentle  heat4 ,the     
greasy and soapy product obtained rarely
 shows any alkaline  reaction4 ,it is to
 be agitated1 without heat1 with caustic
 soda  dissolved in water1 to decompose 
the soap and set free the nicotine4     
,the whole is then to be put into a     
retort furnished with a receiver        
plunged in cold water1 and heat applied 
to the retort until no more  liquid     
remains in it4 ,the liquid condensed in 
the receiver contains  either all1 or at
 least a large proportion of the        
nicotine4 ,it is well  to know that1    
#ast1 when heat is applied to the       
retort1 the matter  froths1 augments in 

volume1 and would certainly pass into   
the receiver1  if the retort was not    
very large in relation to the quantity  
of liquid  operated upon2 #bndly1 even  
at a temperature of #bab ,fahr41 the    
vapor  of water carries with it a       
certain quantity of nicotine1 therefore 
the  operation should be carried on as  
much as possible in close vessels4  ,if 
these precautions be observed1 the      
distilled liquid will be limpid  and    
colorless2 it suffices then to          
concentrate it over a water-bath1  to   
about a sixth of its volume1 to obtain  
with it all the reactions of  nicotine4 
,second ,process4--,the method of which 
,i am now going to speak is  evidently  
superior to the preceding4 ,the matters 
contained in the  stomach and           
intestines1 or the organs themselves1 as
 well as the  sophagus1 are macerated in
 water acidulated by pure and           
concentrated  sulphuric acid1 taking1   
for instance1 four or five drops of acid
 to one  hundred and fifty or two       

hundred grammes of water4 ,at the end of
 twelve  hours it is to be filtered2 the
 liquid1 which is generally of a yellow 
color1 contains sulphate of nicotine and
 a certain quantity of organic  matter4 
,it is then to be #bd evaporated almost 
to dryness in close  vessels over a     
water-bath2 then treated with a few     
grammes of distilled  water which       
dissolves the sulphate of nicotine1     
leaving the greater  part of the organic
 matter undissolved2 it is now to be    
filtered2  the filtered liquor is to be 
saturated with a little pure hydrate of 
soda or potash1 in order to take the    
sulphuric acid1 and set free the        
nicotine4 ,the mixture of nicotine and  
of sulphate of soda or potash is  to be 
put into a retort1 and heated as        
described in the first process2  the    
distilled liquid is to be evaporated    
over a water-bath in order to           
concentrate the solution of nicotine4   
,instead of distilling the liquor by    
heat1 ,i have often treated it with     

ether2 this latter decanted and         
submitted to spontaneous evaporation    
leaves the nicotine4    ,everything     
tends to show that nicotine may be      
detected by other  processes4 ,thus by  
treating the digestive canal with       
absolute alcohol1  with the addition of 
a little soda1 it would be dissolved1   
and by the  reaction of the soda1 a soap
 would be formed with the fatty matter1 
which would set free the nicotine2 it   
would then only remain to distil  it by 
heat1 after having evaporated to        
dryness4 ,perhaps1 also1 it might  be   
separated by acting on the tissues with 
pure soda or potash1 then  evaporating  
to dryness and heating it in closed     
vessels4    #c4 ,it is sufficiently easy
 to prove the presence of nicotine in   
the  liver and other organs after it has
 been absorbed4--,in #ahci when ,i  had 
shown that poisons after having been    
absorbed might be extracted  from the   
organs where they had been carried with 
the blood1 ,i insisted  so strongly on  

the necessity of examining these organs 
with a view  to the detection of        
poisons1 that it has now become the     
custom to  proceed in this way4 ,how    
often does it happen1 that1 in          
consequence  of repeated vomiting and   
action of the bowels1 and also from     
complete  absorption having taken place1
 there remains no trace of the poison   
in the digestive canal8 ,moreover1 it is
 evident1 that1 in getting the  poison  
from the organs to which it has been    
carried by absorption1  we obtain1 in   
reality1 that portion of the poison     
which has been the  cause of death1     
unless it be shown that it was carried  
to those organs  after death by         
absorption4 ,m4 ,stas has conformed1    
most wisely1 to this  precept4 ,for my  
part1 ,i could not1 in my researches1   
neglect this  important branch of the   
investigation4 ,the livers of those     
animals  which ,i had poisoned with     
twelve or fifteen drops of nicotine1    
when  submitted to one or other of the  

processes ,i have described1 furnished  
me with appreciable quantities of this  
alkali4 ,i scarcely obtained any  from  
#be the blood contained in the heart1   
but ,i had only operated  upon a few    
grammes4 ,moreover1 experience teaches  
that a great number of  poisons absorbed
 rapidly pass from the blood into the   
organs1 and most  especially into the   
liver4    ,it may be readily conceived  
that the research for absorbed nicotine 
might be fruitless in those cases where 
death was occasioned by only  a few     
drops of this body2 but then the        
presence of the alkali may be  detected 
in the digestive canal4    ,gentlemen1  
after results such as those obtained by 
,m4 ,stas and myself1  society may feel 
satisfied4 ,without doubt intelligent   
and skilful  criminals1 intent on       
puzzling the ,chemists1 will sometimes  
have  recourse to very active poisons1  
but little known to the community at    
large1 and difficult to detect2 but     
science is on the alert to surmount  all

 difficulties4 ,penetrating to the      
recesses of our organs1 she  extracts   
evidence of the crime1 and furnishes one
 of the great elements  of conviction   
against the guilty4 ,do we not know that
 at the present  time poisonings by     
morphine1 brucine1 strychnine1 nicotine1
 conicine1  hydrocyanic acid1 and many  
other vegetable substances which were   
formerly believed to be inaccessible to 
our means of investigation1 may  be     
discovered and recognised in a manner to
 be perfectly characteristic8    ,during
 my stay at ,mons1 and consequently     
since the deposit of this  memoir1 ,i   
have had at my disposal the complete and
 remarkable ,report of  ,m4 ,stas1 and  
,i have satisfied myself3    #ast4 ,that
 this ,chemist has obtained nicotine    
from the tongue1 from the  stomach1 and 
liquids contained in it1 and also from  
the liver and lungs  of ,gustave        
,fougnies4    #bndly4 ,that he also     
obtained nicotine by properly treating  
the boards  of the dining-room where    

,gustave died1 although these boards had
  been washed with warm water1 with oil1
 and with soap4--,repertoire de         
,pharmacie4    ,the ,count ,hippolyte   
,visarte de ,bocarm confessed his guilt1
 and was  executed at ,mons4    #bf     
,,on ,,the ,,estimation ,,of ,,the      
,,strength ,,of ,,medicinal             
,,hydrocyanic ,,acid1 ,,of  ,,bitter    
,,almond ,,water1 ,,and ,,of ,,cherry   
,,laurel ,,water4    ,,by ,j4 ,,liebig4 
,liquids which contain prussic acid1 and
 are mixed with caustic potash  ley     
until they have a strong alkaline       
reaction1 yield1 on the gradual         
addition of a diluted solution of       
nitrate of silver1 a precipitate1       
which1 on being shaken1 disappears to a 
certain extent4 ,alkaline  liquids      
containing prussic acid1 may also be    
mixed with a few drops  of a solution of
 common salt without the production of  
any permanent  precipitate1 until at    
last1 on an increased addition1 chloride
 of  silver falls down4    ,this        

phenomenon depends on the fact that     
oxide of silver and chloride  of silver 
are soluble in the generated cyanide of 
potassium1 until  there is found a      
double salt1 composed of equal          
equivalents of cyanide  of potassium and
 cyanide of silver1 which is not        
decomposed by an  excess of alkali4     
,liebig's method of estimating the      
prussic acid  consists in determining   
the quantity of silver which must be    
added  to an alkaline liquid1 containing
 prussic acid1 until a precipitate      
appears4 ,each equivalent of silver     
corresponds to two equivalents of       
prussic acid4 ,having caused several    
experiments to be made1 which prove  the
 efficacy of this method2 and having    
carefully observed that the  presence of
 formic acid and muriatic acid in the   
prussic acid1 does not  interfere with  
the correctness of this method1 the     
author gives the  following directions  
for examining different liquids         
containing prussic  acid3--,the aqua    

amygdalarum amarum being turbid1 must be
 clarified by  the addition of a known  
quantity of water3 #fc grs4 of fused    
nitrate of  silver are dissolved in     
#eicg grs4 of water2 #cjj grs4 of this  
liquid  corresponds to #a gr4 of        
anhydrous prussic acid4 ,before applying
 the  test1 the vessel with the solution
 of silver is to be weighed1 and of  the
 latter so much is added to a weighed   
quantity 7e4g4 #fj grs47  of prussic    
acid1 mixed with a small portion of     
potash ley and a few  drops of a        
solution of common salt1 shaking it in a
 common white  medicine glass until a   
perceptible turbidness takes place1 and 
does  not disappear on shaking4 ,the    
solution of silver is now again to be   
weighed2 and supposing #cfj grs4 are    
found to have been employed for  the    
test1 the #fj grs4 of the tested prussic
 acid contain #a1bj grs4  anhydrous     
prussic acid1 or #ajj grs4 contain two  
grains4 #bg    ,aqua laurocerasi1 which 
the author examined1 contained in one   

litre1  one decigram1 and the same      
quantity of aqua amygdal4 amar4 #ge     
decigrammes of anhydrous prussic        
acid4--7,in ,pharmaceutical ,journal1   
from  ,ann4 de ,chem4 ,u4 ,pharm4 ,bd4  
lxxvii47      ,,the ,,pharmacop,,ia ,,of
 ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america4
 ,by authority of the  ,national        
,convention1 held at ,washington ,a4 ,d4
 #ahej4 ,philadelphia3  ,lippincott1    
,grambo  ,co4 #ahea4    ,the appearance 
of a new edition of the ,pharmacopia is 
to the  apothecary always a matter of   
high interest2 to it he looks for  the  
recognized improvements in the various  
processes which he has  constantly to   
perform2 by it essentially he is to be  
guided in all  the officinal            
preparations which he makes2 and from it
 he learns  what new articles1 by their 
intrinsic merits and through the vogue  
they have obtained1 are deemed of       
sufficient importance to be  recognized 
officinally as additions to the materia 
medica4 ,the general  arrangement of the

 new ,pharmacopia is the same as that of
 #ahdj4  ,owing to the wise principles  
which governed the earlier framers of   
the ,pharmacopia--though1 from the      
progress of botanical science1 the      
scientific names of the plants to which 
many of the articles of the  vegetable  
materia medics are referred1 have been  
changed1 and with  improvements in      
chemistry1 the nomenclature of several  
salts has been  altered--this has led to
 little alteration in the designations  
employed  in the ,pharmacopia4          
,assaftida is now referred to ,narthex  
,assafetida1  instead of ,ferula ,a42   
,diosma is1 after the ,edinburgh        
,pharmacopia1  termed ,barosma2 ,camphor
 to ,camphora officinarum2 ,cardamom to 
,elettaria  ,cardamomum2 ,cinchona flava
 to ,c4 calisaya2 ,cinchona pallida to  
,c4  condaminea and ,c4 micrantha1 while
 the source of ,cinchona rubra is  not  
yet indicated4 ,colocynth is now termed 
the fruit of ,citrullus  colocynthis2   
kino is said to be the inspissated juice

 of ,pterocarpus  marsupium1 and of     
other plants2 quassia is referred to    
,simaruba  excelsa1 and uva ursi to     
,artostaphylos uva-ursi4    ,of the     
names of the articles of the materia    
medica1 as was before  stated1 very few 
are changed4 ,myroxylon1 of the old     
,pharmacopia1 is  now ,balsamum         
,peruvianum1 ,tolutanum1 ,balsamum      
,tolutanum2 ,diosma1 #bh  after the     
,edinburgh ,pharmacopia1 is now ,buchu2 
,zinci carbonas is  changed to the old  
name1 calamina2 iodinum1 following the  
,british  ,pharmacopias1 is iodinium1   
and brominum1 brominium4 ,port wine has 
been  introduced1 and consequently1     
instead of the ,vinum of #ahdj1 we have 
now  ,vinum ,album1 ,sherry1 and ,vinum 
,rubrum1 ,port ,wine4    ,the secondary 
list of the materia medica1 a           
peculiarity of our national             
pharmacopia1 is still retained1 to what 
good purpose it is hard to  understand4 
,the framers of the book state that 8it 
has the advantage  of permitting a      

discrimination between medicines of     
acknowledged value  and others of less  
estimation1 which1 however1 may still   
have claims  to notice40 ,the advantage 
is not a very evident one4 ,the         
distinction  that is attempted is very  
difficult to make satisfactorily2 it    
will  vary with individuals1 and1 we    
fancy1 too1 with the place at which  it 
is made4 ,certainly few in ,new ,york   
would put ,angostura bark with          
,horsemint 7,monarda71 and ,queen's root
 7,stillingia7 in the primary list2     
while ,apocynum cannabinum1 one of the  
most active of our diuretics1  and      
,malefern1 in tape-worm1 one of the most
 certain anthelmintics1  are exiled to  
the secondary4 ,if popular1 instead of  
professional  reputation1 is to be the  
criterion1 are not ,arnica1 and         
,matricaria1  and ,benne leaves1 and    
horehound1 quite as well entitled to a  
place in  the primary list as many of   
the articles that now figure there8 ,and
  are there not twenty simples in use   

among the old women of the country  that
 deserve a place in the national        
,pharmacopia as well as may weed1  and  
frost wort1 and fever root8 ,though1    
too1 new articles should not  readily be
 admitted until time has fixed their    
value1 we should like to  have seen some
 notice of ,matico and of the salts of  
,valerianic acid4 ,we  are sorry1 too1  
to see the old definition of rhubarb    
still adhered to2  8the root of ,rheum  
palmatum and of other species of        
,rheum20 that of the  ,edinburgh        
,pharmacopia1 8the root of an unknown   
species of ,rheum10 thus  rendering the 
,russian or ,chinese rhubarb alone      
officinal1 is very much  preferable4    
,of the substances introduced into the  
,materia ,medica1 the chief are         
,aconite root 7aconiti radix71          
,extractum cannabis 7extract of hemp71  
,oleum morrhu 7cod liver oil71 ,oleum   
amygdal amar 7oil of bitter  almonds71  
and ,potass chloras 7chlorate of        
potassa74 ,by ,arnica in the  last      

,pharmacopia was understood the root and
 herb of ,arnica montana2  for these1 in
 the present--the name remaining        
unchanged--the flowers are  substituted4
 ,the additions to the ,materia ,medica 
have been made with  judgment1 and      
certainly nothing has been admitted with
 the exception  perhaps of #bi          
,helianthemum 7,frostwort71 of doubtful 
utility1 or that  has not for some time 
been submitted to the test of           
experience4    ,the preparations        
introduced are all familiar to the      
pharmaceutist1 and  have for a long time
 been kept in most good shops4 ,it is   
singular that  in the last ,pharmacopia1
 by nitrate of silver was understood the
 fused  nitrate4 ,this oversight has    
been corrected1 and by ,argenti nitras  
now  is understood the salt in crystals1
 while the common lunar caustic  is     
,argenti nitras fusa4 ,among the new    
preparations are the active  principles 
of ,aconitum ,napellus 7,aconitia71     
,oxide of ,silver1 ,iodide of  ,arsenic1

 ,chloroform1 ,collodion1 a number of   
fluid extracts1 ,citrate of  ,iron1     
,glycerine1 ,solution of ,citrate of    
,magnesia1 the oils of ,copaiba1        
,tobacco1 and ,valerian1 ,iodide of     
,lead1 ,potassa cum calce1 ,bromide of  
,potassium1 ,syrup of ,wild ,cherry     
bark--of gum--and ,tinctures of ,aconite
  root1 ,kino1 and ,nux ,vomica1 and    
compound tincture of ,cardamom4    ,the 
,iron by hydrogen1 as it has been       
sometimes rather awkwardly  termed1 the 
,fer rduit of the ,french1 after the    
,british ,pharmacopias1  is termed      
,ferri pulvis1 powder of iron4          
,soubeiran's formula for  the           
preparation of ,donovan's ,liquor       
7,liquor ,arsenici et ,hydrargyri       
,iodidi7 is given as much simpler and of
 easier preparation than the  original  
formula of ,donovan2 there is1 too1 a   
good formula for the  extemporaneous    
preparations of pills of iodide of iron4
 ,the solution of  the ,persesquinitrate
 of ,iron1 as it has been sometimes     

termed1 appears  as solution of ,nitrate
 of ,iron2 it is a preparation that soon
 becomes  altered by keeping4 ,tincture 
of ,aconite root is directed to be made 
by  macerating a pound of bruised       
,aconite root for fourteen days with two
  pints of alcohol1 expressing and      
filtering4 ,a process by percolation is 
also given4 ,this is weaker than the    
tincture of either of the ,british      
,pharmacopias1 and weaker1 we believe1  
than the tincture ordinarily  employed  
here4 ,as an external application1 for  
which it is chiefly  used1 this is a    
great disadvantage1 and when            
administered internally1  the varying   
strength of a medicine so powerful will 
be attended with  serious evils4    ,the
 old formul for the preparation of the  
alcoholic extract of aconite  and of the
 extractum aconiti 7expressed juice71   
are retained1 both  being made from the 
leaves4 ,the extracts when thus made1   
even when  properly prepared1 are for   
the most part inert4 ,no formula is     

given for  the preparation of an        
alcoholic extract from the root4        
,there are three new preparations among 
the ointments3--,unguentum  ,belladonn1 
,potassii ,iodidi1 and ,sulphuris       
,iodidi4 ,the ointment of  ,iodide #cj  
of ,potassium is directed to be made by 
dissolving a  drachm of the iodide in a 
drachm of boiling water1 and afterwards 
incorporating the solution with the     
lard4    ,on the whole1 there is much   
more to praise than to find fault with  
in  the ,pharmacopia4 ,upon some of the 
preparations we will hereafter find     
further occasion perhaps to comment4    
,,pharmaceutical ,,convention4    ,in   
pursuance of a call issued by the       
,college of ,pharmacy of the ,city  of  
,new ,york1 a ,committee of ,delegates  
from the different ,colleges of         
,pharmacy in the ,united ,states        
assembled at the ,college ,rooms in ,new
  ,york at #e o'clock ,p4 ,m4 on        
,wednesday1 the #aeth of ,october4      
,delegates from ,philadelphia and       

,boston were in attendance4 ,the        
,maryland  ,college 7at ,baltimore7 and 
the ,cincinnati ,college were not       
represented1  although ,delegates from  
each had been previously reported to the
  ,committee of ,arrangements in ,new   
,york4 ,a communication of some length  
was received from the ,cincinnati       
,delegation4    ,the ,convention was    
organized by the appointment of ,mr4    
,charles ,ellis  of ,philadelphia as    
,chairman1 and ,dr4 ,samuel ,r4         
,philbrick of ,boston as  ,secretary1   
pro tem4 ,a ,committee was then         
appointed by the nomination  of each    
delegation1 consisting of ,messrs4      
,samuel ,m4 ,colcord of ,boston1        
,alfred ,b4 ,taylor of ,philadelphia1   
and ,george ,d4 ,coggeshall of ,new     
,york1 to examine credentials and       
nominate officers for the ,convention4  
,the ,committee retired1 and on their   
return reported the credentials         
satisfactory1 and proposed ,dr4 ,b4     
,guthrie of ,new ,york as ,president1   

and  ,mr4 ,alfred ,b4 ,taylor of        
,philadelphia as ,secretary1 who were   
unanimously  confirmed4    ,dr4         
,guthrie1 on taking the chair1 made a   
few remarks expressive of his  sense of 
the honor conferred by appointing him   
presiding officer of  the first         
,convention of the kind ever held in the
 ,united ,states1 and  explanatory of   
the objects of the ,convention1 which   
were in accordance  with the growing    
feeling amongst druggists and           
pharmaceutists of its  necessity to     
establish standards of the qualities of 
imported ,drugs and  ,medicines for the 
government of the ,united ,states       
,inspectors at the  different ports1 and
 in addition to act upon such matters of
 general  interest to the ,profession as
 may be presented to the consideration  
of  the ,convention4    ,reports were   
presented by the majority 7,messrs4     
,guthrie and ,coggeshall7  and the      
minority 7,mr4 ,merrick7 of the ,new    
,york delegates1 embodying  their views 

upon the subject of standards1 and also 
in regard to false  drugs which should  
be excluded4    ,a communication from   
the ,cincinnati ,delegates was read1 and
 ,mr4  ,restieaux of ,boston read an    
interesting statement of the working of 
the  ,drug ,law in that city4 #ca    ,a 
general discussion ensued upon various  
topics connected with the  business of  
the ,convention1 and resulted in the    
appointment of a  committee1 consisting 
of ,messrs4 ,proctor of ,philadelphia1  
,restieaux  of ,boston1 and ,coggeshall 
of ,new ,york1 to consider the several  
communications1 and to arrange the      
general plan of business1 and report  at
 the next sitting4    ,the ,convention  
then adjourned to ,thursday1 at #ab     
o'clock4      ,second sitting1 ,oct4    
#afth4--,the ,convention met at #ab     
o'clock4 ,the  ,committee appointed     
yesterday made a report1 reviewing the  
numerous  propositions presented by the 
different ,colleges1 and submitting a   
general system for regulating standards1

 which1 in their judgment1  should      
prevail uniformly at the ports of entry1
 with numerous  specifications of       
prominent articles to which their       
attention was  called by their          
importance1 and the difficulty that has 
been sometimes  found in deciding upon  
them4    ,the report was considered in  
sections in a lengthy and very          
interesting  discussion1 in which the   
members generally participated4 ,with   
some  amendments it was adopted4    ,the
 ,committee also offered the following  
preamble and resolutions1  which were   
adopted1 viz4    ,,whereas1 ,the        
advancement of the true interests of the
 great body of  ,pharmaceutical         
practitioners in all sections of our    
country is a  subject worthy earnest    
consideration2 and whereas              
,pharmaceutists1 in  their intercourse  
among themselves1 with physicians and   
the public1  should be governed by a    
code of ethics calculated to elevate the
  standard and improve the practice of  

their art2 and whereas1 the means  of a 
regular pharmaceutical education should 
be offered to the rising                
,pharmaceutists by the establishment of 
,schools of ,pharmacy in suitable       
locations2 and whereas1 it is greatly to
 be desired that the united  action of  
the profession should be directed to the
 accomplishment of  these objects2      
therefore1    ,resolved1 ,that1 in the  
opinion of this ,convention1 much good  
will  result from a more extended       
intercourse between the ,pharmaceutists 
of the several sections of the ,union1  
by which their customs and  practice may
 be assimilated2 that ,pharmaceutists   
would promote their  individual         
interests and advance their professional
 standing by  forming associations for  
mutual protection1 and the education of 
their  assistants1 when such            
associations have become sufficiently   
matured2  and that1 in view of these    
important ends1 it is further           
,resolved1 ,that a ,convention be       

called1 consisting of three delegates   
each from incorporated and              
unincorporated ,pharmaceutical          
,societies1 to  meet at ,philadelphia on
 the first ,wednesday in ,october1      
#aheb1 when all  the important questions
 bearing on the profession may be       
considered1  and measures adopted for   
the organization of a ,national         
,association1 to  meet every year4      
,on motion1 it was resolved that the    
,new ,york ,delegation be appointed  a  
,committee to lay the proceedings of    
this ,convention before the  ,secretary 
of the ,treasury of the ,united ,states1
 and afterwards have  them published in 
pamphlet form4    ,dr4 ,philbrick of    
,boston offered the following preamble  
and resolution1  which were adopted3 #cb
    ,,whereas1 ,to secure the full      
benefits of the prohibition of          
sophisticated drugs and chemicals from  
abroad1 it is necessary to  prevent home
 adulteration2 therefore1    ,resolved1 
,that this ,convention recommend to the 

several ,colleges  to adopt such        
measures as in their respective states  
may be best  calculated to secure that  
object4    ,on motion of ,mr4 ,colcord  
of ,boston1 it was    ,resolved1 ,that a
 committee of three be appointed by this
 ,convention  to act as a ,standing     
,committee to collect and receive such  
information  as may be valuable1 and    
memorials and suggestions from any      
,medical and  ,pharmaceutical           
,association1 to be presented at the    
next ,convention4    ,the ,president    
appointed ,g4 ,d4 ,coggeshall of ,new   
,york1 ,s4 ,m4 ,colcord of  ,boston1 and
 ,w4 ,proctor1 ,jr41 of ,philadelphia1  
as the ,committee4    ,a vote of thanks 
to the officers was passed1 and then the
 ,convention  adjourned1 to meet in     
,philadelphia on the first ,wednesday in
 ,october1  #aheb4    ,the following    
circular letter has since been issued by
 the ,president of  the ,convention1 and
 addressed to the leading               
,pharmaceutists throughout  the ,union3 

,,new ,,york1 ,november #be1 #ahea4     
,,sir3--,at a meeting of ,delegates from
 the ,colleges of ,pharmacy of the      
,united ,states1 held in this city on   
the #aeth of ,october1 #ahea1 the       
following preamble and resolutions1     
explanatory of themselves1 was          
offered1 and1 after a free and full     
discussion1 unanimously adopted3        
,here follow the preamble and           
resolutions introduced by ,messrs4      
,proctor1 ,restieaux1 and ,coggeshall4  
,the objects set forth in the above1 ,i 
trust1 will meet the hearty             
approbation of yourself and the         
apothecaries of your place1 and lead    
to the formation 7if not already in     
existence7 of such an ,association   as 
will co-operate in the furtherance of   
the proposed association4     ,our      
medical brethren have1 as you are       
doubtless aware1 an   organization1     
similar in character1 holding its       
sessions annually1   in which all       
matters pertaining to their profession  

are fully   discussed--the beneficial   
effects of which are already apparent1  
though   the association has been in    
existence but a few years4     ,they    
cannot give to the subject of ,pharmacy 
the attention it requires   and         
deserves1 neither is it a matter        
legitimately falling under their        
cognizance1 but belongs to              
,pharmaceutists themselves4     ,the    
medical profession and the community at 
large rightfully look to   us for the   
correction of any existing abuses1 the  
advancement of the   science1 and the   
elevation of the business of an         
apothecary to the   dignity and standing
 of a profession4     ,to this end we   
invite you to the formation of such     
,associations1 in   view of the         
,convention1 to be held in              
,philadelphia1 on the first   ,wednesday
 of ,october1 #aheb4     ,communications
 intended for said ,convention may be   
addressed to   ,william ,proctor1 ,jr41 
,philadelphia1 ,george ,d4 ,coggeshall1 

,new ,york1 or   ,s4 ,m4 ,colcord1      
,boston4     ,any communication touching
 the subject of the above letter will be
   cheerfully responded to by the       
,president of the ,convention4     ,c4  
,b4 ,,guthrie1 ,m4 ,d41   ,president    
,convention of ,colleges of ,pharmacy4  
#cc          ,,new ,,york    ,,journal  
,,of ,,pharmacy4    ,,february1 #aheb4  
,,on ,,the ,,preparation ,,of ,,pure    
,,hydrate ,,of ,,potash ,,and           
,,carbonate ,,of ,,potash4    ,,by      
,,henry ,,wurtz1 ,a4 ,m4    ,in         
preparing pure potash compounds1 it is  
highly necessary1 especially  in order  
to avoid the possibility of the presence
 of soda1 to select1  as a starting     
point1 some compound of potash which    
differs considerably  in solubility from
 the corresponding soda compound4       
,either the  bitartrate or the sulphate1
 therefore1 is usually preferred4       
,the bitartrate is ignited2 the         
carbonaceous mass1 washed with water1   
and the solution of carbonate of potash1

 thus obtained1 diluted and  boiled with
 slack lime1 in the usual way1 in an    
iron kettle2 the  solution of hydrate of
 potash1 thus obtained1 is boiled to    
dryness1 and  the alcoholic solution of 
the residue evaporated in silver dishes1
 to  obtain what is denominated         
alcoholic potash4 ,this product should  
be1  and most usually is1 entirely free 
from sulphate of potash and chloride  of
 potassium1 since it is easy to         
crystallize the bitartrate free from    
these salts4    ,but an almost          
invariable accompaniment of this        
alcoholic potash is a  trace of silicate
 of potash4 ,the solution may assume no 
cloudiness on  the addition of solution 
of chlorohydrate of ammonia1 or upon    
addition  of an excess of chlorohydric  
acid1 and afterwards an excess of       
ammonia2  but on adding excess of       
chlorohydric acid1 and evaporation to   
dryness  in a platinum #cd capsule1 the 
aqueous solution of the residue will  be
 found to have flakes of silica floating

 in it4 ,very few specimens  that ,i    
have met with have stood this test4 ,it 
is to be inferred that  the soluble     
silicates of potash are not wholly      
insoluble in alcohol2  but a question   
arises concerning the source from whence
 the silica is  so frequently derived4  
,it may be from the lime used1 in some  
cases1  or from silicium contained in   
the iron of the kettles employed4 ,i am 
enabled to state1 in addition1 that of  
many specimens of commercial  carbonate 
of potash which ,i have examined1 some  
of which purported  to have been        
prepared from cream of tartar by the    
method above alluded  to1 none have been
 found entirely free from silica4 ,i    
have even found  traces of this impurity
 in crystals of commercial bicarbonate  
of  potash4    ,this constant           
contamination of potash1 and carbonate  
of potash with  silica1 being a very    
important matter in consideration of the
 frequent  use of these two substances  
in chemical analysis1 ,i have been      

induced  to devise a means of separating
 the silica from the carbonate4 ,this ,i
  have accomplished by the use of       
carbonate of ammonia4    ,an aqueous    
solution of the carbonate which is to be
 freed from silica  is evaporated to    
dryness on the sand bath 7best in a     
sheet iron dish71  adding from time to  
time lumps of carbonate of ammonia4 ,the
 silicate  is thus converted into       
carbonate1 and on dissolving the residue
 of the  evaporation in water1 the      
silica appears in the form of flakes    
floating  in the liquid1 and may be     
separated by filtration4 ,this solution 
of carbonate of potash1 free from       
silica1 may now be used for the         
preparation of pure hydrate of potash1  
taking care to use lime which is  also  
free from silica4    ,i may here        
introduce a few words with regard to the
 preservation of  hydrate of potash for 
use in analysis4 ,its preservation in   
the solid  form is evidently no         
difficult matter2 but when we attempt to

 keep the  solution in glass bottles for
 the sake of convenience in using it as 
a  re-agent1 we generally find that it  
very soon takes up silica from the      
glass4 ,i have found1 however1 that     
flint glass bottles will preserve  such 
a solution much #ce longer than any     
other1 lead glass not being  easily     
acted upon1 probably because it contains
 very much less silica4  ,it might not  
be useless to make a trial of bottles   
made of thin soft  iron1 or sheet iron1 
for this purpose2 but it is probable    
that pure  silver is the true material  
for bottles1 in which solution of potash
  is to be preserved4 ,a very thin shell
 of silver might first be made1  and    
afterwards strengthened by coating it   
thickly with galvanic copper4    ,the   
ease with which sulphate of potash can  
be obtained1 in a state of  purity1 has 
long ago suggested its use as a material
 from which to  prepare pure potash4    
,schubert#f proposed to treat pulverized
 pure  sulphate of potash with a        

concentrated solution of pure baryta1   
the  latter somewhat in excess1 and     
during the evaporation of the solution  
of hydrate of potash1 thus obtained1 the
 excess of the baryta is  precipitated  
by the carbonic acid of the air4 ,this1 
however1 appears to  be very expensive  
process4 ,i have devised another method 
of treating  pure sulphate of potash so 
as to obtain pure hydrate of potash     
therefrom2 it consists merely in        
operating upon the sulphate of potash   
in a manner similar to that in which    
sulphate of baryta is operated  upon to 
procure hydrate of baryta1 that is in   
converting the sulphate  into sulphide  
by the conjoined application of a       
reducing agent and a  red heat1 and to  
decompose the aqueous solution of the   
sulphide by the  action of an oxide of a
 metal whose sulphide is insoluble1 such
 as  oxide of iron 7871 oxide of copper 
or deutoxide of manganese4 ,i use as  a 
reducing agent1 instead of charcoal1    
oil1 rosin1 etc41 coal gas4  ,this      

application of coal gas was proposed by 
,dr4 ,wolcott ,gibbs4 ,if it  is found  
that the decomposition is not perfect1  
and that the solution  of sulphide of   
potassium contains some sulphate of     
potash1 or if a  little sulphate is     
formed in the solution by oxidation1 it 
is removed  by the introduction of a    
little solution of baryta1 according to 
the  method of ,schubert4 ,i am not yet 
prepared1 however1 to give the details  
of this method4    #f ,erd4 und ,mar4   
,jour4 #bf1 #aag4    #cf      ,,on ,,the
 ,,preparation ,,of ,,chemically ,,pure 
,,hydrate ,,and ,,carbonate ,,of ,,soda4
    ,,by ,,henry ,,wurtz1 ,a4 ,m4       
,the remarks made in the last article   
with reference to the presence of       
silica in alcoholic potash1 apply also1 
though not so generally1 to  commercial 
alcoholic soda4 ,few specimens of this  
product are met with  which are so free 
from silica that it cannot be detected  
by saturation  with chlorohydric acid1  
evaporation to dryness in a platinum    

vessel1  and redissolution in water4    
,whatever may be the origin of the      
silica in  this case1 it is very often  
present4    ,i have selected1 as the    
most convenient substance from which to 
prepare  pure hydrate and carbonate of  
soda1 a product which occurs very       
abundantly in commerce under the name of
 8carbonate of soda40 ,it is in  the    
form of a very fine white powder1 and on
 examination turns out to  be the       
ordinary monohydrated bicarbonate of    
soda4     ,na,o1 #b ,c4,o#b  ,h4,o4     
,for1 upon ignition1 #g4gef grns4 lost1 
#b4geie grns4 of carbonic acid and      
water1 which is equal to #ce4fj per     
cent42 bicarbonate of soda should  lose 
#cf4hh per cent4 ,it may be mentioned1  
in this connection1 that a  preparation 
sent over here by ,button1 a ,london    
,pharmaceutist1 under the  appellation  
of 8,chemically ,pure ,carbonate of     
,soda10 upon examination  turned out to 
be also bicarbonate4 #b4cbd grns4 lost  
by ignition2  #j4hde grn4  #cf4de per   

cent4    ,the commercial bicarbonate    
above mentioned1 contains1 of course1   
all  the impurities of the carbonate    
from which it is made1 this being an    
inevitable consequence of the method by 
which it is manufactured1  which1 as    
described in ,knapp's ,chemical         
,technology1 is simply to expose        
commercial crystals of carbonate of soda
 to the action of carbonic  acid gas1   
which it takes up to the extent of one  
equivalent1 falling  into a fine powder1
 with evolution of heat and loss of     
water of  crystallization4 ,these       
impurities1 in the case of the specimen 
operated  upon by #cg me1 were1 besides 
considerable silica1 sulphate of soda1  
chloride of sodium1 a trace of          
phosphoric acid detected by monohydrate 
of ammonia1 and a little organic matter 
which imparted to the mass a  soapy     
smell4    ,the sulphate1 phosphate and  
chloride are easily removed by washing  
with  water by decantation1 with a loss1
 however1 of at least one half of the   

material4 ,when the washings1 after     
addition of excess of nitric acid1  no  
longer react with nitrate of silver1 or 
with chloride of barium1  the mass is   
introduced into porcelain dishes1 and   
dried on the sand  bath2 when dry it is 
exposed to a high sand bath heat1 though
 not to  a red heat1 for two or three   
hours4 ,by this treatment1 not only are 
one equivalent of carbonic acid1 and one
 equivalent of water expelled1  but the 
greater part or the whole of the        
silicate is decomposed and  converted   
into carbonate1 so that a solution of   
the mass in water will  now be found    
full of flakes of silica4    ,the       
filtered solution should now be tested  
for silica1 and if not  yet entirely    
free from it1 must be evaporated again  
to dryness1 with  addition of lumps of  
carbonate of ammonia1 exactly as        
proposed by me1  in the last article1 to
 separate silica from carbonate of      
potash4 ,the  residue of this last      
evaporation1 on solution in water1      

filtration  and evaporation in platinum1
 silver1 or even clean sheet iron 7never
  in glass or porcelain7 dishes1 will   
give pure carbonate of soda1  from which
 may be prepared the pure hydrate of    
soda1 observing the  precaution of using
 lime which is free from silica4    #ch 
,,remarks ,,upon ,,some ,,of ,,the      
,,preparations ,,of ,,the               
,,pharmacop,,ia ,,of ,,the ,,united     
,,states1 #ahea4    ,,by ,,george ,d4   
,,coggeshall4    ,the ,pharmacopia of   
the ,united ,states is1 or should be1 to
 the  ,pharmaceutist of the ,united     
,states1 his text book and standard4    
,in making its preparations he should   
not vary from the letter of  its        
directions1 unless a change of process  
effects a quicker1 more  uniform1 or    
more elegant result2 in regard to       
strength he should not  vary at all1    
except upon distinct understanding with 
the physician  prescribing1 or with his 
customer4 ,it is much to be regretted   
that  perfect conformity throughout the 

,united ,states1 with our ,national     
,pharmacopia should not prevail1 so that
 our citizens1 traveling or  removing   
with prescriptions1 or copies of them1  
might not be subjected  to inconvenient1
 and even in some cases to dangerous    
alterations1  impairing confidence in   
the medicine relied upon1 or involving  
the  safety of the patient in using it4 
,with these important considerations  in
 view1 the apothecary should1 as far as 
circumstances permit1 conform  strictly 
to the acknowledged standard1 giving up 
his own opinions1 if  need be1 for the  
general good4 ,but strict adherence to  
the formul  of our ,pharmacopia seems   
not to be practicable in all cases1 in  
all  localities4 ,when there is such    
diversity of practice in the ,city of   
,philadelphia and in ,new ,york1 within 
five hours of each other1 with          
intercommunication five times a day1 in 
each of which the formation and         
subsequent revisions of the ,pharmacopia
 have been of such especial  interest   

and attention1 how can it be expected   
that in our widely  extended country1 in
 communities diversified almost as much 
as those  of different nations1 with    
many local habits1 set by time and many 
prejudices1 a full and uniform          
compliance with the official standard   
should prevail4    ,in ,new ,york it    
would disappoint the physician to put ss
 of the  officinal ,solution of         
,sulphate of ,morphia into a #ci        
prescription  of iv cough mixture1 as   
much1 if not as unpleasantly1 as it     
would  the ,philadelphia physician for  
one of our brethren in that city to  put
 j of ,majendie's strength into a       
mixture of the same bulk4 ,in ,new      
,york the original strength of this     
solution has ever been preserved1       
notwithstanding the change made         
officinal in three editions of our      
,pharmacopia1 and it is generally       
understood and used accordingly4 ,with  
us the change has been remonstrated     
against1 as unnecessary1 because  the   

dose can be as easily regulated as that 
of ,fowler's1 or ,donovan's1  or        
,lugol's solution1 the tinctures of     
aconite root1 belladonna1 iodine1  and  
many other potent preparations2 it may  
just as easily be preserved  from doing 
mischief1 and has often the advantage in
 mixtures of not  displacing desirable  
adjuncts with superfluous water4 ,it is 
true1 that  owing to the great          
difference in strength of the solution  
commonly  understood here1 and that of  
the ,pharmacopia1 our ,college has felt 
it incumbent to request physicians to   
designate the intended one1 by  affixing
 a term 7in brackets or otherwise7 as   
8,maj10 or 8,ph4 ,u4,s10 to  avoid the  
possibility of misconstruction1 except  
in clear cases as that  of the mixture  
above mentioned2 and that we should not 
feel justified  in dispensing an ounce  
of ,majendie's solution alone1          
7especially if the  prescription was for
 8,liquor ,morphi1 ,sulphatis0--the     
officinal term7  unless with an         

understanding of the strength wanted1 or
 of the use to  be made of it4 ,this    
great discrepancy between what is of    
original and  continued use and what is 
officinal1 requires watchfulness1 on our
  part1 against occasional exceptions to
 the general prescription of our        
physicians1 and in putting up           
prescriptions written in other places1  
,philadelphia particularly4 ,we must    
judge of the solution required1 from    
the context4    ,our ,pharmacopia1 in   
most of its formul1 is undoubtedly      
entitled to  our full respect and       
adherence1 exhibiting on the part of the
 ,revising  ,committee1 laborious       
research and patient adjustment of      
details4 ,but  some of them1 ,i think1  
are fairly open to criticism and        
susceptible of  improvement4 ,the       
formula given for preparing 8,,carbonic 
,,acid ,,water10 is  one by which it #dj
 may safely be said1 no practical man   
ever has  made1 or ever can make1 the   
article commonly known as mineral1 or   

soda  water1 the latter name given to it
 in its early manufacture2 when a       
portion of carbonate of soda entered    
into its composition1 which is  now     
generally omitted1 though the name is   
retained in many places4 ,in  the first 
,united ,states ,pharmacopia1 #ahbj1 the
 formula given is as  follows3          
8,take of water any quantity4           
,impregnate it with about ten times its 
volume of carbonic acid gas by   means  
of a forcing pump40    ,that was1       
probably1 about the strength it was     
usually made at that  time4 ,it is now1 
generally made about one fifth or one   
fourth stronger4  ,in the revision of   
#ahcj1 the formula was changed as       
follows3     8,by means of a forcing    
pump1 throw into a suitable receiver1   
nearly   filled with ,water1 a quantity 
of ,carbonic ,acid equal to five times  
the   bulk of the ,water40              
8,carbonic ,acid is obtained from the   
,hard ,carbonate of ,lime by means of   
dilute ,sulphuric ,acid40    ,the latter

 formula is repeated in the revisions of
 #ahdj and #ahej1  substituting the term
 8,marble10 for 8,hard ,carbonate of    
,lime40 ,the  strength was altered from 
8ten times0 of the first edition to     
8five  times10 in #ahcj1 and reiterated 
in #ahdj and #ahej4 ,why8 8,ten times0  
was1  perhaps1 sufficient in the early  
use of this beverage1 but was hardly    
considered strong enough in #ahcj1      
certainly was not in #ahdj1 and has  not
 been since4 ,it is difficult to        
conceive a reason for such change4      
,surely1 it could not have been         
recommended by practical men2 on the    
contrary it was supposed to have been   
made by mistake or inadvertance4  ,it is
 still more difficult to find a good    
reason for repeating this  formula in   
the revisions of #ahdj and #ahej4 ,upon 
each of the latter  occasions the       
,college of ,pharmacy1 in ,new ,york1   
remonstrated against  it and pointed out
 fully its absurdity4 ,carbonic ,acid   
,water of that  strength1 it was stated1

 would not be acceptable as a drink to  
any one  familiar with it1 #da nor      
refreshing to the sick4 ,the formula was
  also shown to be defective in several 
essential particulars1 and where  it was
 not defective it was wrong4 ,but our   
remonstrance seems not to  have been    
vouchsafed 8even the cold respect of a  
passing glance40    ,the formula is     
defective in not describing the vessel  
in which the  preparation is to be made4
 ,in other processes1 not so much       
involving  the safety of those engaged  
in them1 the vessels are specified1 as  
8glass10 8earthen10 8iron10 c4 ,in this 
case it is indispensable that  the      
vessel should be expressly and well     
adapted to the purpose4 ,it  should be  
of undoubted strength to sustain the    
pressure1 and it should  be of material 
not acted upon by the acid or water4    
,these requisites  should not be        
neglected4 ,we need not concern         
ourselves much1 to be  sure1 about 8five
 times the bulk10 but to make carbonic  

acid water of  good quality1 the        
8receiver0 should be of sufficient      
strength to ensure  safety1 and of      
internal material to avoid unpleasant or
 injurious  contamination4 ,copper      
fountains1 lined with tin1 are mostly   
used4 ,cast  iron1 lined with tin1 is   
also used1 to some extent4 ,so far the  
formula  is defective1--in the          
proportion both of water and carbonic   
acid it  is wrong4 ,the 8suitable       
receiver0 should not be 8nearly filled  
with  water40 ,how near full that is1 is
 left to the chance of different        
judgment in different persons2 but if   
8nearly filled0 should be  understood to
 mean within a pint1 and force enough   
could be applied1  8the receiver0 would 
burst before the 8five times0 could be  
got into  it1 though the breaking in    
this case would not1 probably1 be       
attended  with danger to the operator1  
because it would be merely a dead strain
  without much expansive force4    ,i do
 not propose to detail the process of   

making soda or mineral water1           
8,carbonic ,acid ,water10 as it is      
properly called in the ,pharmacopia4    
,the minuti of its preparation may well 
be left to the experience  and practice 
of the operator4 ,but the formula given 
in our standard  book should not be     
defective or wrong in prominent         
principles1 it  should accord with      
experience and the improvement of the   
times4 ,there  does not appear to #db be
 any good reason for altering the       
formula  of #ahbj1 which was            
comparatively 8well enough0 to that of  
#ahcj1 '#dj  and '#ej1 which is of no   
value4 ,after designating the           
description of  fountain required1 so   
far1 at least1 as regards strength      
7which ought  to be equal to the        
pressure of twenty atmospheres71 and    
material1 it  should direct it to be    
supplied with water to the extent of    
about  five sevenths of its capacity1 in
 order to allow of due admixture of  gas
 and water1 and of agitation which      

greatly facilitates it1 and the  forcing
 carbonic acid into it to the extent of 
at least twelve times  the bulk of the  
water4 ,thirteen or fourteen times is   
often employed for  draught1 and        
seventeen or eighteen times for         
bottling4 ,it may be1 as  it has been1  
said that 8a formula for this           
preparation is not of great  moment40   
,it may be so2 it may1 perhaps1 as      
safely be left to the skill  of the     
manufacturer and the taste of the       
consumer1 as 8,mistura ,spiritus  ,vini 
,gallici20 but 8if it be worth doing at 
all1 it is worth doing  well20 if placed
 in the ,pharmacopia1 it should be in   
accordance with  knowledge1 and the     
experience of practical men4    ,,the   
,,solution ,,of ,,arsenite ,,of         
,,potassa has been made by some         
,apothecaries1  with myself1 for several
 years1 by substituting #ib grs4 of     
bicarbonate  of potassa1 as the         
equivalent of #fd grs4 of the carbonate1
 by which  we feel more confident of    

obtaining a definite compound than by   
the  employment of the ,carbonate1 as   
generally procured1 which mostly        
contains silica and other               
contaminations4 ,the resulting compound 
is  quite satisfactory1 and keeps well4 
,we also omit the compound spirit  of   
lavender1 making up the measure of a    
pint with water4 ,our object  in this is
 two-fold4 ,the solution is more        
permanent1 according to our             
observation1 and the compound spirit of 
lavender only renders it 7if  anything7 
more attractive in taste and smell1 to  
children and ignorant  persons4    ,in  
making ,,mistura ,,ferri ,,composita1 it
 is peculiarly necessary to  proceed    
exactly according to rule1 both in the  
order of its components  and in the     
method of adding them1 to produce a     
correct result4 ,in the  ,pharmacopia   
the six ingredients are set down thus3  
#dc     8,take of ,myrrh a drachm4      
,carbonate of ,potassa twenty-five      
grains4   ,sulphate of ,iron1 in powder1

 a scruple4   ,spirit of ,lavender half 
a fluid ounce4   ,sugar a drachm4       
,rose ,water seven fluid ounces and a   
half40    ,we are directed to rub the   
first with the last1 8and then mix with 
these0 the fourth1 the fifth1 the       
second1 and 8lastly10 the third4    ,in 
the written process for making a        
mixture1 which more than most  others1  
requires exact method1 and the adding of
 each of its numerous  components in its
 right order1 it would seem to be       
desirable1 for the  sake of perspicuity1
 to set them down in the order in which 
they are  to be used4 ,here we have to  
chase about1 forwards and backwards1 for
  the one wanted next1 and to read over 
and over the directions1 to make  sure  
of getting them right2 for few of us    
make this mixture so often  as to be    
perfectly familiar with the process1    
without referring to the  text4 ,it is  
not less awkward in this case from the  
directions chancing  to be over leaf4   
,but the formula is otherwise defective1

 ,i think1 not  being quite equal to    
that of #ahcj1 in which the rose water  
and spirit  of lavender are directed to 
be added together4 ,not only should     
these  be mixed before using1 but the   
myrrh1 carbonate of potassa and sugar   
should be triturated well together1 and 
rubbed with successive portions  of the 
mixed liquids1 effecting thereby a      
better solution of the myrrh4  ,the     
mixture1 then complete1 except the      
sulphate of iron1 should be put  into   
the vial1 and the salt should1 by all   
means1 be directed to be  selected in   
clear crystals1 to avoid any per salt of
 iron2 it should be  quickly powdered in
 a clean mortar1 and added to the       
contents of the  vial4 ,the result is a 
bluish colored mixture1 soon changing to
 olive  green4 ,if the sulphate of iron 
be not properly selected1 or if it be   
rubbed in the mortar1 as inferred from  
the formula1 the mixture is more  or    
less brown and proportionably           
deteriorated4 ,of course1 we should not 

8take sulphate of iron in powder40 #dd  
,in giving directions for making a      
compound1 something1 certainly1  is to  
be expected from the knowledge and skill
 of the manipulator4  ,but essential    
points should not be left to him1 and a 
formula for a  mixture1 probably not    
very often made by ,apothecaries        
throughout our  country towns1 should be
 set down so clearly1 that a person     
competent  to put up mixtures generally1
 could make this one the first time he  
was  called upon for it1 without        
needless perplexity1 and with sufficient
  detail of essentials to ensure its    
being made correctly4 ,i have been      
frequently told by physicians that1 even
 here1 this mixture1 requiring  so much 
nicety of manipulation1 does not appear 
to be made right one  time in ten4 ,this
 may not be so much the fault of the    
,apothecary as  of his guide4 ,he makes 
the mixture but seldom1 and if he make  
it by  his ,pharmacopia he does not make
 it as well as it can be made4 ,for     

convenient use in the shop1 ,i have the 
following process written out3          
8,take of ,myrrh1     ,sugar each one   
drachm1     ,carbonate of ,potassa      
twenty-five grains1     ,triturate      
together1 and add gradually3     ,rose  
,water seven ounces and a half1         
,spirit of ,lavender half an ounce1     
mixed4     ,rub each portion well       
together1 pour into the vial and add3   
,sulphate of ,iron one scruple1     ,to 
be selected in clear crystals1 powdered 
in a clean dry mortar1 and   thrown in  
powder into the vial2 then cork1 shake  
well1 and cover the   vial with buff    
colored paper40    ,i have often thought
 that if our formul1 especially those   
that are  complicated1 were given in    
proper rotation1 placing the component  
first to be used1 first in the list1 the
 second next1 and so on1  with          
intermediate lines of direction1 which  
might be in smaller type  or italics1 it
 would derogate nothing from the dignity
 of the book1  while it would facilitate

 the process1 and might sometimes       
obviate  misconstruction1 or neglect of 
particulars essential to the best       
result4    ,the consideration of some   
few other preparations1 ,i must defer to
  another number4    #de      ,,letter  
,,on ,,opium1 c4    ,,the following     
letter1 addressed to a ,commercial      
,house in this ,city1  will be found to 
communicate some interesting            
information4 ,we print it  as it is     
written4 ,perhaps our readers may derive
 some information from  the prices      
given2 we can make nothing of them4     
,,constantinople1 ,may #aj1 #ahea4   ,to
 -------- ,,trieste1    ,we received    
your honored letter1 dated ,messina1    
with great pleasure1  and hasten to give
 you the information you desire1 hoping 
and  wishing that both an agreeable and 
useful connection may arise from  it1   
for which purpose we shall not fail to  
give your ,house direct  information1   
respecting the articles you mention4    
,opium is found  here in different      

qualities1 the goodness of which chiefly
 depends  on the conscientiousness of   
those who prepare it4 ,the best quality 
coming from some districts of ,asia     
consists of the pure juice1 which  flows
 spontaneously from the incisions made  
in the poppy heads1 is  inspissated and 
formed into little balls4 ,it has       
eminently all the  qualities which are  
requisite in good opium1 and contains   
from #h to  #aj per cent1 and more1 of  
morphia4 ,this sort is the most in      
request  among the druggists in ,germany
 and ,france1 to be sold by retail to   
the apothecaries1 but scarcely forms the
 #hth or #ajth part of all the  ,turkish
 opium which comes to the market4 ,next 
to this is the ordinary  quality1 coming
 from the other provinces of ,asia      
,minor2 where in  preparing it1 they are
 less cautious1 partly pressing the     
poppy heads1  in order to get as much   
juice as possible1 partly scraping the  
juice  that has oozed out too hard1 by  
which certain mucilaginous parts of the 

plant1 and shavings of the rind get     
mixed up with it2 in this way that  kind
 of opium is produced1 which is so often
 sold1 and at ,trieste bears  the name  
of ,tarense opium4    ,by this          
proceeding1 of course1 the morphia is   
lessened1 and often in a  great degree2 
but in the ,chinese market1 in          
proportion to which1 the  consumption of
 the article in all other countries is  
scarcely to be  reckoned1 little or no  
regard is paid to #df this1 which       
explains why  the latter inferior       
article always brings nearly as high a  
price as  the former pure quality4      
,besides these1 several sorts of        
adulterated  opium are sold1 some of    
which are prepared1 7principally for the
 ,north  ,american market17 by mixing in
 the juice of the whole plant1 or other 
substances4--,the difference of the     
qualities would be best perceived by  a 
collection of samples1 which we should  
be glad to send you1 if you  would tell 
us where to direct them4 ,the price of  

the aforementioned  prime quality1 which
 we call 8,geve10 from the district     
which chiefly  produces it1 is now #aj  
#b_/c;c4 for the ,english pound1 free on
 board4  ,the current second quality1   
#aj #a_/c;c4 ,the price of the          
adulterated is  much lower1 in          
proportion to the amount of the         
adulteration2 which1  however1 in most  
cases1 is not discernible by the        
exterior4 ,the prices  are1 of course1  
principally regulated by the ,chinese   
market2 yet the  more or less           
considerable crop produced is not       
without influence4 ,so  especially now1 
the growers show little inclination to  
sell1 as the new  plantations are       
endangered by a continual want of       
rain4--,nevertheless1  probably after   
two months1 when the new crop begins to 
come to market1  we may be able to buy  
cheaper than now1 if the news from      
,china should  not cause the price to   
rise4    ,as regards scammony1 almost   
everything that has been said respecting

  opium is literally applicable4 ,the   
difference in quality depends  upon the 
way of preparing it1 while the plant    
from which it is taken  is always the   
same4 ,the best sort is the pure dried  
juice1 which  spontaneously flows from  
the incisions made in the root of the   
plant2  the next quality is produced by 
a strong pressure of the root4 ,these   
two qualities go in commerce by the name
 of the #ast and #bnd scammony          
d',aleppo1 which name1 however1 is      
wrong1 as ,aleppo produces the #ast     
quality1 but only in a very small       
quantity1 whilst the greater part  comes
 from several districts of ,asia ,minor4
 ,then follows the so called  quality of
 ,skilip1 a district that produces much1
 but where they have  the bad habit of  
trying to gain in the weight1 by        
adulterating the  pure substance4 ,the  
adulteration is made in several ways2   
the least  injurious of which perhaps   
is1 #dg that they add 7as in opium71 the
  pressed or boiled out juice of the    

whole plant2 the not inconsiderable     
quantities of this sort1 which are      
yearly brought from the interior1  find 
a good sale in ,europe1 which would     
hardly last1 if a sufficient  quantity  
of the before mentioned finer qualities 
were to be had4  ,besides these1 a      
number of other sorts are sold in       
,europe1 under the  name of ,smyrna     
scammony1 which consist of a hard and   
heavy mass1 but  contain only a very    
small part of the real scammony4        
,with this article it would also be     
necessary1 as we said with the  opium1  
to explain our statements by sending you
 samples1 which we will  do if you      
desire it4 ,the finest prime sort is    
seldom found1 and is  now entirely      
wanting4 ,it would sell readily at the  
rate of #ba #a_/b;c4  per pound1        
,english4 ,the good second quality      
brings according to the  sort1 from     
#ah;c4 to #ae #c_/d;c4 a pound1 free on 
board1 but is also  now very scarce1 and
 will1 in the course of two or three    

months1 be  more abundant in fresh      
quality4 ,of the ,skilip sort1 there are
 several  quantities in the market1     
according to the quality1 at the price  
of #ac  to #ajs4 #aj;d4 an ,english     
pound1 free on board4    ,of the oil of 
roses1 there is1 properly speaking1 only
 one genuine  quality1 with only little 
difference in odor1 but with remarkable 
variation in the facility with which it 
congeals1 which property is  almost     
generally considered an essential proof 
of its being genuine1  but without      
reason2 as we have ascertained by much  
experience1 during  a long sojourn in   
the country where it is produced4       
,several reasons  may contribute to this
 difference in congealing1 but the chief
 one  may be considered1 the difference 
of soil1 and method of preparation4  ,we
 give our principal attention to the    
article1 and have founded an            
establishment at ,kissanlik1 where it is
 chiefly produced1 through which  alone 
we make our purchases1 and must do so1  

in order to have the attar  genuine1 as 
we have experienced1 that all the       
essence without exception  that is sold 
here1 second hand1 is far from pure4    
,the common method and the one now      
almost exclusively adopted of           
adulterating it1 with geranium essence1 
may be known #dh to you1 and  that it   
really is the most in use1 you may      
conclude1 from the price  of the genuine
 article having been for a long time    
much higher at the  places of           
production1 than the price of that which
 is sold as prime in  ,europe4 ,this    
fact has only lately been noticed in    
,europe1 therefore  in the price current
 of ,trieste1 for instance1 you will    
find the  genuine article noted1 beside 
the prime article1 with a considerable  
difference of price4 ,what at ,london is
 designated as prime quality1 is  only a
 mixture of #fj to #gj per cent4 essence
 of rose1 with #cj to #dj per  cent4    
essence of geranium4 ,samples will also 
prove this to you1 more  clearly4 ,the  

price of the genuine attar is1 to-day1  
#bb #c_/d;c4 for an  ounce1 at #aj      
drachms1 according to which the ,english
 price current may  be understood2 in   
six or eight weeks after the preparation
 of the new  crop1 we hope to buy       
cheaper1 but at what rate we cannot yet 
judge1  as this depends on the produce  
of the crop4 ,there is some cheaper and 
adulterated1 and which is only bought by
 ignorant persons4 ,this oil  comes by  
caravans from the interior of ,asia1 and
 in spite of all our  inquiries1 we     
could not succeed in getting any sure   
information1 about  the plant which     
produces it1 or the method of           
preparation4      ,,on ,,chloroform ,,as
 ,a ,,solvent4    ,,by ,m4 ,p4 ,h4      
,,lepage1 ,,of ,,gisors4    ,hitherto1  
attention has been mainly directed to   
the manufacture of  chloroform1 and the 
study of its anesthetic properties4     
,many chemists1  however1 have casually 
noticed the power it possesses of       
dissolving  essential oils1 fixed fatty 

matters1 camphor resins1 7even those    
which  dissolve with difficulty in      
alcohol and ether1 such as copal resin1 
for  example17 iodine1 bromine1         
vegetable alkalies1 india rubber        
insoluble  in alcohol1 and but slightly 
soluble in ether1 and1 finally1 gutta   
percha1 insoluble according to ,m4      
,vogel1 in both these menstrua4 #di     
,having lately had occasion to          
experiment with chloroform1 upon a      
variety of substances1 ,i have thought  
it might be useful1 with a view  to its 
further application1 to make known the  
results obtained4    #a4 ,resinous      
substances1 gum mastic1 colophony1      
elemi1 balsam of tolu1  benzoin1 are    
very soluble cold1 in all proportions of
 chloroform and  their solutions in this
 liquid form varnishes1 some of which   
might1  ,i think1 be usefully applied1  
when the price of chloroform shall be   
diminished4    ,gum copal and caoutchouc
 dissolve equally and almost entirely in
 this  liquid1 but more easily hot than 

cold4    ,amber1 sandarac1 and shellac1 
are only partially soluble in           
chloroform1  whether hot or cold4 ,the  
mixture of sandarac and chloroform      
separates  into two layers2 the lower   
one which holds in solution a certain   
quantity of resin1 is fluid1 whilst the 
upper one is of a gelatinous            
consistence4    ,olibanum dissolves with
 difficulty in it1 either hot or cold4  
,gum guaiac and scammony resin1 dissolve
 very easily in it2 whilst on  the      
contrary1 pure jalap resin is insoluble2
 it becomes soft by contact  with the   
liquid1 and then floats on the top1 as a
 pitch like mass4 ,when  the resin is   
very pure1 the lower layer of chloroform
 has an amber  color4    ,gamboge and   
gum dragon's blood1 also yield some of  
their substance  to chloroform4 ,the    
solution of gamboge being of a          
magnificent golden  yellow1 and that of 
the dragon's blood of a beautiful red1  
these two  substances might be          
advantageously used as varnishes4    #b4

 ,fixed ,fats4 ,oils of olive1 illettes1
 almond1 ricinus1 cod1 rape1  euphorbia1
 lathyris1 croton tiglium1 lard1 tallow1
 the concrete oils of  palm and cocoa1  
spermaceti1 and probably all the fixed  
fats1 dissolve  remarkably and in all   
proportions in chloroform4 ,as to wax1  
according  to ,m4 ,vogel1 six or eight  
parts of chloroform added to one part of
 this  substance when pure1 dissolve    
only 4#be1 whence this chemist supposes1
  that whenever wax treated with this   
liquid in the above #ej named           
proportions1 leaves less than 4#ge1 it  
may be considered as having been  mixed 
with tallow or stearic acid4    ,i      
placed in a small tube1 seven grammes of
 chloroform1 and one gramme  of pure    
white wax1 shaking the mixture          
violently1 at the end of  six or eight  
hours the piece of wax had entirely     
disappeared1 and  the contents of the   
tube resembled an emulsion4 ,the whole  
was passed  through a filter of the     
weight of one gramme4 ,a transparent    

liquid  passed1 which1 exposed to       
spontaneous evaporation1 left a residuum
 of  pillular consistence weighing      
twenty-five centigrammes2 whilst the    
filter which retained the portion of    
undissolved wax1 left to the  action of 
the air1 until it no longer lost weight1
 was found to weigh  one gramme1        
seventy-five centigrammes4 ,the result  
of this experiment  therefore1 confirms 
the statement of the learned chemist of 
,munich4    #c4 ,volatile oils4 ,all are
 soluble in chloroform4    #d4 ,simple  
metalloid bodies4 ,we already know that 
iodine and bromine are  soluble in      
chloroform1 ,i have further ascertained 
that phosphorus and  sulphur are        
slightly so4    #e4 ,immediate neutral  
principles4 ,stryacine1 piperine1       
naphtaline1  cholesterine1 are very     
soluble in chloroform4 ,pricrotoxine1   
slightly  so4 ,parafine will only       
dissolve when warm1 and on cooling1     
again  floats on the top of the liquid4 
,amygdaline1 phloridzine1 salicine1     

digitaline1 cynisin1 urea1 hematin1     
gluten1 sugar1 c41 are insoluble  in it4
    #f4 ,organic acids4 ,benzoic and    
hippuric acids are very soluble in      
chloroform4 ,tannin is but slightly     
soluble1 tartaric1 citric1 oxalic  and  
gallic acids are insoluble in it4    #g4
 ,organic alkalies4 ,quinine1 pure      
veratrine1 emetine and narcotine  are   
easily soluble in chloroform4           
,strychnine dissolves pretty well  in   
it1 and the solution1 even when not     
saturated 7one dcigramme to  two grammes
 of chloroform1 for instance17 deposits1
 in twenty-four  hours1 a number of     
little tuberculiform crystals1 which may
 perhaps  be a modification of this     
alkaloid 7an isomeric state71 for their 
solution in dilute acids has appeared to
 me less bitter1 and less  easily       
precipitable by #ea ammonia than that of
 ordinary strychnine4  ,brucine is also 
quite soluble in chloroform4 ,morphine  
and cinchonine  are insoluble4    #h4   
,salts of organic acids4 ,tartar emetic1

 the acetates of potash and  soda1      
lactate of iron1 citrate of iron1       
valerianate of zinc1 and  acetate of    
lead do not dissolve in chloroform4     
#i4 ,salts with organic bases4 ,sulphate
 and hydrochlorate of strychnine1  are  
tolerably soluble in chloroform1 whilst 
sulphate of quinine1  hydrochlorate and 
sulphate of morphine are insoluble4     
#aj4 ,haloid salts4 ,iodide and bromide 
of potassium1 the chlorides of  sodium1 
potassium and ammonia1 the iodides of   
mercury and lead1 the  yellow prussiate 
of potash1 the cyanides of mercury and  
potassium do  not dissolve in           
chloroform4 ,chloride of mercury is very
 soluble4    #aa4 ,oxysalts4 ,the       
iodates1 chlorates1 nitrates1           
phosphates1 sulphates1  chromates1      
borates1 arseniates and alkaline        
hyposulphates are  completely insoluble 
in chloroform4 ,the same may be said of 
nitrate of  silver1 sulphate of copper1 
and probably of all the metallic        
oxysalts4    ,the above facts prove3    

#ast ,that chloroform dissolves1 with a 
very few  exceptions1 all bodies soluble
 in ether2 but as it dissolves copal1   
caoutchouc1 c41 much better than this   
latter substance1 this property  will   
become serviceable when the price of    
chloroform shall be lowered4    #bnd4   
,that contrary to what was formerly     
believed1 it dissolves shellac  much    
less easily than alcohol4    #crd4 ,that
 it may be employed instead of ether1 to
 separate quinine from  cinchonine1     
narcotine from morphine1 guaiac resin   
from jalap resin1  which substances are 
often found mixed together in commerce4 
#dth4 ,that it dissolves in large       
proportions strychnine1 brucine1 and    
emetine1 alkaloids1 which are almost    
insoluble in ether4    #eth4 ,finally1  
that it does not dissolve tartaric1     
citric1 oxalic and  gallic acids1       
amygdaline1 phloridzine1 salicine1      
digitaline1 hematine1  gluten1 c41 all  
which bodies are soluble in alcohol1 #eb
 nor the  chlorides1 bromides1 iodides1 

or nitrates1 salts1 all soluble in the  
same vehicle4    ,i think it right also 
to add the following observation1       
because it  tends to corroborate a fact 
recently stated in the ,journal de      
,chimie  ,mdicale1 by my friend and     
former colleague1 ,m4 ,aujendre1 assayer
 at  the mint of ,constantinople1 namely
 that chloroform possesses antiseptic   
properties4 ,having accidentally left in
 a half filled1 but corked  bottle1     
during a month 7from ,april #aj1 to ,may
 #ab71 in my laboratory1  where the     
variations of temperature are very      
frequent1 some milk mixed  with about a 
hundredth part of chloroform1 ,i was    
rather surprised1 on  examining the     
milk1 to find that it had preserved the 
fluidity and  homogeneity of the liquid 
when freshly drawn1 and that it could   
even  be boiled without                 
turning4--,journal de ,chimie ,mdicale  
in ,l',abeille  ,mdicale4               
,,note4--,chloroform will preserve      
,anatomical and ,pathological ,specimens

  without changing their color1 or      
apparently their texture4--,,ed4 ,n4 ,y4
  ,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4            
,,report ,,of ,a ,,joint ,,committee    
,,of ,,the ,,philadelphia ,,county      
,,medical ,,society  ,,and ,,the        
,,philadelphia ,,college ,,of           
,,pharmacy1 ,,relative ,,to             
,,physicians'  ,,prescriptions4         
7,published by order of the ,board of   
,trustees of the ,philadelphia ,coll4   
of ,pharm47    ,the joint ,committees of
 the ,philadelphia ,county ,medical     
,society1 and  of the ,philadelphia     
,college of ,pharmacy1 appointed for the
 purpose  of considering the means best 
adapted to prevent the occurrence of    
mistakes in the compounding of the      
prescriptions of ,physicians by         
,apothecaries1 beg leave to report that 
they have given to the subject  all the 
attention that its importance demands1  
and present the  following hints as the 
results of their joint deliberations4   
,they have  taken the liberty of adding1

 also1 a few general hints on the       
relations  that should exist between    
physicians and pharmaceutists4    #ec   
,a4 ,in ,respect to ,physicians4    #a4 
,physicians should write their          
prescriptions carefully and legibly1    
making use of good paper1 and1 whenever 
possible1 of pen and ink4 ,when  obliged
 to write with a pencil1 they should    
take the precaution to fold  the        
prescription twice1 so as to prevent its
 being defaced4    #b4 ,the nomenclature
 of the ,united ,states ,pharmacopia is 
becoming  annually more in favor with   
pharmaceutists2 a statement attested by 
the  fact that #aejj copies of the book 
of ,latin ,labels for shop furniture1   
published by the ,philadelphia ,college 
of ,pharmacy1 have been disposed  of    
within three years4 ,physicians are also
 becoming more alive to  the merits of  
our national ,codex1 and they are       
respectfully urged to  familiarize      
themselves with its nomenclature1 and to
 adhere to it  strictly in their        

prescriptions4    #c4 ,the numerous     
treatises on ,materia ,medica1 ,pharmacy
 and the ,practice  of ,medicine1 of    
,english origin1 that are reprinted in  
this country1  notwithstanding they are 
generally interlarded with the formul of
  our own ,pharmacopia1 tend1           
nevertheless1 very much to confuse the  
physician and apothecary1 in the use and
 exact meaning of terms  in             
prescriptions4 ,to obviate the          
difficulties thus occasioned1  the      
physician should1 when he prescribes a  
medicine1 which is not  officinal1 nor  
in common use1 state on his             
prescription1 either in  a note at the  
bottom1 or within parenthesis1 following
 the article1  the authority or work    
from whence it is derived1 as           
8,griffith's  ,formulary10--8,ellis'    
,formulary10--8,braithwaite's           
,retrospect10 etc4    #d4 ,physicians   
would lessen the risk of errors in their
 prescriptions1  and increase the       
chances of their detection should they  

be made1 by  observing the following    
hints4    #ast4 ,write the name of the  
patient at the top of the prescription1 
unless a good reason prevents this being
 done2 in which case1 it should  be     
expressed as for ,mr4 ,g--1 ,mrs4 ,r--1 
or ,mrs4 ,s4's child1 or for ,master    
,t--1 so as to convey to the apothecary 
some idea of the age of the  patient4   
#ed    #b;d4 ,the date and name of the  
physician or his initials1 should       
always be appended1 and1 whenever       
practical1 the dose and mode of         
administering the medicine directed4    
#c;d4 ,when an unusually large dose of  
an active medicine is prescribed1  as   
opium1 morphia1 elaterium1 strychnia1   
etc41 let such names be put in  italics1
 and the quantity or quantities repeated
 in writing enclosed  within a          
parenthesis2 thus3--,r ,morphi          
,sulphatis grs4 vj4 7six grains47  ,div4
 in chart4 vj4    #dth4 ,when an active 
substance is to be used externally1 it  
should be  so stated on the             

prescription2 thus1 8,for external      
application0--8,to be  applied to the   
part as directed10 etc4    #eth4 ,the   
quantities of each article should be    
placed in a line with  the name1 and not
 below it and in using the ,roman       
numerals1 the i's  should be dotted     
correctly4    #fth4 ,the occasional     
practice of writing the directions      
intended for the  patient in latin1 and 
especially in abbreviated latin1 is     
uncalled  for1 and attended with some   
risk2 it is far safer to write them in  
,english1 and without abbreviation or   
the use of figures1 unless these  are   
well and distinctly formed4      ,b4 ,in
 ,respect to the ,apothecary4    #ast4  
,the apothecary should hesitate to      
dispense a prescription1 the            
handwriting of which is so imperfect as 
to render the writer's meaning          
doubtful--especially if it involves     
agents of a poisonous or irritating     
character--unless he is able1 from      
collateral circumstances1 to satisfy    

himself of the intent of the prescriber4
 ,in such a case he should  delay the   
delivery of the medicine to the patient 
until he can see the  physician1 and in 
doing so he should avoid committing the 
latter1 by  agreeing to send the        
medicine when it is ready4    #b;d4 ,the
 apothecary is justified in the same    
means of delay1 if he1  after deliberate
 consideration1 believes that the       
physician has  inadvertently made a     
mistake in the quantity or dose of the  
article or  articles prescribed2 always 
keeping in view the physician's         
reputation  as well as his own4 ,every  
respectful application1 in such cases1  
to a  physician1 should be met in good  
faith #ee and with kind feeling1  even  
though no error should prove to exist4  
#c;d4 ,in his demeanor and language1 the
 apothecary should cautiously  avoid    
compromising the physician1 unless it be
 unavoidable1 in which  case honesty is 
the best policy1 and the patient or his 
messenger  should be told that it will  

be necessary to have an interview with  
the  physician previously to compounding
 his prescription4    #dth4 ,the        
apothecary is not justifiable in making 
inquiries relative  to the patient or   
his disease1 or remarks relative to the 
character  or properties of the         
medicines prescribed1 that are uncalled 
for1 or  likely to convey a wrong       
impression1 through an ignorant         
messenger1  to the patient1 excepting it
 be done in a case where he has doubts  
in  regard to the prescription1 and     
wishes to satisfy himself1 and here he  
should act with great discreetness4     
#eth4 ,when an apothecary is asked his  
opinion of a physician's  prescription  
in a manner that indicates want of faith
 in the  prescriber1 he should waive the
 question1 unless by a direct answer he 
should be able to restore that          
confidence4 ,when asked the nature of   
the ingredients1 he should be guided in 
his answer by circumstances1  avoiding  
to give the desired information1 when he

 believes it would  be contrary to the  
wish of the physician1 or attended with 
injurious  consequences4 ,in other cases
 he should use his own judgment4        
#fth4 ,physicians being often           
unacquainted with practical pharmacy1   
pay  little attention to the order in   
which the several articles entering     
into a prescription are arranged1 with  
the view to facilitate the  operations  
of dispensing4 ,it hence becomes the    
first duty of the  apothecary carefully 
to read the prescription and fix the    
proper  order in his mind4 ,he should1  
at the same time1 acquire the habit of  
considering the quantities ordered in   
relation to the usual doses1 and1  also1
 the general bearing of the             
prescription2 and a constant resort to  
this practice1 based on due knowledge1  
must almost inevitably detect  mistakes1
 if any have been made4 #ef    #gth4    
,apothecaries should accustom their     
assistants to study  prescriptions in   
this light1 and to acquire such a       

knowledge of the  doses and             
therapeutical uses of medicines as shall
 serve to guide them  in avoiding       
errors4    #hth4 ,the apothecary1 when  
engaged in dispensing a prescription1   
should1  as far as possible1 avoid      
mental preoccupation1 and give his      
attention  fully to his task4 ,he should
 acquire the habit of always examining  
the label of the bottle before using its
 contents1 and he should  satisfy       
himself that he has read the prescribed 
quantity correctly1 by  referring to the
 prescription anew before weighing out  
each article4  ,it is also1 a useful    
precaution to have bottles containing   
mineral or  vegetable poisons1          
distinguished by some prominent mark4   
#ith4 ,as the conscientious discharge of
 his duty should be the aim of  every   
apothecary1 seeing that on his correct  
action depends1 in no  slight degree1   
the usefulness of the physician1 no     
pains should be  spared to secure the   
efficiency of the medicines dispensed1  

whether  they be drugs or preparations4 
,the latter should always be prepared of
  full strength1 and according to the   
formul recognized by the ,united        
,states ,pharmacopia1 unless when       
otherwise specially ordered4    #ajth4  
,the apothecary should always label1 and
 number correctly1 all  medicine        
dispensed by him on the prescription of 
a physician2 he  should1 also1          
invariably1 transcribe on the label1 in 
a plain legible  hand writing1 the name 
of the patient1 the date of the         
prescription1  the directions intended  
for the patient1 and the name or the    
initials  of the prescriber4    #aath4  
,the original prescription should always
 be retained by the  apothecary1 whose  
warrantee it is1 in case of error on the
 part of the  prescriber4 ,when a copy  
is requested1 if1 as in many instances1 
no  objection can be urged1 it should be
 a fac simile in language and  symbols1 
and not a translation4    #abth4 ,in no 
instance is an apothecary justifiable in

 leaving his  business in charge of     
boys1 or incompetent assistants--or in  
allowing  such to compound              
prescriptions1 excepting under his      
immediate and  careful supervision4 #eg 
#acth4 ,in justice to his sense of the  
proper limits of his vocation1 to  the  
medical profession1 and to his          
customers1 the apothecary should        
abstain from prescribing for diseases1  
excepting in those emergencies1  which  
occasionally occur1 demanding immediate 
action1 or1 in those  every day         
unimportant cases where to refuse       
council would be construed  as a        
confession of ignorance1 calculated to  
injure the reputation of  the           
apothecary1 and would be attended with  
no advantage to either  physician or    
patient4    #adth4 ,the sale of quack or
 secret medicines1 properly so called1  
constitutes a considerable item in the  
business of some apothecaries4  ,many of
 the people are favorably impressed     
towards that class of  medicines1 and   

naturally go to their apothecaries for  
them4 ,it is  this which has caused many
 apothecaries to keep certain of these  
nostrums1 who are ready and willing to  
relinquish the traffic in them1  but for
 the offence that a refusal to supply   
them to their customers  would create4  
,at present all that the best disposed  
apothecary can  be expected to do1 is to
 refrain from the manufacture himself1  
of  quack and secret medicines2 to      
abstain from recommending them1 either  
verbally or by exhibiting show bills1   
announcing them for sale1 in his  shop  
or windows2 and to discourage their use1
 when appealed to4    #aeth4 ,having in 
view the welfare of the community and   
the advancement  of pharmaceutic science
 and interest1 it is all important that 
the  offices of prescribing and         
compounding medicines should be kept    
distinct1 in this city and surrounding  
districts4 ,all connection with1  or    
moneyed interest in apothecary stores1  
on the part of physicians1  should1     

therefore1 be discountenanced4 ,with    
respect to the pecuniary  understanding 
said to exist1 in some instances1       
between apothecaries  and physicians1 we
 hold1 that no well disposed apothecary 
or physician  would be a party to such  
contract1 and consider the code of      
,ethics of  the ,college of ,pharmacy   
and the ,constitution of the            
,philadelphia ,county  ,medical ,society
 as sufficiently explicit on this       
subject4 #eh    #afth4 ,in reference to 
the patronage on the part of ,physicians
 of  particular apothecaries1 we are of 
opinion1 as a general rule1 that        
,graduates in ,pharmacy should be       
encouraged in preference to others of   
the same date of business1 and whilst   
admitting the abstract right of  the    
physician to send his prescription where
 he pleases1 we think that  justice     
should dictate the propriety of his     
encouraging the nearest  apothecary     
deserving of his confidence and that of 
the patient4     ,committee of ,county  

,medical ,society3     ,d4 ,,frances    
,,condie1     ,,wm4 ,,maybury1     ,g4  
,,emerson4     ,committee of ,phila4    
,college of ,pharmacy3     ,,william    
,,procter1 ,,jr41     ,h4 ,c4 ,,blair1  
,,john ,h4 ,,ecky4    ,we republish the 
above ,report from the ,american        
,journal of ,pharmacy1  as its 8hints0  
are1 in the main1 practical and         
judicious4 ,on one or two  points1      
however1 we differ from the author of   
the report4 ,we do not  think 7,b4      
,article #dth17 that the apothecary is  
ever justified in making  inquiries     
relative to the disease of a patient4   
,if his very inquiries  may 8convey a   
wrong impression to the patient1 through
 an ignorant  messenger10 how can that  
ignorant messenger give information     
regarding  the disease of a patient1    
which can guide the apothecary1 himself 
not  supposed to be versed in           
therapeutics1 in judging of the         
correctness  of a prescription8 ,the    
apothecary1 where he is in doubt1 may   

inquire  the dose and the age of the    
patient1 and then1 if he deems          
necessary1  may have recourse to the    
physician himself4 ,and in regard to the
 next  article1 when the apothecary is  
asked the 8nature of the ingredients0   
in a prescription1 it is wisest to refer
 the patient1 as a rule1 to  the        
prescriber4--,,ed4 ,,journal ,,of       
,,pharmacy4      ,,note ,,on ,,the      
,,division ,,of ,,gum ,,resins ,,in     
,,potions1 ,,and ,,in ,,diachylon       
,,plaister4    ,at a recent meeting of  
the ,society of ,pharmacy1 ,m4 ,poulenc1
 submitted  a method which he has       
employed for eight years in his         
laboratory1 for  suspending gum resins  
in medical prescriptions4 ,it is well   
known how  much difficulty there is in  
suspending either in a mixture1 or      
lotion1  one or more grammes of gum     
ammoniac1 assaftida1 myrrh1 c4 ,in      
dividing  the #ei assaftida with yolk of
 egg alone1 the manipulation is long2   
but if instead of the egg1 we employ #f 

or #h drops of oil of sweet  almonds per
 gramme1 the gum resin1 even when       
entire1 is easily reduced2  when the oil
 is well mixed1 and the paste as        
homogeneous as possible1  a little water
 is first added1 then gradually the     
quantity of the  prescribed vehicle1 as 
for the mucilage of a linctus2 the      
product of  this operation will be a    
speedy and very perfect emulsion4 ,one  
of the  advantages of this modus        
faciendi1 is1 that the product can be   
warmed  without danger of coagulation1  
besides which1 it is generally more easy
  to obtain a few drops of oil of sweet 
almonds1 or any other kind of oil  than 
the yolk of an egg4    ,m4 ,poulenc has 
recently applied the same method to the 
manufacture of  diachylon plaister1 in  
the following manner3 take some entire  
pieces of  gum resin1 and triturate them
 briskly in an iron mortar1 after which 
in a marble1 or porcelain mortar1 mix in
 the oil1 and add a sufficient  quantity
 of water to obtain an emulsion about as

 thick as liquid honey2  strain this    
through a coarse cloth2 there will be   
hardly anything left  on the cloth1 and 
the strained substance will be perfectly
 homogeneous4  ,evaporate in an earthen 
vessel1 by the water-bath1 the water    
which had  been mixed in1 and when the  
mass presents the appearance of a soft  
extract1 the other ingredients of the   
plaister may be mixed in with  the      
greatest ease4 ,this plaister presents a
 very beautiful appearance1  and exhales
 a very decided odour of the gum resins 
employed in its  composition4 ,should it
 be feared that the small quantity of   
oil1  might weaken the consistence of   
the plaister1 ,m4 ,poulenc thinks that  
the quantity of turpentine might1       
without inconvenience1 be slightly      
diminished4    ,we have tried with      
success the method of ,m4 ,poulenc for  
emulsions with  gum resins2 as to its   
further use in the preparation of       
diachylon  plaister1 we cannot speak    
with certainty4--,there is a chemical   

question1  which1 in all cases governs  
the preparation of pharmaceutical       
agents4--,stan4 ,martin1 ,l',abeille    
,medicale4    #fj      ,,essence ,,of   
,,jargonelle ,,pear4    ,,by ,,the      
,,editor ,,of ,,the ,,pharmaceutical    
,,journal4    ,the liquid sold under    
this name1 and which has been for some  
time in  use by confectioners1 is the   
acetate of the oxide of amyle4    ,it is
 prepared with great facility by        
submitting to distillation  a mixture of
 one part of amylic alcohol 7better     
known by the name  of oil of grain17 two
 parts of acetate of potash1 and one    
part of  oil of vitriol4 ,the distilled 
liquid is to be washed with alkaline    
water1 dehydrated by chloride of        
calcium1 and afterwards rectified by    
distillation from protoxide of lead4    
,its properties are thus stated by      
,dumas3--,in the state of purity it is  
a colorless1 very limpid1 volatile      
liquor1 which boils at #beg ,f4 ,it     
possesses an ethereal aromatic odor1    

somewhat resembling acetic ether2  its  
sp4 gr4 is less than that of water4 ,it 
is insoluble in water1 but  soluble in  
alcohol1 ether1 oil of grain1 c4        
,concentrated sulphuric  acid does not  
color it in the cold2 but by heating the
 mixture1  it becomes reddish-yellow1   
and when the temperature is elevated1   
destructive reaction takes place1 the   
mixture blackens and evolves  sulphurous
 acid4 ,placed in contact with a watery 
solution of potash  it is very slowly   
altered2 but an alcoholic solution of   
this base  rapidly decomposes1 an       
alkaline acetate is formed1 and the oil 
of grain  regenerated4 ,its ultimate    
composition is     #ad equivalents of   
carbon1         #hd   #ad equivalents of
 hydrogen1       #ad    #d equivalents  
of oxygen1         #cb                  
#acj    ,but its proximate composition  
is amyle1 7an hypothetical radical7     
oxygen1 and acetic acid4     #a         
equivalent amyle 7,c#aj ,h#aa7          
#ga   #a equivalent oxygen1             

#h   #a equivalent acetic acid1 7,c#d   
,h#c ,o#c7  #ea                         
#acj    ,its formula is thus stated by  
,brande1 ,ayl,o1 ,ac,o#c2 by ,fownes1   
,ayl,o1 ,c#d ,h#c ,o#c4    ,amylic      
alcohol1 or oil of grain1 called by the 
,germans fuselol2  is the hydrated oxide
 of amyle1 ,ayl,o1 ,,ho4 ,it is #fa     
largely produced  in the distillation of
 spirit from corn4 ,it is officinal in  
the ,dublin  ,pharmacopia1 where it is  
termed 8,alcohol amylicum--,fusel oil10 
and  is employed to yield valerianic    
acid in the process for making 8,sod    
,valerianas40    ,from information which
 we have received1 we have reason to    
believe that  the use1 by very young    
children1 of articles of confectionery1 
flavored  with essence of pear1 is not  
without danger4 ,a child on two         
occasions  became partially comatose1   
with livid lips and feeble pulse1 after 
eating some confectionery which it was  
calculated contained about one  drop of 
the essence4--,london ,pharmaceutical   

,journal1 ,november1 '#ea4      ,on the 
,growth of ,plants in ,various ,gases1  
,especially substituting  ,carbonic     
,oxide1 ,hydrogen1 and light            
,carburetted ,hydrogen for the          
,nitrogen of the ,air4 ,by ,,messrs4    
,,gladstones4 ,,dr4 ,,gladstone gave the
  results of experiments made and still 
in progress1 with his brother1  ,mr4 ,g4
 ,gladstone4 ,after describing the      
effect on some flowers1 as the  pansy1  
the crocus1 c4--a discussion            
ensued--,mr4 ,r4 ,warrington suggesting 
that in such experiments the plants be  
allowed to take root well before        
immersing them in the gases2 next1 that 
the combined atmospheres were  too much 
saturated with moisture1 often causing  
rapid growth and  decay2 and that these 
flowers and roots should be compared    
with others  grown in similar volumes of
 confined common air4 ,prof4 ,dumas     
spoke  of the great1 and1 indeed1 almost
 unsuspected influence of carbonic      
oxide gas4 ,the judicial investigations 

in ,france had disclosed the  fatal     
effects of this gas as being so much    
greater than carbonic acid  gas4 ,in the
 atmosphere produced by the burning of  
charcoal1 #a-bjjth  part of carbonic    
oxide was fatal1 while with one-third   
the volume of  carbonic acid the animal 
was asphyxiated1 but afterwards revived4
 ,the  ,chairman said that he had reason
 to believe that in the combustion of   
anthracite1 much carbonic oxide gas is  
produced4--,pharmaceutic ,journal1  from
 ,report of ,british ,association in the
 ,athenum4    #fb      ,,editorial4     
8,,an ,,act ,,relating ,,to ,,the ,,sale
 ,,of ,,drugs ,,and ,,medicines40--,we  
would call the  attention of our readers
 to the following strange bill1 which   
has been  introduced into the           
,legislature of this ,state3     8,the  
,people of the ,state of ,new ,york1    
represented in ,senate and   ,assembly1 
do enact as follows3     ,,section #ast4
 ,it shall not be lawful for any        
,physician1 ,druggist1   ,apothecary1 or

 any person or persons dealing in ,drugs
 or ,medicines1   or engaged in         
preparing any compound to be given or   
administered as   a medicine1 to offer  
the same for sale without first affixing
 or   attaching thereto1 in a           
conspicuous manner1 a written or printed
   recipe in the ,english language1     
stating the drug or drugs1 medicine or  
medicines1 or ingredients of which it is
 composed1 together with the            
proportions of each4     ,,section #b4  
,any person or persons violating the    
preceding section   of this ,act1 shall 
be considered guilty of a misdemeanor1  
and on   conviction thereof shall be    
fined for each offence in a sum not less
   than ten dollars1 nor exceeding one  
hundred dollars1 or be imprisoned   for 
a term not exceeding six months4        
,,section #c4 ,this ,act shall not take 
effect until the first day of ,july1    
#aheb4     ,albany1 ,february #fth1     
#aheb40    ,on reading this bill1       
carelessly1 we thought that it was      

intended to  be levelled at nostroms and
 quack medicines4 ,if it were so1       
however  laudable the motives of its    
originators1 its policy is much to be   
doubted4 ,the public are not prepared   
for it2 it would1 at once1 raise  a     
clamour about selfish motives and       
private interests2 it would never  be   
enforced3 and would tend to bring more  
moderate and judicious  legislation into
 contempt4 ,but a careful perusal of the
 bill shows that  it applies to         
,apothecaries and venders of medicines  
in the ordinary  prosecution of their   
business4 ,should it become a law1 no   
,apothecary  could sell six cents worth 
of paregoric1 or an ounce of spiced     
syrup  of rhubarb1 unless he accompanies
 the article sold with a detailed       
enumeration of the substances composing 
it1 with the proportions of  each       
8written or printed in the ,english     
language10 without rendering  himself   
liable to fine and imprisonment6 ,it is 
not necessary to  characterize such a   

law to ,druggists4 ,it is worthy of     
notice1 however1  as an instance of that
 spirit of pseudo reform which is at    
present so  rampant4 ,as a general rule1
 we believe1 ,physicians have no        
objection  to their patients knowing the
 remedies they prescribe1 particularly  
when the patients themselves are people 
of sense and information1 but  in many  
instances1 of what use would it be to   
the sick man and his  conclave of       
friends to be able to spell #fc out the 
ingredients of  a prescription8 ,would  
it help them to a knowledge of its      
effects8 ,are  they the best judges of  
its propriety8 ,and if so1 had not the  
law  better proscribe educated          
,physicians altogether8    ,and then    
8written or printed in the ,english     
language06 ,the framers of  such a law  
could not be expected to recognize a    
,national or any other  ,pharmacopia2   
which of the twenty trivial names1 that 
in different  times and different places
 have been bestowed upon the same       

article1  should we choose8 ,should we  
follow strictly the modern chemical     
nomenclature1 or should we take that of 
a few years back or should we  go to the
 fountain head and return to the names  
of the old ,alchemists8  ,the whole     
matter is unworthy serious comment4     
,,coffinism4--,england for a long time  
supplied the ,united ,states to a  great
 extent with quacks and quack medicines4
 ,we now begin to produce  these        
articles not only in quantity sufficient
 to supply the home  market1 but are    
enabled to spare some of our surplus for
 the mother  country4 ,thomsonianism has
 been transplanted to ,great ,britain1  
where  it flourishes under the auspices 
of a man named ,coffin1 and is thence   
termed ,coffinism4 ,coffin has already  
numerous disciples among the  illiterate
 classes of the community4 ,he gives    
instruction in his  physic made easy1   
and furnishes his followers with        
certificates of  their acquaintance with
 the mysteries of steam1 hot drops and  

lobelia4  ,each of his graduates1 too1  
pays a certain sum into a fund created  
to  defend those of the associates1 who 
may fall within the grasp of the  law4  
,already several of them have been tried
 for manslaughter1 but the  8,anglo     
,saxon race10 among its other           
peculiarities1 is determined to be      
quacked when it chooses1 and the        
,coffinites hitherto have got off scot  
free4      ,,camphor ,,as ,a            
,,stimulant4--,a lady who for a long    
time had suffered from  occasional      
attacks of hemoptysis1 and other signs  
of consumption1 and  who likewise from  
reduced circumstances1 was subject to   
great moral  depression1 applied for    
advice concerning an epileptic seizure  
from  which she had suffered for the    
first time on the preceding night4 ,on  
inquiry it came out that she had for a  
long time been in the habit  of taking  
large quantities of ,camphor4 ,she had  
begun the practice a  number of years   
previously1 by taking the camphor       

mixture which had  been ordered for her 
invalid husband4 ,gradually she acquired
 a fondness  for it1 and constantly     
increasing the dose1 she1 at the time of
 her  seizure1 took daily from two      
drachms to half an ounce4 ,she was in   
the  habit of taking it crude1 gradually
 nibbling her allowance in the  course  
of the day4 ,she described its effects  
as exceedingly agreeable1  renovating   
her strength1 inspiring her with hope   
and confidence1 and  enabling her to get
 through with the fatigues of the       
day4--,when not  under its influence she
 was languid1 feeble and depressed4     
,taking into  account the condition of  
her lungs1 her general health did not   
seem to  have been affected by the      
habit4    #fd      ,,cavendish          
,,society4--,we give place willingly to 
the following circular  of ,mr4         
,procter1 convinced that in so doing we 
are subserving the best  interests of   
our readers4 ,the names of the officers 
and council of the  society1 give ample 

assurance of the value of the works     
selected for  publication4              
,,cavendish ,,society1                  
,,london4--,,president--,prof4 ,thomas  
,graham4     ,,vice ,,presidents--,dr4  
,faraday1 ,prof4 ,brande1 ,sir ,robert  
,kane1 ,arthur   ,aiken1 and others4    
,,council--,jabob ,bell1 ,dr4 ,pereira1 
,dr4 ,golding ,bird1 ,robert            
,warrington1   ,alfred ,s4 ,taylor1 and 
others4     ,,treasurer--,dr4 ,henry    
,beaumont ,leeson4                      
,,secretary--,theophilus ,redwood4      
,the ,cavendish ,society was instituted 
for the promotion of ,chemistry1   and  
its allied sciences1 by the diffusion of
 the literature of these   subjects4    
,the society effects its object by the  
translation of recent   works and papers
 of merit2 by the publication of        
valuable original   works which would   
not otherwise be printed1 from the      
slender chance   of their meeting with a
 remunerative sale1 and by the          
occasional   republication or           

translation of such ancient or earlier  
modern works1   as may be considered    
interesting or useful to the members of 
the   ,society4     ,heretofore persons 
in this country were admitted to        
membership on   application to ,mr4     
,redwood the general ,secretary of the  
,society1   at ,london4 ,to facilitate  
communication between the ,society and  
its ,american members1 the undersigned  
has been appointed ,local   ,secretary1 
at ,philadelphia1 and to whom           
application should be   made4 ,the      
payment of five dollars ,u4 ,s4         
,currency or its equivalent1   annually1
 entitles each member to a copy of every
 work published by   the ,society for   
the period during which their membership
 continues4   ,no member shall be       
entitled to the ,society's publications 
unless   his annual subscription shall  
have been duly paid1 and it is to be    
understood that the charges for duty and
 freight on the books arising   from    
their shipment to this country are to be

 paid to the ,secretary on   delivery4  
,the number of ,works published will    
necessarily depend on the number of     
annual subscribers2 hence it is of great
 importance to the individual   interest
 of the members that their aggregate    
number should be   large4 ,the ,society 
now issue two or three volumes yearly4  
,the books   are handsomely printed on a
 uniform plan1 for members only1 their  
publication being conducted by the      
,council who are elected annually by    
,ballot from among the members2 every   
member having a vote4     ,members by   
subscribing for all or any of the past  
years1 may get the   works issued during
 those years except the first volume1   
published by   the ,society in #ahdh1   
entitled 8,chemical reports and ,memoirs
 by ,thomas   ,graham1 ,f4 ,r4 ,s40     
which is now out of print4 ,the other   
volume of that   year which is the #ast 
volume of ,gmelin's ,handbook of        
,chemistry1 can be   obtained by paying 
half the subscription4     ,the         

subscribers for #ahdi are entitled to   
the #b;d and #c;d volumes of   ,gmelin's
 ,chemistry--and the ,life of ,cavendish
 by ,dr4 ,george ,wilson of             
,edinburgh4 ,the subscribers for #ahej  
receive the #dth and #eth volumes   of  
,gmelin's work1 and those of the        
,current year will receive the #ast     
volume of ,lehmann's ,physiological     
,chemistry translated by ,dr4 ,day1 and 
the #fth volume of ,gmelin4     ,as the 
sole object of the ,cavendish ,society  
is the encouragement of   an important  
branch of scientific literature1 all who
 feel interested   in ,chemistry should 
assist in that object by subscribing1 or
 using   their influence with others to 
extend the list of members1 which now   
amounts to more than #hej4 ,all those   
who may desire to become members1   to  
examine the works already issued1 or to 
gain further information   regarding the
 ,society1 are requested to apply to the
 undersigned4     ,,william ,,procter1  
,,jr4     ,october1 #ahea4      #aff    

,south #ith ,street1 ,philadelphia4     
#fe          ,,new ,,york    ,,journal  
,,of ,,pharmacy4    ,,march1 #aheb4     
,,on ,,the ,,heavy ,,oil ,,of ,,wine4   
,,by ,,edward ,n4 ,,kent4    ,having    
occasion to use a little of the         
officinal oil of wine1 ,i applied  to   
one of our wholesale ,druggists1 who    
furnished me with an article1  which ,i 
found to be useless4 ,on testing a      
sample1 it mixed with water  and        
produced a slight milkiness4 ,it was    
evidently alcohol1 containing a  trace  
only of oil4 ,the price of this was #d  
per pound4    ,samples were then        
obtained from all of the wholesale      
,druggists from  whom it could be       
procured1 and each of these was proved  
to be equally  worthless1 as the results
 of the following tests will show4      
,the second sample1 when agitated with  
water1 separated into two  portions1 one
 of which was aqueous and the other     
ethereal4 ,the latter  exposed to the   
air1 to separate the ether by           

spontaneous evaporation1  left a residue
 which was completely soluble in water1 
and proved to  be alcohol4 ,the price of
 this mixture of alcohol and ether was  
#d1ej  per pound4    ,the third sample  
when agitated with water1 became        
slightly turbid1 and  was dissolved4 ,it
 had a pale yellow color1 ethereal odor1
 and the sp4  gr4 was 4#iji4 ,a portion 
of it1 exposed twelve hours to          
spontaneous  evaporation in a graduated 
measure1 lost one-eighth of its bulk1   
and  on the application of a taper1     
burned with a blue flame4 ,it is quite  
evident that this also was alcohol with 
a small portion of ether1 and a  trace  
of oil4 ,the price #ff of this was #d1ej
 per pound1 and it was  labelled 8,ol4  
,aetherii40 ,it bore also the name of   
the importers4    ,the fourth sample1   
when agitated with water1 became        
slightly turbid1  and dissolved4 ,it was
 colorless1 had an ethereal odor1 and   
the sp4  gr4 was 4#hdd4 ,this also      
burned with a blue flame4 ,the price of 

this  worthless article was #f1ej per   
pound4 ,it was labelled 8,ol4 ,vini     
,pur10  and bore also the name of the   
,london manufacturer4    ,it may be well
 to remark1 that the officinal oil of   
wine1 when agitated  with water1        
separates and falls to the bottom1 being
 heavier than  water1 whence its name4  
,the sp4 gr4 of the pure oil is not less
 than  #a4je1 and it has a yellow color4
    ,the labels on the third and fourth 
samples above mentioned1 are alone  not 
sufficient evidence to prove that they  
were imported1 but1 in  addition to the 
label1 ,i was informed that one of them 
was recently  imported1 and also that   
the manufacturing ,chemists in this     
country do  not make or sell the oil of 
wine4--,in view of this statement 7if   
true7  the question naturally arises3   
,how did the above worthless articles   
pass the ,custom ,house under the       
existing law for 8the prevention of the 
importation of spurious and adulterated 
drugs80    ,i have examined another     

sample which is not offered for sale as 
oil of  wine1 but as it has properties  
resembling more nearly the officinal oil
  than either of the four samples above 
mentioned1 it might possibly be         
confounded with the oil of wine4 ,this  
sample had an agreeable vinous  odor1   
and a yellow color4--,when agitated with
 water a considerable  quantity of oil  
separated1 which was lighter than water4
 ,a portion of  the original oil1       
distilled in a glass retort with a      
thermometer passed  through a cork1     
inserted into the tubulare1 gave about  
half its bulk of  a colorless liquid    
below #ahj ,f41 which proved to be      
alcohol containing  a small quantity of 
acetic ether and nanthic ether4--,the   
residue  left in the retort had the     
properties of a mixture of nanthic ether
  and nanthic acid4 ,the above article  
has been1 extensively used 7in          
connection with acetic ether7 for the   
#fg manufacture of factitious  brandy1  
and is sold for about #a1ej per ounce4  

,after having tested samples of all the 
different articles offered for  sale    
under the name of 8oil of wine0 by the  
wholesale ,druggists in ,new  ,york1    
without being able to find either of    
them worthy of the name1 ,i  prepared a 
little for my own use1 by the following 
process1 which is  that of the ,london  
,pharmacopia3    #b lbs4 oil of vitriol 
were carefully mixed with #a lb4        
commercial  alcohol1 and distilled very 
slowly in a glass retort4 ,the product  
consisted of two portions1 the lightest 
of which was an ethereal  solution of   
oil of wine measuring #f oz4 ,this was  
exposed to the air  for twenty-four     
hours to remove the ether by spontaneous
 evaporation4  ,the residue1 washed with
 a little dilute solution of potash and 
dried1  was pure 8,heavy ,oil of ,wine10
 and weighed half an ounce4 ,the        
quantity  obtained1 though small1       
corresponds exactly with the proportion 
obtained by ,hennell at the             
,apothecaries' ,hall1 ,london1 viz3 #ag 

oz4 oil  of wine from #cd lbs4 alcohol1 
and #fh lbs4 oil of vitriol4    ,by a   
simple calculation of the cost of       
manufacture1 and expense of             
importation1 it will be seen that pure  
oil of wine could not be  imported and  
sold at the prices asked for the samples
 above mentioned4  ,in making this      
calculation it will be necessary to     
observe that under  the existing excise 
law1 the price of alcohol in ,england is
 much higher  than in the ,united       
,states1 and is now1 ,i am informed1    
from #ag to #ah  shillings sterling per 
gallon4 ,the following calculation      
7based on the  results of ,hennell's    
process7 gives the cost of pure oil of  
wine1  manufactured in ,england and     
imported into this country1 at #ce per  
pound2 but the spurious articles now    
sold for oil of wine1 are offered  at   
prices varying from #d to #f1ej per     
pound4     #cd lbs4 alcohol 7about #e   
gallons7     at #ag shillings sterling  
per gallon1                #ah #gj   #fh

 lbs4 oil of vitriol1 at #b #a_/b cents 
per pound1       #a #gj   ,labor1 fire1 
packing1 bottle1 c4                     
#a #ej #fh                              
,cost of #ag oz4 oil1 to the ,english   
manufacturer1      #ba #ij     ,or per  
pound1   ,cost of making #a lb4 pure oil
 in ,england1             #bj #fa       
,manufacturer's profit1 say #aj per     
cent41                #b #jf            
,wholesale price in ,england1           
#bb #fg   ,duties paid by importer1 #cj 
per cent4                   #f #hj      
,charges paid by importer1 #aj per cent4
                  #b #bf                
,cost of importation1                   
#ca #gc   ,profit on importation1       
#c #bg                                  
,wholesale price of the imported oil1   
#ce #jj    ,i regret that ,i have been  
unable to find the price of pure oil of 
wine  quoted in the lists of any of the 
manufacturing chemists1 but think  it   
fair to infer that if the article is    
offered for sale1 of ,english           

manufacture1 at less than #b per ounce1 
that impurity or adulteration  may be   
suspected1 and in this case1 ,i would   
recommend the following  process for    
testing its purity4    ,agitate a small 
portion of the oil in a test tube1 with 
an equal  measure of water4 ,if it      
dissolves1 reject the sample as impure1 
but if  the mixture separates into two  
portions1 after standing at rest for  a 
few moments1 put it on a paper filter1  
previously well moistened  with water4  
,the water in the mixture will pass     
through the moistened  filter1 leaving  
ether or oil upon it4 ,if this is       
colorless or very pale  yellow1 it      
should be exposed a few hours to        
spontaneous evaporation1  to ascertain  
if it contains oil4 ,but if it is yellow
 and heavier than  water1 this portion  
may consist of oil of wine2 this1       
however1 should  be verified by         
observing the odor and sp4 gr4 of the   
oil4 ,by carefully  operating upon a    
known quantity in the above manner1 the 

proportion  of alcohol or ether 7if     
present7 may be easily determined4      
,as the efficacy of ,hoffman's ,anodyne 
is due to the heavy oil of wine         
contained in it1 and as the proportion  
of this oil to the other  constituents  
is small1 it is particularly necessary  
that #fi the oil  should be pure4 ,the  
high price of alcohol in ,england1 and a
 defect in  the directions formerly     
given for its preparation in the ,united
 ,states  ,dispensatory1 are the        
probable causes of the absence of pure  
oil of  wine in ,new ,york4 ,in recent  
editions of the above work1 the         
defective  proportions have been        
substituted by those of the ,london     
college1 and  there is now no reason why
 pure oil of wine should not be made in 
the  ,united ,states1 where alcohol is  
cheaper1 probably1 than in any other    
part of the world4 ,i hope that our     
manufacturing chemists will turn  their 
attention to this subject1 and displace 
all worthless chemical  and             

pharmaceutical preparations by such as  
will be useful to the  public1 and      
creditable to the manufacturers4    ,the
 ,united ,states ,pharmacopia directs   
two pints of alcohol 7sp4 gr4  4#hce7 to
 be mixed with three pints of sulphuric 
acid 7sp4 gr4 #a4hde72  by weight rather
 better than #c4c of the acid1 to one   
part of alcohol1  and gives #a4jif as   
the sp4 gr4 of the oil4--,,ed4          
,,practical ,,hints1    ,,by ,a         
,,wholesale ,,druggist4    ,the         
prosecution of the business of preparing
 and vending medicines1  has been and   
still is too exclusively confined to the
 dollar and cent  department4    ,buyers
 take too much for granted4 ,ipecac is  
,ipecac all the world over1  and he who 
can sell ,ipecac at the lowest price is 
likely to sell the  most and make the   
most money4 ,to the credit of the craft1
 in part  however1 a manifest           
improvement in this respect1 has taken  
place within  the last few years1 to    
their credit in part1 ,i say1 because   

the demand  for good medicines has of   
late increased1 compelling some         
druggists  to furnish better qualities  
than they otherwise would4    ,it is a  
common remark that the late law1 passed 
by ,congress1 relating  to the          
introduction or importation of          
adulterated and inferior drugs1  has    
produced a more desirable state of      
things in #gj our community1  by opening
 the eyes of consumers to the fact that 
inferior drugs are  imported and are    
consumed4 ,this is only in part true4   
,an improved  state of public opinion   
first caused the law to be passed2 this1
  in connection with the law when       
passed1 caused a further progress4  ,the
 stone1 thus set in motion1 will no     
doubt roll on till an entire  revolution
 takes place both with venders and      
consumers4    ,it is not to be supposed 
that the person who swallows a dose of  
medicine dreams that it is not of good  
quality1 or that he would  hesitate in  
the value of six cents when purchasing  

his dose1 between  the best of its kind 
and that which is comparatively inert4  
,the root  of this great evil1 viz3 the 
purchasing1 selling1 and administering  
inferior medicines is ignorance4 ,the   
patient can have little or no  knowledge
 of the efficacy of what is given to him
 to take1 and to the  shame of a large  
portion of the medical profession be it 
spoken1 the  doctor knows but little    
more4 ,i speak with confidence when ,i  
say that  the knowledge of the sensible 
properties of drugs is almost           
exclusively  confined to the druggist   
and apothecary4 ,hence in the purchase  
of his  supplies of medicines of the    
apothecary1 the only guide the physician
  has1 is the price and the word of the 
seller1--this ought not so to  be4 ,at  
this time ,i do not profess to offer a  
remedy4 ,the object of  the present     
communication is to offer a few         
practical hints to the  druggist1       
connected with the purchase of his      
stock2 many1 if not all1  desire to     

purchase reliable medicines1 but from   
want of knowledge  between good and bad 
have only the price1 and the reputation 
of the  seller to guide them4    ,i now 
propose to take up articles of general  
use1 and suggest a few  simple tests of 
their quality and condition1 which any  
one can apply  with such means as an    
ordinary drug store furnishes4          
,before proceeding with this subject1   
however1 ,i beg leave to urge upon      
every druggist and apothecary1 the great
 importance of having1 at his  disposal1
 a set of reliable hydrometers for      
liquids heavier and lighter  than water1
 and a properly constructed thermometer 
for determining  the temperature of     
liquids4 ,he will find them his right   
hand helps1  not only for #ga detecting 
adulterations1 but for determining the  
strength or quality of nearly all the   
liquids which come under his            
inspection4    ,certain arbitrary terms 
have been applied to solutions of       
ammonia  and ethers1 such as ,f42 ,f4   

,f42 ,f4 ,f4 ,f42 and so on4 ,these     
terms were  originally intended to      
indicate the exact strength of those    
liquids to  which they were applied2    
but1 unfortunately1 every manufacturer  
has a  standard of his own1 indicating  
the value of an ,f1 or in other words   
these terms mean nothing1 and should be 
banished from the books of  every       
intelligent dealer4 ,the hydrometer will
 determine the strength  accurately and 
beyond all question1 the dealer         
therefore should make  his purchases1   
estimating the strength by the specific 
gravity either  in decimals or degrees4 
,in detecting adulterations of essential
 oils1 the ,hydrometer is  invaluable4  
,if the specific gravity of an oil does 
not accord with the  standard1 it is    
proof positive that the oil is not pure2
 the reverse1  however1 is not so clear4
 ,if the specific gravity does accord   
with the  standard1 it is not a positive
 proof that it is pure1 for the reason  
that the adulteration may be of the same

 specific gravity as the oil  itself4   
,the strength of acids such as muriatic1
 nitric1 sulphuric1 aqua fortis1  and   
the like1 is accurately determined by   
this means4    ,a set of these          
instruments1 on which dependence may be 
placed1 can be  obtained at a price     
varying from #e to #ab4    ,let the     
dealer apply these instruments 7where   
applicable7 to all his  purchases1 and  
he will soon find out what he sells and 
who deals  honestly by him4             
,,magnesia 7,,calcined74 ,nearly all    
that is used in this country is         
imported from ,england4 ,the quality1   
notwithstanding the drug law1 is        
usually quite inferior4 ,the impurities 
generally are carb4 magnesia1  lime1    
alumina and silica4    ,to detect carb4 
magnesia1 put into a vial a small       
portion1 and add two  or three times its
 bulk of water2 after mixing them well1 
add a small  portion of sulphuric       
acid--effervesence will indicate the    
presence of  a carbonate4 ,on the       

addition of an #gb excess of acid1 the  
solution  should be perfectly clear2    
whatever is deposited is impurity of    
some  kind2 if lime is present an       
insoluble sulphate is formed4    ,the   
presence of moisture is indicated by the
 magnesia being lumpy1 and  when shaken1
 the particles do not flow among        
themselves easily4 ,good  magnesia has a
 light1 lively appearance1 and is pearly
 white4--7,,to ,,be  ,,continued47      
,,on ,,blistering ,,cerate4    ,,by     
,,eugene ,,dupuy1 ,,parmaceutist1 ,,new 
,,york4    ,the successful researches of
 ,robiquet in his labors on the         
,cantharis  ,vesicatoria1 have          
demonstrated that the cristallisable    
neutral  substance to which he gave the 
name of ,cantharidine1 is the proximate 
epispastic principle of the blistering  
cerate on which the physician  depends  
in most cases1 where an extended and yet
 deep revulsive action  is necessary1   
whether it is derived from the cantharis
 vesicatoria or  from other members of  

the trachelid family4 ,the experiments  
of ,mess4  ,lavini  ,sobrero of ,turin1 
have confirmed the supposition made by  
analogy1 of the indentity which exists  
in the vesicating principle  of all     
these coleopters1 and there is a strong 
presumption that our  commerce will soon
 be enriched with the beautiful         
cantharis1 7,c4  nutalli17 abounding in 
the midst of our rising ,south ,western 
,states1  and that it will eventually   
supersede the cantharis vesicatoria we  
obtain from abroad4 ,if adulteration    
would not destroy1 by its baneful       
influence1 the advantageous form of     
complex extracts1 we could obtain  a    
desirable amelioration of our officinal 
cerate1 by substituting for  the        
powdered cantharides an equivalent      
proportion of the oleaginous  liquid1   
with which they are saturated in the    
fresh state1 and which is  possessed of 
all the vesicating properties of the    
insect4 ,that liquid  is prepared in    
various parts of the ,sardinian kingdom1

 especially  at ,verceil1 where it is   
extensively used by veterinary surgeons 
in  preference to the preparations from 
the powdered insect1 it #gc  producing  
deeper revulsion4 ,it is also used1     
diluted in bland  oleaginous substances 
for stimulating the activity of feeble  
serous  exudations4 ,as for the present 
we have not generally access to that    
natural product of the cantharis1 we    
must select those insects in the  best  
possible conditions1 and endeavor to fix
 their active principle  in such a      
manner as will diminish the liability to
 spontaneous  volatilisation of which it
 is susceptible1 even at ordinary       
temperature4    ,i have been for many   
years in the habit of preparing a       
blistering  plaster which1 ,i think1 has
 some advantages over our officinal     
cerate1  because it fixes the           
volatilisable principle1 and at the same
 time  rather increases than diminishes 
its energy4    ,to the officinal plastic
 mixture in which the powdered          

cantharides  have been gradually        
incorporated1 ,i add about #e per cent  
of a mixture  containing equal parts of 
strong acetic acid 7prepared by         
distillation  of the acetates of copper 
or lead71 and pulverised camphor4 ,the  
acetic  acid transforms the cantharidine
 into an acetate of the same which is   
not volatilized at ordinary             
temperatures1 and the camphor diminishes
  the symptoms of strangury which some  
patients have to endure when the        
application of a blistering plaster is  
resorted to4 ,i also usually  spread the
 blister on adhesive plaster on account 
of the convenient  adhesion of that     
material4      ,,on ,,the ,,adulteration
 ,,of ,,certain ,,drugs ,,and ,,the     
,,methods ,,of ,,detecting ,,said       
,,adulterations4    ,,by ,c4 ,,townsend 
,,harris1    ,demonstrator of ,chemistry
 in the ,new ,york ,medical ,college4   
,since the establishment of the ,office 
of ,inspector of drugs in the  ,united  
,states custom houses1 a vast amount of 

spurious and adulterated  articles has  
been prevented from finding its way into
 our market4 ,by  reference to the      
report of the #gd inspector of drugs for
 the port  of ,new ,york1 through which 
is received the great bulk of medicinals
  imported into this country1 some idea 
may be formed of the enormous  quantity 
of spurious opium1 jalap root1 scammony1
 iodine1 iodide of  potassium1 etc4     
annually introduced from abroad4 ,we    
find that in ten  months1 from ,july    
#ahdh to ,april #ahdi1 inclusive1       
#ij1jjj pounds of  adulterated drugs    
were rejected at the above named office4
 ,during the  years #ahdh and '#ej1     
numerous specimens of adulterated       
articles were  submitted to me for      
examination by ,dr4 ,baily the inspector
 of drugs4  ,from a long list ,i may    
select one as an instance of the        
impudence  exhibited by foreign         
manufacturers1 in attempting to thrust  
upon  us their villainous compounds1 8as
 standard articles40 ,i found a         

specimen of iodine1 purporting to be    
pure1 to contain #b per cent4 of        
non-volatile matter and #dj per cent4 of
 water4 ,the solid materials  may be    
passed over as accidental1 but the water
 is undoubtedly a  fraudulent addition4 
,beneficial as the establishment of this
 office may be in preventing  the       
admission of any but genuine articles   
from abroad1 in the present  state of   
pharmaceutical regulations1 it merely   
serves as a stimulus to  the exercise of
 ingenuity at home1 for producing those 
adulterations  no longer supplied from  
the other side of the water4 ,it is     
hardly  necessary to say that rogues are
 to be found in every nation and in     
every clime1 but ,i am justified 7as ,i 
believe7 in asserting that the  spurious
 articles1 at present met with in our   
market1 are manufactured  by foreigners 
whose mtier has been destroyed by the   
passage of the  drug bill4 ,it is       
positively certain that parties who some
 years since  conducted a factory in    

,brussels1 from which spurious sulphate 
of  quinine1 sulphate of morphine1      
narcotine1 c41 were palmed upon the     
citizens of the ,united ,states as      
genuine1 are now at work in a city not  
one hundred miles distant4    ,how is   
this home adulteration to be met8 ,the  
appointment of a home  inspector of     
drugs1 whose duty it should be to visit1
 from time to  time1 our apothecaries'  
establishments1 and to inspect the      
quality  of the drugs therein1 would be 
at variance #ge with republican  ideas2 
too much like the excise law of ,england
 so obnoxious to the  semi-republican   
inhabitants of ,great ,brittain4 ,this  
question1 however1  has been            
sufficiently discussed by others more   
able than myself4  ,the remedy for these
 abuses rests with the druggists        
themselves4  ,legislative enactments are
 useless4 ,the present college of       
pharmacy  which includes in its list of 
trustees1 some of the leading           
pharmaceutists of the country1 has done 

much towards elevating the  profession4 
,it is to be hoped that the laws under  
which they act will  be extended to     
other states1 and that no apothecary1   
unless duly  licensed by the society1   
shall have any right to pursue his      
profession  without the diploma of the  
college4    ,it is a matter of          
congratulation that some houses in this 
city1 and  those doing an extensive     
business1 and of the highest reputation1
 have  associated with themselves       
partners possessing a competent         
knowledge of  chemistry4 ,from these    
houses nothing can be obtained which is 
not up to  the standard4 ,our           
apothecaries will find it to their      
advantage in the  end1 to employ persons
 possessing sufficient knowledge to     
enable them  to detect adulterations in 
drugs1 and not only that1 but to be able
 to  prepare the most difficult         
articles4    ,i shall relate in this    
paper some instances of home            
adulterations  which have recently come 

under my notice4 ,i have been furnished 
by  retail druggists in the city with   
several specimens of the bitartrate  of 
potassa4 ,the results of the examination
 of five different specimens  are here  
given3     ,no4 #a4 ,bitartrate of      
,potassa1      #ej per cent4            
,sulphate of ,lime1           #ej per   
cent4                                   
#ajj     ,no4 #b4 ,bitartrate of        
,potassa1      #fe per cent4            
,sulphate of ,lime1           #ce per   
cent4                                   
#ajj     ,no4 #c4 ,bitartrate of        
,potassa1      #gj per cent4            
,sulphate of ,lime1           #cj per   
cent4                                   
#ajj #gf     ,no4 #d4 ,bitartrate of    
,potassa1      #ge per cent4            
,sulphate of ,lime1           #be per   
cent4                                   
#ajj    ,no4 #e contains a small per    
centage of carbonate of potassa and a   
considerable amount of carbonate of     
lime4 ,no weighings were made1 but  the 

amount of adulteration was apparently   
much less than in the other  cases4     
,i have also had occasion to examine    
some specimens of iodide of  potassium1 
procured from some of the first         
druggists in the city4     ,specimen    
,no4 #a1 contained3                     
,iodide of ,potassium1           #fd per
 cent4                   ,chloride of   
,potassium1         #cf per cent4       
#ajj       ,no4 #b4 ,iodide of          
,potassium1                  #gj per    
cent4            ,chloride of ,potassium
 and ,carbonate            of           
,potassium1                         #cj 
per cent4                               
#ajj       ,no4 #c4 ,iodide of          
,potassium1                  #ce per    
cent4            ,chloride of ,potassium
 and            ,chloride of ,sodium1   
#fe per cent4                           
#ajj    ,in numerous examinations made  
of the bitartrate of potassa and of the 
iodide of potassium from foreign        
sources1 ,i have never detected in the  

iodide of potassium more than #ae per   
cent of impurities1 nor in the  bitrate 
of potassa1 as imported from ,france1   
more than #h per cent4 ,of  course the  
crude commercial argol always contains a
 small amount of  tartrate of lime4     
,in a sample of so called 8cod liver    
oil10 submitted to me for  examination  
by ,professor ,davis1 of the ,new ,york 
,medical ,college1 ,i  am unable to     
detect a single trace of iodine4 ,the   
#gg oil is rank1  almost black1 and is  
evidently a mixture of whale oil and    
linseed  oil2 in fact it contains no cod
 liver oil whatever4 ,this article has  
been sold by a fellow professing to be a
 druggist and physician4    ,it is      
certainly most important that druggists 
and their employers  should possess a   
sufficient knowledge of chemical tests  
to enable them  to detect               
sophistications4 ,i propose to give     
hereafter the details of  examinations  
of adulterated medicines and the        
simplest methods ,i can  devise for the 

detection of such adulterations1 and ,i 
trust others  beside myself will turn   
their attention toward a subject so     
fraught  with interest to the           
,pharmaceutist4      ,,on ,,woorara4    
,a ,,note ,,read ,,to ,,the ,,academy   
,,of ,,sciences1 ,,by ,m4 ,u4 ,,bernard1
 ,,in ,,his ,,own  ,,name1 ,,and ,,that 
,,of ,m4 ,,pelouze4    ,woorara is a    
violent poison1 prepared by some of the 
tribes inhabiting  the forests bordering
 the ,upper ,oronoco1 the ,rio ,negro1  
and the ,amazon4    ,although the       
existence of this poison has been long  
known1 very vague  notions are still    
entertained regarding its component     
parts4 ,amongst  the savages who sell or
 barter it1 its preparation remains     
secret2 and  has only been made known   
through their priests or sorcerers4     
,according  to ,humboldt1 woorara is    
simply a watery extract of a creeper1   
belonging  to the genus ,strychnia4     
,according to ,m4 ,m4 ,boussingault and 
,roulin1  it contains a poisonous       

substance1 analagous to a vegetable     
alkali1  woorarine4 ,the information    
given us by ,m4 ,houdet1 differs from   
that of  ,m4 ,humboldt only in this     
respect1 that he observes1 before the   
extract  is quite dry1 the ,indians of  
,messaya pour on it a few drops of the  
venom gathered from the glands of the   
most venomous serpents4 ,this  last     
circumstance is important1 as we shall  
see that the physiological  effects of  
woorara must #gh cause us to regard its 
mode of action as  entirely analogous to
 that of venoms4    ,woorara is a solid 
extract1 black1 resinous looking1       
soluble in water4  ,we shall have       
occasion hereafter to advert to its     
chemical properties4  ,our attention    
will now be directed to its             
physiological effects when  exerted on  
living animals4 ,woorara resembles venom
 in this1 that it  can be eaten1 that   
is1 taken into the digestive canal of   
man and  other animals with impunity1   
whilst when introduced by puncture      

under the skin1 or in any other part of 
the body1 its absorption is  invariably 
attended with fatal results in all      
animals4 ,this fact we  have repeatedly 
tested4 ,the action of this poison is   
instantaneous1  when it is injected     
directly into the blood vessels4 ,a     
weak1 watery  solution thrown into the  
jugular vein of a dog or a rabbit1 has  
always  produced sudden death1 the      
animal uttering no cry1 nor manifesting 
any  convulsive agitation4 ,the effect  
on the whole organization is electric1  
and the vital functions are arrested as 
by lightning4 ,when introduced  under   
the skin in solution or in solid        
fragments1 its poisonous action         
manifests itself more slowly1 and the   
time is varied by the dose1 the  size of
 the animal1 and its species4 ,other    
things being equal1 birds  die soonest1 
then the mammalia1 and then reptiles2   
thus1 with the same  specimen1 birds and
 mammalia die in a few minutes1 whilst a
 reptile  will survive for several      

hours4 ,but death is invariably         
accompanied  by similar1 and very       
remarkable symptoms2 in the first place1
 when  pricked1 the animal apparently   
feels nothing4 ,if a bird1 for example1 
it flies as usual1 and at the end of a  
few seconds1 when the woorara  is very  
active1 it drops dead without uttering a
 cry1 or appearing to  suffer2 if it be 
a rabbit or a dog1 it runs about as     
usual after the  puncture1 without any  
abnormal symptom1 then1 after some      
seconds1 as if  fatigued1 it lies down1 
appears to sleep1 its respiration stops1
 and  life is terminated1 without a     
groan or sign of pain4 ,rarely do we see
  even slight contraction of the        
sub-cutaneous muscles of the face and   
body4    ,on examining immediately after
 death1 the bodies of #gi animals  thus 
poisoned1 we have always observed       
phenomena which indicate a  complete    
annihilation of all the properties of   
the nervous system4 ,it  is generally   
found that when death has been sudden1  

the nerves retain  for some time the    
power of reaction under the influence of
 mechanical  or chemical excitement2 if 
a nerve of motion be excited1           
convulsions  supervene in the muscles to
 which it leads2 if the skin be pinched1
 it  causes reflex motion4 ,but none of 
these are observed after death by       
woorara4 ,the nerves of the still warm  
animal1 in whom life has been  extinct  
but a minute1 are inert as if it had    
been dead and cold for  several hours4  
,again1 in animals poisoned by woorara1 
the blood is invariably black1  and     
frequently so changed as to coagulate   
with difficulty1 and not to  become     
bright on re-exposure to air4    ,if we 
compare this effect of woorara with that
 of the viper1 we shall  observe a great
 analogy between them1 varying only in  
intensity4 ,we  may further remark1 that
 woorara1 like the poison of the viper1 
may be  introduced with impunity into   
the intestinal canal4 ,we might be led  
to suppose from its perfect             

innocuousness when introduced into the  
stomach1 that it became modified1 or in 
a word1 digested by the gastric  juice1 
so as to destroy its deleterious        
properties4 ,to verify this             
supposition1 we caused some woorara to  
be digested in the gastric juice  of a  
dog1 at a temperature of between #ch and
 #dj of centigrade4 ,after  leaving it  
for forty-eight hours1 we introduced it 
by puncture into  the veins of some     
animals1 who died with the before-named 
symptoms2  establishing the fact1 that a
 prolonged contact with the gastric     
juice  in no way modified its           
deleterious properties4 ,this experiment
 has  been repeated in various ways1 and
 on the separate parts1 as well as  on  
the living animal4 ,we made a dog1 in   
whose stomach we had formed a  fistulous
 opening1 swallow some fragments of     
woorara mixed with his  food2 after a   
little time we obtained some of his     
gastric juice1 and on  analysis found it
 to resemble in every respect a solution

 of woorara4  ,thus we have the singular
 phenomenon of an animal1 carrying in   
its  stomach1 harmless to itself1 a     
liquid #hj which would cause instant    
death to any others who should be       
inoculated with it4 ,not only did the   
dog which swallowed the poison          
experience no fatal result from it1 but 
its digestion was not even affected by  
it2 the gastric juice thus mixed        
retaining all its digestive properties4 
,these facts prove that the             
innocuousness of woorara when introduced
  into the stomach1 is not attributable 
to the action of the gastric  juice4    
,the other intestinal liquids1 saliva1  
bile1 pancreatic juice1  were attended  
with similar results1 none of them      
producing by contact  the least         
difference in the poisonous effect of   
woorara4    ,the explanation of these   
facts appears to be simply this3 there  
is a want of absorption of the venomous 
substance through the  gastro-intestinal
 mucous membrane4 ,this can be shown by 

the following  experiment3--,take the   
fresh gastric mucous membrane of a dog  
or rabbit1  recently killed2 adapt it to
 an endosmometer in such a manner that  
the mucous surface remains outwards2    
then plunge the endosmometer  containing
 sweetened water into a watery solution 
of woorara1 and we  shall find1 after   
two or three hours1 that the endosmosis 
will be  complete4 ,the level will have 
risen in the endosmometer1 and yet the  
liquid contained in it will shew no     
trace of the poison1 as can be  proved  
by inoculating other animals with it4   
,if the experiment were to last longer1 
the endosmose of the poison  might take 
place1 but we should then find that the 
epithelium which  covers its surface1   
had become changed1 and had permitted   
the  imbibition and endosmosis of the   
poisonous principle4 ,this is so  true1 
that if a partially decomposed membrane 
should be used instead  of a fresh one1 
the endosmose of the poisonous principle
 takes place  immediately4 ,on the      

living animal1 we can establish this    
property  of the intestinal mucous      
membrane1 and can demonstrate that      
amongst  substances perfectly soluble in
 appearance there are some which when   
lodged on the surface of the intestinal 
membrane1 may remain there  without     
being absorbed1 or without affecting the
 system4 ,the active  principle of      
woorara is of this kind4 #ha    ,it was 
necessary to ascertain whether other    
mucous membranes1 besides  those of the 
digestive organs1 were possessed of this
 same property  with regard to woorara4 
,we have tried it successively on those 
of  the bladder1 the nasal foss and the 
eyes1 and in all we have found  an equal
 resistance to the absorption of the    
poisonous principle4 ,an  injection of  
this poison into the bladder of a dog1  
was retained six or  eight hours1 with  
no bad effects2 but the urine voided    
after that time  had all the poisonous  
properties of woorara4    ,one mucous   
membrane alone offers a remarkable      

exception2 it is the  pulmonary4 ,this  
acts1 in regard to the absorption of    
woorara1 precisely  like the            
sub-cutaneous cellular tissue2 and on   
the introduction of  some drops of the  
poisonous solution into the air         
passages1 when every  precaution is     
taken1 death takes place as rapidly as  
when the skin has  been punctured4      
,we readily perceive that this membrane1
 destined solely for the passage  of the
 air to accomplish the phenomena of     
respiration1 possesses a  peculiar      
structure1 and is unprovided with that  
protecting mucous which  lubricates the 
other membranes communicating with the  
exterior4 ,this  similarity between the 
pulmonary mucous membrane and cellular  
tissue1  supports the ideas which ,m4   
,majendie1 long ago1 promulgated on the 
structure of the lungs4    ,we shall not
 expatiate1 at present1 on the          
remarkable difference in  the absorbent 
properties of the various mucous        
membranes of the body4  ,we shall have  

occasion again to revert to the subject1
 and shall only  state that this fact1  
in relation to the absorption of        
woorara1 is  not isolated1 and that in  
the intestines1 for example1 many active
  principles1 although soluble1 cannot  
be absorbed1 and are consequently       
forced to act locally1 or as if shut up 
in a closed vessel4    ,for the present 
we will content ourselves with these    
conclusions3    #ast4 ,that woorara acts
 upon animals in the same manner as     
venom4    #bnd4 ,that its harmlessness1 
when injected into the intestinal #hb   
canal1 cannot be explained by any change
 which the poisonous principle          
undergoes1 but rather by a special      
property of the gastro-intestinal       
mucous membrane which resists its       
absorption4--,journal de ,pharmacie et  
,chimie4      ,,sumbul1 ,,or            
,,yatamansi4    ,sumbul1 the name and   
therapeutical properties of which are   
almost  unknown to ,french physicians1  
appears to have been employed in ,india 

from a very remote period4 ,pietro      
,della ,valle1 who travelled through    
the different countries of ,asia1 in    
#afbc1 #afbd and #afbe1 mentions that   
sumbul is a root1 and not a stem1       
although the ,arabic word1 sumbul1 he   
observes1 refers to the whole plant4 ,it
 appears that the word sumbul is        
applied in ,india to a plant and        
portions of a plant1 used as a perfume1 
as an incense in religious ceremonies1  
and again1 as a medicinal  substance4   
,sir ,william ,jones thought that the   
true sumbul was a species  of valerian1 
known both to the ,hindoos and          
,brahmins1 under the name of  yatamansi4
 ,but1 according to ,m4 ,granville1 it  
appears to be an aquatic  umbelliferous 
plant1 found in the neighborhood of     
rivers4    ,it is erroneously asserted  
that it grows in ,hindostan4 ,it is not 
found  in any part of the ,indian       
territory1 occupied by the ,english4    
,the  plant grows in ,bootan and the    
mountains of ,nepaul2 and although large

  quantities of the dried plant have    
been exported1 no botanist has yet  been
 able to describe its characteristics   
from a living specimen4 ,it  is said    
that the native laws forbid the         
exportation of a living plant1  without 
an order from the sovereign4    ,sumbul 
has been described as a mass of roots   
and leaves of a greenish  color1        
crumpled and pressed one against the    
other4 ,this is an error1  and arises   
from the fact of some having been first 
shown at ,st4  ,petersburg1 which had   
been mixed with a #hc strong decoction  
of  this substance of a greenish color4 
,sumbul appears1 on the contrary1  under
 the form of a root1 thick1 homogeneous1
 of two1 three1 and even  four inches in
 diameter1 cut in pieces of an inch to  
an inch and a  half long1 and whose     
section presents a fibrous aspect1 and a
 white  and yellowish tint4 ,it is      
brought from the centre of ,asia1 to    
,moscow1  via ,kiatcha4 ,in all the good
 specimens of sumbul1 the epidermis1 or 

external covering1 is of a dark shade1  
approaching to brown2 if the  color be  
strongly marked1 it indicates that the  
plant was old4 ,the  epidermis is very  
thin1 and much wrinkled4 ,the interior  
substance is  composed of thick1        
irregular fibres1 which may be separated
 from one  another1 after the outer     
covering is detached1 and which indicate
 a  porous structure1 common to aquatic 
plants4 ,if1 after taking off the  outer
 covering1 we make a transverse cut1 we 
shall perceive an external  layer1 white
 and marbled1 and an internal layer1    
thicker and yellowish4  ,with a powerful
 lens we can distinguish transparent    
points1 which look  like grains of      
fecula4    ,two very remarkable physical
 characteristics demand our attention   
when  we examine this root3 first1 its  
perfume1 resembling the purest musk2    
then the powerful aroma which it exhales
 when under mastication4 ,this  odor of 
musk is so marked1 that some had thought
 it owed this quality  to its contact   

with musk1 in the transportation of     
drugs from ,asia to  ,europe2 but such  
an idea is negatived by the fact that   
sumbul retains  this odor1 even when    
very old2 that even when the external   
parts have  lost it1 it continues in the
 interior2 that this odoriferous        
principle  may be extracted from it by  
chemical manipulation2 and again1 that  
it  has received from botanists the name
 of moschus-wurzel or musk-root4  ,its  
aromatic taste is also a distinguishing 
characteristic4 ,the first  impression  
on the palate is slightly sweet1 this is
 rapidly replaced by  a balsamic flavor1
 and then by a bitter1 but not          
unpleasant taste4--,as  mastication     
proceeds1 the mouth and throat          
experience a strong  aromatic and       
pungent taste1 and the breath becomes   
impregnated with  the penetrating odor  
of the #hd substance4--,this flavor is  
still more  decided in the alcoholic    
tincture than in the root4    ,the      
chemical analysis of sumbul has occupied

 several ,german chemists1  ,reinsch1   
,schnitzlein1 ,frichinger1 and          
,kalthover4 ,according to ,reinsch1  the
 root of sumbul contains1 besides water1
 traces of an ethereal oil1  two        
balsamic compounds1 7resins7 one soluble
 in ether1 the other in  alcohol1 wax1  
aromatic spirit1 and a bitter substance1
 soluble in water  or alcohol4 ,the     
solution of this bitter substance1      
treated with lime1  and chloride of     
sodium1 gives a sediment composed of    
gum1 starch and  saline materials4 ,the 
perfume appears to be contained in the  
balsams1  and its intensity is increased
 by being diluted with water4 ,finally1 
sumbul contains an acid1 which ,reinsch 
proposes calling sumbulic acid4         
,kalthover directed his attention       
further to its pharmaceutical uses1  and
 obtained an alcoholic tincture of a    
yellowish color1 musky odor1  and bitter
 taste2 an ethereal tincture1 yellowish1
 musky1 and of  a sharp taste2 and a    
substance resembling wax1 precipitated  

after  repeated decoctions in water4    
,it appears then1 that we may obtain    
from sumbul for medical purposes1  two  
tinctures1 one alcoholic1 the other     
ethereal1 which seem to differ  in their
 principles1 and which may be given in  
drops alone1 or combined  with other    
medicines2 and a bitter extract1 soluble
 in water1 which may  be administered in
 pills4 ,the powdered root may also be  
given crude1 or  in pills4--7,union     
,mdicale7 in ,journal de ,pharmacie et  
de ,chimie4    ,sumbul has been used as 
an anti spasmodic and a nervine2 further
  investigation is needed however to    
ascertain its true place in the         
,materia ,medica4 ,in the mean time it  
has been imported by one of our         
apothecaries1 ,mr4 ,delluc1 and we may  
soon hope to learn something more       
concerning its effects upon the system4 
,,ed4 ,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4    #he 
,,observations ,,on ,,the ,,strength    
,,of ,,tincture ,,of ,,opium4    ,,by   
,a4 ,b4 ,,garrod1 ,m4 ,d4    ,professor 

of ,materia ,medica at ,university      
,college1 and ,physician to  ,university
 ,college ,hospital4    ,as many        
discrepant statements are to be found in
 works on ,materia  ,medica1 in various 
dispensatories1 c4 concerning the       
strength of the  tincture of opium of   
the ,london ,pharmacopia1 it may not be 
either  uninstructive or uninteresting  
at least to the medical profession1  to 
have the subject brought under notice   
and discussion at this  society1 in     
order that they may arrive at some      
definite conclusion  concerning the     
strength of a preparation they are in   
the daily habit of  prescribing4 ,if we 
refer to the ,london ,pharmacopia of    
#ahcf1 we find  the following directions
 for making the tincture of opium3      
,take of hard opium powdered1 #c ounces1
   ,proof spirit1 #b pints1   ,macerate 
for fourteen days1 and strain4    ,in   
the ,pharmacopia of #ahea1 we are       
ordered to     ,take of opium powdered1 
#c ounces1   ,proof spirit1 #b pints1   

,macerate for seven days1 press out1 and
 strain4    ,the only difference in the 
directions being that powdered hard     
opium1 and digestion for fourteen days1 
are ordered in the one case1  and simply
 powdered opium and seven days digestion
 in the other4 ,if  we look at the      
authorised edition of the ,pharmacopia  
by ,mr4 ,philips  of #ahcf1 7and also at
 the present edition7 we find stated1   
that the  preparation has a deep        
brownish red color1 possesses the       
peculiar odor  and taste of opium1 has  
sp4 gr4 #j4ieb1 and about #ai minims    
contain #a  grain of opium1 which is    
said to be proved by the following data3
 #ast1  by evaporating the tincture1 and
 finding the amount of solid extract    
left2 #b;d1 by ascertaining the quantity
 of opium remaining undissolved4  ,the  
conclusion at which ,mr4 ,phillips      
arrived1 viz3 that #a grain of  opium   
was contained in #ai minims of the      
,pharmacopia tincture1 has  been copied 
into most ,english works on ,materia #hf

 ,medica1 and  most medical men have    
been and are still in the habit of      
prescribing  the tincture considering it
 to be of the above strength4 ,were ,mr4
  ,phillip's conclusions correct8       
,with regard to the amount of solid     
extract left on evaporation of  the     
tincture1 it appears from the           
experiments of ,mr4 ,allchin1 which  are
 also confirmed by those which ,i have  
myself made1 that #ai minims  yield     
about #a grain of extract2 but in these 
cases the ,turkey opium of  commerce    
must be first exsiccated2 and the       
tinctures of commerce yield  quantities 
varying from #a in #ai to #a in #bh     
minims of the tincture4  ,tincture of   
opium made with ,turkey opium in small  
masses not previously  dried1 fl4 j4    
gave on drying #b4g of solid residue1 or
 #a grain in about  #bb4b minims4       
,tincture of opium made with good       
,turkey opium1 previously  dried and    
reduced to powder 7,pharmacopia         
directions7 fl4 j4 gave on              

drying--three experiments--#c4a1 or #a  
grain of residue in #ai4c minims4    ,if
 made with opium capable of being       
reduced to a state of powder1  the      
average quantity of extract would be    
about #a grain in #bj minims2  this     
proportion would indicate that one-third
 of the solid ingredient  7opium7 is    
left undissolved1 which was found by    
,mr4 ,phillips to be  the case4 ,i      
believe all good specimens of ,turkey   
opium yield about  this amount of       
residue4 ,an experiment made within the 
last week at ,mr4  ,bell's establishment
 gave this result4 ,if then the strength
 of tincture  of opium be considered to 
be that indicated by ,mr4 ,phillips1 we 
must  assume that the undissolved       
portion possesses the same therapeutic  
effects as the dissolved portion4 ,is   
this correct8    ,it has been stated by 
some that morphia can be extracted from 
the  residuum1 and in ,dr4 ,pereira's   
,materia ,medica1 we find the following 
observations3 8,proof spirit dissolves  

the same constituents as water  does1   
but it takes up a larger proportion of  
narcotine1 resin1  oil4 ,i have         
repeatedly prepared morphia from the    
insoluble residue  left behind in the   
preparation of the tincture40 ,again1 in
 ,dr4  ,thomson's ,dispensatory it is   
stated that ,mr4 ,brande finds that the 
whole of the morphia is not taken up2   
but is found in no inconsiderable       
quantity in the filter4 #hg ,we suspect 
occasionally narcotine has  been taken  
for morphia1#g and in the cases where   
morphia has  really been found1 unless  
the residue had been previously washed1 
an  error may have arisen from the      
alkaloid being contained in the tincture
  of opium adhering to the dregs1 and   
not from any contained in the  residue  
itself4 ,i have recently endeavoured to 
ascertain the true state  of the case1  
and chiefly by means of a therapeutic   
inquiry into the  strength of the       
residuum4 ,the residue of tincture of   
opium prepared  in the ordinary way at  

,university ,college ,hospital1 was     
taken for  experiment2 it was first     
washed with a little cold water to      
remove any  adhering tincture1 and      
afterwards dried in a water-bath4 ,by   
digestion  with ether1 it was found to  
yield abundance of narcotine1 and was   
also found to contain meconic acid      
sufficient to strike a claret  color    
with the persalts of iron2 but at the   
same time nitric acid  gave no evidence 
of the presence of morphia4 ,it was     
found also by  experiment that proof    
spirit at the ordinary temperature      
dissolved but  a very small portion of  
narcotine2 the bulk of the narcotine    
therefore  remains in the residuum from 
the tincture of opium1 perhaps united   
with  meconic acid2 for when treated    
with water acidulated with acetic acid1 
both narcotine and meconic acid were    
dissolved4    #g ,in the sixth edition  
of ,dr4 ,thomson's ,dispensatory1 page  
#ajfa1  the following method is given   
for obtaining 8meconate of morphia10    

extracted from the ,quarterly ,journal  
of ,science1 vol4 xx41 from  which it   
will be at once observed1 that narcotine
 was mistaken for  crystallized meconate
 of morphia4    8,reduce good opium to  
powder1 put it into a paper filter1 add 
distilled  water to it1 and slightly    
agitate it2 and in this way wash it till
 the  water passes through colorless1   
after which1 pass a little diluted      
alcohol through it2 dry the insoluble   
portion 7now diminished to  one-half17  
in a dark place2 digest it1 when dry1 in
 strong alcohol for  a few minutes1     
applying heat2 separate this solution1  
which by boiling1  and after            
evaporation1 will yield crystallized    
meconate of morphia of a  pale straw    
color40    ,a portion of the residue was
 given internally2 one grain to a       
healthy  adult produced no effect2 two  
grains were given with no result2 the   
dose was then successively increased to 
four grains then to six  grains1        
afterwards to thirteen1 and lastly to   

thirty grains1  without causing the     
slightest effect on the individuals to  
whom it  was administered2 the only     
limitation to the quantity given being  
the unpleasantness of taking so large an
 #hh amount of so bulky a  matter4 ,it  
appears1 therefore1 that the residue is1
 to all intents and  purposes1 inert4   
,from these experiments1 it is evident  
that even should traces of  morphia be  
contained in the dregs1 still the       
quantity must be such  7when the        
tincture is prepared according to the   
,london ,pharmacopia7 as  to make no    
appreciable diminution of the strength  
of the preparation1  and that the       
tinctura opii contains the active matter
 of the whole  of the drug used in its  
formation1 and therefore about #ab      
minims of  tincture of opium possesses  
all the activity of #a grain of crude   
opium1  assuming that it loses only #ab 
per cent4 in the drying4 ,if dry opium  
is  taken for comparison1 #a grain is   
contained in about #ac #a_/b minims2    

and1 therefore1 one fluid drachm of     
tinctura opii contains about #e  grains 
of the drug1 or #d #a_/b grains         
7according as it is compared  with the  
dry or moist opium71 in place of #c     
grains2 or #a fluid ounce  contains #dj 
or #cf grains in place of #bd grains    
usually assumed to be  contained in it3 
a difference of strength of the highest 
importance  when we consider the highly 
poisonous and powerful therapeutic      
action  of the drug4    ,in the         
,edinburgh preparation the amount of    
tincture containing a grain  of opium is
 about #ac #a_/b minims1 for the opium  
is ordered in the  same proportion but  
not previously reduced to powder or     
dried4 ,in the  ,dublin preparation the 
opium is ordered to be coarsely         
powdered1 but  avoirdupois weight is    
used in place of apothecaries1 which    
makes the  strength of the tincture such
 that #ab4ge minims contain one grain4  
,the error as to the strength of the    
tincture of opium1 which is found  in so

 many works1 has been recently commented
 on4 ,thus ,dr4 ,christison  objects to 
,mr4 ,phillip's statements2 ,dr4 ,royle 
also alludes to it1 and  so does ,mr4   
,squire1 in his recent work on the      
,pharmacopias2 and even  those writers  
who have copied the statement must have 
done so without  much thought on the    
subject1 as they have calculated the    
strength of  other preparations of      
opium1 as that of the tinctura opii     
ammoniata1  tinctura camphor composita1 
assuming that all the active properties 
of the opium used in the preparation had
 been taken up #hi by the  menstrua4    
,and this is the case even with ,mr4    
,phillips himself1 in the  case of the  
compound tincture of camphor1 when he   
states that nearly  two grains of opium 
are contained in the ounce1 the         
,pharmacopia  proportions of opium being
 #a4f grains only4    ,i have brought   
the question before the ,society more   
for the purpose  of eliciting the       
opinions of the members on the point1   

than with  the idea of bringing forward 
much that is novel on the subject2 if   
the conclusion to which we have arrived1
 namely1 that #ab minims of  tincture of
 opium contain all the medical          
properties of #a grain of the  crude    
drug1 ,i think it very important that   
the members of the medical  profession  
should be made fully aware of the       
delusion under which they  have labored 
for so many years with regard to the    
strength of this  important preparation4
      ,,notice ,,of ,,some ,,vegetable  
,,and ,,animal ,,substances1 ,,natural  
,,products ,,of ,,new  ,,granada4       
,,by ,m4 ,j4 ,,raf4 ,,monzon1 ,m4 ,d4   
7,in a ,letter to ,dr4 ,pereira47       
,sandi is a resinous gummy substance1   
produced in abundance by a tree  known  
by this name1 on making an incision in  
its bark4 ,at first it  presents itself 
white1 or liquid like milk1 and it is   
called in the  province of ,barbacoas1  
8milk of sandi40 ,in a few days it      
acquires the  consistency of resinous   

gum4 ,in this state it is applied to    
various  medicinal uses in different    
parts of ,new ,granada1 especially in   
the  province of ,barbacoas1 a warm and 
damp country near the ,ecuador1 from    
whence the present sample comes4 ,its   
principal therapeutic property is       
resolutive2 applied as a plaster upon   
lupus1 fleshy excrescencies of  the     
skin1 cold and indolent tumors1 c4 it   
produces their resolution2  and this    
result is frequently confirmed by the   
#ij inhabitants of  those countries4 ,i 
have obtained it almost always when ,i  
have made use  of the milk in similar   
cases4 ,at present my father has applied
 this gum  in the valley of ,cauca1 and 
with extraordinary success1 for the cure
  of 8bocios10 or obstructions of the   
thyroid gland4 ,he has been able  to    
purify it1 taking away the part of      
potass which it contains in its         
original state1 and has been able to    
give it the consistence and color  of   
gum ,arabic2 with this substance he     

makes a plaster1 which destroys  the    
8bocios10 which so much abound in ,new  
,granada2 and its general  benefits are 
felt and acknowledged4    ,it is        
likewise used as an agent against       
sterility in women1 applying it  as a   
plaster upon the hypogastric region4 ,in
 ulcers of a good character  ,i have    
obtained frequent and quick             
cicatrisation by applying it in  the    
same manner2 ,i have also used it as a  
vehicle for preparing and  applying     
blisters4    ,,aceite ,,de ,,palo 7oil  
of wood7 is produced by a tree called   
8manteco10  in the same province4 ,its  
principal therapeutic qualities are     
topical  and blistering4 ,by using it as
 an embrocation ,i have destroyed  the  
epidermis1 and have thus been able to   
get rid of freckles and  superficial    
stains on the face and other parts of   
the body4 ,applied  in larger quantities
 it produces the effect of a strong     
blister1  excoriating and inflaming the 
skin4 ,this oil is used in its natural  

state as an ointment1 on arms and       
instruments of steel3 it destroys  their
 temper and softens them4 ,by decoction 
it loses these qualities1  and might be 
used as an ointment without any risk4   
,it cannot be used  as a lamp-oil1      
because it exhales a very thick smoke   
and the most  disagreeable smell4 ,it   
has no known internal medicinal         
qualities2 it  may be classed amongst   
the corrosive poisons2 its color is     
purple1 its  taste sui generis4         
,,leche ,,de ,,popa 7milk of the        
cow-tree74--,this substance1 in its     
natural  state1 possesses the physical  
properties of animal milk4 ,it is       
obtained  by incision in the bark of the
 tree1 which is very abundant in the    
province of ,barbacoas4 ,the ,indians   
and the ,african race take it  instead  
of cow milk2 it is very nutritive1 but  
has no known medicinal  qualities4 ,it  
is used also #ia for whitewashing       
houses1 combining  it with earthy       
substances1 because1 being glutinous1 it

 makes the  whitewashing last longer1   
and prevents its staining or rubbing    
off4    ,,miel ,,de ,,abeja ,,de ,,brea 
7honey of the pitch bee74--,this honey  
is extracted  from the hive of a bee1   
very different from the one known in    
,europe1  and very much smaller4 ,it is 
acid4 ,its medicinal qualities are for  
interior refrigeration4 ,i have applied 
it externally for contusions  and       
ecchymosis1 caused by blows or falls1   
and ,i have always obtained  a good     
result4 ,the pitch is a resinous        
substance1 of a dark yellow  color1 and 
constitutes the hive made by this bee4  
,it has a peculiar  taste and smell1 is 
very combustible1 and is used by the    
common people  for torches4 ,it is      
soluble in alcohol4 ,i have applied it  
as a plaster  for nervous rheumatic     
pains1 and it has always relieved the   
pains and  swellings4                   
,,canedillo4--,this is the name of a    
cane with a bitter and aromatic bark1   
and1 in my opinion1 it belongs to the   

family of ,winter's bark4 ,it  has many 
therapeutic qualities2 amongst others it
 has particularly  attracted my         
attention as an antidote against the    
bite of snakes and of  other venomous   
animals4 ,i consider it the best and    
safest of all the  antidotes known4 ,put
 two ounces of this bark in a bottle of 
alcohol1  allow it to macerate for three
 or four hours1 to obtain a tincture4   
,use two parts of this mixture with     
common water2 a wineglass every two     
hours until you allay the headache of   
the bitten person--an infallible        
consequence of the bite1 cupping at the 
same time1 and extracting the  tooth1   
which often remains in the part1 which  
is then to be washed and  covered with  
lint wetted with the tincture4 ,by this 
simple method ,i  have cured hundreds1  
without the loss of a single life4 ,this
 antidote  is now generally kept by all 
the owners of mines1 as a certain cure  
for  bites of snakes1 in preference to  
other antidotes formerly used4 ,it has  

this advantage over them1 that it may be
 taken in any quantity without  danger4 
,it is1 besides1 a tonic and            
anti-spasmodic4 ,i have used it also  as
 a febrifuge2 in rheumatism 7by         
friction72 and in the windy colic1      
taken in the same way as for bites by   
snakes4 #ib ,for indigestion  caused by 
weakness1 and for amenorrha1 from the   
same cause1 it is also  used4           
,,sandalo4--,this is the bark of a tree 
which grows in the province of          
,esmeraldas1 in the republic of the     
,ecuador4 ,when burned1 it produces  a  
balsamic smell2 by boiling the bark when
 fresh1 it produces a very  aromatic    
balsam1 which1 like the balsam of tolu  
is used in catarrh1  spasmodic cough1   
ulcers1 c4    ,,note4--,all these       
substances are indigenous in the        
province of ,barbacoas4  ,popa and sandi
 are found in great abundance4 ,manteca 
de palo 7oil1 or  literally butter of   
wood71 is obtained only from young trees
 which grow  in the plains4      ,,on   

,,the ,,soda-,,pyrophosphate ,,of       
,,iron4    ,,by ,,alexander ,,ure1      
,,esq41 ,,surgeon ,,to ,,st4 ,,mary',s  
,,hospital4    ,my attention was        
attracted some time back by an ingenious
 paper of  ,mons4 ,persoz on the double 
pyrophosphoric salts1 published in the  
,annalen der ,chemie und ,pharmacie for 
#ahdh4 ,in the latter part of that      
paper1 the author expresses an opinion  
that the pyrophosphoric salts  are      
likely to prove of importance as        
medicinal agents4 ,it is well known     
that iron is rendered very eligible for 
internal use1 if administered  in the   
form of a triple salt1 as when combined1
 for example1 with  tartaric acid and   
potash2 because the iron then is no     
longer  precipitable by the alkaline    
hydrate4 ,it would appear1 however that 
the  soda pyrophosphate of iron is in   
many respects superior as a medicine  to
 the triple salts into which the        
vegetable acids enter4--,thus1 the      
pyrophosphoric salt1 from being         

saturated with oxygen1 cannot in        
passing through the system absorb more1 
whereas the latter salts under  like    
circumstances1 are constantly undergoing
 a process of combustion1  according to 
,millon2 and by withdrawing oxygen in   
this manner1 must  necessarily impair   
the efficacy of the oxide of iron as an 
oxydizing  agent4 ,it deserves notice1  
moreover1 that the constituent          
ingredients  of the soda-pyrophosphate  
of iron are to be found in the organism4
 #ic      ,i have prescribed this salt  
to various patients1 and found it to act
  as a mild but efficient chalybeate4   
,one little scrofulous girl1 now  under 
my care in ,st4 ,mary's ,hospital1 for  
disease of the hip-joint1 has  taken it 
in solution during several months with  
the best effect4 ,the  remedy was       
accurately prepared by ,mr4 ,blyth1     
dispenser to the hospital1  according to
 the subjoined directions of ,mons4     
,persoz3 #cb4e grammes  of green        
sulphate of iron in crystals are to be  

mixed in a porcelain  capsule with #e   
grammes of sulphuric acid1 #cj grammes  
of water1 and as  much nitro-muriatic   
acid as will suffice to effect the      
oxidation of the  protoxide of iron4    
,the above mixture is to be evaporated  
to dryness  in order to get rid of the  
free acid1 and then treated with water  
to the amount of one litre4 ,from #ajg  
to #aaj grammes of crystallized         
pyrophosphate of soda are to be         
dissolved likewise in a litre of water1 
of course in a separate vessel4 ,the two
 solutions are next to be mixed         
together1 and provided the iron solution
 has been rightly prepared  there will  
be no precipitate whatever4    ,each    
litre of liquid will contain as much    
iron as #af4e of the green  sulphate4   
,this solution is not affected by       
dilution with rain or distilled water1  
but from being faintly alkaline1 is     
rendered slightly turbid on the         
addition of water impregnated with lime4
      ,,on ,,the ,,simaba ,,cedron4     

,,by ,m4 ,,berthold ,,seemann4    ,a    
tree1 which has attained great          
celebrity1 is that called ,cedron       
7,simaba ,cedron1 ,planch474 ,the most  
ancient record of it which ,i can  find 
is in the ,history of the ,buccaneers1  
an old work published in  ,london in the
 year #afii4 ,its use as an antidote for
 the bite of snakes1  and its place of  
growth1 are there distinctly stated2 but
 whether  on the authority of the       
natives1 or accidentally discovered by  
the  pirates1 does not appear4 ,if #id  
the former was the case1 they must  have
 learned it while on some of their      
cruises on the ,magdalena1 for in  the  
,isthmus the very existence of the tree 
was unsuspected until about  #ahde1 when
 ,don ,juan de ,ansoatigui1 ascertained1
 by comparison1 that the  ,cedron of    
,panama and ,darien was identical with  
that of ,carthagena4  ,the virtues of   
its seeds1 however1 were known1 years   
ago1 from those  fruits imported from   
the ,magdalena1 where1 according to ,mr4

 ,william  ,purdie1 the plant grows in  
profusion about the village of ,san     
,pablo4  ,in the ,isthmus it is         
generally found on the outskirts of     
forests in  almost every part of the    
country1 but in greater abundance in    
,darien  and ,veraguas than in ,panama4 
,the natives hold it in high esteem1 and
  always carry a piece of the seed about
 with them4 ,when a person is  bitten1 a
 little1 mixed with water1 is applied to
 the wound1 and about  two grains       
scraped into brandy1 or1 in the absence 
of it1 into water1  is administered     
internally4 ,by following this treatment
 the bites of  the most venomous snakes1
 scorpions1 centipedes1 and other       
noxious  animals1 have been unattended  
with dangerous consequences4 ,doses of  
it have also proved highly beneficial in
 cases of intermittent fever4  ,the     
,cedron is a tree1 from twelve to       
sixteen feet high2 its simple  trunk is 
about six inches in diameter1 and       
clothed on the top with long  pinnated  

leaves1 which give it the appearance of 
a palm4 ,its flowers  are greenish1 and 
the fruit resembles very much an unripe 
peach4 ,each  seed1 or cotyledon ,i     
should rather say1 is sold in the       
chemist's shops  in ,panama for two or  
three reals 7about #as4 or #as4 #f;d4   
,english71  and sometimes a much larger 
price is given for them4--,hooker's     
,journal  of ,botany4    ,a large number
 of the ,cedron seeds have lately been  
received in ,new  ,york1 probably from a
 section of the country where they are  
cheaper  than upon the ,isthmus4 ,as a  
remedy for the bites of venomous        
reptiles1  like all others of the same  
class1 it is of little value1 but from  
its  intense bitterness1 it may be      
expected to possess great tonic powers1 
and if1 in addition to these1 further   
experience shall confirm the  report of 
its virtues as an antiperiodic1 it will 
prove a remedy of  great value4--,,ed4  
,,new ,,york ,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4 
#ie      ,,editorial4      ,,colchicum  

,,autumnale4--,in the ,december number  
of the ,edinburgh ,monthly  ,journal of 
,medical ,science1 ,dr4 ,j4 ,mc,grigor  
,maclagan1 has published  an article on 
,colchicum ,autumnale1 which contains   
little that is new1  but is of interest 
as confirming the statements of other   
observers4  ,the ordinary mode of       
propagation of the plant by the         
formation of a  single new bulb is thus 
described4 ,in ,june1 8the bulb is as   
large as an  apricot1 firm1 amylaceous1 
and extremely bitter1 and having        
attached to  it the shrivelled remains  
of the old bulb1 and the leaves now     
yellow  and decayed4 ,at the end of     
,june or commencement of ,july1 a small 
bulb  will be observed to have become   
developed upon the side of the corm  at 
its lower part4 ,at this time it is a   
little larger than a grain of  wheat1   
and lies in a little fissure on the side
 of the parent bulb1  a little above the
 origin of the radicles4 ,it increases  
slowly and  gradually in size till the  

beginning of ,august1 when it appears as
 a  dilatation of the flower stalk1     
which it then commences to put up4      
,in ,september the flower is in full    
perfection1 the long tube of the        
perianth of which has raised the six    
partite limb to the height of  from six 
to eight inches above the ground4 ,the  
flower remains for two  or three weeks1 
and then dies down2 and nothing of the  
plant is seen  above the surface till   
the beginning of ,february1 when the    
leaf stalk  commences to rise4 ,if at   
this time the plant be taken up1 the old
 and  new bulb will still be found to be
 united1 but the new one will be        
observed to have increased little in    
size since autumn1 being still  hardly  
larger in diameter than the leaf stalk4 
,the bulb thus grows  little during the 
autumn1 but in winter it increases      
rapidly in size2  in ,april it is like a
 large hazel nut1 and from that time it 
increases  still more till the end of   
,june or the beginning of ,july1 when it

 is1  as ,dr4 ,christison states1 as    
large as an apricot4    ,in ,april the  
leaf stalk is found perfected by a fine 
group of dark  green leaves1 generally  
three in number1 and having within their
 sheath  the capsules which ought to    
ripen their fruit in the course of the  
summer4    ,in ,may the old bulb will be
 found dry and withered1 and containing 
very  little starch2 and in ,july if the
 plant be taken up1 three bulbs will  be
 found1 the first now reduced to the    
form of a membrane1 bearing no          
resemblance to a bulb at all2 the       
second1 arrived at full growth2 and a   
third the progeny of the second4    ,in 
,february and ,august1 instead of one   
leaf stalk and flower stalk  making     
their appearance at their respective    
periods1 ,i have often  remarked that   
two have occurred1 one on either side of
 the parent bulb4  ,i believe this to be
 one of the effects of cultivation1 as  
,i have  no where seen it remarked in   
descriptions of the plant by botanical  

authors4    ,dr4 ,christison has        
mentioned that the full size of a       
,colchicum bulb is  that of a small     
apricot4 ,where the plant has been      
cultivated however1  ,dr4 ,maclagan1    
frequently met with them as big as large
 apples1 and on  one occasion procured  
one in ,october weighing nine and a half
 ounces4  #if    ,he thinks that the    
cormus should be taken for medicinal use
 about the  middle of ,july1 at which   
time it has attained its greatest size1 
and  is firm1 amylaceous and exceedingly
 bitter4 ,the bitterness is the best    
criterion of its medicinal activity4    
,a number of years ago1 ,dr4 ,a4 ,t4    
,thomson1 proposed the tincture of      
,guaiacum as a test for the goodness of 
,colchicum4 ,ten grains of  the bulb    
were rubbed in a mortar1 with sixteen   
minims of distilled  vinegar1 and       
immediately afterwards sixteen minims of
 the tincture  of guaiacum were added4  
,when the bulb was good1 a beautiful    
cerulean  color1 according to ,dr4      

,thomson1 was produced4 ,having         
ascertained  that several specimens     
which he knew to be good failed in      
giving this  characteristic color1 ,dr4 
,m4 proceeded to investigate the causes 
on  which it depended4 ,he expressed    
several bulbs and filtered the juice  to
 separate the starch2 a beautiful blue  
color was now immediately  produced by  
the test4 ,the blue liquid was then     
heated till the albumen  was coagulated2
 the color remained with the coagulum1  
while the liquid  was colorless4 ,on    
raising the heat to #bab the blue color 
disappeared4  ,the test produced no     
change in the starch collected on the   
filter4  ,when the fluid was boiled     
previously to the application of the    
test1  no blue color was produced by it 
either with the filtered fluid or the   
coagulum4 ,from these experiments ,dr4  
,m4 concludes1 8#ast4 ,that albumen  is 
the principle acted on4 #bnd4 ,that a   
heat above #ahj destroys this  action4  
#crd4 ,that the value of the test is to 

prove that the bulbs have  been dried at
 a temperature not higher than #ahj40   
,dr4 ,maclagan was unable to procure    
colchicia1 the alkaloid announced by    
,geiger  ,hesse1 in the crystalline     
form1 though he followed the process    
they give very exactly1 and consequently
 he doubts its crystalline  nature4     
,what he obtained was in the form of a  
brown resinous looking  mass without    
smell1 and of a bitter taste1 the       
bitterness being  followed by a slight  
sense of irritation in the throat but by
 nothing  like the intense acrimony of  
veratria4    ,in regard to the          
physiological action of ,colchicum1 ,dr4
 ,m4 confirms  the statement of previous
 observers1 that it markedly increases  
the  amount of urea in the urine2 and   
contrary to what has been maintained  by
 some1 found it likewise to increase the
 quantity of uric add4 ,in an           
experiment related in detail1 after the 
colchicum had been employed for  six    
days1 the amount of urea in the urine   

was found to be increased by  nearly one
 half1 and the uric acid was more than  
doubled4      ,,errata ,,in ,,the       
,,february ,,number4     ,page #cc1     
#acth line from the bottom--for 8slack0 
read 8slacked40        #cf1 #agth line  
from the bottom--for 8grns40 read       
8grms40        #cf1 #aath line from the 
bottom--for 8grns40 read 8grms40        
#cf1 #aath line from the bottom--for    
8#j4hde grn40 read 8#j4hde grm40        
#cg1 #bnd line from the top--for        
8monohydrate0 read 8molybdate40    #ig  
,,new ,,york    ,,journal ,,of          
,,pharmacy4    ,,april1 #aheb4          
,,remarks ,,upon ,,some ,,of ,,the      
,,preparations ,,of ,,the               
,,pharmacop,,ia ,,of ,,the ,,united     
,,states1 #ahea4    ,,by ,,george ,d4   
,,coggeshall4    7,continued from page  
#dd47    ,in giving formul it is to be  
supposed that the purpose of a          
,pharmacopia is to be practical1        
responding to the every day wants of    
the associated professions of medicine  

and pharmacy4 ,it would seem to  be in  
no case of practical utility to retain a
 formula that is not  used1 and of this 
character ,i think is the one for       
8,,mucilage ,,of ,,gum  ,,arabic40 ,it  
does not appear to be employed of the   
consistence directed  except as a paste4
 ,nor is this consistence understood    
when mucilage  of gum arabic is         
prescribed by physicians1 but by some   
apothecaries a  solution of only one    
eighth1 and by others1 one fourth the   
strength  is put up4 ,if physicians are 
expected to prescribe1 and apothecaries 
to compound according to the letter of  
the ,pharmacopia1 this is  certainly a  
daily and unfortunately1 owing to the   
want of a standard1  a variable         
exception4 ,the formula in our          
,pharmacopia is substantially  the same 
as in those of ,london and ,edinburgh1  
while that of ,dublin is  one half      
stronger4 ,in the latter three it enters
 into other officinal  preparations1 but
 in every case it is combined with      

water1 which  appears to be a needless  
multiplication of the process1 as the   
proper  proportions of gum and water for
 the whole might as well be directed  at
 once4 ,nor1 is it probably used in #ih 
extemporaneous prescription  without    
similar addition of water1 unless it may
 be to form pills1  for which it is     
rarely1 if ever1 well adapted1 or       
employed by the  apothecary when it is  
prescribed1 as it makes1 with most      
substances1  an intractable mass4 ,i    
have been told by a highly intelligent  
and  well educated ,english apothecary1 
that 8it was formerly the practice  of  
,english physicians to prescribe one    
ounce of mucilage of gum  arabic with   
seven ounces of water1 7or in that      
proportion17 making a  solution of the  
strength now commonly used here1 and    
that it had become  gradually the       
practice to direct the whole quantity   
required1 under  the term of #8mucilage 
of gum arabic1' with the general        
understanding  that the diluted strength

 was intended40 ,as this seems to be now
  the universal practice in prescribing 
and putting up mixtures1 the  officinal 
directions are practically useless1 and 
lead to the adoption  of various        
proportions by different apothecaries1  
to produce the  mucilage to complete    
mixtures4    ,another circumstance may  
be noticed4 ,the ,pharmacopia directs   
the use  of powdered gum and of boiling 
water1 whereas gum1 in its ordinary     
condition or coarsely broken1 and cold  
water make a clearer solution4  ,cold   
water is directed for the solution of   
the gum by the ,edinburgh  process1 and 
in our present formula for 8,syrup of   
,gum ,arabic20--if  appropriate for the 
latter1 it is quite as much so for the  
forming of  mucilage4 ,when the gum has 
been ground in a mill it appears to have
  been a little charred and forms a     
somewhat turbid solution2 if powdered   
by hand1 and rather more coarsely1 its  
solution is clearer4    ,upon the whole 
it seems desirable that there should be 

a uniform  strength for the mucilage of 
gum arabic1 prescribed by physicians  in
 mixtures1 which the officinal          
preparation evidently is not4 ,our      
mucilage does not enter into any other  
officinal preparations1 and if  it did1 
the combination of gum and water had    
better be made in the  general process1 
as in our almond mixture4    8,,compound
 ,,spirit ,,of ,,lavender0 appears to be
 but seldom #ii made  according to the  
officinal directions1 owing to the      
difficulty  of procuring the simple     
spirit of lavender4 ,on this account    
most  apothecaries use a proportion of  
the oil of lavender and of spirit1      
variable no doubt in different private  
recipes4 ,the oil makes a  decidedly    
inferior preparation1 separating upon   
admixture with water1  and even the best
 ,english oil--which is probably never  
used--is less  congenial to the stomach 
than the distilled spirit4 ,but the     
difficulty  may be overcome1 and an     
excellent preparation1 essentially the  

same and  perhaps quite equal in quality
 and flavor to that of the ,pharmacopia1
  may be made by the employment of      
recently dried flowers4 ,the following  
is the formula ,i have used for several 
years1 with an entirely  satisfactory   
result3     ,take of ,lavender flowers  
twelve ounces1     ,rosemary leaves1    
,cinnamon1 bruised1 each four ounces and
 a half1     ,nutmegs1 bruised1         
,cloves1 bruised1 each six drachms1     
,coriander seed1 bruised1     ,red      
,sanders each three ounces1             
,powdered ,turmeric one drachm1         
,alcohol six pints1     ,water five     
pints and a quarter4   ,mix1 digest for 
fourteen days1 express and filter4      
,,the 8,,syrup ,,of ,,gum ,,arabic10    
unaccountably withdrawn from the        
,pharmacopia in #ahdj1 when it had      
become a familiar favorite1 comes to  us
 again in the new revision1 not at all  
improved by seclusion4 ,it is  changed  
in its proportions1 but not for the     
better1 as it now has too  little gum   

and too much sugar in its composition4  
,of numerous formul  by which ,i have   
made this syrup1 ,i have always found   
that from our  ,pharmacopia of #ahcj1   
the best in proportions1 consistence and
 flavor4  ,it is defective however1 in  
one point of construction1 and incorrect
  in the use of boiling water to make   
the solution of gum4 ,the syrup is      
probably not better in any essential    
particular1 but it is clearer1 and      
therefore more pleasing in #ajj         
appearance1 when it is constructed  by  
making the solutions of gum and sugar   
separately1 that of the gum  in half the
 water cold1 and that of the sugar in   
the remainder of the  water boiling1    
then immediately combining the two and  
bringing to the  boiling point4 ,it may 
then be easily filtered through flannel4
    ,in preparing 8,,syrup ,,of ,,citric
 ,,acid10 it would be preferable to use1
 in  place of the oil of lemon1 a       
tincture made from the outside yellow   
part  of the rind of the fresh fruit1   

made by covering it with pure alcohol4  
,two drachms of this tincture are about 
equivalent to four minims of the  oil of
 lemon4    ,the formula for 8,,syrup    
,,of ,,ipecacuanha0 is one of the most  
objectionable  we have to notice1 and   
the least calculated to answer medical  
wants in  regard to its importance4     
,there is a verbal error1 either in the 
list  of components or in the           
directions1 which leads to some         
confusion4  ,amongst the former we find 
8diluted alcohol10 and in the latter1 we
  are told to 8macerate the ipecacuanha 
in the alcohol1 c40 ,the same  error    
occurs in the edition of #ahdj4 ,this   
formula is unnecessarily  complex1 and  
yields an inefficient preparation of    
about half the  strength of the wine of 
ipecac1 which it was intended to equal  
at  its origin1 about twelve years      
before its introduction into our        
,pharmacopia4 ,previously to this it    
had1 for six or eight years1 been  made 
here of about double the strength of the

 wine1 in accordance with  the general  
plan of forming medicinal syrups1 by    
combining as large a  proportion of the 
remedial agent in them as can readily be
 done1 to  obviate at once the necessity
 of bulky doses1 and the exhibition of  
undue quantities of sugar4 ,i cannot    
discover the advantage of making a  pint
 of tincture with an ounce of the root1 
evaporating the filtered  tincture to   
six fluid ounces1 filtering again1 and  
then adding water to  bring back the    
measure of a pint4 ,if the object be to 
get rid of the  alcohol1 it is an       
unnecessary exposure of the soluble     
principles of the  ipecac to heat1 for  
half a pint of diluted alcohol1         
especially with  four ounces of water   
added by way of displacement1 would     
exhaust the  root equally well2 so that 
the evaporation need not #aja be carried
  so far4 ,there is no mention of a     
water bath1 which should be used by  all
 means4    ,we should prefer1 if we     
could1 to make all preparations which   

the  ,pharmacopia contains1 in          
accordance with it4 ,but when a         
preparation  has been in such general   
and favorite use1 for several years1 as 
to be  considered indispensable before  
it becomes officinal2 and in such form  
is reduced to a third or a fourth of    
what is felt to be an eligible          
strength1 not only without any          
compensating advantage1 but with the    
positive disadvantages of greatly       
diluting its remedial influence1 and    
increasing the quantity required to be  
taken of a nauseous medicine1  there is 
naturally an unwillingness to yield well
 settled convictions  of utility1 and   
replace an important remedy1 that has   
proved quite  satisfactory1 with a      
preparation believed to be of           
comparatively little  value4 ,it is not 
probable that1 in ,new ,york1 the       
present officinal  syrup of ipecacuanha1
 can ever supersede the efficient and   
reliable  one we have so long been      
accustomed to1 nor answer the wishes and

  expectations of the medical           
profession4 ,i append the formula       
proposed  in a paper read before the    
,board of ,trustees in #ahce1 seven     
years  before one for this syrup        
appeared in our ,pharmacopia4 ,i have   
not  found cause to change it in any    
respect4 ,it affords about three pints  
of syrup1 which keeps well for years at 
the ordinary temperatures of  the shop1 
and of dwellings2 the proportion of     
sugar proves to be just  what is wanted 
for a proper consistence without        
crystallization1 and1  as a medicine1 it
 gives entire satisfaction to the       
prescriber4 ,it is as  follows3         
,take of ,ipecacuanha1 bruised1 six     
ounces1     ,alcohol one pint and a     
half1     ,water one pint1    ,mix1 to  
form a tincture4 ,digest for ten days1  
filter1 and add one pint  of water1 by  
way of displacement1 evaporate in a     
water bath to two  pints1 add           
immediately3     ,refined sugar three   
pounds and a quarter4    ,and bring to  

the boiling point4    ,the 8,,compound  
,,syrup ,,of ,,squill0 is presented in  
the #ajb ,pharmacopia  with two         
processes for its preparation4 ,the     
first is liable1 though in  a less      
degree1 to the same objection which has 
rendered the original  form1 given by   
,dr4 ,coxe1 obsolete1 that it produces a
 turbid syrup1  and one that will not   
keep4 ,the second process is better1 but
 scarcely  adequate1 ,i should think1 to
 extract the full strength of the roots 
so well as by the employment of a       
greater proportion of alcohol1  and     
longer digestion4 ,the following        
produces three and a half pints  of     
syrup from the same materials1          
apparently stronger than if the         
boiling1 which is only for a few        
minutes1 were continued down to three   
pints1 retaining a portion of honey1 for
 the sake of the flavor1 and  with as   
large an addition of sugar as the syrup 
will bear without  crystallization4 ,the
 proportion of tartar emetic is1 of     

course1 the  same3     ,take of ,seneka1
 bruised1     ,squills1 bruised1 each   
four ounces4     ,alcohol1     ,water   
each two pints4    ,mix1 to form a      
tincture4 ,digest ten days1 filter1 and 
add twelve  ounces of water1 by way of  
displacement1 evaporate by water bath to
 two  pints1 add3     ,sugar fifteen    
ounces1   ,honey eighteen ounces1       
,boil to three pints and a half1 in     
which dissolve while hot3     ,tartar   
emetic fifty-six grains4    8,,syrup    
,,of ,,tolu10 made after the ,london    
formula1 is a more elegant and  better  
flavored preparation than can be made by
 any combination of the  tincture4 ,so  
decided is the superiority of the       
,london process1 that it  is rather     
surprising the other ,pharmacopias      
should not adopt it4 ,an  apothecary who
 does1 will hardly be satisfied with the
 tincture-made  syrup afterwards4       
,the 8,,tincture ,,of ,,aconite ,,root0 
is desired by our physicians of full    
saturation4 ,the 8strong tincture10 to  

which we have been accustomed for       
several years1 is that of ,fleming's    
process1 viz3 sixteen ounces of the     
root to a pint and a half of alcohol4   
#ajc    ,the 8,,compound ,,tincture ,,of
 ,,cardamom0 is now first introduced    
into our  ,pharmacopia1 with a change   
from the pleasant tincture we have been 
in the habit of making after the ,london
 or ,edinburgh formula1 by  increasing  
the proportion of cardamom1 from two    
drachms and a half to  six drachms1 and 
reducing the caraway one fifth1 which   
makes a tincture  not near so pleasant  
to the taste1 owing to the strong       
predominance of  the cardamom flavor1   
which is rather harsh when in too great 
excess4 ,as  this tincture is of little 
medical importance by itself1 and       
chiefly  used as an agreeable adjunct to
 mixtures1 the proportions which have   
been found to answer so well may still  
be considered preferable4    ,there are 
other cases1 no doubt1 in which         
apothecaries will find  it expedient to 

vary the processes of carrying out      
formul1 not  with a view of altering the
 strength of preparations1 but arriving 
at substantially the same results or    
better ones1 from the same  materials1  
by improved application of skill4       
,whoever can1 by superior  method1 more 
fully develope the qualities of a       
substance to be acted  upon1 than has   
hitherto been done1 or change the       
character of a  preparation from        
perishable to permanent1 from uncertain 
to definite1  from slovenly to elegant1 
can accomplish something for the benefit
  of his art1 and render it so much the 
more useful to the community4  ,most of 
the improvements in pharmacy have been  
effected by the  practical apothecary1  
and rendered available by him1 in       
advance of the  ,pharmacopia4           
,,notes ,,in ,,pharmacy4    ,,by        
,,benjamin ,,canavan4    ,the fact in   
the natural kingdom1 that 8nothing is   
destroyed10 suggests  an equally true   
axiom1 as applied to the moral world1   

that 8nothing  is useless20 and1 with   
this impression1 ,i am induced to send  
the  following trifles to the ,new ,york
 ,journal of ,pharmacy1 which1 if not   
unacceptable1 it will give me pleasure  
to repeat 8pro re nat40 #ajd      ,,pil4
 ,,ferri ,,comp4--,this very much       
neglected pill1 which is the prototype  
and should have precluded the necessity 
of ,vallet's preparation1 ,i  would beg 
leave to introduce1 for the purpose of  
recommending1 or  rather verifying an   
improvement which ,i have sometimes     
adopted1 in  the mode of compounding it1
 differing from the officinal directions
  for so doing4 ,we are told to 8rub the
 myrrh with the carb4 sod2 then  add the
 sulph4 ferri1 and again rub them2      
lastly1 beat them with the  syrup so as 
to form a mass40 ,i do not hesitate to  
say that no amount  of trituration or   
skill1 with which ,i am acquainted1 will
 enable the  manipulator by this means  
to make the mass properly1 either in a  
chemical or pharmaceutical point of     

view4--,in a note the editor of the     
,united ,states ,dispensatory informs   
us3 8,it is said the salt of iron  will 
be better preserved1 if the operator    
should dissolve the sulphate  of iron in
 the syrup with a moderate heat and then
 add the carb4 sod1  stirring6 till     
effervescence ceases20 this is correct  
in principle2  but the same object is   
attained1 and the only way by which the 
pill  ought or can be properly prepared1
 is by triturating separately1 and  to  
solution the two salts in the necessary 
quantity of syrup1 mixing1  and again   
triturating until perfect decomposition 
is induced1 and by  incorporating the   
myrrh1 form into a mass without delay4  
,in this way  you insure the existence  
of the intended proto carb4 ferri in the
  pill1 which is not1 or only partially 
the case when prepared by any  other    
process4 ,i would remark1 en passant1   
that this pill presents us  with the    
very perishable proto carb4 in the most 
permanent form1  retaining1 when        

properly prepared1 its chemical         
integrity unimpaired1  indefinitely1 and
 is therefore superior in this important
 respect to  the quickly changeable     
mist4 ferri comp41 the presence also of 
a larger  proportion of myrrh being     
often a decided advantage4    ,,extracta
 ,,liquida ,,opii4--,it has been        
suggested1 and ,i believe attempted1  to
 introduce certain preparations with the
 above titles1 as substitutes  for the  
demi-nostrum1 known as 8,mc,munn's      
,elixir of ,opium10 which has  been very
 extensively used1 and enjoyed high     
favor1 but of which  the exact nature   
#aje and mode of preparation are not    
generally  understood1 and which1 either
 from having become too antiquated for  
this novelty hunting age1 or its success
 having tempted the cupidity  of        
avaricious persons1 or from whatever    
cause1 has been for some time           
diminishing in popularity1 and subjected
 to many complaints4 ,in all            
preparations of this potent drug1 with  

which ,i am acquainted1 ancient  or     
modern1 the great object has been1 to   
get rid of the narcotine1  which has    
been more or less accomplished by       
various processes4 ,at  present an      
aqueous fluid extract is said to supply 
the desideratum4  ,this is merely a     
modification of the watery extract of   
all the  ,pharmacopias1 and is no doubt 
as good1 but no better preparation4     
,the denarcotised tincture is superior  
to all of them1 and the very  small     
quantity of spirit contained in an      
ordinary dose1 is scarcely  an          
objection1 and is only little more than 
is necessary to preserve  the extract2  
but if deemed otherwise1 a fluid extract
 may be prepared  from denarcotised     
opium1 entirely free from the peccant   
alkaloid1 and  possibly the evaporation 
necessary to the process1 may dissipate 
some  noxious volatile property1 which  
would exist in a tincture1 and which  it
 is most probable the opium possesses1  
from the fact1 among others1  that old  

opium is much less prone than new to    
cause disagreeable  after effects4 ,it  
has been supposed that meconic acid has 
been the  evicted principle2 but this is
 doubtful4 ,however1 the action of heat 
is useful1 and ,i think a 8fluid extract
 of denarcotised opium10 would  perhaps 
be found to be as free as possible from 
objectionable effects4    ,,ether       
,,hydrochloric2 ,,chlorinat3 or ether   
hydrochlorique chlor1 as the  ,french   
have it1 is another change1 rung by ,m4 
,mialhe of ,paris1 with  the            
transcendental compounds of carbon and  
chlorine4 ,it is a mongrel  preparation1
 intermediate between hydrochloric3     
ether and chloroform1  professing to    
have the advantage of not irritating the
 skin like  the latter4 ,if this be so1 
experience will tell1 and also whether  
the irritation is not proportionable to 
the effect4 ,with regard to  such a     
refinement of an already infinitesimally
 delicate class of  preparations1 ,i    
should suppose it would be #ajf         

desirable to effect  the object aimed at
 by them1 by if possible some more      
palpable method1  as for instance       
diluting chloroform either with         
hydrochloric ether or  alcohol1 to the  
necessary mildness1 or by interposing   
between it and  the skin1 a thin moist  
layer of some substance1 as bibulous    
paper1  which would not interfere with  
the rigefacient effect of evaporation1  
and would prevent any injury arising    
from actual contact4      ,,indelible   
,,ink4    ,,by ,m4 ,,guiller1 ,,of      
,,paris4    ,hitherto the various inks  
prepared for marking linen1 have but    
imperfectly answered the end proposed4  
,some produced yellowish marks2  others 
though blacker at first1 disappeared    
either partially or  entirely after     
several washings4    ,again1 others1 in 
separate bottles1 necessitated two      
distinct  operations1 and were thus     
attended with inconvenience1 from the   
possibility of mistakes or              
forgetfulness1 from the care required1  

and  also from the time taken up in the 
operation4    ,in view of these         
difficulties1 and to meet a demand      
constantly  occurring in commerce1 and  
in all kinds of manufactures1 as well as
  in hospitals1 and civil and military  
administrations1 we have applied        
ourselves to the composition of an ink  
free from all these objections1  and    
perfectly easy and certain in its       
application4    ,we shall subjoin some  
formul for the manufacture of marking   
inks1  which represent particular       
improvements1 as can be verified by     
trying  them4     ,formula1 ,no4 #a1    
,nitrate of silver1         #aa grammes1
                   ,distilled water1    
#he grammes1                   ,powdered
 gum arabic1       #bj grammes1         
,sub-carbonate of soda1     #bb grammes1
                   ,solution of ,ammoni1
       #bj grammes4    ,dissolve the #bb
 parts of sub-carbonate of soda in the  
#he parts of  water2 put into a marble  
mortar the gum1 and pour on #ajg it very

  gradually the solution of the         
sub-carbonate1 stirring it with the     
pestle to cause it to dissolve4    ,in  
the mean time1 you will have dissolved  
the #aa parts of nitrate in  the #bj    
parts of liquid ammonia4 ,mix the two   
solutions2 put the whole  in a matrass  
and expose it to heat4 ,the mass which  
was of a dirty grey  color1 and half    
coagulated1 becomes clear and brown1 and
 when arrived  at the boiling point1 it 
becomes very dark1 and sufficiently     
limpid  to flow readily in the pen4     
,this ink1 made without heat like the   
two  following forms no sediment1 the   
ebullition thickening it1 and besides   
giving the ink a very dark color1       
disengages the ammoniacal vapors1  which
 attenuate the odor of the ammonia in   
it4     ,formula ,no4 #b1 ,nitrate of   
silver1          #e grammes1            
,water1                     #ab grammes1
                  ,gum1                 
#e grammes1                             
,sub-carbonate of soda1      #g grammes1

                  ,solution of ,ammoni1 
#aj grammes4    ,mix as in ,no4 #a2 put 
the whole into a matrass and evaporate  
until the  liquor has acquired a very   
dark brown tint1 which will take place  
when  it has lost about #e per cent4 of 
its bulk2 a more complete evaporation   
would form a precipitate1 as the vapors 
would draw off too much of the  ammonia4
    ,this ink will be found excellent   
for marking1 the character will be  very
 black1 and it will be found especially 
useful for applying with  the stamp4    
,formula ,no4 #c1 ,nitrate of silver1   
#ag grammes1                  ,water1   
#he grammes1                  ,gum1     
#bj grammes1                            
,sub-carbonate of soda1      #bb        
grammes1                  ,solution of  
,ammoni1        #db grammes1            
,sulphate of copper1         #cc        
grammes4    ,first dissolve the #bb     
parts of sub-carbonate in the #be parts 
of water1  and the #ae of nitrate in the
 #db of ammonia4    ,this done1 put into

 the marble mortar the #bj parts of gum 
with the  sixty parts of water which    
remain1 stir it #ajh with the pestle1   
and  pour on it the solution of         
sub-carbonate1 after which1 pour the    
whole  into the solution of the nitrate2
 finish by adding the #cc parts of the  
solution of sulphate of copper4    ,the 
greater quantity of ammonia is explained
 by the presence of the  sulphate to be 
dissolved4    ,this composition differs 
from the others in having a blue tinge1 
due to  the solution of copper4    ,it  
will be readily seen that these relative
 qualities1 given as  formul for the    
production of suitable inks1 may vary   
according as it  is desirable to produce
 a thicker or thiner ink1 or according  
to the  material on which it is to be   
used1 observing that if1 on the one     
hand1  the ammonia acts as a solvent1   
and facilitates the composition of an   
ink which can be used without a previous
 preparation2 on the other  hand1 the   
evaporation of a part of the ammonia by 

heat1 gives to the  liquid a dark color 
which renders the writing immediately   
black2 again1  the boiled liquid greases
 less1 and thus penetrates and spreads  
better  on the linen without making a   
blot4    ,as to the mode of using1      
whether with a pen or a stamp proceed as
  usual1 namely3 pass a hot iron over   
the writing1 to cause it more           
completely to penetrate the material4   
,,on ,,valerianic ,,acid ,,and ,,its    
,,salts4    ,,by ,,mr4 ,j4 ,b4 ,,barnes4
    ,considerable attention having of   
late been directed to this class of     
compounds1 perhaps a few practical      
observations relating to their          
manufacture1 c4 might be of interest to 
the readers of ,the ,annals of          
,pharmacy4    ,although some of the     
combinations of valerianic acid with    
bases1  and the properties of those     
salts1 have been described in the books 
on chemistry1 yet ,i believe ,i may lay 
claim to the priority of the            
preparation of an extensive series of   

the combination of valerianic  acid with
 bases4 #aji    ,valerianic acid1 it is 
well known1 occurs preformed in certain 
plants2  and it is equally well known1  
that it can be produced in the          
laboratory  by artificial means4 ,this  
very fact is of great interest to the   
investigating chemist1 as it encourages 
him in the belief that he will1  sooner 
or later1 be able to produce            
artificially1 not only acids1 which  are
 known to exist in the animal and       
vegetable kingdoms2 but that he  will so
 far imitate ,nature in her wonderful   
processes1 as to produce  the vegetable 
alkaloids1 morphia1 quina1 c41 by the   
combination of  their elements4    ,the 
acid employed in the preparation of this
 series1 for which ,i have  had the     
honor of being awarded a ,prize ,medal  
by the ,jurors of the ,great            
,exhibition1 was prepared1 in principle1
 the same as that directed to  be used  
by the ,dublin ,pharmacopia in the      
preparation of valerianate of  soda1    

namely1 the oxidation of ,fusel oil by  
means of chromic acid4 ,the  formula ,i 
employed is as follows3     ,take of    
,bichromate of potash1      #b parts4   
,oil of vitriol1            #c parts4   
,water1                     #d parts4   
,pure ,fusel oil1            #a parts4  
,the bichromate of potash is to be      
finely powdered and dissolved in the    
water2 the solution being put into a    
glass retort1 the oil of vitriol  is    
gradually added1 and1 when quite cold1  
the fusel oil is carefully  added2 the  
contents of the vessel must be          
constantly agitated1 and at  the same   
time kept immersed in cold water4 ,the  
deep green liquid is  now distilled from
 a sand bath2 the distillate is mixed   
with caustic  soda1 or potash1 and      
separated from the oily fluid floating  
on the  surface2 the valerianate of soda
 is evaporated to a convenient degree   
of concentration1 introduced into a     
retort1 decomposed with dilute          
sulphuric acid1 and distilled2 the      

liberated valerianic acid is finally    
dried over chloride of calcium4    ,it  
is also obtained by the oxidation of oil
 of valerian1 by means of  an alkali4   
,it is formed from fats1 by treating    
them #aaj with fuming  nitric acid2 from
 animal nitrogenous matters1 both by    
putrefaction  and on decomposing them   
with strong nitric acid2 and also if    
leucine  be treated with caustic potash1
 or allowed to putrefy1 it becomes      
converted into valerianic acid 7no other
 acid being formed71 ammonia  and       
hydrogen being evolved4    ,it is most  
easily obtained in a state of absolute  
purity by the action  of spongy platinum
 and atmospheric air upon potatoe ,fusel
 oil4    ,valerianic acid is composed of
 ,c#aj ,h#i ,o#c1 ,h ,o4 ,it possesses a
  well known characteristic odour1 an   
acrid burning taste1 and produces a     
white spot on the tongue4 ,it boils at  
#cdh ,fahr41 and dissolves in #bf  parts
 water2 it also forms a second          
hydrate4#h    #h ,lehmann's             

,physiological ,chemistry4              
,combinations with the ,alkalies4       
,the potash salt was prepared by        
saturating the acid with liquor  potass1
 and evaporating carefully until aqueous
 vapour ceased to  be given off3 it     
should be1 while still warm1 cut up and 
preserved  in well stoppered bottles4   
,it does not crystallize1 but forms a   
semi-transparent colorless mass1 very   
much resembling phosphorus in           
appearance4 ,it 7probably from its      
compactness7 produces when sharply      
struck with any hard body a metallic    
sound1 somewhat like that  occasioned   
when a bell of camphor is struck in a   
similar manner4 ,it is  deliquescent1   
and very soluble4    ,the soda salt was 
prepared in the same manner as the      
potash salt1 cut  up into pieces while  
warm1 and preserved in stoppered        
bottles3 it is in  snow-white masses    
composed of minute crystals2 it is      
deliquescent1 and  very soluble4 ,the   
ammonia salt was prepared by saturating 

the acid with  strong liquor ammoni1 and
 evaporating at a temperature not       
exceeding  #ajj ,fahr41 until crystals  
appeared on the surface of the liquid4  
,when  it was set aside for further     
crystallization1 the mother liquor was  
allowed to drain off1 the crystals were 
placed upon bibulous paper1 and  finally
 dried in vacuo1 over oil of vitriol4   
,they are #aaa of a  tabular form2 when 
held between the fingers for a moment1  
they become  liquid4 ,they are          
deliquescent and dissolve readily in    
water4      ,combinations with the      
,alkaline ,earths4    ,the baryta salt  
was prepared by adding the acid to      
carbonate of baryta  in excess1 which   
had been previously mixed with water2 a 
gentle heat  was applied1 and1 when the 
disengagement of carbonic acid had      
ceased1  the excess of carbonate was    
filtered off2 the filtrate was          
evaporated  very carefully1 until       
aqueous vapour ceased to be given off1  
it  remained a transparent gummy mass1  

readily soluble in water4    ,the       
strontia1 lime1 and magnesia salts were 
prepared in the same  manner as the     
baryta salt4 ,the two former are        
crystalline1 and do not  deliquesce by  
exposure to the atmosphere2 they are    
soluble4 ,the lime  salt crystallizes in
 nacreous plates2 it effloresces when   
exposed to  the atmosphere2 it is       
beautifully white4    ,the magnesia salt
 would not crystallize1 therefore it was
 evaporated  to dryness1 at a           
temperature not exceeding #abj ,fahr4   
,it forms a  light white soluble powder1
 sweet to the taste1 and strong in the  
characteristic odour of valerianic acid4
      ,combinations with ,metallic      
,oxides4    ,the alumina1 chromium1 and 
nickel salts were prepared by the direct
  combination of the hydrates of those  
bases with the acid4    ,the alumina and
 chromium salts are in powder1 and are  
soluble4    ,the nickel salt is in      
crystalline masses1 of an apple-green   
color1  soluble in water4    ,the cobalt

 salt was also prepared by the direct   
way2 the flocculent  blue precipitate1  
obtained by precipitation from nitrate  
of cobalt1  by means of caustic potash1 
after being well washed1 was dissolved  
in  valerianic acid1 filtered and very  
carefully evaporated to dryness2 it     
occurs in masses of a rose color1 and is
 soluble4    ,the manganese salt was    
also prepared in the direct way by #aab 
mixing  an excess of the hydrated oxide 
with water and the acid1 allowing  them 
to remain in contact for some time1     
filtering and evaporating  at a         
temperature not exceeding #abj ,fahr41  
until crystals appeared  on the surface 
of the fluids2 it was set aside1 and    
after a while1  the crystals were       
separated from the mother liquor4 ,the  
latter being  again evaporated1 another 
crop of crystals was obtained2 it occurs
 in  glistening scales of a flesh color1
 and dissolves very readily in water4   
,the valerianate of protoxide of iron   
was prepared by the double              

decomposition of valerianate of baryta  
and proto-sulphate of iron2 it  can only
 be kept in a state of solution1 as     
least the heat and exposure  to the air 
converts it immediately into the        
peroxide salt4    ,the valerianate of   
peroxide of iron1 was prepared by       
bringing  together neutral cold         
solutions of perchloride of iron and    
valerianate  of soda1 the precipitated  
valerianate was thrown upon a filter1   
well  washed1 to separate the chloride  
of sodium1 and dried without heat on a  
porous tile2 it occurs as a bright red  
loose powder1 perfectly soluble  in     
alcohol4    ,the valerianate of zinc was
 prepared according to the directions in
 the  ,dublin ,pharmacopia2 it occurs in
 small smooth crystals1 somewhat like   
boracic acid2 it is soluble in water and
 alcohol4    ,the lead salt was prepared
 by decomposing freshly precipitated    
carbonate of lead with the acid1        
filtering and evaporating at a low      
temperature4 ,in due time1 crystals made

 their appearance in the fluid2  but    
7probably from the temperature being too
 high7 they subsequently  disappeared2  
and1 upon further evaporation1 it       
remained in the form of  a syrup4       
,the silver salt was produced by the    
double decomposition of nitrate of      
silver1 and valerianate of soda4 ,the   
valerianate of silver being very        
insoluble1 was precipitated as a white  
powder2 after washing with cold  water1 
it was dried in the dark on a porous    
tile4 ,by exposure to the  light1 it    
becomes black4    ,the salt of the      
suboxide of mercury was also prepared by
 double  decomposition4 ,it is a loose1 
yellowish white powder4 #aac    ,the    
salt of oxide of mercury was prepared by
 agitating together1 the  yellow hydrate
 of the oxide with water and valerianic 
acid4 ,after  some time1 ,i obtained a  
colorless liquid1 which1 upon           
evaporation  at a temperature not       
exceeding #ajj ,fahr41 yielded crystals 
which1  however1 speedily fell into a   

red powder4 ,i therefore again repeated 
the operation1 omitting the application 
of heat2 the solution was set  aside1   
when in the course of two or three      
weeks1 ,i obtained this salt  in        
prismatic white crystals4    ,the       
bismuth salt was obtained by the        
addition of valerianate of soda1  to a  
solution of bismuth in nitric acid1     
which was nearly saturated  with        
carbonate of soda4 ,it occurs as a loose
 white powder4    ,the copper salt was  
obtained by double decomposition1 and   
occurs as a  beautiful green powder4    
,the cadmium salt was prepared in the   
same manner as the zinc salt4 ,it       
occurs in crystalline scales1 resembling
 in form that of zinc1 but  larger4     
,combinations with ,organic ,bases4     
,the valerianate of oxide of ethyle     
7valerianic ether7 was obtained by      
distilling1 together1 alcohol1 oil of   
vitriol1 and valerianic acid2 it  was   
well washed1 dried over chloride of     
calcium1 and re-distilled4 ,it  is an   

oily liquid1 with a penetrating smell of
 fruit1 and of valerian2  of specific   
gravity1 #j1hid4 7,otto74 ,it is        
miscible with alcohol and  ether3 it has
 an agreeable1 cool1 and aromatic taste4
    ,i prepared the valerianate of      
quina1 both by double decomposition1 and
  by direct combination of the base with
 the acid4    ,that by double           
decomposition1 was prepared by adding to
 a warm solution  of neutral sulphate of
 quinine1 a warm solution of valerianate
 of  baryta2 the mixture was allowed to 
stand for a while1 and filtered to      
separate the insoluble sulphate of      
baryta2 the filtrate was evaporated  at 
a temperature of about #ajj1 until      
crystals made their appearance1  when it
 was set aside for #aad further         
crystallization4 ,the crystals  obtained
 by this process are in silky tufts and 
perfectly white4    ,the valerianate of 
quina1 made by the direct combination of
 the acid  with the base1 was effected  
by triturating1 in a mortar1 freshly    

precipitated quina1 with water and      
valerianic acid1 until the quina  had   
disappeared4 ,it was then exposed in    
shallow dishes1 to a current  of air2   
when sufficiently evaporated1 octohedral
 crystals were formed4  ,valerianate of 
quina in both forms dissolves readily in
 water4    ,when a solution of          
valerianate of quina is evaporated at a 
temperature  of #acj1 it does not       
crystallize1 but has the appearance of  
an oil4    ,from the different          
appearances of this salt1 it is highly  
probable that  they each differ in      
composition4 ,this phenomena is worthy  
of a thorough  investigation4    ,the   
morphia salt was prepared in the direct 
way4 ,it crystallizes in  silky tufts2  
it dissolves readily in water4          
,although but three of the salts of     
valerianic acid are employed in         
medicine1 namely1 those of peroxide of  
iron1 oxide of zinc1 and  quinine1 there
 appears to me no reason why those of   
potash1 soda1  ammonia1 teroxide of     

bismuth1 and oxide of ethyle1           
7valerianic  ether71 should not be      
employed by the physician4    ,in       
conclusion1 ,i must express my sincere  
thanks to ,mr4 ,savory1 for his         
kindness in having placed at my disposal
 the materials necessary for  the       
preparation of this series4             
,,essence ,,of ,,pine ,,apple4    ,the  
above essence is1 as already known1     
butyric ether1 more or less  diluted    
with alcohol2 to obtain which pure1 on  
the large scale and  economically1 the  
following process is recommended3       
,dissolve #f s4 of sugar and half an    
ounce of tartaric acid1 in #bf s4  of   
boiling water4 ,let the solution stand  
for several days2 then add  #h ounces of
 putrid cheese broken up with #c s4 #aae
 of skimmed and  curdled sour milk1 and 
#c s4 of levigated chalk4 ,the mixture  
should be  kept and stirred daily in a  
warm place1 at the temperature of about 
#ib  ,fahr41 as long as gas is evolved1 
which is generally the case for five  or

 six weeks4    ,the liquid thus         
obtained1 is mixed with an equal volume 
of cold water1  and #h s4 of            
crystallized carbonate of soda1         
previously dissolved in  water1 added4  
,it is then filtered from the           
precipitated carbonate of  lime2 the    
filtrate is to be evaporated down to #aj
 s41 when #e #a_/b  lbs4 of sulphuric   
acid1 previously diluted with an equal  
weight of  water1 are to be carefully   
added4 ,the butyric acid1 which         
separates on  the surface of the liquid 
as a dark-colored oil1 is to be removed1
 and  the rest of the liquid distilled2 
the distillate is now neutralized  with 
carbonate of soda1 and the butyric acid 
separated as before1 with  sulphuric    
acid4    ,the whole of the crude acid is
 to be rectified with the addition of   
an ounce of sulphuric acid to every     
pound4 ,the distillate is then          
saturated with fused chloride of        
calcium1 and re-distilled4 ,the  product
 will be about #bh ounces of pure       

butyric acid4 ,to prepare the  butyric  
acid1 or essence of pine apple1 from    
this acid1 proceed as  follows3--,mix1  
by weight1 three parts of butyric acid  
with six parts  of alcohol1 and two     
parts of sulphuric acid in a retort1 and
 submit  the whole1 with a sufficient   
heat1 to a gentle distillation1 until   
the  fluid which passes over ceases to  
emit a fruity odor4 ,by treating the    
distillate with chloride of calcium1 and
 by its re-distillation1 the  pure ether
 may be obtained4    ,the boiling point 
of butyric ether is #bch ,fahr4 ,its    
specific gravity1  #j1ijd1 and its      
formula ,c#ab ,h#ab ,o#d1 or ,c#d ,h#e  
,o   ,c#h ,h#g ,o#c4    ,bensch's       
process1 above described1 for the       
production of butyric  acid1 affords a  
remarkable exemplification of the       
extraordinary  transformations that     
organic bodies undergo in contact with  
ferment1  or by catalytic action4 ,when 
cane sugar is treated with tartaric     
acid1 especially under the influence of 

heat1 it is converted into  grape sugar4
 ,this grape sugar1 in the #aaf presence
 of decomposing  nitrogenous substances1
 such as cheese1 is transformed in the  
first  instance into lactic acid1 which 
combines with the lime of the chalk4    
,the acid of the lactate of lime1 thus  
produced1 is by the further  influence  
of the ferment changed into butyric     
acid4 ,hence1 butyrate of  lime is the  
final result of the catalytic action in 
the process we here  have recommended4  
,,on ,a ,,remarkable ,,specimen ,,of    
,,decomposed ,,chloroform4    ,,by      
,,jonathan ,,pereira1 ,m4,d41 ,f4,r4,s41
    ,physician to the ,london ,hospital4
    ,in ,july of the present year ,i    
received from ,mr4 ,grattan1 apothecary 
of  ,belfast1 a specimen of chloroform1 
accompanied with a note1 from which  the
 following is an extract3      8,some   
weeks prior to ,october #be1 #ahea1 ,i  
received from my friend   ,dr4          
,m',killen a small bottle of chloroform 
which he had had of me two   or three   

months previously1 and which he stated  
was subject to very   singular changes  
of color1 despite the stopper never     
having been   removed4     ,at the time 
he handed it to me the fluid exhibited a
 delicate pink   tint1 as though colored
 with cochineal1 and was put aside in a 
glass   case in my shop1 of which ,i    
kept the key myself4 ,the case was      
exposed   to the diffused light of a    
large shop window but not to the direct 
rays of the sun4     ,conceiving that   
the chloroform had by some unobserved   
means or other   become accidentally    
colored1 ,i took very little interest in
 the   matter1 and was not surprised to 
find it fade gradually1 and in a   short
 time become perfectly colorless--and ,i
 made a note to that effect   upon the  
#beth of ,october1 #aag concluding that 
there must have been   some error of    
observation on the part of ,dr4         
,m',killen4     ,on the #afth of        
,november1 however1 it again began to   
change1 and the   enclosed notes were   

made1 from time to time1 as ,i happened 
to have   opportunity of noticing it4   
,i tried it under different conditions  
of light and temperature1   without     
their exerting apparent influence upon  
it1 and being unable   to form the      
slightest conjecture as to the cause or 
nature of the   molecular disturbance   
which produces these chromatic changes1 
have   taken the liberty of forwarding  
it to you1 should you consider it       
worthy of attention4     ,it is at      
present colorless1 and the stopper fast 
in2 and ,i would only   suggest that1   
before removing the stopper1 it might be
 well to observe   for yourself whether 
changes similar to those ,i have noticed
 may not   occur again4       #ahej4    
,oct4  #be4 ,perfectly colorless4       
,nov4  #af4 ,faint ,pink4         #ah4  
,fading4         #be4 ,faint pink1 as on
 the #afth4         #bf4 ,dirty-looking1
 neutral tint1 without any pink4   ,dec4
  #ag4 ,pink again4         #ba4 ,ditto1
 and deeper4         #bg4 ,perfectly    

colorless1 after having passed through  
various               shades of pink4   
#ahea4   ,jan4  #aj4 ,again pink4       
#aa4 ,faint neutral tint4   ,feb4  #ai4 
,perfectly colorless4 ,on shaking the   
vial1 observed a deposit on its sides1  
like small crystals1 but cannot say     
that they were not there before4        
#ba4 ,pink and deeper than ever4        
,march #aj4 ,deep pink4         #ab4    
,faint pink4         #ac4 ,colorless4   
#bh4 ,colorless4   ,may   #af4          
,colorless4 ,no change having occurred  
between the #acth ,march and #afth      
,may1 concluded too hastily that the    
property of changing its color1 upon    
whatever cause dependent1 had been      
lost1 for on         #ag4 ,it again     
became faintly pinked4         #ai4     
,deeper pink4         #bb4 ,fading4     
#bd4 ,fading4         #ca4 ,colorless4  
,june  #ac4 ,again pink4         #af4   
,ditto4         #ag4 ,colorless4   ,july
   #b4 ,ditto1 up to present date1 when 
it again became pink4          #c4      

,deeper4          #e4 ,still very deep4 
#g4 ,fading         #ac4 ,perfectly     
colorless4     ,the foregoing changes of
 color were not influenced by any change
   of temperature between #bg and #hf   
,fahr41 nor by exposure to1 nor         
seclusion from light4 ,the stopper being
 fast1 atmospheric pressure   cannot    
have been connected therewith4 ,whether 
it may have been   influenced by        
electrical changes1 am not prepared to  
say40 #aah    ,the specimen of          
chloroform sent me by ,mr4 ,grattan was1
 in ,july1 quite  colorless1 and on the 
sides of the bottle a few minute        
crystals were  observed4 ,the stopper of
 the bottle was1 however1 so firmly     
fixed in  that ,i could not remove it1  
and ,i1 therefore1 placed the bottle on 
the  mantel-shelf in my library exposed 
to diffused light1 for the purpose  of  
observing the changes which its contents
 would undergo4    ,in the course of a  
few weeks it began to acquire a pinkish 
or  amethystine tint1 as described by   

,mr4 ,grattan4 ,this slightly augmented 
in intensity for a few days1 and then   
became somewhat paler4 ,but for  several
 weeks1 during which it remained in the 
same situation1 it never  became        
colorless1 though the intensity of the  
color was frequently  changing4    ,the 
color of the liquid was precisely that  
of a weak solution of  permanganate of  
potash4    ,some weeks ago ,i placed the
 bottle in a dark cupboard1 and at the  
expiration of about three weeks found   
that the liquid had become quite        
colorless4 ,as the stopper was still    
immovable1 ,i was obliged to cut  off   
the neck of the bottle to get at the    
contents4 ,i found that the  chloroform 
had undergone decomposition1 and had    
acquired a powerful  and irritating     
odor1 somewhat allied to1 but distinct  
from1 that of  hypochlorous acid4 ,the  
vapor yielded white fumes when a rod    
moistened  with solution of ammonia was 
brought in contact with it1 blue litmus 
paper was reddened but not bleached by  

it4 ,a few drops of the liquid  were    
placed on a watch glass and volatilized 
by a spirit lamp2 they  left scarcely   
any appreciable residue4    ,the        
crystals which lined the bottle were    
then examined4 ,they were few  in       
number1 and not larger than pins'       
points4 ,they were white1 and when      
examined by the microscope1 were found  
to be six-sided pyramids1 like  the     
crystals of sulphate of potash4 ,some of
 them were heated to dull  redness in a 
test tube1 without undergoing any       
appreciable change4 ,when  heated on the
 point of a moistened thread in the     
outer cone of the  flame of a candle1   
they communicated a violet-white tinge  
to the flame1  characteristic of a      
potash-salt4 ,they readily #aai         
dissolved in  water1 and the solution   
did not yield any precipitate on the    
addition  of a solution of nitrate of   
baryta1 showing that the salt was not a 
sulphate4 ,the solution was boiled with 
nitric acid1 and then treated  with a   

solution of nitrate of baryta1 but no   
precipitate was observed4  ,nitrate of  
silver produced in the aqueous solution 
of the crystals a  white precipitate1   
soluble in ammonia1 but insoluble in    
nitric acid4    ,whether these crystals 
were in any way connected with the      
change  of color which this sample of   
chloroform underwent1 ,i am unable to   
determine2 but ,i suspect not4 ,i am    
anxious1 however1 to draw the  attention
 of others to the subject1 in the hope  
that larger specimens  of the salt may  
be obtained for examination4 ,for at    
present the  circumstances under which  
chloroform frequently undergoes         
decomposition  are very obscure4 ,except
 in this instance1 ,i have never met    
with1 nor  heard of1 any sample of      
chloroform which underwent these        
remarkable  changes of color4    ,the   
chloroform was transferred into another 
bottle1 on the sides of  which a few    
minute crystals are now formed4 ,but    
since the removal of  the stopper the   

pink color has not re-appeared4    ,i   
have written to ,mr4 ,grattan to obtain1
 if possible1 further  information      
respecting this specimen of chloroform4 
,but he tells me he  has not any more of
 the sample1 and has no means of        
ascertaining by  whom it was made1 as   
about the time it was purchased of him  
he had in  his shop parcels from        
,london1 ,edinburgh and ,dublin1 as well
 as a small  quantity prepared in       
,belfast1 and he is quite unprepared to 
say from  which of them it was taken4   
,i suspect that the pink color of the   
chloroform must have been due  to the   
presence of manganese4 ,if so1 was this 
metal derived from the  chloride of lime
 used in the manufacture of chloroform8 
,mr4 ,squire  informs me that he has    
occasionally found the solution of      
chlorinated  soda to become of a pinkish
 hue after being prepared a few days    
7not  immediately71 and that he has     
attributed it to some manganese carried 
over with the #abj chlorine gas1 as he  

does not remember having  observed this 
change when the gas had been passed     
through water before  entering the      
solution of carbonate of soda4    ,if   
this suspicion should prove well        
founded1 it is obvious that  the purity 
of the chloride of lime employed in the 
preparation of  chloroform deserves the 
attention of the manufacturer4          
,postscript4--,subsequently to the      
reading of this paper before the        
,pharmaceutical ,society1 ,i have       
received from ,mr4 ,william ,huskisson1 
jun41 a specimen of pink chloroform1    
which1 he informs me1 owes its          
remarkable color to the presence of     
manganese1 derived from peroxide of     
manganese employed in the purification  
of chloroform1 as recommended by  ,dr4  
,gregory1 7see ,pharmaceutical ,journal1
 vol4 ix41 p4 #ehj47    ,mr4 ,w4        
,huskisson1 jun41 tells me1 that he has 
observed in his specimen  neither the   
alterations of color nor the crystals   
met with in the  specimen sent me by    

,mr4 ,grattan4           99       99    
99       99       99    ,the chairman   
stated1 that he had never1 in the       
various specimens of  chloroform1 of    
which his firm had always a large       
quantity in stock1  observed the pink   
color described by ,dr4 ,pereira1 nor   
had he ever seen  any crystals deposited
 in the bottles1 but he would have a    
more minute  examination made with the  
view of ascertaining whether such       
existed4  ,when the chloroform was first
 drawn over1 and before it was purified1
  it frequently possessed more or less  
of a brown color1 but this was  quite   
distinct from the character described in
 the paper which had just  been read4   
,mr4 ,d4 ,hanbury observed1 that the use
 of manganese had been suggested  in the
 process for purifying chloroform1 and  
its presence might in this  way be      
accounted for4    ,mr4 ,barnes thought  
it desirable that the decomposed        
chloroform  should be examined for      
formic acid4 ,although constantly       

subject to  decomposition1 no           
satisfactory explanation of the nature  
of the change  had yet been afforded4   
#aba      ,,report ,,presented ,,to     
,,the ,,academy ,,of ,,medicine ,,of    
,,paris1    ,,on ,,the ,,substitution   
,,of ,,an ,,artificial ,,ioduretted     
,,oil ,,for ,,cod ,,liver ,,oil4    ,by 
a ,commission composed of ,messrs4      
,gibert1 ,ricord1 ,soubeiren and        
,guibourt4    ,on the #bjth of ,august1 
#ahej1 the ,academy appointed a         
commission1  composed as above1 to whom 
was submitted a memoir1 by ,m4          
,personne1  entitled1 8,researches on   
the ,cod-liver and ,skate ,oils2 and on 
the  preparation of an ioduretted oil1  
by which they may be replaced as        
,medicinal ,agents40 ,a note was also   
submitted to us on the same subject1    
from ,m4 ,deschamps1 and another from   
,m4 ,marchall1 the latter of which      
claimed for the author priority in the  
employment of ioduretted oil of         
almonds1 as a substitute for cod-liver  

oil4    ,we proceed now to report the   
results of our examinations of these    
communications1 and of the              
investigations to which the enquiry has 
led4    ,cod-liver oil has long been the
 object of a considerable commerce      
arising principally from the decided    
superiority which it possesses  over    
other animal oils1 for the preparation  
of chamois leather2 but  it has only    
been within about twenty years that it  
has been used in  medicine4 ,it was     
first employed as a remedy for rheumatic
 pains1 then  for bronchial affections1 
and subsequently as a remedy for        
scrofula  and consumption4 ,it now      
constitutes one of the medicinal agents 
most  extensively used1 and one of      
those1 on the action of which medical   
men  place the greatest reliance1 as a  
remedy capable either of curing very    
formidable diseases1 or of retarding    
their fatal termination4    ,the most   
important memoir which has been         
published on cod-liver oil  is that of  

,dr4 ,jongh1 in which three kinds of oil
 are described as  met with in commerce1
 which are called the black1 the brown1 
and  the white cod-liver oil4 ,these    
oils are represented to consist1        
principally1 of oleic and margaric      
acids1 and glycerine1 and1 as  accessory
 bodies1 of butyric acid1 acetic #abb   
acid2 some principles  appertaining to  
the bile1 a non-azotised yellow or brown
 coloring  matter1 called gaduine1      
iodine1 phosphorus1 and some inorganic  
salts4  ,in ,france1 ,messrs4 ,girardin 
and ,preisser have been engaged in      
comparing  the effects of the oil       
obtained from the cod with that obtained
  from the ray2 and they advocate the   
superiority of the latter for  medicinal
 use4 ,but this superiority seems to    
depend1 in part1 on the  circumstance1  
that the oil obtained from the livers of
 the ray1 being  carefully prepared by  
the pharmaciens1 and being transparent1 
and of  a light yellow color1 proves    
less offensive to the patients than the 

cod-liver oil of commerce1 which is     
generally thick1 of a dark color1  and  
has a disagreeable flavor4 ,this1       
however1 is scarcely admitted at  the   
present time4 ,moreover1 it appears from
 recent observations1 that  the above   
characters cannot be much depended upon 
for distinguishing  the two kinds of    
oil1 in consequence of their being so   
variable4    ,according to ,messrs4     
,girardin and ,preisser1 these two oils 
contain  iodine in the state of iodide  
of potassium1 and in quantity much less 
than had been indicated by ,dr4 ,jongh4 
,the latter author gives1 as  follows1  
the quantity of iodine in #a1jjj parts  
of oil3     ,black cod-liver oil        
#j1bie parts of iodine4   ,brown        
cod-liver oil     #j1djf parts of       
iodine4   ,white cod-liver oil          
#j1cgd parts of iodine4    ,messrs4     
,girardin and ,preisser have found in a 
litre 7thirty-five fluid  ounces71      
,of ray-liver oil      #j1ahj gramme of 
iodine4   ,of cod-liver oil      #j1aej 

gramme of iodine4    ,according to ,m4  
,gobley1 a litre of ray-liver oil1      
prepared by direct  action of the fire1 
contains twenty-five centigrammes of    
iodide of  potassium4 ,m4 ,goodley was  
unable to find phosphorus in this oil4  
,such were the principal analytical     
results known when ,m4 ,personne        
presented his memoir to the ,academy4   
,the uncertainty which appeared to      
attach to the subject1 and the #abc     
variations in the statements of         
chemists1 induced him to put to himself 
the following questions3    #ast4 ,do   
the oils of cod and ray-liver contain   
iodide of potassium or  iodine8    #bnd4
 ,do the different sorts of these oils  
contain the same proportion  of iodine8 
#crd4 ,do these oils contain phosphorus1
 to which their effects may be  partly  
attributed8    ,for detecting the       
presence of the iodine1 ,m4 ,personne   
saponified the  oil with an excess of   
caustic potassa1 incinerated the soap1  
and  treated the product of incineration

 with strong alcohol4 ,the alcohol  was 
evaporated1 the residue dissolved in    
water1 and to this1 solution  of starch 
and sulphuric acid were added4 ,the     
quantity of iodine  was estimated by the
 intensity of the color2 it is too small
 to be  estimated by the balance4       
,mr4 ,personne examined in this way the 
dark brown and thick cod-liver  oil1    
such as is employed in the hospitals of 
,paris2 the transparent  and nearly     
colorless oil of ,english commerce2 and 
the ray-liver oil  prepared by the      
direct action of a moderate heat1 and   
subsequent  filtration4 ,the following  
are the results3    #ast4 ,the brown    
cod-liver oil of the hospitals of ,paris
 contains more  iodine than the fine    
white oil of ,english commerce4    #bnd4
 ,it also contains more iodine than the 
ray-liver oil1 and1  moreover1 the      
quantity present is certainly less than 
a decigramme of  iodine in a kilogramme 
of oil 7#a in #aj1jjj47    #crd4 ,the   
residue of the liver1 left after the    

preparation of the oil1  contains much  
more iodine than the oil itself4        
,with regard to the question as to      
whether the iodine exists in  cod-liver 
oil in the state of iodide of potassium1
 or directly  combined with the oil1 ,m4
 ,personne1 while he admits the         
difficulty of  satisfactorily           
determining the point1 inclines to favor
 the opinion  that the iodine is        
directly combined with the elements of  
the oil4    ,the different methods which
 have been suggested for the preparation
 of  the ioduretted oil proposed as a   
substitute for #abd cod-liver oil  are  
described4 ,a discussion follows of the 
claims of the authors1 whose            
communications were submitted to the    
commissioners1 for having first         
introduced the artificial ioduretted    
oil1 which discussion is also  omitted  
here as being uninteresting to our      
readers4 ,the commissioners  next       
proceed to state the result of the      
evidence obtained1 by the  medical      

members of the commission1 of the       
therapeutical action of the  artificial 
ioduretted oil4    ,m4 ,gibert          
administered the ioduretted oil for     
periods varying from  several weeks to  
several months1 to patients suffering   
with eruptive  complaints and scrofulous
 tumors2 and1 in some instances1 found  
the  benefit to be greater than from the
 use of cod-liver oil1 under similar    
circumstances4 ,he states1 that he does 
not think he has tried it in a          
sufficient number of cases1 and for a   
sufficient length of time1 to  enable   
him to state decidedly what its absolute
 value is as a specific  for eruptive   
and scrofulous complaints2 but the      
results he has obtained  are sufficient 
to prove1 that it is easy of            
administration and devoid  of any       
injurious quality1 and that it possesses
 a resolutive action1  which renders it 
a valuable remedy for certain chronic   
eruptions and  glandular swellings4     
,m4 ,ricord has employed the ioduretted 

oil for twelve months1 in a great       
number of cases of scrofula1 some of    
which were considered to be of  venereal
 origin4 ,he thus obtained excellent    
results in the treatment of  strumous   
bubo1 tubercular epididymis1 and in some
 cases of scrofulous  enlargement of the
 joints1 etc41 and other things being   
equal1 curable  cases were cured1 or    
relief afforded1 much more quickly by   
the use of  the artificial ioduretted   
oil than by the natural cod-liver oil4  
,the average dose in which the          
ioduretted oil was administered was     
sixty  grammes 7ij471 which was         
sometimes raised to #ajj grammes        
7iiiss47 ,the  patient generally took it
 without inconvenience4 ,it was only in 
a few  instances1 where the dose had    
been raised1 that vomiting1 colic1 and  
diarrha were produced4 ,if the          
precautions which are necessary in the  
administration of every remedy be       
observed1 and the degrees of #abe       
susceptibility of the patients1 together

 with all special conditions1  properly 
studied1 it may be affirmed that the    
ioduretted oil is a  medicine of great  
value and that it presents considerable 
advantage  over the cod-liver           
oil4--,journal de ,pharmacie1 in        
,pharmaceutic ,journal4                 
,,editorial4      ,,internal ,,use ,,of 
,,atropine4    ,,abridged ,,from ,,the  
,,january ,,number ,,of ,,the ,,london  
,,journal ,,of ,,medicine4    ,in the   
practice of ,english and ,american      
physicians1 atropine 7atropia7  has been
 hitherto used chiefly as an external   
application1 to dilate  the pupil1 but1 
as far as we know1 has never been       
administered  internally4 ,in ,france1  
the powdered belladonna root has been   
strongly  recommended as affording a    
reliable and efficient preparation2 in  
this  country1 the leaves and the       
extracts and tincture derived from them 
are  alone officinal4 ,dr4 ,lusanna1 an 
,italian physician1 has ventured upon   
the internal use of atropia1 and1       

according to our notions1 in very  large
 doses4 ,he commences its administration
 in doses of one-thirtieth  of a grain  
every three or four hours1 gradually    
increasing the dose  according to the   
effect produced4 ,in some instances he  
went so far as  to give one-third of a  
grain five times a day4    ,it may be   
given1 according to ,dr4 ,l1 in solution
 in alcohol1 or in  acetic or some other
 mild acid4 ,pills and powders1 from the
 difficulty  of apportioning the dose he
 deems unadvisable4 ,the alcoholic      
solution  has a taste somewhat like that
 of quinine1 but feebler1 and not       
particularly disagreeable4 ,the patient 
soon becomes habituated to the  remedy1 
and the dose has to be increased4 ,in   
cases of neuralgia he  recommends the   
application of one-fourteenth to one    
sixth of a grain  to a blistered        
surface1 in the form of pomade4 ,dr4 ,l4
 carries the  administration of atropia 
so far as to produce what we would call 
its  toxicological effects4    #ast4    

,dilatation and immobility of the pupil4
 ,between fourteen and  fifteen minutes 
after the exhibition of from            
one-twenty-fourth to  one-thirtieth of a
 grain of atropia1 the pupil becomes    
enormously  dilated4 ,if the remedy be  
persevered in the dilatation passes of1 
but  the iris becomes immoveable1 and   
the pupil no longer contracts on        
exposure to light4 ,when the remedy is  
stopped1 as the other phenomena         
produced by its exhibition subside1 the 
pupil again becomes extremely  dilated4 
,previous to this it commences to       
oscillate1 contracting  slightly when   
exposed to strong light1 and dilating   
again in the shade4  ,this indicates    
that the #abf effects of the remedy are 
disappearing4  ,the dilatation of the   
pupil is the last of the phenomena to   
subside1  being sometimes met with eight
 days1 or more after the suspension of  
the atropia4    #b4 ,disturbance of     
vision4 ,objects at first seem hazy and 
ill-defined1  persons are not           

recognized1 and it is impossible to read
 or write4 ,if  the dose be increased1  
objects seem covered with a dark shade1 
and  vision may be wholly lost4 ,every  
fresh dose has a sudden and marked      
effect in diminishing vision1 and on its
 suspension the disturbance of  vision  
disappears with equal rapidity4 ,in one 
or two days the sight is  perfectly     
restored4    #c4 ,disturbance of        
,intellect4 ,at first the patient       
appears dull and  stupid1 then there is 
vertigo and confusion of ideas4    #d4  
,hallucinations of sight and hearing4   
,objects are seen double or  greatly    
magnified2 motes and insects flit before
 the eyes2 well known  objects assume   
strange and monstrous forms1 or horrible
 phantoms are  seen4 ,the hearing is    
more rarely affected4 ,buzzing1         
tinkling1 hissing  and whistling are    
sometimes heard4    #e4 ,anaesthesia4   
,touch remains apparently perfect1 but  
pain is  relieved or blunted4 ,the      
patient does not seem to suffer from    

painful  tactile impressions4    #f4    
,dryness of the mouth and throat were   
invariably felt4 ,at first  this seemed 
a purely nervous phenomenon1 but if the 
medication was  continued1 from the     
diminution of the salivary secretion it 
became real4    #g4 ,the appetite is    
early lost1 and there is no thirst2 but 
on the  cessation of the remedy it      
returns sharper than ever4 ,speech is   
early  embarrassed1 and the power of    
swallowing early diminished1 becomes    
finally lost4    #h4 ,delirium          
alternating with stupor or succeeded by 
it1 is produced  by one-tenth of a grain
 of atropia at the commencement of the  
treatment1 or by one-fourth of a grain  
later1 or by any sudden increase  of the
 dose4 ,the delirium is commonly gay and
 ridiculous2 in one  instance only was  
it mournful4 ,when these phenomena are  
at all intense1  they subside slowly4   
,for several days after the cessation of
 the  medicine1 there is confusion and  
slowness of thought4    #i4 ,redness of 

the skin was observed in but a single   
case4    #aj4 ,torpor and paralytic     
tremblings4 ,as the patient gets under  
the  influence of the atropia1 the legs 
become weak and trembling1 gradually    
lose their strength1 and he is confined 
to bed4 ,they may be still  agitated by 
twitching1 and convulsive movements4    
#aa4 ,paralysis of the sphincters of the
 rectum and bladder4 ,this is  the      
highest point to which1 according to    
,dr4 ,l41 the medicative action  of     
atropia can attain4 ,in one case1 only1 
the fces and urine were  passed         
involuntarily4    ,the functions of     
respiration1 circulation1 and           
calorification1 were  never affected by 
atropia4    ,after this long catalogue  
of serious symptoms1 ,dr4 ,lusanna      
rather  naively observes1 he has never  
seen any truly alarming results arise   
from the use of atropia6 ,should they   
occur1 he recommends wine as the  best  
antidote4    #abg      ,,cultivation    
,,of ,,opium4--,in a late number of the 

,archives ,generales  de ,medicine1 will
 be found a short notice of a paper1    
read by ,m4  ,aubergier1 to the ,french 
,academy of ,science upon the           
cultivation of  native opium4 ,when the 
juice is obtained according to the      
methods  described by ,m4 ,a41 the seeds
 continue to ripen1 and the oil they    
yield pays the expense of cultivation4  
,if the opium then more than  repays the
 expense of the labor necessary to      
procure it1 its production  will be a   
source of profit4 ,now ,m4 ,a41 by      
successive improvements in  his         
processes1 has been enabled to raise the
 amount obtained by each  laborer from a
 maximum of #ge to #ij grammes 7#aaeg   
#a_/b grs4 to #achi  grs47 to five times
 that quantity4 ,the commercial value of
 the opium  will always1 therefore1 more
 than repay the cost of manufacture4 ,he
  farther finds that the proportion of  
morphia contained in the opium  varies4 
#ast1 with the maturity of the capsules 
from which it is  collected1 opium      

collected from capsules nearly ripe     
yielding less  morphia than that        
obtained from those that are not so near
 their  maturity4 #b;d1 different       
varieties of the poppy yield an opium   
varying  in the quantity of contained   
morphia from #ae to #ag4hcc per cent4   
,twenty  specimens of foreign opium     
examined by ,m4 ,a4 yielded quantities  
varying  from #b4fd to #ac per cent4    
,the superiority of some specimens of   
,european opium has been noticed by     
previous observers1 and depends probably
 on the greater care bestowed  on its   
preparation and on the cultivation of   
the plant4      ,,chromic ,,acid ,,as   
,,an ,,escharotic4 ,chromic acid has    
lately been employed  in ,germany1 both 
in concentrated solution and in         
substance1 as an  escharotic4 ,the      
advantages it possesses are1 that it is 
efficient1  manageable1 and less painful
 than the more ordinary applications4   
,the  concentrated solution is applied  
by means of a glass rod1 a pencil  made 

of asbestos1 or if necessary1 an        
ordinary hair pencil1 which1  if washed 
immediately1 can be used a second time4 
,the solid chromic  acid on account of  
its penetrating action has to be        
employed with much  care4 ,all organic  
compounds are first oxydised and then   
dissolved in  an excess of the acid1 and
 this change is accelerated by an       
elevated  temperature4 ,smaller animals1
 birds1 mice1 c41 were so completely    
dissolved by the acid within fifteen or 
twenty minutes1 that no trace  of their 
bones1 skin1 hair1 claws1 or teeth could
 be discovered4 ,it  would thus appear  
to be not only a gentle and gradual     
escharotic1 but  also a complete and    
rapid solvent4 ,dublin ,quarterly ,jour4
 of ,med4  ,science1 from ,wiener       
,medizinische ,wochenschrift1 #ahea1    
,no4 viii4      ,,public ,,hygeine4 ,m4 
,m4 ,bicourt  ,a4 ,chevalier have       
presented a memorial  on the diseases   
which attack workmen engaged in the     
manufacture of  chromsate of potash4    

,the result of the facts presented in   
their  memorial1 proves1 #ast4 ,that    
workmen engaged in the preparation of   
bi-chromsate of potash1 are subject to  
peculiar diseases4 #b;d4 ,these         
diseases attack workmen who do not take 
snuff1 and the mucous membrane  of the  
nose is destroyed4 #c;d4 ,workmen who   
take snuff do not experience  the same  
diseases4 #dth4 ,workmen whose skin is  
broken #abh in any  part1 suffer        
severely when the bi-chromsate comes in 
contact with  the abraded surface1 and  
should1 therefore1 carefully preserve   
the  abrasions from contact with the    
solution of bi-chromsate4 #eth4 ,workmen
  lightly clothed are exposed to some   
inconveniences1 but these may be  easily
 avoided4 #fth4 ,animals are1 like men1 
exposed to maladies caused  by the      
bi-chromsate of potash4--,archives      
,generales de ,medicine4      ,,chemical
 ,,technology2 or ,chemistry applied to 
,arts and to ,manufactures1  by ,dr4 ,t4
 ,knapp1 ,professor at the ,university  

of ,giesen2 ,dr4 ,edmund  ,ronalds1     
,professor of ,chemistry at ,queen's    
,college1 ,galway2 and ,dr4  ,thomas    
,richardson1 of ,new ,castle on ,tyne4  
,illustrated with nine  engravings and  
one hundred and twenty-nine wood cuts4  
,vol4 iii4 ,london3  ,,hyppolyte        
,,bailliere1 #bai ,regent street1 and   
#bji ,broadway1 ,new ,york4    ,knapp's 
,technology belongs to a class of books 
characteristic of the  present day1 and 
of the highest and most extended        
usefulness4 ,giving  the practical      
details of the arts in connection with  
the scientific  principles on which they
 are founded1 it extends the views of   
the  manufacturer and the economist1 and
 places him on the right path for       
further improvement4 ,to the ,american  
it presents the further advantage  of   
ample and precise details of what is    
being done in ,great ,britain  and on   
the ,continent of ,europe4 ,all engaged 
in pursuits with which  chemistry has   
any connection 7and with what is it not 

now connected87  will find in the       
various volumes of the ,technology1     
valuable  information in regard to their
 own peculiar avocations1 while the     
variety of its information and the      
copiousness of its illustrations1  gives
 it a high interest to the general      
reader4           99       99       99  
99       99    ,at a meeting of the     
,college of ,pharmacy of the city of    
,new ,york1 held  on ,thursday1 #beth of
 ,march1 the following gentlemen were   
elected  officers for the ensuing year4 
,,geo4 ,d4 ,,coggeshall1 ,president4    
,,john ,h4 ,,currie1 #ast ,vice         
,president4   ,,william ,l4 ,,rushton1  
#b;d ,vice ,president4   ,,oliver       
,,hull1 #c;d ,vice ,president4   ,,james
 ,s4 ,,aspinwall1 ,treasurer4   ,b4 ,w4 
,,bull1 ,secretary4    ,,trustees4      
,,wm4 ,j ,,olliffe1   ,,john ,,meakin1  
,,thomas ,b4 ,,merrick1   ,,eugene      
,,duprey1   ,r4 ,j4 ,,davies1   ,,junius
 ,,gridley1   ,,wm4 ,,hegeman1          
,,george ,,wilson1   ,,thomas ,t4       

,,green4    #abi          ,,new ,,york  
,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4    ,,may1    
#aheb4      ,,notes ,,in ,,pharmacy1    
,no4 #b4    ,,by ,,benjamin ,,canavan4  
,,tinct4 ,,ferri ,,aetherea4--,at the   
instance of one of our physicians1 ,i   
made  some of the above preparation for 
a lady patient of his1 who1 after       
having used the other preparations of   
,iron 8ad nauseam10 had taken it  with  
benefit in ,europe under the name of    
8,bestucheff's tincture10 as  which1 it 
at one time enjoyed great popularity1 so
 that a very large  sum was given to the
 author in purchase of it by the        
,czarina ,catharine4  ,after the        
composition became known it fell into   
disuse1 almost  justifying us in        
reversing the quotation from ,celsus1   
8,morbos autem1 non remediis1 sed verbis
 curari40    ,it presents the metal in a
 different chemical state from what it  
is  in the muriated tincture1 viz3 a    
very soluble deuto chloride2 no  acid is
 present and there are besides the      

anodyne and anti-spasmodic  properties  
of the ethereal spirit1 rendering it    
peculiarly appropriate  in hysterical   
affections2 and being pleasant to the   
taste and miscible  with water1 it is   
not at all repulsive4--,supposing it may
 prove useful  elsewhere and to others1 
,i subjoin the formula ,i have used1 and
 to  which ,i give the preference1 as   
being the most complete4 ,it is original
  in the ,austrian ,pharmacopia of      
#ahbj1 whence it has been copied into   
many ,french formularies1 under the name
 of 8teinture there de #acj  chlorure de
 fer10 and may be found with a number of
 other formul for  the same preparation 
in the 8,pharmocope ,unverselle0 of     
,jourdan4      ,acidi hydro chlorici iv4
     ,acidi hydro nitrici i4            
,limatura4 ,ferriqs4 saturare acida4    
,add the iron filings very gradually1   
and in small quantity at a time  to the 
acids mixed together1 in a porcelain    
mortar of ten or twelve  inch diameter1 
and allow each portion to be dissolved  

before another is  added1 and so proceed
 until saturation is complete4 ,decant2 
evaporate  to dryness in a sand bath2   
dissolve the residue in a quantity of   
water  equal in weight to itself1 and to
 each ounce of this solution add six    
ounces of sulphuric ether1 agitate them 
well together and separate the          
supernatant ethereal solution1 to which 
add four times its bulk of  alcohol2    
finally1 expose it to the action of the 
sun's rays until the  color is          
altogether discharged4 ,the dose is     
twenty to thirty drops4    ,,mucilago   
7,,gummi7 ,,acacl4--,among the many     
useful hints which have  appeared in the
 ,new ,york ,journal of ,pharmacy1 in   
relation to several  formul of the ,u4  
,s4 ,p41 ,i perceive the preparation    
mucilage of gum  arabic has been deemed 
worthy of a supervisory notice1 and     
having  experienced some annoyance with 
regard to it1 arising simply from  the  
fact that the officinal preparation has 
been heretofore entirely  overlooked by 

apothecaries generally1 each one        
instituting a formula  for himself1 ,i  
have been very much gratified by the    
result of  adhering strictly to the     
formula of the ,pharmacopia1 and would  
take  the liberty to say that as the    
formul of all the ,pharmacopias of      
countries wherein our language is spoken
 are alike1 it surely would  not be     
productive of any advantage to introduce
 an exception to this  conformity1 to   
suit a local peculiarity1 arising1 to   
say the least1  from inadvertence4      
,besides the thickness of the officinal 
mucilage is  not much greater than that 
of syrup of gum1 and is even absolutely 
necessary for the chief proposes for    
which it is intended or  prescribed1    
viz3 the suspension of weighty metallic 
#aca oxydes1  c41 and the holding       
balsams1 oils1 c41 in mixtures1--much   
benefit  then would1 so far as my       
experience goes1 accrue from the        
apothecary  confining himself strictly  
to the officinal mucilage1 and as       

individual  formul are based upon it1   
the re-compounding them from transcribed
  versions would be rendered more       
accurate4 ,this 8whittling0 away of     
standards1 to make them correspond to   
the shortcomings of negligence  or      
parsimony1 has only the effect of       
rendering 8confusion worse  confounded40
      ,,mistura ,,amygdalarum4--,being a
 work of some hour or so's duration to  
prepare the almond emulsion ab initio1  
it has been usual to keep the           
ingredients in the form of paste1 from a
 proportionate quantity of  which the   
mixture is made when required4 ,the     
paste does not keep1  becoming musty and
 sometimes exceedingly hard4 ,i have    
therefore adopted  the plan of keeping  
the almonds already bleached and well   
dried1 in  which state they do not      
undergo any change and thus is made all 
the  preparation that can be1 to        
expedite the process4      ,,liq4       
,,arsenit4 ,,potass4--,on taking up1 the
 other day1 a shop bottle in  which     

,fowler's solution had been kept for    
some half a score or dozen of  years1 ,i
 perceived it to exhale a strong        
garlicky odor characteristic  of free   
metallic arsenic4 ,on examining the     
bottle which is of the  ordinary flint  
glass1 the inner surface presented the  
appearance of  being coated or rather   
corroded1 and having a metallic lustre  
so far  up as the bottle was generally  
occupied by the solution1 and in the    
upper part several specks were visible1 
of the same character1 as if  they had  
been produced by the sublimation of the 
corrosive agent4 ,the  coating was not  
affected by any amount of friction nor  
by alkalies but  was slowly dissolved by
 acetic acid1 from which iodide of      
potassium  threw down a precipitate of  
iodide of lead4--,deeming1 therefore1   
the  decomposition to have arisen from  
the lead contained in the flint glass   
,i have since then kept the solution in 
green glass bottles4    #acb            
,,liquor ,,magnesi ,,citratis4          

,,thos4 ,s4 ,,wiegand1 ,,philadelphia4  
,the attention which has been given to  
this article by pharmaceutists1  both on
 account of its pleasantness and its    
great tendency to change1  has induced  
me to offer the following observations4 
,the advantage of the plan proposed is  
that a perfectly satisfactory  article  
can be furnished in five or eight       
minutes1 thus rendering  unnecessary any
 attempt to make the preparation        
permanent at the  expense of its        
remedial value4 ,that this is the manner
 in which the  public are supplied1 save
 at stores where large quantities are   
sold1  there can be but little doubt1   
from the experiments of ,professor      
,proctor of ,philadelphia1 detailed in  
the #bcrd volume of the ,american       
,journal of ,pharmacy1 p4p4 #bad and    
#baf1 which show conclusively that a    
permanent solution of citrate of        
magnesia must be a decidedly acid one4  
,another method for making a soluble    
citrate has been devised by  ,dorvault1 

which is published in his treatise1     
entitled 8,l'officine20  but from       
certain difficulties in manipulation his
 process cannot come  into very general 
use4    ,the formula offered is         
,take1 of carbonate of magnesia1 in     
powder1 five drachms1 boiling water     
five fluid ounces1 throw the magnesia   
upon the water in a shallow  vessel1    
when thoroughly mixed1 pour five sixths 
of the pulp into a  strong quart bottle1
 fitted with cork and string for tying  
down2 then  make a solution of seven and
 a half drachms of citric acid in two   
fluid  ounces of water1 pour it into the
 magnesia mixture1 cork and tie down    
immediately2 when the solution has been 
effected 7which will require  but a     
minute and a half1 or two minutes17     
empty it into a bottle  capable of      
holding twelve fluid ounces1 containing 
two fluid ounces of  syrup of citric    
acid1 add the remaining pulp of         
carbonate of magnesia1  nearly fill the 
bottle with water1 and cork instantly1  

#acc securing  it with twine or wire2 if
 the carbonate be of good quality it    
will be  entirely dissolved in seven    
minutes4    ,of course it is not        
intended that the carbonate of magnesia 
can be  rubbed to powder1 the water     
boiled1 the bottles washed and fitted   
with  strings and corks in the time     
above mentioned4 ,my plan is to have the
  bottles prepared with their corks1    
strings1 and syrup in advance1 and  to  
keep the carbonate of magnesia in a     
state of powder for this purpose4       
,continued from the ,march number4      
,,practical ,,hints4    ,,by ,a         
,,wholesale ,,druggist4      ,,balsam   
,,peru4 ,for many years past a          
factitious balsam ,peru has been        
manufactured in a neighboring city in   
very considerable quantities1  and has  
entered largely into consumption2 it is 
made by dissolving  balsam tolu in      
alcohol4 ,it closely resembles the true 
balsam1 and is  calculated to deceive   
unless subjected to a close examination4

 ,if  one's attention is particularly   
called to it1 a smell of alcohol is     
perceptible4 ,it is1 however1 easily    
tested by burning in a spoon or  small  
cup4 ,the factitious balsam readily     
ignites on the application of  flame and
 burns1 as may be supposed1 with a blue 
flame4 ,the true balsam  ignites with   
much more difficulty and emits a dense  
black smoke1 and on  the application of 
considerable heat1 the air becomes      
filled with small  feathery flakes of   
lamp black4 ,this test1 together with   
the sensible  properties of appearance1 
taste and smell1 will enable one to     
determine  without doubt as to its      
genuineness4      ,,lac ,,sulphuris4    
,,sulphur ,,precipitatum4 ,,milk ,,of   
,,sulphur4 ,this preparation  of sulphur
 is made by boiling sulphur and lime in 
water1 and after  filtering1            
precipitating the sulphur with muriatic 
acid4 ,it differs  from the ordinary    
sulphur in being in a state of more     
minute division  and being softer and   

less brittle after having been melted4  
#acd    ,when sulphuric acid is used to 
precipitate the sulphur1 sulphate of    
lime is formed and cannot be separated  
from the precipitated sulphur by  the   
ordinary process of washing1 that salt  
being insoluble in water2  for this     
reason muriatic acid should be used1 as 
the salt thus formed1  the muriate of   
lime or chloride of calcium is perfectly
 soluble and can  be readily separated  
from the sulphur by washing4    ,the    
ordinary lac sulphuris of commerce1 is  
prepared by the use of  sulphuric acid1 
and in consequence is found to contain a
 very large  proportion of sulphate of  
lime1 or plaster of ,paris4--,several   
specimens  examined were found to       
consist of nearly equal parts of        
sulphate of  lime and sulphur4    ,the  
test for the above impurity is by       
burning in a small cup or spoon4  ,the  
sulphur burns out entirely1 leaving the 
impurity unaltered4 ,the  exact amount  
of impurity may be determined by        

weighing the substance  before and after
 burning1 and deducting the one weight  
from the other4    ,,precipitated       
,,chalk ,,or ,,carb4 ,,lime4 ,it is very
 important that physicians  should be   
able to obtain this preparation of a    
reliable quality4 ,a  preparation       
purporting to be the above1 but in fact 
nothing more nor  less than sulph4 lime 
or plaster of ,paris1 has1 in very      
considerable  quantities entered into   
consumption within a year or two past4  
,it is  difficult to determine between  
the two from their appearance4 ,the     
test1 however1 is very simple and       
consists in treating the suspected      
article with muriatic acid4 ,it should  
dissolve perfectly with brisk           
effervescence1 if it be in reality pure 
carbonate of lime4 ,if it  consists1    
wholly or in part1 of sulphate of lime1 
the whole or such  part remains         
unaffected by the acid4    ,pure        
muriatic acid should be used1 as the    
commercial acid frequently  contains    

sulphuric acid1 in which case a portion 
of sulphate of lime is  formed and      
remains undissolved4    ,magnesia is    
sometimes found in this preparation1 but
 by accident  generally and not by      
design1 as the price of the magnesia    
offers no  inducement for the           
adulteration4    #ace      ,,weights    
,,and ,,measures4#i       8,una fides1  
pondus1 mensura1 moneta sit una1        
,et status illsus totius orbis          
erit40--,,budeus4     8,one faith1 one  
weight1 one measure and one coin1       
,would soon the jarring world in        
friendship join40    ,the confusion of  
,babel is felt most severely in the     
matter of weights  and measures4        
,whether we consider the number of names
 of weights  and measures1 the          
similarity of names1 the discrepancy in 
amount  between those of the same name1 
or the irregular relations of those  of 
the same denomination1 we find a maze1  
the intricacies of which  we cannot     
retain in our memory an hour after we   

have committed them  to it4 ,sometimes1 
too1 we find a farther discrepancy of a 
surprising  nature2 as if the authorised
 pint should not be the exact eighth of 
the  authorised gallon1 and so there    
should be two different quarts1 one of  
two exact pints1 and one of a fourth of 
a gallon1 as well as a false  gallon of 
eight exact pints1 and a false pint of  
an eighth of an exact  gallon4    #i    
,universal ,dictionary of ,weights and  
,measures4 ,by ,j4 ,h4 ,,alexander4     
,baltimore4 ,w4 ,menefie  ,co4 #aeh pp4 
#hvo4    ,we cannot here trace the      
genealogy of this multitude2 ,chaos and 
old  night are the ancestors of them    
all1 except those now prevailing in     
,france4 ,a large number of them are of 
vegetable origin1 from grains  of wheat1
 carob beans1 carat seeds1 c4 ,the      
,accino1 the ,akey1 and  innumerable    
others seem to have had a similar       
origin4 ,most measures of  length have  
been derived from the human form1 as    
foot1 span1 fathom1  nail1 c4 ,to       

originate a new measure or weight has   
proved much easier  than to preserve    
their uniformity when established4 ,here
 legislation  has been resorted to4 ,the
 arm of ,henry ,i4 was measured1 and a  
yard  of the same length was deposited  
in the exchequer as a standard4         
8,thirty-two 7afterwards twenty-four7   
grains of well dried wheat from  the    
middle of a good ear0 were to weigh a   
penny1 twenty pence one  ounce1 and     
twelve ounces a pound4 ,science finally 
carried the matter  one step further1   
and a yard is now #cf_/ci4acibi part of 
the length  of 8a pendulum that #acf in 
a vacuum and at the level of mid-tide1  
under the latitude of ,london1 shall    
vibrate seconds of mean time40 ,the     
metre1 a measure established by science1
 is #a_/aj1jjj1jjj part of  the distance
 from the equator to the north pole4    
,measures of capacity  have been still  
more difficult to verify1 and weights1  
when depending  upon these last1 have   
been involved in further                

difficulties4--,william  the ,conquerer1
 enacted that #h pounds good wheat1     
#fa1ddj grains1 make  a gallon4 ,in     
,england now1 #aj pounds of water1      
#gj1jjj grains1 at #fj  ,fahr41 make a  
gallon4 ,in ,france a cubic decimetre of
 water1 at maximum  density1 #ci4b      
,fahr41 weighs a kilogramme4    ,but the
 impotency of law is nowhere shown more 
strikingly than in  its attempts to     
destroy spurious and useless weights and
 measures4  ,thirty of these are said to
 be prevalent in ,scotland at this day2 
and  although ,magna ,charta required   
that there should be but one weight in  
all ,england1 the assize of bread is    
still regulated by a pound1 #af  of     
which  #ag #f oz4 avoirdupois4 ,still   
further1 it may not always  occur to us 
that ,english measures1 dry and liquid1 
need translating  when their works are  
reprinted in the ,united ,states1 as    
much as the  ,french measures2 for the  
imperial gallon1 used for both dry and  
liquid  measures1 differs from both our 

gallons4 ,it contains #a4bjjf of our    
liquid gallons2 our dry gallon contains 
#a4afca of our liquid gallons4    ,but  
it is in the weights of the ,united     
,states that we are more  particularly  
interested4 ,we will1 therefore1 take   
our leave of the rest  of #e1djj and    
more weights and measures which ,mr4    
,alexander has ranged  in alphabetical  
order1 from            ,name4           
,locality4      ,character4             
,value4   8,aam2 for wine1   ,amsterdam1
   ,liquid capacity1   #da4jjjda gall40 
to   8,zuoja piccola1   ,udino1         
,superficial1       #j4heec acres40     
,let us enquire what are the weights of 
the ,united ,states4--,we find but  one 
unambiguous term to measure the rest by1
 the grain4 ,we have then3     #a4  ,the
 long ton1      #ae1fhj1jjj             
grains4   #b4  ,the ton1                
#ad1jjj1jjj       grains4 #acg   #c4    
,the quintal1          #ghd1jjj         
grains1   #d4  ,the hundred weight1     
#gjj1jjj       grains1   #e4  ,quarter1 

#aif1jjj       grains1   #f4  ,pound    
avoirdupois1      #g1jjj       grains1  
#g4  ,pound ,troy1             #e1gfj   
grains1   #h4  ,pound ,apothecaries'1   
#e1gfj       grains1   #i4  ,ounce      
,troy1               #dhj       grains1 
#aj4 ,ounce ,apothecaries'1      #dhj   
grains1   #aa4 ,ounce ,avoirdupois1     
#dcg4e     grains1   #ab4 ,drachm       
,apothecaries'1      #fj       grains1  
#ac4 ,drachm ,avoirdupois1              
#ed4fhge  grains1   #ad4 ,dram of the   
arithmetic1    #bg4cdcge grains1   #ae4 
,pennyweight1               #bd         
grains1   #af4 ,scruple1                
#bj       grains1   #ag4 ,grain1        
#a        grains4    ,a formidable array
 truly6 ,from this we see that while an 
ounce of cork  is lighter than an ounce 
of gold1 a pound of cork is heavier than
 a  pound of gold6 ,nay1 further1 let   
the apothecary go to the druggist  for a
 drachm of opium1 and he will receive   
and pay for a drachm  avoirdupois1 a    
weight unknown even to ,mr4 ,alexander1 

although in  constant use in this city4 
,but the moment he puts it into his     
mortar  there is not a drachm of it6 ,if
 he wishes to use a drachm in pills  or 
tincture1 he must add more than five    
grains to it4 ,could anything  be more  
inconvenient or more prolific in        
mistakes8 ,to prevent butter  from      
becoming rancid1 we are told to mix with
 it the bark of slippery  elm1 in the   
8proportion of a drachm 7or dram7 to the
 pound40 ,who can  tell what it means8  
,six different proportions might accord 
with this  ,delphic response2 the most  
probable is #fjgjjj4 ,but the grievance 
to  which the apothecary is subject does
 not all consist in his buying  by      
lighter ounces1 and selling by heavier4 
,the subdivisions by which  he compounds
 have no reference to his convenience4  
,long habit alone  can save him from    
either laborious calculation or risk of 
error4 ,but  still another chance of    
error comes into the account4 ,two      
characters1   and 1 are joined to       

numerals1 to indicate #ach quantities2 a
  mistake of these1 by either prescriber
 or apothecary1 may prove fatal4  ,a    
case in point occurred a few years      
since1 well known to many of our        
readers4 ,a physician1 prescribed       
cyanide of potassium1 by a formula in   
which  had been printed1 by mistake1 for
 4 ,the apothecary1 instead  of sending 
him the prescription for correction1 as 
he ought to have  done1 put it up and   
sent it with the fearful monition that  
the dose  would prove fatal--and so it  
did--to the prescriber himself1 who took
 the  dose his patient dared not touch4 
,he died in five minutes1 a victim to  a
 printer's error1 to his own self       
confidence1 to want of etiquette  in the
 apothecary1 and last1 not least1 to an 
ill-contrived system of  weights4       
,this brings us to the practical        
question1 ,what is to be done8 ,all     
agree  that there ought to be a reform4 
,on this point we can do no better  than
 quote the close of ,mr4 ,alexander's   

preface4--8,finally10 says he  7page    
vii47 8if ,i may be allowed1 in         
connection with this work and its       
appropriate applications1 to allude to  
certain dreams of my own1 7as  they may 
be2 although ,i consider them capable1  
without undue effort1  of a more prompt 
and thorough realisation than seems to  
be ordinarily  anticipated17 as to the  
prevalence1 some day1 of an universal   
conformity of weights and measures1 ,i  
must acknowledge that such a  result was
 one of the ends ,i had in view in the  
original collection of  materials4 ,not 
that such a work was going to show more 
emphatically  than business men feel1   
and reflecting men know1 the importance 
of such  an universal conformity2 or    
that a book whose pages deal in         
discords1  could1 of itself1 produce    
unison2 but the first step to any       
harmonious  settlement is1 to see       
clearly1 and at a glance1 where the     
differences  lie1 and what they         
are4--,if a millennial period for this  

world is  ever to come1 as many wise    
have deemed1 and pious prayed1 it must  
be  preceded by one common language1 and
 one common system of weights and       
measures1 as the basis of intercourse4  
,and the way to that is to be  built1   
not by the violent absorption of other  
and diverse systems into  one1 but      
rather by a compromise into which all   
may blend4 ,when the  ,earth1 in her    
historical orbit1 shall #aci have       
reached that point1  7as it stood ere   
mankind were scattered from the plain of
 ,shinar7  and not till then1 may we    
begin to hope that her revolutions will 
be  stilled1 and that before long the   
weights and measures of fleeting  ,time 
will be merged and lost in the infinite 
scales and illimitable  quantities of   
,eternity40 ,we are not sure that we    
precisely understand  the last sentence1
 and we are sure we dissent entirely    
from the one  that precedes it4 ,no     
compromise can be of service in bringing
 about  a uniformity in weights and     

measures4 ,we must either make a better 
system than the best extant1 and ask all
 men to adopt it1 or if the  best that  
human ingenuity and science can devise  
is already in use1  so much the better2 
let us adopt it with all our heart4 ,is 
the ,french  system this best one8 ,we  
believe it is1 nor have we ever heard it
  called in question4--,why then speak  
of a new one as desirable8 ,we fear  the
 suggestion is the offspring of a       
national vanity1 which ought to be      
beneath us4 ,we would not oppose such a 
motive even to the introduction  of the 
centigrade thermometer1 which is much   
more inconvenient than  ,fahrenheit's1  
and has no one advantage over it in any 
respect2 still  less should it bar the  
progress of a system against which no   
fault can  be alleged1 but that it is   
foreign4    ,we agree with our author   
that the introduction of a new system is
 much  easier than is generally         
supposed4 ,it will not be like the      
change of  a monetary system1 where the 

old coins remain1 mingled with the new1 
to perpetuate the old names4--,the      
change could be1 by law1 effected  next 
,new ,year's day1 and all inconvenience 
from it would be over  in a month1 save 
some awkwardness from habit1 and two    
more serious  difficulties4 ,one is from
 the human propensity to bisection4     
,thus the  old hundredweight of #aab    
pounds is bisected down to #g pounds1   
and the  grocer will sell half this     
quantity1 #c #a_/b pounds1 at a cheaper 
rate  than he will sell #c pounds or #d4
 ,unfortunately in bisecting #ajj we run
  down too soon to the fractions #ab    
#a_/b and #f #a_/d4 ,the ,french have   
been obliged to give way to this        
propensity1 and divide the kilogramme   
in a binary manner1 #adj with an        
unavoidable irregularity1 reckoning  #ca
 #a_/d grains as #cb4 ,would that #cb   
#cb  #ajjj6 ,our only remedy is to      
change the radix of numeration from #aj 
to #af1 a thing impossible but to  a    
universal dictator4 ,the other          

difficulty is in our measure for land4  
,this must remain in all surveyed tracts
 in such a shape that #dj acres1  and   
also #e acres1 shall be some multiple of
 unity4    ,but shall the apothecary    
wait the action of government8--,this is
 neither  necessary nor desirable4 ,some
 relief he ought to have speedily4 ,if  
he dare not make so great an advance as 
to adopt the ,french system1  7his      
truest and most honorable policy17 let  
all subdivisions of the  avoirdupois    
pound be discarded1 except the grain4   
,introduce the  chemists' weights of    
#ajjj1 #ejj1 #cjj1 #ajj1 #ej1 c4 grains1
 and let all  prescriptions be written  
in grains alone4 ,this1 perhaps1 is the 
only  feasible course4    ,we must      
return once more to our author before   
taking leave of our  readers4 ,the      
motive for making the collection was one
 that strikes  us as new4 ,it was for   
ethnological and historical purposes4   
,as the  carat points to ,india as the  
origin of the diamond trade1 so we find 

in the names1 mode of subdivision1 and  
amount of weights and measures          
evidences of the migrations of races1   
and of the ancient and obsolete         
channels in which trade once flowed4    
,the care with which ,mr4 ,alexander    
seems to have corrected these tables1   
and adjusted the discordant  elements of
 which they are composed1 and corrected 
the discrepancies  between them1 makes  
them more worthy of reliance than       
anything that has  preceded them1 and   
leaves little to be desired that is     
within the reach  of human attainment4  
,after the alphabetical arrangement1 are
 given the  weight and measure systems  
of the 8principal countries of the      
world10  beginning with ,abyssinia and  
ending with ,wrtemberg4 ,and we have    
only  to add that the mechanical        
execution of the volume is worthy of the
  care and labor the author has spent   
upon it1 unsurpassed1 in fact1 by  any  
book made for use we have ever seen4    
#ada      ,,quinidine4    ,,by ,,mr4    

,,robert ,,howard4    ,this alkaloid1   
which gained a prize in the ,great      
,exhibition1 has  scarcely yet attracted
 much attention4 ,some of the cheaper   
barks now  largely imported from ,new   
,grenada contains so much of it that it 
is1 perhaps1 as well that it should be  
more studied4 ,the ,cinchona            
cordifolia1 from this part of the       
continent1 is particularly rich  in it4 
,it is1 however1 contained in larger or 
smaller quantities in  the ,bolivian and
 ,peruvian barks--the ,cinchona         
,calisaya1 ,boliviana1  rufinervis1 and 
especially ovata4    ,referring your    
readers to a very able paper in your    
,journal1#aj ,i beg  to add a few facts 
from my own observations4    ,the       
sulphate of quinidine1 or  quinine as it
 is called by some1 7,van  ,heijninger  
and others17 is so like the sulphate of 
quinine1 that the  eye or the taste can 
with difficulty distinguish them4 ,it   
forms the  same light fibrous           
crystallization1 and occupies as large a

 bulk4 ,it  corresponds in appearance   
with the description given by ,winckler1
 of  8chinidine40 7,see ,pharm4 ,journ4 
for ,april1 #ahde1 vol4 iv41 p4 #dfh47  
,he notices that it has 8a remarkably   
white color and a peculiarly faint      
lustre40 ,its most striking             
characteristic is its extreme           
solubility4  ,pure sulphate of quinine  
requires nearly thirty times its weight 
of  boiling water for solution1 whilst  
the sulphate of quinidine dissolves  in 
four parts4 ,on the other hand the pure 
alkaloid crystallizes  readily out of   
proof spirit and out of ether1 whilst   
quinine does  not crystallize out of    
either4 ,a very good test for the       
presence of  cinchonine in sulphate of  
quinine is also capable of being applied
  to detect the presence of  quinine4   
,on this point ,i would refer for  very 
interesting details to a paper by ,m4   
,guibourt1 in the ,journal de           
,pharmacie for ,january in this year4   
#aj ,pharmaceutical ,journal1 vol4 ix41 

p4 #cbb1 ,january1 #ahej4    ,in your   
,journal of ,april1 #ahdc1 ,i gave a    
test for sulphate of quinine1  to which 
,i would again advert1 because          
subsequent #adb experience has  proved  
it to be a tolerable easy1 and at the   
same time exact means of  ascertaining  
its purity4 ,put #ajj grains in a       
,florence flask with five  ounces of    
distilled water1 heat this to brisk     
ebullition2 the sulphate  of quinine    
ought not to be entirely dissolved2 add 
two ounces more  water1 and again heat  
it to ebullition2 ought to make a       
perfectly clear  solution4 ,if this be  
allowed to cool for six hours1 and the  
crystals  carefully dried in the open   
air on blotting paper1 they will be     
found  to weigh about ninety grains1 the
 mother-liquor may be evaporated and    
tested with ether1 when any cinchonine  
or  quinine will be easily  detected4   
,on examining sulphate of quinine of    
commerce from several  leading          
manufacturers1 ,i have found all of them

 give1 within a grain or  two1 the same 
result1 and1 in each1 indications of a  
quinine1 though  to an unimportant      
extent4    ,the above quantity of water 
7seven ounces7 readily dissolves #hjj   
grains  of sulphate of  quinine2 and if 
#ajj grains of this salt are dissolved  
in seven ounces of water1 the crystals  
as above weigh only fifty-four  grains1 
thus leaving forty-six grains in        
solution instead of about ten  grains4  
,the medical effects of  quinine deserve
 investigation1 the chemical            
constitution and the taste appear to    
indicate a great similarity if not      
identity4      ,,on ,,the ,,adulteration
 ,,of ,,sulphate ,,of ,,quinine1 ,,and  
,,the ,,means ,,of ,,detection4    ,mr4 
,zimmer1 manufacturer of sulphate of    
quinine in  ,frankfort-on-the-,maine1   
has published the following circular and
 paper  to his correspondents abroad3   
,frankfort-on-the-,maine1 ,feb4 #fth1   
#aheb4    ,you are doubtless1 aware that
 various and partly spurious kinds of   

sulphate of quinine have for some time  
past found their way into  the market4  
,the substance now frequently #adc mixed
 with quinine  is quinidine4 ,but little
 positive is as yet known of the        
medicinal  properties of this alkaloid1 
and whatever may be the result of future
  experiments1 its arbitrary            
substitution is1 under any              
circumstances1  unwarrantable1 and      
renders all fair and honest competition 
almost  impossible4    ,the importance  
of the subject has induced me to address
 a few words to  you1 that ,i may submit
 a simple experiment by means of which  
the most  usual adulterations of quinine
 may readily be detected4     ,i have   
the honor to be1 with much respect1 c4  
,c4 ,,zimmer4           99       99     
99       99       99    ,the high price 
of genuine ,bolivian ,cinchona          
,calisaya1 through the  monopoly of its 
export1 has given occasion to imports1  
from other  districts1 of ,cinchonas1   
the quality of which widely differs from

  that of the ,calisaya1 inasmuch as    
they contain principally quinidine4     
,the lower prices of these barks1       
regardless of their different           
constituents1 have brought them quickly 
into use in many factories of  quinine1 
whereby a large quantity of quinine1    
containing quinidine1  has got into the 
market1 causing an undue depreciation in
 the price of  quinine4    ,the         
existence of this third                 
cinchona-alkaloid is now established    
beyond  a doubt by ultimate analysis1 by
 the peculiarity of its salts1 and by   
important distinctive tests2 and there  
can be no further question1 that        
quinidine must1 equally with cinchonine1
 be distinguished from quinine4  ,the   
external characters of sulphate of      
quinidine differ from those  of sulphate
 of quinine2 it has a greater specific  
gravity and less  flocculent            
crystallization4 ,in dry warm air it    
parts with its water  of                
crystallization1 without deliquescing or

 losing its crystallized  aspect2       
lastly1 it is far more soluble than     
sulphate of quinine in cold  water and  
in alcohol4    ,one of the distinctive  
properties of the three alkaloids in    
question1  viz41 their behavior with    
ether--places in our hands a ready means
  of detecting the mixture of cinchonine
 and #add quinidine1 with  quinine4     
,schweitzer 7,lond4 ,med4 ,gazette1 vol4
 xxi41 p4 #age7 has  already employed   
ether for the detection of cinchonine   
with complete  success1 and his process 
has1 with justice1 been subsequently    
quoted  in most manuals1 as it answers  
its purpose completely2 cinchonine is   
known to be entirely insoluble in ether1
 whatever may be the quantity  of ether 
employed4 ,the solubility of quinidine  
in ether1 as compared  with that of     
quinine1 is but slight2 ten grains of   
pure sulphate of  quinine dissolve in   
sixty drops of ether1 and twenty drops  
of spirit of  ammonia1 while only one   
grain of sulphate of quinidine is       

soluble in  the same quantity of the    
fluid2 and in proportion quinine        
containing  quinidine will always be    
less soluble than pure sulphate of      
quinine4    ,guided by this fact ,i can 
recommend the following simple and very 
convenient process for the detection of 
quinidine and quinine3    ,ten grains of
 the salt to be examined is to put into 
a strong test  tube1 furnished with a   
tight-fitting cork1 to this are to be   
added  ten drops of diluted sulphuric   
acid1 7one acid and five water7 with    
fifteen drops of water1 and a gentle    
heat applied to accelerate the          
solution4 ,this having been affected1   
and the solution entirely cooled1  sixty
 drops of officinal sulphuric ether with
 twenty drops of spirits  of ammonia1   
must be added1 and the whole well shaken
 while the top is  closed by the thumb4 
,the tube is then to be closely stopped 
and shaken  gently from time to time1 so
 that the bubbles of air may more       
readily  enter the layer of ether4      

,if the salt examined be free from      
cinchonine and quinidine1 or contain    
the latter in no greater proportion than
 ten per cent41 it will be  completely  
dissolved2 while on the surface1 where  
contact of the two  layers of clear     
fluid takes place1 the mechanical       
impurities only will  be separated 7in  
which respect the various sorts of      
commercial quinine  differ47 ,after     
sometime longer the layer of ether      
becomes hard and  gelatinous1 after     
which no further observation is         
possible4    ,from the above statement  
respecting the solubility of #ade       
quinidine  in ether1 it appears that the
 ten grains of the salt to be examined1 
may contain one grain of quinidine1 and 
still a complete solution with  ether   
and ammonia may follow2 but in this case
 the quinidine will  shortly begin to   
crystallize in the layer of ether4 ,the 
last trace of  quinidine may be yet more
 definitely detected by employing1      
instead of  the ordinary ether1 some    

other1 previously saturated with        
quinidine1 by  which means all of the   
quinidine contained in the quinine must 
remain  undissolved4 ,it is particularly
 requisite in performing this last      
experiment to observe1 after the        
shaking1 whether all has dissolved1  for
 owing to the great tendency of         
quinidine to crystallization1 it may    
become again separated in a crystalline 
form1 and be a source of error4    ,if  
more than a tenth of quinidine or       
cinchonine be present1 there will  be   
found an insoluble precipitate at the   
limits of the two layers of  fluids4 ,if
 this be quinidine1 it will be dissolved
 on the addition of  proportionately    
more ether1 while cinchonine will be    
unaffected4    ,it is expressly to be   
remarked1 that the necessity for testing
 sulphate  of quinine1 in search of     
other fraudulent adulterations is not   
superseded by the above described       
process4    ,we have particularly to    
determine upon the absence of inorganic 

substances1 which may be effected by    
subjecting to red heat on a  platinum   
dish1 or simply by solution in alcohol4 
,gypsum1 chalk1  magnesia1 c41 will be  
left undissolved4 ,boracic acid will be 
dissolved  by alcohol1 but its green    
flame will indicate its presence in the 
alcoholic solution when ignited4    ,the
 absence of organic substances1 such as 
salicine1 sugar1 stearic  acid1 c41 may 
be inferred from the formation of a     
colorless solution  with pure           
concentrated cold sulphuric acid2 it is 
as well to leave the  sulphuric acid to 
act for some hours4    ,the presence of 
sal-ammoniac may be detected by the     
addition of caustic  potash to the      
suspected salt1 when1 if present1 it    
will be known by  the diffusion of the  
ammoniacal odour4--,pharmaceutical      
,journal1 ,march1  #aheb4    #adf       
,,remarks ,,on ,,the ,,envelopement ,,of
 ,,pills4    ,,by ,,dorvault4    ,the   
envelopement of pills is a minute       
question1 an accessory in this  form of 

administering medicines1 but as it is a 
frequent cause of  trouble to           
practitioners1 and as their successful  
operation is often  due to their        
peculiar mode of exhibition1 we shall   
perhaps be pardoned  for devoting a     
short space to the subject4    ,in order
 that pills may not adhere to one       
another1 they are rolled  in an inert   
powder1 such as marsh-mallow1 liquorice1
 and above all1  lycopodium4 ,carbonate 
of magnesia is now particularly used for
 pills  of turpentine and copaiba4 ,to  
disguise the peculiar odour of the pill 
mass1 ,german practitioners use iris    
powder1 or cinnamon4    ,to render pills
 more pleasing to the eye1 as well as to
 disguise their  taste1 instead of      
rolling them in the before named        
powders1 they are  frequently covered   
with gold or silver leaf4 ,the mode of  
doing this is  too well known to need   
repetition4 ,we will only remark that   
those pills  which contain iodine1      
bromine1 sulphur1 iodides1 bromides1    

sulphides1  salts of mercury1 gold1     
platina1 c41 cannot be silvered4        
,these methods conceal but imperfectly  
the unpleasant taste and smell of       
certain pillular compounds4 ,m4 ,garot1 
to obviate this inconvenience1  has     
proposed to cover pills with a layer of 
gelatine1 by means of a  process which  
he has made public1 and into the details
 of which we  think it needless to      
enter4 ,the gelatinous layer conceals   
the bad taste  and smell perfectly1 but 
it is attended with one inconvenience2  
in time  it shrinks1 cracks1 and the    
pill mass exudes4 ,besides1 much skill  
is  required in its manipulation4 ,after
 gelatinization comes sugaring4 ,this   
is frequently preferable to the former  
modes1 and can be equally well  applied 
to pills of a repulsive taste and smell1
 7copaiba1 turpentine1  musk1 assaftida1
 c417 or to those which are changed by  
air or light1  7proto salts of iron17 or
 deliquescent1 7iod-hydrargyrate of     
iodide  of potassium17 or caustic1      

7croton oil47 ,it can extemporaneously  
be  performed in the following          
manner3--,put the pills into a vase with
 a  round bottom1 #adg or into a box    
lined with silver1 moisten them with  a 
little syrup of sugar1 clear mucilage1  
or white of eggs1 agitate  them so as to
 moisten them uniformly2 add a mixture  
of equal parts of  gum1 sugar and       
starch2 again rotate them1 so as equally
 to enclose  all the pills4 ,if a first 
layer be not sufficient1 add a second   
and  third in the same manner4 ,dry them
 in the air or in a stove4 ,in damp     
weather1 these pills should be enclosed 
in corked bottles4 ,gelatine  of        
carragheen or caseine dried and powdered
 may be substituted for  the above      
powdered mixture4 ,this method is more  
expeditious than  gelatinisation1 and it
 has besides the advantage of the       
material being  always perfectly        
soluble4 ,collodion has been proposed   
for enveloping  pills1 but seems never  
to have been used4    ,the last method  

we shall call toluisation4 ,it appears  
to possess  many decided advantages over
 the others4 ,m4 ,blancard1 its         
originator1  employs it particularly for
 pills of proto iodide of iron4 ,it is  
to  induce its more general use that we 
make these remarks4 ,the following  is  
the mode of proceeding1 which can be    
modified to suit the daily  wants of    
practice3    ,dissolve one part of      
balsam of tolu1 in three parts of ether1
 7the  balsam which has been used in the
 preparation of syrup of tolu will      
answer perfectly27 pour some of this    
tincture into a capsule containing  the 
pills1 to favor the evaporation of the  
ether4 ,when the pills  begin to stick  
together1 throw them on a mould of tin  
passed through  mercury1 or simply on a 
plate1 taking care to separate those    
which  stick together4 ,set them in the 
air to dry4 ,the drying may be completed
  in a stove of moderate heat1          
especially if several layers have been  
found necessary4 ,this mode of          

enveloping may take the place1 or nearly
  so1 of all the others4 ,an important  
point in it1 is1 that it resists  the   
effects both of damp and dryness on the 
pill mass4 ,its balsamic  odour is      
generally agreeable2 but should it not  
be so1 the tolu might  be replaced by   
some inert resin soluble in ether1 as   
mastic tears for  example4 ,the layer of
 resinous matter is so thin1 that we    
apprehend no  obstacle in its influence 
on the medicine4 #adh    ,we will1      
however1 make one general remark1       
namely3 that as each method  possesses  
some peculiar advantages1 we thought it 
right to give them  all4--,bulletin     
,gen4 ,ther4 ,med4 et ,chir4 ,january1  
#aheb4      ,,on ,,the ,,application    
,,of ,,organic ,,chemistry ,,to         
,,perfumery4    ,,by ,,dr4 ,a4 ,w4      
,,hoffman4    ,professor to the ,royal  
,college of ,chemistry1 ,london4        
,cahours' excellent researches          
concerning the essential oil of         
gaultheria procumbens 7a ,north         

,american plant of the natural order  of
 the ,ericin of ,jussieu17 which admits 
of so many applications in  perfumery1  
have opened a new field in this branch  
of industry4 ,the  introduction of this 
oil among compound ethers must          
necessarily direct  the attention of    
perfumers towards this important branch 
of compounds1  the number of which is   
daily increasing by the labors of those 
who  apply themselves to organic        
chemistry4 ,the striking similarity of  
the  smell of these ethers to that of   
fruit has not escaped the observation   
of chemists2 however1 it was reserved to
 practical men to discover  by which    
choice and combinations it might be     
possible to imitate the  scent of       
peculiar fruits to such a nicety1 as to 
make it probable that  the scent of the 
fruit is owing to a natural combination 
identical to  that produced by art2 so  
much so1 as to enable the chemist to    
produce  from fruits the said           
combinations1 provided he could have at 

his  disposal a sufficient quantity to  
operate upon4 ,the manufacture of       
artificial aromatic oils for the purpose
 of perfumery is1 of course1  a recent  
branch of industry2 nevertheless1 it has
 already fallen into  the hands of      
several distillers1 who produce         
sufficient quantity to  supply the      
trade2 a fact1 which has not escaped the
 observation of the  ,jury at the       
,london ,exhibition4 ,in visiting the   
stalls of ,english and  ,french         
perfumers at the ,crystal ,palace1 we   
found a great variety of  these chemical
 perfumes1 #adi the applications of     
which were at the  same time practically
 illustrated by confectionery flavored  
by them4  ,however1 as most of the      
samples of the oils sent to the         
,exhibition were  but small1 ,i was     
prevented1 in many cases1 from making an
 accurate  analysis of them4 ,the       
largest samples were those of a compound
 labelled  8,pear oil10 which1 by       
analysis1 ,i discovered to be an        

alcoholic  solution of pure acetate of  
amyloxide4 ,not having sufficient       
quantity  to purify it for combustion1  
,i dissolved it with potash1 by which   
free  fusel oil was separated1 and      
determined the acetic acid in the form  
of  a silver salt4     #j1cjhj gram4 of 
silver salt  #j1aiig gram4 of silver4   
,the per centage of silver in acetate of
 silver is1 according to     ,theory4   
,experiment4    #fd1fh          #fd1ee4 
,the acetate of amyloxide which1        
according to the usual way of preparing 
it1 represents one part sulphuric acid1 
one part fusel oil1 and two  parts of   
acetate of potash1 had a striking smell 
of fruit1 but it  acquired the pleasant 
flavor of the jargonelle pear only after
 having  been diluted with six times its
 volume of spirits of wine4    ,upon    
further inquiry ,i learned that         
considerable quantities of this  oil are
 manufactured by some distillers1 from  
fifteen to twenty pounds  weekly1 and   
sold to confectioners1 who employ it    

chiefly it flavoring  pear-drops1 which 
are nothing else but barley-sugar1      
flavored with this  oil4    ,i found1   
besides the pear-oil1 also an apple-oil1
 which1 according to  my analysis1 is   
nothing but valerianate of amyloxide4   
,every one must  recollect the          
insupportable smell of rotten apples    
which fills the  laboratory whilst      
making valerianic acid4 ,by operating   
upon this new  distillate produced with 
diluted potash1 valerianic acid is      
removed1  and an ether remains behind   
which1 diluted in five or six times its 
volume of spirits of wine1 is possessed 
of the most pleasant flavor of  apples4 
,the essential oil most abundant in the 
,exhibition was the pine-apple  oil1    
which1 as you well know1 is nothing else
 but the butyrate of  ethyloxide4 ,even 
in this combination1 as in #aej the     
former1 the  pleasant flavor or scent is
 only attained by diluting the ether    
with  alcohol4 ,the butyric ether which 
is employed in ,germany to flavor  bad  

rum1 is employed in ,england to flavor  
an acidulated drink called  pine-apple  
ale4 ,for this purpose they generally do
 not employ pure  butyric acid1 but a   
product obtained by saponification of   
butter1 and  subsequent distillation of 
the soap with concentrated sulphuric    
acid  and alcohol2 which product        
contains1 besides the butyric ether1    
other  ethers1 but nevertheless can be  
used for flavoring spirits4 ,the sample 
,i analyzed was purer1 and appeared to  
have been made with pure butyric  ether4
    ,decomposed with potash and changed 
into silver salt1 it gave     #j1ddjd   
gram4 of silver salt  #j1bdcg gram4 of  
silver4    ,the per centage of silver in
 the butyrate of silver is according to 
,theory4      ,experiment4    #ee1ch    
#ee1cc4    ,both ,english and ,french   
exhibitors have also sent samples of    
cognac-oil  and grape-oil1 which are    
employed to flavor the common sorts of  
brandy4 ,as these samples were very     
small1 ,i was prevented from making  an 

accurate analysis4 ,however1 ,i am      
certain that the grape-oil is a         
combination of amyl1 diluted with much  
alcohol2 since1 when acted upon  with   
concentrated sulphuric acid1 and the oil
 freed from alcohol by  washing it with 
water1 it gave amylsulphuric acid1 which
 was identified  by the analysis of the 
salt of barytes4    #a1bfij gram4 of    
amylsulphate of barytes gave #j1ehbe    
gram4 of sulphate  of barytes4 ,this    
corresponds to #de1hb per cent4 of      
sulphate of barytes4    ,amylsulphate of
 barytes1 crystallized with two         
equivalents of water1  contains1        
according to the analysis of ,cahours   
and ,kekule1 #de1ie per  cent4 of       
sulphate of barytes4 ,it is curious to  
find here a body1  which1 on account of 
its noxious smell1 is removed with great
 care  from spirituous liquors1 to be   
applied under a different form for the  
purpose of imparting to them a pleasant 
flavor4 #aea    ,i must needs here also 
mention the artificial oil of bitter    

almonds4  ,when ,mitscherlich1 in the   
year #ahcd1 discovered the nitrobenzol1 
he  would not have dreamed that this    
product would be manufactured for the   
purpose of perfumery1 and1 after twenty 
years1 appear in fine labelled  samples 
at the ,london ,exhibition4 ,it is true 
that1 even at the time of  the discovery
 of nitrobenzol1 he pointed out the     
striking similarity of  its smell to    
that of the oil of bitter almonds4      
,however1 at that time1  the only known 
sources for obtaining this body were the
 compressed  gases and the distillation 
of benzoic acid1 consequently the       
enormity  of its price banished any idea
 of employing benzol as a substitute    
for oil of bitter almonds4 ,however1 in 
the year #ahde1 ,i succeeded by  means  
of the anilin-reaction in ascertaining  
the existence of benzol  in common      
coal-tar-oil4 ,in his essay1 which      
contains many interesting  details about
 the practical use of benzol1 he speaks 
likewise of the  possibility of soon    

obtaining sweet scented nitrobenzol in  
great  quantity4 ,the ,exhibition has   
proved that this observation has not    
been  left unnoticed by the perfumers4  
,among ,french perfumeries we have      
found1 under the name of artificial oil 
of bitter almonds1 and under  the still 
more poetical name of 8essence de       
mirbane10 several samples  of essential 
oils1 which are no more nor less than   
nitrobenzol4 ,i was  not able to obtain 
accurate details about the extent of    
this branch  of manufacture1 which seems
 to be of some importance4 ,in ,london1 
this  article is manufactured with      
success4 ,the apparatus employed is that
  of ,mansfield1 which is very simple2  
it consists of a large glass worm1  the 
upper extremity of which divides in two 
branches or tubes1 which  are provided  
with funnels4 ,through one of these     
funnels passes a stream  of concentrated
 nitric acid2 the other is destined as a
 receiver of  benzol1 which1 for this   
purpose1 requires not to be quite pure2 

at  the angle from where the two tubes  
branch out1 the two bodies meet         
together1 and instantly the chemical    
combination takes place1 which  cools   
sufficiently by passing through the     
glass worm4 ,the product is  afterwards 
washed with water1 and some diluted     
solution of carbonate  of #aeb soda2 it 
is then ready for use4 ,notwithstanding 
the great  physical similarity between  
nitrobenzol and oil of bitter almonds1  
there is yet a slight difference in     
smell which can be detected by an       
experienced nose4 ,however1 nitrobenzol 
is very useful in scenting soap1  and   
might be employed with great advantage  
by confectioners and cooks1             
particularly on account of its safety1  
being entirely free from prussic  acid4 
,there were1 besides the above1 several 
other artificial oils2 they all1        
however1 were more or less complicated1 
and in such small quantities1  that it  
was impossible to ascertain their exact 
nature1 and it was  doubtful whether    

they had the same origin as the former4 
,the application of organic chemistry to
 perfumery is quite new2 it is  probable
 that the study of all the ethers or    
ethereal combinations  already known1   
and of those which the ingenuity of the 
chemist is daily  discovering1 will     
enlarge the sphere of their practical   
applications4  ,the caprylethers lately 
discovered by ,bouris are remarkable for
 their  aromatic smells 7the acetate of 
capryloxide is possessed of the most    
intense and pleasant smell17 and they   
promise a large harvest to the          
manufacturers of perfumes4--,annalen der
 ,chemie4--,in ,an4 of ,pharmacy4       
,,on ,,tests ,,for ,,the ,,impurities   
,,of ,,acetic ,,acid4    ,pure acetic   
acid is colorless1 possesses strong acid
 properties and  taste1 and no          
empyreumatic flavor4 ,it should have1   
according to the  new ,london           
,pharmacopia1 a specific gravity of     
#a4jdh1 and one hundred  grains should  
saturate eighty-seven grains of         

crystallized carbonate  of soda2        
consequently the pharmacopial acid      
consists of thirty-one  per cent4 of the
 anhydrous acid1 and sixty-nine per     
cent4 of water4  ,it should leave no    
residuum by evaporation4 ,sulphuretted  
hydrogen1  nitrate of barytes1          
ferrocyanuret of potash1 and nitrate of 
silver1  should produce no precipitate  
in it4 ,when it contains empyreumatic   
#aec matter1 which besides being evident
 to the smell1 concentrated  sulphuric  
acid causes its color to darken4 ,sugar1
 in a more or less  changed condition1  
is frequently one of the impurities of  
the ,german  diluted commercial acid1   
and may be recognized by the taste of   
the  residuum left upon its evaporation4
    ,when sulphuretted hydrogen produces
 in acetic acid a milky turbidity1  it  
shows that sulphurous acid is present1  
the presence of which is due  to the    
decomposition of coloring and other     
organic matters1 contained  as          
impurities in the acetates1 from which  

the acetic was prepared1 when  treated  
with sulphuric acid4 ,the turbidity is  
caused by the separation  of sulphur    
from the sulphuretted hydrogen1 and from
 the sulphurous acid  by reason of the  
hydrogen of the former combining with   
the oxygen of  the latter1 and forming  
water 7,wittstein47 ,if the sulphuretted
 hydrogen  produces a black precipitate1
 either lead or copper may be present4  
,the lead may be recognized by sulphuric
 acid giving a precipitate of  sulphate 
of lead2 and the copper1 by the blue    
reaction which ensues1  with an excess  
of ammonia4 ,sulphuric acid can be      
readily known when  present by nitrate  
of barytes producing a white            
precipitate1 insoluble  in mineral      
acids4 ,nitrate of silver detects       
muriatic acid by throwing  down a white 
precipitate1 which changes1 under the   
influence of light1  to a violet color1 
and is insoluble in nitric acid1 but    
soluble in  ammonia4 ,ferrocyanuret of  
potassium will indicate the presence of 

salt  of iron when by its addition1 a   
blue precipitate results4    ,the above 
tests are not applicable to the same    
extent to detect the  impurities of the 
brown vinegar of commerce1 because      
manufacturers are  allowed by law to add
 to it a small per centage of sulphuric 
acid1 and  there are always sulphates   
and chlorides and other salts present in
 it1  derived from the water used in its
 manufacture2 therefore1 in testing  for
 its impurities1 an allowance must be   
made for those which arise  from the    
necessary process of the manufacture1   
and those considered  only as           
adulterations which are over and above  
such fair allowance4  ,to detect such   
impurities as cayenne pepper1 #aed c41  
it is merely  necessary to neutralize   
the vinegar with carbonate of soda1 when
 their  presence will be palpably       
evident to the taste4    ,acetic acid   
may be purified by distillation from    
those substances  which are not         
volatile4 ,by adding acetate of lead    

previously to its  distillation1        
sulphuric and muriatic acids can be     
separated from it2  and sulphurous acid 
can be removed by peroxide of manganese1
 which  converts it into sulphuric acid4
 ,it can be freed from empyreumatic     
impurities by agitation with charcoal1  
subsequent filtration and  distillation4
    ,the strength of acetic acid and    
vinegar cannot be determined by the     
specific gravity4 ,the power of         
saturating an alkaline carbonate is the 
best criterion of the quantity of       
anhydrous acid present in any given     
sample4 ,this method will only give     
correct results when the acid is  pure1 
or when the quantities of free mineral  
acids have been estimated  previously by
 precipitation1 so as to make the       
necessary deductions for  their         
saturating power when the acid is       
neutralized with an alkaline  carbonate4
 ,it would be well if pharmaceutists    
were more frequently  to try the        
strength of their acetic acid1 which is 

constantly sold  with very plausible    
labels1 about one part of the acid to   
seven parts  of water1 making the       
distilled vinegar of the ,pharmacopia1  
which  statement we have oftentimes     
proved to be a very pretty              
fiction4--,an4  of ,pharmacy1 ,march1   
#aheb4      ,a ,,test ,,for ,,alcohol   
,,in ,,essential ,,oils4    ,j4 ,j4     
,bernoulli recommends for this purpose  
acetate of potash4 ,when to  an etherial
 oil1 contaminated with alcohol1 dry    
acetate of potash is  added1 this salt  
dissolves in the alcohol1 and forms a   
solution from  which the volatile oil   
separates4 ,if the oil be free from     
alcohol1 this  salt remains dry therein4
    ,wittstein1 who speaks highly of    
this test1 has suggested the following  
method of applying it as the best3--,in 
a dry test #aee tube1 about  half an    
inch in diameter1 and five or six inches
 long1 put not more  than eight grains  
of powdered dry acetate of potash2 then 
fill the tube  two-thirds full with the 

essential oil to be examined4 ,the      
contents  of the tube must be well      
stirred with a glass rod1 taking care   
not to  allow the salt to rise above the
 oil2 afterwards set aside for a short  
time4 ,if the salt be found at the      
bottom of the tube dry1 it is evident   
that the oil contains no spirit4        
,oftentimes1 instead of the dry salt1   
beneath the oil is found a clear syrupy 
fluid1 which is a solution of  the salt 
in the spirit1 with which the oil was   
mixed4 ,when the oil  contains only a   
little spirit1 a small portion of the   
solid salt will  be found under the     
syrupy solution4 ,many essential oils   
frequently  contain a trace of water1   
which does not materially interfere with
 this  test1 because1 although the      
acetate of potash becomes moist thereby1
 it  still retains its pulverent form4  
,a still more certain result may be     
obtained by distillation in a  water    
bath4 ,all the essential oils which have
 a higher boiling point  than spirit1   

remain in the retort1 whilst the spirit 
passes into  the receiver with only a   
trace of the oil1 where the alcohol may 
be  recognized by the smell and taste4  
,should1 however1 a doubt exist1 add  to
 the distillate a little acetate of     
potash and strong sulphuric acid1  and  
heat the mixture in a test tube to the  
boiling point1 when the  characteristic 
odor of acetic ether will be manifest1  
if any alcohol be  present4             
,,chemical ,,examination ,,of ,,resin   
,,of ,,jalap4    ,,by ,b4 ,,sandrock4   
,it is a well known fact that when resin
 of jalap is treated with ether1  we    
obtain two kinds of resin1 one soluble1 
and the other insoluble  in ether4 ,dr4 
,kayser chose first for his analysis    
that part of the  resin which is        
insoluble in ether4 ,this resin1        
purified by means of  charcoal1 was     
friable1 almost colorless1 without smell
 or taste1  insoluble in ether and      
water1 but easily #aef dissolved by     
spirit of  wine2 the alcoholic solution 

reddens litmus slightly4 ,the resin1    
again  precipitated by water1 was       
perfectly soluble in solution of caustic
  ammonia and acetic acid4 ,this resin  
was dissolved with difficultly in  cold 
solutions of caustic potash and soda1   
but was perfectly soluble  when hot1 and
 could again be readily precipitated    
from the alkaline  solutions by acids4  
,the solution of this resin1 in ammonia 
was of a  bright brown color1 and became
 neutral by volatizing the superfluous  
ammonia4 ,it is consequently a resinous 
acid1 which is distinguished  from other
 resinous acids1 by the facts that it   
does not precipitate  the bases from    
metalic salts1 such as nitrate of       
silver1 sulphate of  copper2 it afforded
 only a precipitate when acted upon by  
basic-acetate  of lead4 ,a question     
arose1 whether the resin of jalap1      
dissolved in  alkaline fluids1 undergoes
 any changes in its constitution4 ,to   
answer  this question1 ,kayser undertook
 several analyses1 the results of which 

were as follows3 ,the uncombined resin  
of jalap gave ,c #db1 ,h #ce1 ,o        
#bj4--,the resin1 precipitated by oxide 
of lead1 gave ,c #db1 ,h #cf1 ,o #ba4   
,it is evident that resin of jalap1     
combined with the bases of salts1       
acquires the elements of one equivalent 
of water4 ,dr4 ,kayser1 has named  the  
unchanged resin of jalap1 rhodeoretin1  
and that modified by bases  of salts1   
hydro-rhodeoretin4    ,by dissolving    
rhodeoretin in absolute alcohol and     
submitting the  solution to the action  
of chlorine1 and subsequently adding    
water to  it1 ,kayser obtained an oily  
fluid1 dark yellow1 possessing a        
pleasant  smell1 easy to be volatilized 
by heat1 soluble in water1 which he     
called rhodeoretin oil4    ,the part of 
the resin soluble in ether1 possesses   
eminently the  disagreeable smell of    
jalap1 a prickly taste2 its solution    
reddens  litmus1 and in drying leaves a 
greasy spot on paper2 it is soluble in  
alkaline fluids4 ,if the alcoholic      

solution is allowed to stand1 mixed     
with water1 for a lengthened period1    
prismatic crystalline needles  are      
precipitated4 ,according to these       
properties1 ,kayser includes the        
soluble jalap resin among the fatty     
acids4 ,sandrock in general agrees  with
 ,kayser2 but1 according to his         
analysis1 the jalap can be resolved  in 
three #aeg different resins1 one soluble
 in ether1 the second  obtained by      
precipitating the alcoholic solution by 
oxides of lead2 the  third remains      
unprecipitated in this solution4        
,that part of the resin which is        
insoluble in ether1 but is precipitated 
from the alcoholic solution by oxide of 
lead1 ,sandrock calls alpha  resin2 that
 which is not precipitated1 beta resin2 
that part which is  soluble in ether he 
calls gamma resin4    ,the alpha resin  
agrees in its properties with ,buchner's
 and ,herberger's  jalapine4 ,sandrock  
calls ipomic acid1 the produce of this  
resin when  treated by boiling          

carbonated alkaline solution2 and the   
one obtained  in the same way from beta 
resin1 jalapic acid4 ,the gamma resin   
forms  in ether a yellow solution1 and a
 purple one in concentrated sulphuric   
acid4--,archiven der ,pharmacie4        
,,on ,,the ,,preparation ,,of           
,,chloroform ,,from ,,the ,,essences    
,,of ,,lemon1 ,,copaiba1  ,,peppermint  
,,and ,,bergamotte4    ,,by ,m4         
,,chautard1    ,professor of ,chemistry 
at the ,lyceum of ,vendome4    ,m4      
,chautard1 after having completed his   
experiments for the production  of      
chloroform by means of oil of turpentine
 instead of alcohol1 led  by analogy1   
proceeded to try by a similar method to 
prepare it by  means of the essences of 
lemon1 bergamotte1 copaiba and          
peppermint1  and succeeded4 ,however1   
the quantity of essences upon which he  
acted  was too small to carry on a      
minute analysis4 ,in the meanwhile1 his 
researches led him to discover formic   
acid in the calcareous residuum  of the 

operation4 ,it was already known1 ,m4   
,chautard observes1 that oil  of        
turpentine1 when old and exposed a long 
time to the action of the  air1 was     
transformed into formic acid1 which     
observations is due to ,m4  ,wappen4 ,on
 the other hand1 ,m4 ,schneider1 by     
collecting the volatile  products of the
 oxidation #aeh of turpentine1 by means 
of nitric  acid1 detected therein the   
presence of acetic1 metacetic1 and      
butyric  acids4 ,finally1 a few years   
ago1 ,mr4 ,william ,bastick#aa showed   
that  hypo-chlorite of lime1 by reacting
 upon neutral unazotised bodies1  such  
as sugar1 starch1 c41 gave rise to the  
formation of a certain  quantity of     
formate of lime2 hence1 turning to      
advantage the details  given by this    
chemist1 ,m4 ,chautard continues--,i    
thus have carried on my  operation3     
#aa 8,journal de ,pharmacie10 #c;e      
serie1 #a4 #ad4    ,after having        
ascertained1 by means of the solution of
 indigo1 that the  residuum contained in

 the alembic did not contain any        
hypochlorite of  lime1 the presence of  
which would have prevented the          
extraction of  formic acid1 ,i threw the
 whole upon a cloth1 and added sulphuric
 acid  to the filtered liquor to        
precipitate the lime retained in a state
 of  chloride or formate4--,this liquor1
 after having been filtered anew1 was   
distilled1 and the product was a mixture
 of formic and hydrochloric  acids1     
which ,i saturated by means of carbonate
 of soda4 ,by subsequent  evaporation to
 dryness1 ,i succeeded1 by adding       
afterwards a little  water1 in          
separating the formate of soda from the 
chloride4 ,by means  of the formate of  
soda1 ,i proved the principal properties
 of formic  acid1 and besides1 produced 
from it the formate of silver1 which is 
decomposed by a boiling heat1 leaving a 
precipitate of metalic silver4    ,in   
finishing this communication1 ,i must   
observe that fixed oils1  treated in the
 same way by hypochlorite of lime1 do   

not produce  chloroform2 however1 the   
reaction which occurs is so strong1 and 
indicative of interesting results1 that 
it induces me to continue my            
experiments4--,journal de ,pharmacie4   
,,on ,,dry ,,extracts4    ,,by ,,dr4    
,,mohr4    ,every one is aware of the   
utility of possessing dry extracts1     
particularly of narcotic plants1 so as  
to be able to administer them  as       
powders4 ,this able pharmaceutist gives 
the following #aei formula  for their   
preparation2 and as it seems to answer  
all purposes1 and is  adopted in        
,berlin1 and other continental towns1 it
 deserves to be made  public4    ,take  
of any extract1 and of powder of        
licorice equal parts1 mix them  well in 
a mortar2 when well mixed1 put the paste
 in an earthenware  evaporating dish1   
and then put this vessel over an iron   
pan1 which has  been filled with        
chloride of calcium1 previously dried in
 the vessel  by a strong fire without   
melting2 the iron vessel must have a    

cover  to enclose both vessels1 so that 
the chloride of calcium can absorb  the 
vapor from the extract without          
communication with the air1 and  must be
 put on as soon as the extract has been 
placed on the chloride  of calcium4 ,let
 it stand for some days4 ,remove the    
extract1 and add  an equal weight of    
licorice powder to it in a mortar1 mix  
well1 and  preserve it in bottles4      
,,editorial4      ,,pharmaceutical      
,,convention4 ,the apothecaries of the  
,united ,states are  in an anomalous and
 exceptional position4 ,exercising      
functions which  concern the life and   
health of those who require their       
services1 the  public expects them to   
possess the experience1 the varied      
requirement1  the high moral qualities  
which the proper exercise of their      
profession  demands2 yet this same      
public1 itself incapable of             
discriminating  between knowledge and   
ignorance1 furnishes them no aid in the 
pursuits  of their studies1 and yields  

them no protection against quackery and 
imposture4 ,everything is left to the   
spirit of trade1 and to the laws  of    
supply and demand4 ,the advances that   
have been made in pharmacy  have come   
from within itself1 unaided by any      
assistance from the state  governments1 
and looked upon often with coldness or  
distrust by the  public4 ,in this way1  
in some of the large cities1 with the   
influence of  the sister profession of  
medicine1 something has been done2 but1 
even  there1 how much remains to be     
accomplished before pharmacy can assume 
the rank it holds in ,france and        
,germany6    ,as heretofore1 so now1 the
 best and the only prospect of progress 
in the profession lies in itself4 ,it   
best knows its necessities and          
requirments1 and it can best devise the 
remedies that will meet  them4 ,it is in
 the union of its members1 in mutual    
association and  intercourse1 in the    
formation of a public opinion of its    
own1 which1  #afj operating first upon  

the members of the profession1 will     
necessarily have its weight upon the    
public opinion of the community1  that  
lie our best hopes4 ,pharmacy is at once
 a liberal art1 and a  trade4 ,in       
individuals1 particularly in a community
 like ours1 the  spirit of trade is apt 
to be in the ascendant4 ,science is     
estimated at  its money value1 for what 
it brings in1 rather than for what it   
is4  ,but when the best men of a        
profession meet together1 science       
resumes  its proper position2 they are  
encouraged in their noblest aims1 and   
that encouragement is spread widely     
among their fellows4 ,individuals       
struggling1 isolated throughout the     
country1 feel that there is a  tribunal 
to which they can appeal1 and by which  
they will be judged1  and its influence 
will be felt too by another class1 as a 
restraint1  if not an encouragement4    
,success1 obtained by worthy means1     
loses much  of its value1 when it costs 
the esteem of those with whom we are    

most  intimately connected4    ,it is   
from such considerations that we look   
upon the approaching  convention at     
,philadelphia1 as a step in a very      
important movement4 ,a  great deal      
depends upon its success1 and every one 
who has the interest  of pharmaceutical 
science at heart1 should do all he can  
to promote it4    ,to prove all that is 
hoped for by its friends1 the convention
 should  be a national one1 not only in 
name1 but in reality4 ,every institution
  and society entitled under the        
requisitions of the call1 should appoint
  delegates1 and above all1 they should 
appoint delegates who will  attend4 ,but
 there are many apothecaries scattered  
through the country1  in places not     
entitled to appoint delegates1 who may  
be enabled to be  present at the meeting
 of the convention1 and we are glad to  
see that  our ,philadelphia brethren are
 prepared to welcome them in a liberal  
and cordial spirit4 ,they will both     
receive and communicate benefit4  ,their

 presence will add weight and authority 
to the convention2 while1  independent  
of its official proceedings1 they cannot
 but derive  advantages from            
acquaintance and intercourse with the   
numerous able  members of the profession
 who will1 as delegates1 attend the     
meeting4    ,great care should be       
exercised in the selection of delegates2
 they  should not only1 above all1 be   
men who will attend1 but men who have at
  heart the position and advancement of 
pharmaceutists4    ,we hope that their  
election will take place as early as    
possible1 that  they may have time fully
 to consider the objects of the         
convention1  and the wants and wishes of
 the institutions they represent4 ,it   
would  be well1 too1 if early notice of 
their election should be communicated   
to ,mr4 ,proctor1 or some other of the  
members residing at ,philadelphia1  and 
their names should be published4 ,the   
convention will have much to  discuss   
and determine upon1 while its duration  

will necessarily be  limited4 ,were the 
names of its members early announced1 an
 interchange  of opinion might take     
place between1 not to forstall the      
active of the  convention1 but to       
promote and expedite it4 ,for this      
purpose1 if deemed  desirable our own   
columns are freely tendered4    #afa    
,,new ,,york    ,,journal ,,of          
,,pharmacy4    ,,june1 #aheb4      ,,on 
,,the ,,preparation ,,of ,,pure ,,barium
 ,,compounds4    ,,by ,,henry ,,wurtz4  
,the preparation of the compounds of    
barium in a state of absolute  purity is
 a subject which has not generally      
received much attention  from           
,pharmaceutical chemists1 in consequence
 of the hitherto limited  application of
 these compounds1 except in chemical    
analysis4 ,the time1  however1 is       
undoubtedly close at hand1 when new     
developments in the  arts1 will create a
 demand for pure barium compounds1 as   
well as for  very many other products   
now considered as pertaining exclusively

 to  the laboratory4 ,indeed1 efforts   
have already been made to introduce  the
 chlorate of barytes to the notice of   
pyrotechnists as a means of  producing a
 green fire unequalled in beauty1 and   
the pure carbonate has  been for some   
time in use in ,england1 in the         
manufacture of superior  varieties of   
plate and flint glass4 ,the precipitated
 or purified native  sulphate is also   
preferred as a water color pigment to   
white lead1  being far more durable than
 the latter4 ,i may here be permitted to
  mention a practical application of the
 carbonate which has occurred  to       
myself4 ,i have found that sulphate of  
lime is totally precipitated  from its  
solution by mixing therewith an         
equivalent quantity of the  precipitated
 or finely pulverized natural carbonate 
of barytes1 #afb  of course with the    
formation of sulphate of barytes and    
carbonate  of lime4 ,it is by no means  
improbable that this property may be    
made  available in removing sulphate of 

lime from spring or sea water which  is 
to be used in steam boilers1 thus       
preventing the formation of the         
troublesome incrustation which so often 
occurs1 especially when it is           
considered that the sulphate of barytes 
which would be formed1 might  easily be 
reconverted into carbonate and used over
 again4 ,again1  sulphate of lime might 
be removed in the same way from the     
brine in  salt works1 thus contributing 
to the purity of the salt produced4     
,recent improvements in chemical        
analysis have greatly increased the     
usefulness of barium compounds in the   
laboratory1 especially of the           
carbonate1 to which the late            
investigations of ,professor ,h4 ,rose1 
and  of ,ebelmen have given a place in  
the very first rank among the reagents  
valuable to the chemist4 ,any           
suggestion1 therefore1 concerning the   
preparation of barium compounds in a    
pure state1 cannot be considered  as    
useless4    ,the sulphate of baryta is  

the only compound which occurs in       
sufficient  abundance to be an          
economical source of the other barium   
compounds1  and the enormous though     
illegitimate use of this substance in   
the  adulteration of white lead1 is so  
far fortunate as to render it an easy   
matter to obtain it in any required     
quantity1 already in a state of  fine   
powder which is so desirable in chemical
 operations4    ,the sulphate of baryta 
is always reduced to the state of       
sulphide of  barium1 by exposing it to a
 red heat in intimate admixture with    
some  carbonaceous substance1 such as   
powdered charcoal1 rosin1 oil or flour4 
,it is exceedingly difficult1 however1  
if not impossible1 to effect  in this   
manner a complete decomposition of the  
sulphate4 ,indeed1 it  is probable that 
in most cases the quantity of sulphide  
obtained1 is  not more than half that   
which is equivalent to the sulphate     
employed4  ,a modification which        
promises to be far more economical was  

proposed  by ,dr4 ,wolcott ,gibbs4 ,his 
proposal was to submit the sulphate to  
the  action of a current of common coal 
gas at a red heat4 ,it is evident  that 
in this way a perfect decomposition #afc
 may readily be  accomplished1          
especially if the powdered sulphate is  
stirred during the  operation1 so as to 
expose fresh surfaces to the action of  
the gas4    ,the mass obtained after the
 reduction of the sulphate is submitted 
to the action of boiling water1 and a   
solution obtained1 which1  according to 
,professor ,h4 ,rose1#ab contains       
principally hydrate of  baryta and      
sulphohydrate of sulphide of barium     
,ba,s4 ,,hs4 formed by the  reaction of 
equal equivalents of water and          
proto-sulphide of barium4  ,it almost   
invariably contains also a quantity of  
lime1 probably in  the form of          
sulpho-hydrate of sulphide of calcium1  
or of hydrate of  lime1 proceeding from 
the almost constant concurrence of      
sulphate of  lime with native sulphate  

of baryta4 ,from the presence of this   
lime  originates the principal          
difficulty in preparing pure barium     
compounds  from this substance4 ,thus   
when the carbonate is prepared from the 
solution by precipitation1 with         
carbonate of soda1 or a current of      
carbonic acid gas1 it is found          
contaminated with carbonate of lime1    
which is fatal to its use as a reagent  
in analysis4 ,also in examining  many   
specimens of commercial chloride of     
barium1 which is prepared  from this    
solution by the addition of             
chloro-hydric acid1 boiling  to separate
 sulpho-hydric acid gas which is        
evolved1 filtration to  separate the    
sulphur which is precipitated and       
crystallization1 ,i have  always found  
it to contain a small quantity of       
chloride of calcium1  which ,i have     
found it impossible to separate entirely
 by repeated  recrystallizations4 ,it   
has been proposed#ac to separate the    
chloride  of calcium from chloride of   

barium by the use of very strong        
alcohol1  in which the latter when      
anhydrous1 is insoluble4 ,this method is
  rather expensive and troublesome as it
 involves the evaporation to  dryness of
 the chloride of barium solution1 the   
reduction of the  previously ignited    
residue to a very fine powder and       
digestion in  strong alcohol4 ,attempts 
were made after some previous           
experimentation1  in which it was found 
that an #afd aqueous solution of oxalate
 of  baryta precipitated chloride of    
calcium1 but not chloride of barium1  to
 separate the lime from a chloride of   
barium solution by addition  of oxalate 
of baryta1 or simply of a little oxalic 
acid1 but it was  soon found that       
oxalate of lime was somewhat soluble in 
a solution  of chloride of barium1 so   
that a solution of oxalate of baryta1   
gave  no precipitate in a mixture of    
solutions of chloride of barium and     
chloride of calcium4 ,it was found also 
that the precipitate formed  by a little

 oxalic acid in a lime solution1 could  
be re-dissolved  by addition of chloride
 of barium4 ,it may also be mentioned1  
though  irrelevant to the subject1 that 
it was found that oxalate of lime  was  
soluble in solutions of chloride of     
calcium1 of ammonia1 and of             
chloro-hydrate of ammonia4    #ab       
,poggendorff's ,annalen1 #ee1daf4    #ac
 ,gmelin's ,handbuch1 #b1aeh4    ,the   
well known property of carbonate of     
baryta which the recent  investigations 
of ,professor ,h4 ,rose have rendered so
 important in  the analysis of          
phosphates1 of completely precipitating 
lime from  its solution by a            
sufficiently long contact therewith1    
furnishes us1  however1 with a perfectly
 easy and cheap method of purifying the 
chloride of barium solution4 ,in fact a 
solution of chloride of barium  to which
 chloride of calcium has been added1    
having been treated with  a little      
carbonate of baryta1 and allowed to     
stand in contact with it  for two days1 

with occasional agitation1 was found on 
filtration to be  free from lime4 ,the  
only objection to this method1 is the   
considerable  length of time required2  
but ,i must here describe an elegant    
modification which was communicated to  
me by ,dr4 ,wolcott ,gibbs1 and  tested 
by him in his laboratory2 that is to add
 first to the solution  of chloride of  
barium containing lime1 a little        
solution of hydrate of  baryta and then 
to pass through it a current of carbonic
 acid gas4 ,the  precipitate immediately
 formed contains of course all the lime4
    ,the only impurity which is         
prevalent in commercial chloride of     
barium  besides lime1 is strangely      
enough1 a trace of lead which is almost 
always present and sometimes in such    
quantity that the solution is           
immediately blackened by sulphuric #afe 
acid4#ad ,this is1 however1  very easily
 removed1 either before or after the    
separation of the lime  by the process  
of ,dr4 ,gibbs1 by passing a little     

sulpho-hydric acid gas  into the        
solution1 gently heating for a short    
time and filtering4    ,commercial      
chloride of barium thus purified is     
probably the most  convenient source of 
the other compounds of barium when      
required pure4  ,thus pure carbonate of 
baryta may be prepared from it by       
precipitation  with carbonate of        
ammonia1 or with carbonate of soda1     
which is free  from silica1 sulphuric   
acid and phosphoric acid4#ae    #ad ,it 
may be that leaden pans are used for the
 evaporation or  crystallization of the 
commercial chloride of barium1 which    
would  sufficiently account for the     
presence of lead in the product4    #ae 
,new ,york ,journal of ,pharmacy1 #acf4 
,,results ,,of ,,the ,,examination ,,of 
,,several ,,parcels ,,of ,,aleppo       
,,scammony4    ,,by ,b4 ,w4 ,,bull4     
,since the publication of an article    
upon ,virgin ,scammony in a previous    
number of this ,journal1 ,i have had an 
opportunity of examining four  different

 varieties of scammony received from    
,constantinople1 under  the names1      
,aleppo ,scammony1 first2 ,aleppo       
,scammony1 second2 ,tschangari          
,scammony and ,skilip ,scammony4    ,no4
 #a4 ,aleppo ,scammony1 first4 ,this    
occurs in large amorphous pieces        
weighing one or more pounds2 is not     
covered with any calcareous powder4     
,the fractured surface presents a dark  
greenish resinous appearance4  ,the     
specific gravity will be found below4   
,the caseous odor is not so  decided in 
this #aff specimen as in some of the    
other varieties1  confirming1 as will be
 seen from its composition1 as adduced  
farther  on1 the remark made in the     
article above alluded to1 in regard to  
the insecurity of relying upon the odor 
as a means of judging of the  quality of
 scammony4    ,no4 #b4 ,aleppo          
,scammony1 second4 ,of this a sample of 
about one pound  was received4 ,this is 
in amorphous pieces2 it differs from the
 previous  specimen in its fracture     

which is non-resinous and horny1 it is  
of a  much lighter color1 and has a     
grayish tinge4 ,the scammony odor is    
more  decided4 ,this variety receives   
the prefix ,aleppo improperly1 as it    
does not come from that locality1 and is
 said to be made by pressing  the root1 
though the quantity of insoluble organic
 matter which it  contains1 seems to    
indicate some other impurity1           
intentionally added4    ,no4 #c4        
,tschangari ,scammony1 derives its name 
from the place of  production4 ,it      
appears to be a variety not found in    
market here4  ,it resembles in fracture 
the last mentioned1 and is like that1 in
  amorphous pieces4 ,its odor is more   
decided than that of any of the  others4
    ,no4 #d4 ,skilip ,scammony4 ,this   
specimen appears to have undergone some 
deterioration1 and evinces a disposition
 to mould4 ,some of the pieces  are     
marked exteriorly1 as if placed in a bag
 when soft1 and dried in  this way4 ,it 
is destitute of the caseous odor1 and   

has a mouldy smell4  ,fracture1         
non-resinous1 and grayish1 like the last
 mentioned varieties4    ,these three   
latter varieties are always to be       
obtained in  ,constantinople1 we are    
informed1 while the first quality       
,aleppo1 is  only produced in small     
quantity1 and is soon out of market4    
,the difference in composition of the   
different varieties will be found       
annexed1 the numbers referring to those 
given above4 ,all of them  indicate the 
presence of starch by the test with     
iodine4 #afg                            
,no4 #a4     ,no4 #b4     ,no4 #c4      
,no4 #d4   ,specific gravity1           
#a4aej      #a4cbe      #a4cci          
#a4caa                                  
,resinous matter1 water1     and loss4  
,per cent4  per cent4  per cent4  per   
cent4                           #hf4hh  
#ee4db      #fd4aj      #cd4jj          
,vegetable substance1     insoluble in  
ether1    #h4aj      #ch4jj      #bc4ag 
#ei4dc   ,inorganic matter1        #e4jb

       #f4eh      #ab4gc       #f4eg    
#ajj4jjj    #ajj4jjj    #ajj4jjj        
#ajj4jjj          ,new ,york1 ,may1     
#aheb4      ,,what ,,is ,,monesia8      
,,by ,e4 ,,dupuy1 ,,pharmaceutist1 ,,new
 ,,york ,,city4    ,dorvault in the     
,officine gives it 8as the product of a 
foreign  bark never found in commerce1  
but described by ,mr4 ,bernard ,derosne1
  7who1 according to the same authority 
is the only possessor of it17  as being 
found in voluminous thick pieces1 filled
 with extractive4  ,the color is dark   
brown1 excepting the epidermis which is 
grayish4 ,it  contains tannin and a red 
coloring matter1 analoguous to cinchonic
  red1 also an acrid one and salts40    
,virey attributed it to a ,chrysophi    
lum42 ,martens says it is the ,mohica of
 the ,brazilians2 according  to ,mr4    
,constant ,berrier1 it bears in that    
country sundry other names3  furanhem1  
guaranhem1 buranch1 etc4 ,duchesne in   
his ,rpertoire  des ,plantes utiles et  
,vnncuses du ,globe1 and ,descourtils in

 his  ,flore mdicale des ,antilles      
mentions the ,cainito ,chrysophillum the
  bark of which is tonic1 astringent and
 febrifuge4 ,in #afh examining  some    
extract of ,monesia ,i was struck with  
the striking resemblance  in its        
properties with the extract of logwood1 
7,hematoxylon  ,campechianum7 both      
possessing the same astringent sweetish 
taste1  precipitating salts of iron1    
etc4 ,descourtils1 who practiced        
medicine  for a long time in the ,west  
,india islands1 says 8it is             
recommendable  in dysentery and diarrhea
 after the inflammatory period40 and to 
that effect prescribes the decoction of 
one ounce of the wood or a  drachm of   
the extract added to an infusion of     
orange tree leaves1 or  ,cascarilla     
bark1 per diem4 ,besides1 ,dr4 ,wood in 
the ,u4 ,s4 ,dispensatory1  mentions its
 frequent use in some parts of the      
,united ,states1 8in that  relaxed      
condition of the bowels1 which is apt to
 succeed to cholera  infantum10 and also

 in the same complaints as mentioned by 
,descourtils4  ,though both the         
decoction of the wood and the solution  
of the extract  are officinal in our    
national ,pharmacopeia1 so far as my    
means of  observation go1 they are      
seldom1 if ever1 prescribed in ,new     
,york1 and  yet ,i have repeatedly      
prepared solutions of the ,monesia1     
prescribed by  our city practitioners4  
,the extract of log-wood being so       
similar in its  medicinal action1 ,i am 
strongly inclined to think that it is   
the same  substance1 though perhaps     
obtained from other sources2 and as the 
price  of it is so much higher than that
 of the other1 it would be desirable  to
 obtain the results of comparative      
experiments made to test their  relative
 value1 and whether the extract of      
,hematoxylon ,campechianum  should not  
be prescribed as answering for all      
therapeutical purposes1  the mysterious 
,monesia of ,derosne8    #afi      ,,the
 ,,pharmacology ,,of ,,matico3 ,,with   

,,formula ,,for ,,its ,,preparation4    
,,by ,,dorvault4    ,as matico is daily 
attracting more and more the attention  
of  practitioners1 its pharmacology     
demands consideration4 ,it is well      
known that this new ,peruvian plant has 
been lauded as an efficacious  remedy in
 leucorrhea and gonorrhea1 as a         
vulnerary1 and above all as an          
excellent hemostatic1 both external and 
internal4    ,we shall1 in the present  
paper1 content ourselves with making    
known  the principal pharmaceutical     
forms which this substance is capable of
  assuming1 reserving all other         
considerations for a later period4 ,a   
long  and careful experience will be    
needed to establish the relative value  
of each of the subjoined forms4         
,,powder ,,of ,,matico4    ,matico can  
be easily reduced to an impalpable      
powder4 ,this powder is of  a yellowish 
green1 and its odor1 when fresh is more 
fragrant than that  of the plant itself4
 ,to preserve it well1 it should be kept

 in well  stopped bottles4    ,matico   
powder can be advantageously used       
externally in sprinkling  over bleeding 
parts1 in plugging the nasal foss and in
 epithems for  contusions4 ,internally  
it may be used moistened with a little  
sweetened  water under the form of      
electuary or in pills4      ,,infusion  
,,of ,,matico4     ,bruised matico1     
#aj to #bj grammes4   ,boiling water1   
#a1jjj grammes4    ,let it infuse until 
cold and strain it4 ,this infusion is   
amber-colored1  and possesses the       
aromatic odor of the plant4 ,it is not  
unpleasant to  take1 but may be rendered
 more agreeable by the addition of      
sugar1 or  an appropriate syrup4    ,for
 external use1 lotions1 embrocations1   
lavements and injections1 #cj1  #dj or  
even #ej grammes of matico may be used  
to the #agj same quantity  of water1 and
 it may be submitted to a slight        
decoction4 ,if1 in this  mode of        
operation1 it parts with some volatile  
oil1 it gains a small  portion of resin4

      ,,distilled ,,water1 ,,or         
,,hydrolate ,,of ,,matico4     ,bruised 
matico1     #ajj parts4   ,water1       
#a1jjj parts4    ,draw off by           
distillation1 #ejj parts of hydrolate4  
,the product is colorless throughout the
 distillation1 except the first  few    
drops1 which are milky4    ,hydrolate of
 matico has an odor of turpentine       
stronger than the plant  itself4 ,it is 
covered with globules1 or a light layer 
of a volatile  oil1 almost colorless1   
and of the consistence of castor oil4   
,if the volatile oil be1 as authors have
 advanced1 one of the active  principles
 of matico1 then the hydrolate must be  
to a certain extent  efficacious4 ,the  
hemostatic waters of ,binelli1          
,broechieri1 ,tisseraud1  c41 over their
 property to the volatile oil of        
turpentine4    ,the hydrolate may be    
employed both externally and internally4
      ,,extract ,,of ,,matico4    ,the  
one which appears to us the preferable  
is the hydro-alcoholic4  ,introduce some

 rather coarse matico powder into the   
apparatus for  lixiviation1 pour on it  
the alcohol at #ef so as to imbibe all  
the  powder1 leave it #bd hours1 open   
the lower cock1 pour the same alcohol   
over the same matico1 until the latter  
is exhausted1 and then evaporate  the   
liquid in the vapour bath1 till it is   
brought to the consistence of  an       
extract4 ,the product is black1 with a  
marked odor of matico1 and a  bitter    
taste4 ,it is only partially soluble1   
either in alcohol or water4    ,the     
extract of matico may be used internally
 in the form of pills1  lozenges1 syrup 
and electuary1 and externally1 dissolved
 or softened in  the form of plasters1  
embrocations1 plugs1 lavements and      
injections4    ,matico furnishes about  
#a_/d of its weight of the              
hydro-alcoholic  extract4    #aga       
,,syrup ,,of ,,matico4     ,bruised     
matico1       #ajj parts4   ,water1     
#a1jjj parts4    ,distil till you obtain
 #ajj parts4 ,draw off the residue from 

the  retort1 press the matico1 add to   
the product #gjj parts of sugar2 mix  it
 so as to have by the addition of the   
hydrolate a syrup of ordinary           
consistence2 filter it by ,demarest's   
method4    ,thus prepared1 matico syrup 
is brownish1 limpid and of an aromatic  
taste1 which is not disagreeable2 it    
contains all the principles1  active1   
volatile or fixed1 of the substance4    
,it may be administered pure1 or diluted
 with water4 ,it is one of the  easiest 
and most efficacious modes of           
administering matico in cases of        
internal hemorrhage or of flour albus4  
,it represents #a-aj of its weight of   
matico4 ,the spoonful being #cj         
grammes1 would represent #b grammes2 the
 tea-spoonful being #e grammes1  would  
represent #a_/b gramme4      ,,matico   
,,pills4     ,powdered matico1          
#bj grammes4   ,powdered marsh mallow   
#b grammes4   ,syrup of gum1            
,q4 ,s4    ,make secundum artem #ajj    
pills rolled in lycopodium4 ,they are of

 a  dark green4 ,the weight of each pill
 from #dj to #ej centigrammes1 each     
containing #bj centigrammes of matico1  
give from #b to #be daily4              
,,extract ,,of ,,matico ,,pills4        
,hydro-alcoholic extract of matico1 #aj 
grammes4    ,divide secundum artem into 
#ajj pills1 which will each contain #aj 
centigrammes4 ,they are blackish4 ,being
 smaller they possess the  advantage of 
being more easily swallowed4            
,,ointment ,,of ,,extract ,,of ,,matico4
     ,extract of matico1      #e        
grammes4   ,weak alcohol1           #e  
grammes4   ,lard1                  #bj  
grammes4    ,make an ointment1 secundum 
artem4    #agb      ,,tincture ,,of     
,,matico4     ,bruised matico1     #ajj 
parts4   ,alcohol at #he1     #djj      
parts4    ,macerate for #aj days1       
express and filter4 ,the tincture may   
also be  obtained by lixiviation from   
the powder4    ,it is used both         
internally and externally as a          
vulnerary2 it must in  the first        

instance be diluted with water4         
,matico not being poisonous1            
practitioners can trace its application 
through the widest range4    ,we will   
again repeat that we only give these    
formul that they may be  experimented   
on2 we shall hereafter give further     
comments on the choice  to be made      
amongst them4--,bulletin ,thr3 #cjth    
,january1 #aheb4      ,,chemical        
,,research ,,on ,,croton ,,oil4    ,,by 
,m4 ,,dublanc4    ,director of the      
,laboratory of the ,central ,pharmacy of
 the ,parisian  ,hospitals4    ,some    
interesting researches have been        
instituted to ascertain1     a4 ,whether
 the croton oil contains within itself  
an acid volatile at   a low temperature8
     b4 ,is this acid the principle of  
its action1 and can it be preserved   if
 it be separated from the oil1 and      
diminished if it be allowed to          
evaporate8    ,in order to answer both  
questions1 the following operations have
 been  instituted by this chemist4      

,the seeds of croton1 deprived of their 
husks1 ground at the mill1 and  subject 
to pressure1 yield a certain quantity of
 oil4--,if the residuum  be mixed with  
double its quantity of alcohol and      
pressed again1 it  yields a liquid which
 is a mixture of oil #agc and alcohol4  
,this  liquid1 when distilled1 will     
yield more oil4 ,both oils are filtered1
  after having been allowed to settle4  
,the produce of this first operation is 
the natural croton oil1 such as  it     
exists in the seeds1 which is of a brown
 amber color1 viscid1 having  a peculiar
 smell1 and possessed of great acidity1 
by which if applied  to the skin1 it    
produces an irritation varying in       
intensity according  to its quantity1   
and the duration of time during which it
 has been  applied4 ,one drop1 for      
instance1 causes a blister in twelve    
hours4    ,if a piece of litmus paper be
 dipped in this oil1 it turns red1 and  
re  acts acid2 and the red color1 though
 not deep1 resists the action of  the   

air and of a hot furnace4    ,the oil   
obtained by distillation from a solution
 in alcohol is rather  more dark1       
viscid1 and acid1 than that obtained by 
simple expression4    ,the blue paper   
dipped in the oil obtained by           
distillation1 reddens1 and  retains the 
color under the same circumstances as   
the former4    ,the second operation1   
however1 offers already a fact which is 
of great  value in deciding the question
 about the acidity of the croton oil4   
,if  you dip the litmus paper in the    
fluid which is gained by distillation1  
no traces of a change of color is       
visible2 when1 on the other hand1  if   
you dip it in the oil which remains in  
the distilling apparatus1  it changes   
the color as quickly as if dipped in the
 oil previous to  distillation4 ,the    
same is the case if the residuum is     
again acted upon  with water or alcohol1
 the distilled fluid has no traces of   
acidity4    ,however1 since the contrary
 opinion is entertained by good         

authorities1  we must add other facts in
 corroboration of our own4    ,croton   
oil was extracted by the action of ether
 upon the seeds4 ,the  ethereal solution
 containing croton oil in suspension was
 acid3 it  was placed in a glass vessel 
with two openings4 ,one of them admitted
  a straight tube1 and reached to the   
bottom of the vessel1 admitting  the    
introduction of external air3 the other 
communicated with ,woulfe's  apparatus1 
composed1 #agd    #a4 ,of the globular  
tube after ,liebig1 containing blue     
solution of  litmus4    #b4 ,another    
globular tube filled with alcohol4      
#c4 ,an angular tube in connection with 
a large vessel full of water1  giving an
 inferior running to the liquid1 and    
causing the air to pass  across the     
thick layer of ethereal oil1 to lead the
 volatile principles  in contact with   
the liquor destined to retain them4 ,the
 apparatus  being arranged1 it was put  
in action by causing the water to run   
which was contained in the large vessel4

 ,the vacuum having begun1 air  was     
introduced to the bottom of the ethereal
 liquid1 keeping up this  action till   
the ether was totally evaporated4       
,consequently1 the air has  agitated the
 liquid long enough to remove in a state
 of vapour all the  ether which was     
contained in the mixture4 ,nevertheless1
 the tincture of  ,turnesol1 which      
opposed the passage of the vapours of   
ether and water1  did not change into   
red1 which would have happened if the   
volatile  principles should have        
contained any acid4 ,neither did the    
alcohol  which was acted upon by the    
same current exhibit any sign of acid4  
,the  air saturated with ether arrived  
in the vessel to replace the water  had 
no acid property2 its action upon the   
eye-lids and nostrils was  pungent and  
irritating1 but not that of an acid4    
,another experiment was  made with the  
same apparatus1 having always in view to
 cause a great  quantity of air to pass 
through croton oil4 ,but this time1     

instead of  causing the current to pass 
through a mass of ethereal solution1 it 
was  caused to pass through pure croton 
oil4 ,the large vessel was this time    
not quite filled with water1 allowing   
space to introduce on its upper  part   
two sponges1 one filled with oil1 the   
other with ether4 ,things  being thus   
arranged1 the liquid was set running1   
and the air rushed  through the oil1    
coming in at the bottom of the liquid   
and spreading  through the surface1     
causing a lengthened ebullition4 ,the   
mass of air  employed in this operation 
was not below two centimetres4 ,the     
tincture  of litmus contained in the    
globular tubes was not altered2 the oil 
contained in the sponge was neither     
acid1 pungent1 or corrosive4 ,the  ether
 acted upon by too much air had         
disappeared1 the #age sponge was  dry4  
,these two proofs appear to be          
conclusive1 and to show that the  croton
 oil does not contain an active volatile
 acid1 otherwise it would  have been    

made manifest by being carried away by  
the ether in the first  case1 or by its 
proper volatility in the second4    ,is 
it1 however1 possible to separate the   
active volatile principle  from the mere
 neutral oil8 ,it has been said by      
several authors that  the croton oil was
 composed of two different oils1 but    
this was a mere  statement which        
required to be proved by facts4 ,to     
solve this problem1  the oil employed in
 the experiments was obtained by means  
of ether4 ,the  seeds of croton yield by
 expression #ce per cent42 treated by   
ether1  they yield from #eb to #ee per  
cent4 ,if treated by ether1 the ether   
obtained by distillation is free from   
acid1 all the acid remaining in  the    
oil4 ,when a certain fixed quantity of  
this oil is put in contact  with ten    
times its weight of strong alcohol1 the 
alcohol dissolves #f  per cent4 of its  
own weight1 and the oil #ej per cent4   
,the portion of the insoluble oil has   
lost its color1 its smell1 a part  of   

its pungency1 and all its acidity4      
,the portion of oil which has been      
dissolved in alcohol1 when separated    
from this menstruum by evaporation1 is  
more viscid1 more colored1 more         
pungent1 and acid4 ,the oil which is not
 dissolved1 can be acted upon  again by 
alcohol2 by this second operation1 it   
yields some parts to the  alcohol1 and  
the remainder loses all its specific    
qualities4 ,the action  of alcohol upon 
oil in successive operation1 can be     
followed up to its  last limits4        
,twenty volumes of oil mixed with #ajj  
volumes of alcohol1 will be  followed by
 the reduction of five volumes of oil4  
,in the next  operation1 when the       
alcohol is renewed1 the volume of the   
columns of  oil lowers only three       
volumes instead of five4 ,by a fourth   
operation1  the oil loses not a single  
volume4 ,when reduced to this state1 the
  croton oil is slightly amber-colored1 
without smell1 taste1 or acidity2  it   
can be taken in the mouth without       

causing any sensation4 ,it is  soluble  
in all proportions in ether4 ,its       
specific gravity is1 #ib  compared with 
that of water4 #agf    ,thus we find by 
experiments an evident proof of the     
co-existence of a  sweet oil with the   
pungent croton oil4    ,all the specific
 properties of the croton oil are       
carried over in that  dissolved by      
alcohol4    ,is it possible by further  
processes to separate these active      
principles  from the oily matter that   
contains them8    ,to solve this        
question we resorted to the following   
experiment3    ,we took two kilogrammes 
of croton oil1 and for several days we  
left it  in contact with half a         
kilogramme of alcohol4 ,a distinct      
separation  took place4 ,the upper part1
 composed of oil and alcohol1 did not   
represent the exact quantity employed2  
which is explained by the power  which  
the oil has to dissolve #aj per cent4 of
 alcohol4 ,the upper part  being        
decanted1 it was necessary to remove the

 alcohol1 to avoid the  inconvenience   
which might have arisen by employing    
heat for this  purpose4 ,water was added
 to this liquid1 which having become    
turbid1  ether was added4 ,thus the oil 
came with the ether to the surface4 ,the
  ether was removed by free evaporation4
 ,during this lengthened process1  the  
effluvia was so pungent as to affect the
 eyes and nostrils of the  operator1 and
 cause blisters to rise on his face4    
,the oil thus obtained  is dark-brown1  
opaque1 thick1 possessed of a strong    
smell and acidity4  ,applied to the     
skin1 it causes almost instantaneous    
pain1 followed  by a blister4 ,it is    
soluble in all proportions in alcohol   
and ether4  ,mixed with nine parts of   
its volume of olive oil1 it forms a     
liquid  possessing specific qualities   
stronger than those of common croton    
oil4    ,these facts prove the mobility 
of the active principles of croton oil1 
and the possibility of succeeding in    
obtaining them free from all  fatty     

matter by chemical ingenuity1 a task    
which will be the object of  further    
experiments4    ,the results from the   
above experiments are the following3    
#a4 ,that the croton oil does not       
contain a volatile acid4    #b4 ,that   
the sensible acid in croton oil is fixed
 or retained in the  oil1 and cannot be 
separated from it by a heat at #bab     
,fahr41 or even  by distillation4 #agg  
#c4 ,that the acrid volatile principle1 
which exists in this oil1  possesses not
 the qualities of an acid1 and has      
hitherto withstood the  chemical        
operations which were instituted to     
extract it4    #d4 ,that the active     
principles of croton oil are capable of 
being  separated from one part of the   
oil1 and concentrated in the other4     
#e4 ,that croton oil is not homogeneous 
in its composition1 but is formed  of   
two parts1 one inert1 of which alcohol  
is unable to dissolve more  than        
one-tenth1 and a more soluble part1     
which carries with it all the  active   

principles4    #f4 ,that the greatest   
degree of concentration of the active   
principles1  is by acting upon a large  
quantity of oil with a small quantity of
  alcohol4    #g4 ,that either may be   
usefully employed in manufacturing      
croton  oil4--,repertoire de            
,pharmacie4--,from the ,annals          
,pharmacy1 #aheb4      ,,on ,,aloine1   
,,the ,,crystalline ,,cathartic         
,,principle ,,of ,,barbadoes ,,aloes4   
,,by ,,john ,,stenhouse1 ,l4,l4,d41     
,f4,r4,s4,l41  ,e4    ,about two months 
ago ,i received from my friend1 ,mr4    
,thomas ,smith1  apothecary1 ,edinburgh1
 a quantity of a brownish yellow        
crystalline  substance which he had     
obtained from ,barbadoes aloes4 ,mr4    
,smith's  process consisted in pounding 
the previously dried aloes with a       
quantity of sand1 so as to prevent its  
agglutinating1 macerating the  mass     
repeatedly with cold water1 and then    
concentrating the liquors  in vacuo to  
the consistence of a syrup4 ,on         

remaining at rest in a  cool place for  
two or three days1 the concentrated     
extract became  filled with a mass of   
small granular crystals of a brownish   
yellow  #agh color4 ,this is the crude  
substance to which ,mr4 ,smith has given
  the name of ,aloine1 and which appears
 to constitute the cathartic  principle 
of aloes4 ,the brownish yellow crystals 
obtained in this way  are contaminated  
with a greenish brown substance1 which  
changes to  brownish black on exposure  
to the air1 and still more rapidly when 
it  is boiled4 ,in order to purify the  
crystals of aloine1 therefore1 they     
must first be dried by pressure between 
folds of blotting-paper1 and  then      
repeatedly crystallized out of hot water
 till they have only a  pale sulphur    
yellow color4 ,the aqueous solutions of 
aloine must on no  account be boiled1   
but simply heated to about #aej ,f41 as 
at #bab ,f4  aloine is rapidly oxidized 
and decomposed4 ,by dissolving the      
purified  crystals of aloine in hot     

spirits of wine1 they are deposited1 on 
the  cooling of the solution1 in small  
prismatic needles arranged in stars4    
,when these crystals have a pale yellow 
color1 which does not change  when they 
are dried in the air they may be        
regarded as pure aloine4    ,aloine is  
quite neutral to test-paper4 ,its taste 
is at first sweetish1  but soon becomes 
intensely bitter4 ,aloine is not very   
soluble either  in cold water or in cold
 spirits of wine2 but if the water or   
the  spirits of wine are even slightly  
warmed1 the solubility of the aloine  is
 exceedingly increased3 the color of    
these solutions is pale yellow4  ,aloine
 is also very readily dissolved by the  
carbonated and caustic  fixed alkalies  
in the cold1 forming a deep orange      
yellow solution1  which rapidly grows   
darker1 owing to the oxidation which    
ensues4 ,the  effects of ammonia and its
 carbonate are precisely similar4 ,when 
aloine  is boiled either with alkalies  
or strong acids1 it is rapidly changed  

into dark brown resins4 ,a solution of  
bleaching powder likewise gives  aloine 
a deep orange color1 which soon changes 
to dark brown4 ,aloine  produces no     
precipitate in solutions either of      
corrosive sublimate1  nitrate of silver1
 or neutral acetate of lead4 ,it also   
yields no  precipitate with a dilute    
solution of subacetate of lead2 but in a
  concentrated solution it throws down a
 deep yellow precipitate1 which  is     
pretty soluble in cold water1 and is    
therefore difficult to wash4  ,this     
precipitate is by no means #agi very    
stable2 and when it is  exposed even for
 a short time to the air1 it becomes    
brown4    ,when powdered aloine is      
thrown1 in small quantities at a time1  
into  cold fuming nitric acid1 it       
dissolves without evolving any nitrous  
fumes1 and forms a brownish-red         
solution4 ,on adding a large quantity   
of sulphuric acid1 a yellow precipitate 
falls1 which1 when it is  washed with   
water to remove all adhering acid and   

then dried1 explodes  when it is heated4
 ,it plainly1 therefore1 contains       
combined nitric  acid4 ,i could not1    
however1 succeed in obtaining this      
compound in a  crystalline state1 as    
when it was dissolved in spirits1 it    
appeared to  be decomposed4 ,when aloine
 is digested for some time with strong  
nitric  acid1 much nitrous gas is       
evolved1 and it is converted into       
chrysammic  acid1 but without the       
formation of any nitro-picric acid1 as  
is always  the case when crude aloes is 
subjected to a similar treatment4 ,a    
quantity of aloine was boiled with a    
mixture of chlorate of potash  and      
muriatic acid4 ,the acid solution was   
evaporated to dryness1 and  digested    
with strong spirits of wine4 ,the       
greater portion of the  spirits was     
removed by distillation2 and the        
remainder1 when left to  spontaneous    
evaporation2 yielded a syrup which could
 not be made to  crystallize4 ,not a    
trace of chloranil was produced4        

,when aloine is destructively distilled1
 it yields a volatile oil of a  somewhat
 aromatic odor1 and also a good deal of 
resinous matter4 ,when  aloine is heated
 on platinum foil it melts1 and then    
catches fire1  burning with a bright    
yellow flame1 and emitting much smoke4  
,it leaves  a somewhat difficultly      
combustible charcoal1 which1 when       
strongly  heated1 entirely disappears1  
not a trace of ashes being left4    ,a  
quantity of aloine dried in vacuo was   
analyzed with chromate of  lead in the  
usual way4    ,i4 #j4bfae grm4 aloine   
gave #j4efie carbonic acid and #j4ad    
water4    ,,ii4 #j4bdae grm4 aloine gave
 #j4ebej carbonic acid and #j4abf water4
 #ahj              ,hydrated aloine4    
,found numbers4         ,calculated     
numbers4      ,i4      ,,ii4   #cd ,c   
#beej4j    #ei4dg      #ei4ci    #ei4bd 
#ai ,h     #bcg4e     #e4ed       #e4ig 
#e4gi   #ae ,o    #aejj4j    #ce4ji     
#cd4fd    #cd4ig                        
#dbhg4e   #ajj4jj     #ajj4jj   #ajj4jj 

,the formula derivable from these       
analyses is ,c#cd ,h#ai ,o#ae1  which1  
as we shall presently see1 is  ,c#cd    
,h#ah ,o#ad ,,ho1 or  aloine with one   
equivalent of water4    ,the aloine     
which had been dried in vacuo was next  
heated in the  water-bath for five or   
six hours1 and was also subjected to    
analysis4    ,i4 #j4bea grm4 aloine     
dried at #bab ,f4 gave #j4eej carbonic  
acid and  #j4abh water4    ,,ii4 #j4bece
 grm4 aloine dried at #bab ,f4 gave     
#j4efd carbonic acid and  #j4abi water4 
,,iii4 #j4bcd grm4 aloine dried at #bab 
,f4 gave #j4eba carbonic acid and       
#j4aad water4           ,calculated     
numbers4   ,i4     ,,ii4     ,,iii4     
#cd ,c     #beej    #fa4jg    #fj4ea    
#fj4fg   #fj4gb   #ah ,h      #bbe      
#e4ci     #e4ff    #e4fe    #e4db   #ad 
,o     #adjj    #cc4ed    #cc4hc        
#cc4fh   #cc4hf                         
#dage   #ajj4jj   #ajj4jj  #ajj4jj      
#ajj4jj    ,the aloine employed in these
 analyses was prepared at three         

different  times4 ,these results give   
,c#cd ,h#ah ,o#ad as the formula of     
anhydrous aloine1 that dried in vacuo   
being a hydrate with one  equivalent of 
water4    ,when the aloine was allowed  
to remain in the water-bath for more    
than  six hours1 it continued slowly to 
lose weight1 apparently owing to  its   
undergoing partial decomposition by the 
formation of a brownish  resin4 ,the    
loss of weight gradually continued for a
 week or more1  but became very rapid   
when the aloine was heated to #cjb ,f41 
when it  melted1 forming a dark brownish
 mass1 which when cooled became as hard 
and brittle #aha as colophonium4 ,it    
still1 however1 contained a good  deal  
of unaltered aloine1 as ,i ascertained  
by crystallizing it out with  hot       
spirits and analyzing it4 ,much of the  
aloine1 however1 had been  changed1 most
 probably by oxidation1 into a dark     
brown uncrystallizable  resin4          
,,brom-,,aloine4--,when an excess of    
bromine is poured into a cold aqueous   

solution of aloine1 a bright yellow     
precipitate is immediately  produced1   
the amount of which increases on        
standing1 while at the same  time the   
supernatant liquid becomes very acid    
from containing free  hydrobromic acid4 
,the precipitate1 after it has been     
washed with cold  water to remove       
adhering acid1 is dissolved in hot      
spirits of wine2 and  on the cooling of 
the solution it is deposited in bright  
yellow needles  radiating from centres1 
which attach themselves to the bottom   
and sides  of the containing vessel4    
,the crystals of brom-aloine are        
considerably broader than those of      
aloine1 and have a richer yellow color  
and a higher lustre4 ,brom-aloine  is   
quite neutral to test-paper1 is not so  
soluble in either cold water  or cold   
spirits of wine as aloine1 but dissolves
 very readily in hot  spirits of wine4  
,i4 #j4dba grm4 substance dried in vacuo
 gave #j4edg carbonic acid and  #j4ajc  
water4     #j4hef grm4 gave #j4hdh      

bromide of silver  #db4af ,br4    ,,ii4 
#j4cjj grm4 substance gave #j4cia       
carbonic acid and #j4jgh water4         
#j4ffa grm4 substance gave #j4fdi       
bromide of silver  #j4bgfb   ,br4       
#da4gh per cent4           ,calculated  
numbers4    ,i4     ,,ii4   #cd ,c      
#beej4jj   #ce4gc    #ce4dc   #ce4ec    
#ae ,h     #ahg4ej    #b4fb     #b4ga   
#b4hf   #ad ,o    #adjj4jj   #ai4fc     
#ai4gj   #ai4hc    #c ,br   #biih4hi    
#db4jb    #db4af   #da4gh               
#gacf4ci  #ajj4jj   #ajj4jj  #ajj4jj    
,the brom-aloine employed in these      
analyses was prepared at two  different 
times4 ,it is plain therefore from these
 results1 #ahb that  this bromine       
compound is aloine1 ,c#cd ,h#ah ,o#ad in
 which #c  equivs4 of hydrogen are      
replaced by #c equivs4 of bromine4--,the
 formula  of brom-aloine therefore is   
,c#cd ,h#ae ,o#ad ,br#c4    ,when a     
stream of chlorine gas was sent for a   
considerable time through  a cold       
aqueous solution of aloine1 a deep      

yellow precipitate was  produced4 ,it   
contained a great deal of combined      
chlorine2 but as it  could not be made  
to crystallize1 it was not subjected to 
analysis4  ,in the present instance1 and
 in those of several other feeble       
organic  principles1 such as orcine1    
chlorine appears to act some what too   
strongly1 so that the constitution of   
the substance is destroyed1  and merely 
uncrystallizable resins are produced4   
,bromine1 on the  other hand1 is much   
more gentle in its operations1 and      
usually simply  replaces a moderate     
amount of the hydrogen in the substance1
 so that1  as in the case of orcine and 
aloine1 crystalline compounds are       
produced4    ,it has long been known to 
medical practitioners1 that the aqueous 
extract of aloes is by far the most     
active preparation of that drug4  ,the  
reason of this is now very plain1 as the
 concentrated extract of  aloes obtained
 by exhausting aloes with cold water    
consists chiefly of  aloine1 by much the

 larger portion of the resin being left 
undissolved4  ,mr4 ,smith informs me1   
that from a series of pretty extensive  
trials1  from #b to #d grs4 of aloine   
have been found more effective than from
 #aj  to #ae grs4 of ordinary aloes4    
,aloine is1 ,i should think1 therefore1 
likely ere long1 to supersede1 at least 
to a considerable extent1 the           
administration of crude aloes4    ,i    
endeavored to obtain aloine by operating
 on considerable quantities  of         
,barbadoes1 ,cape and ,socotrine aloes4 
,these were macerated in cold  water1   
and the aqueous solutions obtained were 
concentrated to the  state of thin      
extracts on the water-bath4 ,i was quite
 unsuccessful  in every instance4 ,the  
impurities contained in the extracts in 
these  different kinds of aloes appear1 
when in contact with the oxygen of  the 
air1 to act upon the aloine so as       
effectually to prevent it from          
crystallizing4 ,aloine can only1        
therefore1 be obtained in a crystalline 

state by #ahc concentrating the cold    
aqueous solution of aloes in  vacuo2    
though1 after the aloine has once been  
crystallized1 and it  is freed from the 
presence of those impurities which      
appear to act so  injuriously upon it1  
the aloine may be quite readily         
crystallized out  of its aqueous        
solutions in the open air4    ,though   
aloine has as yet only been obtained    
from ,barbadoes aloes1 ,i  have scarcely
 any doubt that it also exists both in  
,cape and ,socotrine  aloes4 ,the amount
 of aloine in ,cape aloes1 is1 however1 
in all  probability1 much smaller than  
in either of the other two species2 for 
,cape aloes is well known to be a much  
feebler cathartic1 and to contain  a    
mass of impurities4 ,in corroboration of
 this opinion1 ,i would refer  to the   
fact already mentioned in a previous    
part of this paper1 viz4  that when     
aloine is digested with nitric acid1 it 
is converted into ,dr4  ,schunck's      
chrysammic acid4 ,now it has been       

satisfactorily ascertained  that all the
 three species of aloes yield chrysammic
 acid1 of which in  fact they are the   
only known sources4 ,cape aloes1 as     
might have been  expected1 yields by far
 the smallest amount of chrysammic acid 
together  with much oxalic and some     
nitro-picric acids4 ,there appears1     
therefore1  great reason to believe that
 all the three kinds of aloes contain   
aloine4    ,since the above was written1
 ,i have learned from ,mr4 ,smith that  
he has  not succeeded in obtaining      
crystallized aloine from either ,cape or
  ,socotrine aloes4 ,mr4 ,smith does not
 doubt that both of these species  of   
aloes also contain aloine1 though1 most 
probably contaminated  with so much     
resin1 or some other substances1 as     
prevents it from  crystallizing4 ,what  
tends to confirm ,mr4 ,smith in this    
opinion is the  observation he has made1
 that when the crude crystals of aloine 
are  allowed to remain in contact with  
the mother liquor of the ,barbadoes     

aloes1 they disappear and become        
uncrystallizable4 ,i have also observed 
a similar occurrence in the             
mother-liquors of tolerably pure aloine4
  ,these become always darker and       
darker2 so that if we continue to       
dissolve new quantities of aloine in    
them1 at length scarcely any of  it     
crystallizes out1 and the whole becomes 
changed into a dark-colored  magma4 #ahd
    ,in the year #ahdf1 ,m4 ,e4         
,robiquet published an account of an    
examination  he had made of ,socotrine  
aloes4 ,by treating the concentrated    
aqueous  solution of this species of    
aloes with basic acetate of lead1 he    
obtained a brownish yellow precipitate1 
which was collected on a  filter and    
washed with hot water4 ,on decomposing  
this lead compound  with sulphuretted   
hydrogen and evaporating the solution to
 dryness1  he obtained an almost        
colorless varnish1 consisting of a scaly
 mass1  which was not in the least      
degree crystalline4 ,m4 ,e4 ,robiquet   

subjected  his substance1 which he      
called aloetine1 to analysis1 and       
obtained the  following result3      #h 
,c  #bg4g per cent4   #ad ,h  #aj4h per 
cent4   #aj ,o  #fa4e per cent4         
#ajj4j    ,it is plain1 therefore1 that 
,m4 ,e4 ,robiquet's aloetine1 if it     
really is  a definite organic principle1
 which ,i very much question1 is        
certainly  a very different substance   
from the aloine which has formed the    
subject  of the present notice4--,london
 and ,edinburgh ,philosophical          
,magazine4      ,,on ,,henry',s         
,,magnesia4    ,,by ,,dr4 ,,mohr4    ,in
 ,england1 under this name is sold a    
calcined magnesia1 at a very  high      
price1 which is not to be obtained in   
any other way4 ,many ,english           
travelers1 as well as most of their     
countrymen1 believe that they  possess a
 very large knowledge of medicines1     
because such things  as blue pills1     
calomel1 sweet spirits of nitre1 and    
laudanum they  administer without       

medical advice1 and #ahe bring this     
magnesia  with them to our shops when   
they wish a recipe to be dispensed1     
which contains calcined magnesia as one 
of the ingredients4 ,by such            
opportunities1 ,i became acquainted with
 the purity and beauty of this          
preparation1 and its peculiar silky     
gloss and whiteness4 ,with a view to    
discover its method of preparation1 ,i  
made the following research3    ,by     
heating to redness the ordinary         
carbonate of magnesia1 it is not  to be 
obtained4 ,the ordinary magnesia of     
commerce1 which produces by  a red heat 
a fine calcined magnesia1 ,i exposed in 
a crucible1 to a  strong white heat4 ,it
 solidified1 and was of a yellow color1 
and had  become so hard that it was only
 with the greatest labor that it could  
be powdered and sifted4 ,prepared in    
this way1 it cannot be used4 ,i  now    
prepared some carbonate of magnesia1    
observing that ,henry's was  very dense1
 without reference to that result1 which

 was very fine1 by  precipitation in the
 heat4 ,the process by which the        
flocculent magnesia  of commerce is     
obtained1 is not explained in any       
chemical works4 ,pure  sulphate of      
magnesia1 free from iron1 was dissolved 
in distilled water1  and a solution of  
carbonate of soda added to it as long as
 anything was  precipitated by a boiling
 heat4 ,the ebullition was continued    
until the  mixture ceased to evolve     
carbonic acid1 and set aside for        
decantation4  ,when decanted1 fresh     
distilled water was added to the        
precipitate1 and  the whole again       
boiled1 and afterwards placed on a      
filter and washed  with hot distilled   
water1 until the liquid passing from the
 filter gave  no trace of sulphuric     
acid4 ,the precipitate1 when pressed and
 dried1  was very white and dense4 ,it  
was exposed to an intense white heat in 
a  closely-covered ,hessian crucible for
 one hour4 ,when the crucible was       
opened1 ,i found a beautifully white    

magnesia1 finely granulated4 ,where  it 
had come in contact with the crucible1  
it had acquired a yellow  color1 from   
the peroxide of iron contained in the   
crucible4 ,the yellow  portion alone    
adhered firmly to the crucible and the  
rest was perfectly  white1 and readily  
removed4 ,in acids1 this magnesia was   
with difficulty  dissolved1 although    
ultimately completely soluble therein4  
,by a  repetition of this #ahf process1 
an identical result was obtained4  ,the 
magnesia thus produced in small lumps   
exhibited by transmitted  light a slight
 rosy tint1 and by reflected light1 a   
very white color4  ,in these respects1  
it agrees perfectly with ,henry's4 ,to  
determine its  comparative density1 a   
cubic inch measure was filled with its  
powder1  and weighed4 ,as the results of
 three trials1 it contained respectively
  #aj1gd1 #aa1ai1 and #aa1ah grammes of 
the powder4 ,two experiments with       
,henry's magnesia gave #g1 and #g1b     
grammes4 ,three of the carbonate of     

magnesia1 prepared by heat1 gave #ab1fh1
 #ab1i1 and #ab1e grm4 ,one of the      
ordinary calcined magnesia gave #a1ihe  
grm42 and one of the ordinary  carbonate
 of magnesia1 #a1d grm4    ,the calcined
 magnesia1 as above prepared1 contains  
some hard particles1  which are very    
difficult to pulverize4 ,in attempting  
to powder them1 ,i  remarked that this  
magnesia1 which was washed before being 
burnt until  no traces of sulphuric acid
 could be detected1 now afforded an     
evidence  of a small portion still being
 present4 ,this same observation ,i have
  previously made in the preparation of 
oxide of zinc4 ,to remove this          
contamination1 ,i recommend that        
carbonate of magnesia should first be   
lightly burnt1 and then well washed with
 hot water1 and again burnt  with a very
 strong heat4    ,the above             
determinations of the density of the    
magnesias must not be  confounded with  
their specific gravity4 ,to ascertain   
the latter is a  task of great          

difficulty1 for ,rose1 in attempting it1
 obtained such  discrepant results1 that
 he has withheld them4 ,the specific    
gravity of  ,henry's magnesia1 as near  
as it could be ascertained1 is from     
#b1ej to  #b1fg4 ,the magnesia prepared 
according to my process1 gave #c1adh as 
its  specific weight4--,buchner's       
,repertorium1 in ,annals of ,pharmacy4  
,,medicine ,,and ,,pharmacy ,,in        
,,brazil4    ,in the entire ,brazilian  
empire1 there are two national faculties
 of  medicine1 termed ,escola ,imperial 
de ,medecina1 one established at  ,rio  
de ,janeiro1 the other at ,bahia--the   
present #ahg and former  capitals of    
,brazil4 ,both are constituted exactly  
alike in laws1 forms1  number of        
professors1 modelled1 with very trifling
 difference1 after  the constitution of 
the ,ecole de ,mdecine of ,paris4 ,each 
college  consists of fourteen           
professors1 and six substitute          
professors1 with a  director and a      
vice-director1 answering to our own dean

 and vice-dean  of the faculty4 ,the    
latter are named by ,government1 from a 
triple  list sent up by the professors  
every third year1 and discharge the     
ordinary duties of their chairs1 being  
only exempt from attending  the         
examinations4 ,they possess a limited   
controling power over  their college1   
and constitute the official channel of  
communication  with ,government and     
public bodies1 on all matters relating  
to  public health1 prisons1 c4 ,the     
duties of professor-substitute are      
explained in the name4 ,when illness1 or
 public employment--the latter  not     
unusual in ,brazil--interferes with the 
duties of the professor1  his chair is  
supplied by the substitute3 both are    
appointed1 as in  ,france1 by concours4 
,most of the older members have         
graduated in  ,portugal1 ,scotland1     
,france1 or ,italy4 ,both classes       
receive a fixed  income from the ,state1
 and derive no emolument whatever from  
pupils  and examination fees1 c4 which  

are applied to public purposes          
connected with the college4 ,the income 
of the professor was fixed  at twelve   
hundred mil-reis per annum--7about three
 hundred pounds7  when first            
established2 and that of the            
professor-substitute at eight  hundred  
mil-reis4 ,both enjoy the right of      
retirement on their full  salary1 after 
twenty years' service1 or when          
incapacitated by age or  infirmities4 ,a
 travelling professor is elected by     
concours by the  faculty1 every four    
years1 for the purpose of investigating1
 in the  different countries of ,europe1
 the latest improvements and discoveries
  in medicine and the collateral        
sciences1 an account of which he        
regularly transmits1 in formal reports1 
to his college4 ,his expenses  are      
defrayed by the ,state4    ,the medical 
faculty consists of the following       
chairs3--#a1 physics2 #b1  botany2 #c1  
chemistry2 #d1 anatomy2 #e1 physiology2 
#f1 external pathology2  #g1 internal   

pathology2 #h1 materia #ahh medica2 #i1 
hygiene2 #aj1  operations2 #ab1         
midwifery2 #ac1 clinical medicine2 #ad1 
clinical surgery4    ,in addition to the
 professors1 there is a secretary       
7medical71  treasurer1 librarian1 and   
chemical assistant--all elected by the  
faculty4    ,the order of study is as   
follows3--first year1 medical physics   
and  medical botany2 second year1       
chemistry and general and descriptive   
anatomy2 third year1 anatomy and        
physiology2 fourth year1 external       
pathology1 internal pathology1 pharmacy 
and materia medica2 fifth year1         
operative medicine and midwifery2 sixth 
year1 hygiene1 history of  medicine1 and
 legal medicine4    ,all examinations   
are public1 and the subjects are drawn  
by lot4    ,the titles conferred by the 
faculty1 are only three1 viz41 ,doctor  
in  ,medicine1 ,apothecary1 and         
,midwife4 ,the latter is specially      
educated and  examined4    ,in each     
chief city there are commonly three or  

four large hospitals--the               
,misericordia1 or ,civil ,hospital1     
possessed of ample funds from           
endowments1 legacies1 and certain taxes2
 the ,military and ,naval  ,hopitals2   
and in ,rio1 ,bahia1 and ,pernambuco1   
,leper ,hospitals4 ,there  are also     
infirmaries attached to convents4       
,private subscriptions to  institutions 
are utterly unknown4    ,the academical 
session lasts for eight months--from    
#ast ,march to  #cjth ,october--lectures
 being delivered daily 7with some       
exceptions7  by the professors or their 
substitutes4 ,the professors of clinical
  medicine and surgery have the right of
 selecting their cases from the         
,misericordia ,hospital4    ,the        
student1 previous to matriculation1 must
 take his degree in arts2  and the      
curiculum is the same for all1 viz41 six
 years to obtain the  degree of ,doctor 
in ,medicine4 ,the examinations are     
conducted as in  ,paris4 ,for the degree
 of ,doctor in ,surgery--which1 however1

 is not  essential--a subsequent and    
special examination must be undergone1  
as in  ,france4    ,all students are    
classified1 on entering college1 into   
medical #ahi  and pharmaceutical2 and   
both are obliged to obtain the degree in
  arts before they can be matriculated1 
and to have completed their  sixteenth  
year4 ,the pharmaceutical student       
obtains his diploma of  pharmacy after  
three years study2 while that of        
medicine can only be  obtained after six
 years4 ,the student of pharmacy is     
obliged to repeat  the courses of       
medical physics1 botany1 chemistry1     
pharmacy and materia  medica2 while one 
course only of each is required from the
 medical  pupil4 ,the pharmaceutical    
student is obliged to attend for three  
years  in a pharmacy1 after the         
conclusion of his academical studies4   
,he then  undergoes an examination by   
the faculty1 and publicly defends a     
thesis  to obtain his diploma4 ,his duty
 afterwards1 as apothecary1 is strictly 

limited to the sale of drugs1 and the   
compounding of prescriptions4  ,he is   
never consulted professionally2 and1 did
 he attempt to apply a  remedy for the  
cure of any disease1 he would be        
immediately fined fifty  mil-reis by the
 municipality1 for the first1 and an    
increasing fine  for every subsequent   
offence2 and1 did he still persist1 his 
licence  would be withdrawn4 ,on the    
other hand1 the medical practioner is   
strictly prohibited from the compounding
 or sale of medicines1 in any  shape or 
form4--,dundas's ,sketches of ,brazil4  
,,chemical ,,examination ,,of ,,broom4  
7,,cytisus ,,scoparius ,d4 ,c47    ,,by 
,,dr4 ,,stenhouse4    ,the broom plants 
examined by ,dr4 ,stenhouse1 had an     
uncommonly bitter  taste4 ,the watery   
decoction1 evaporated down to a tenth   
part1 leaves  a gelatinous residue1     
which consists chiefly of scoparin4     
,this is  a yellow colored substance1   
which1 when purified1 can be got in     
stellate crystals1 and is easily soluble

 in boiling water and spirit  of wine4  
,dr4 ,stenhouse1 from five ultimate     
analyses1 assigns it to the             
constitution ,c#ba ,h#aa ,o#aj4         
,scoparin is1 according to an extensive 
series of experiments by ,dr4           
,stenhouse1 the diuretic principle of   
broom1 which has been recognised  by    
,mead1 ,cullen1 ,pearson1 ,pereira1 and 
others1 #aij as one of the  most        
efficacious remedies in dropsy4 ,the    
dose for an adult is #e or #f  grains4  
,its diuretic action begins in #ab      
hours1 and the urine under its  use is  
more than doubled in quantity4    ,from 
the mother liquor of the crude scoparin1
 ,dr4 ,s4 obtained1 by  distillation1 a 
colorless oily liquid1 which1 when      
purified1 was found  to be a new        
volatile organic base spartein4 ,this   
has a peculiarly  bitter taste1 and     
possesses powerful narcotic properties4 
,a single drop  dissolved by means of   
acetic acid1 affected a rabbit so much1 
that it  lay stupified for #e or #f     

hours4 ,another rabbit1 which took four 
grains1  first went into a state of     
violent excitement1 then fell into sopor
 and  died in three hours4 ,the author  
observes that shepherds have long been  
acquainted with the excitant and        
narcotic action of broom4    ,the       
proportion of ,scoparin and spartein1   
varies very much in plants  grown in    
different localities1 which probably    
explains the very  different accounts   
given by practitioners of its activity  
as a drug4  ,the author suggests that it
 would be better to employ pure scoparin
  free from admixture of                
spartein4--,edin4 ,monthly ,jour4 of    
,medical  ,science4      ,,editorial4   
,,poisoning ,,by ,,tincture ,,of        
,,aconite4--,the frequent use of the    
strong  tincture of aconite root1 as an 
external application1 has1 as might     
have been expected1 given rise to       
repeated accidents1 from the  accidental
 or careless internal administration of 
that powerful  substance in an overdose4

 ,an instance has occurred within a day 
or two1  where an attendant administered
 a tea-spoonful of the tincture1 which  
had been directed to be used as a       
liniment for a rheumatic affection4  ,an
 emetic of sulphate of zinc was         
administered by the physician1 and      
within five minutes after the poison had
 been swallowed1 free vomiting  was     
produced4 ,this continued for several   
hours1 though the external  application 
of mustard poultices to #aia the pit of 
the stomach1 and  the administration of 
strong coffee1 with small doses of      
laudanum1 were  employed to check it4   
,the man was naturally very stupid1 and 
could  give no clear account of his     
sensations4 ,he made no complaint of his
  throat1 until his attention was       
directed to it1 when he said it was     
sore and that he had difficulty in      
swallowing4 ,he had a strange1 as  he   
termed it1 bursting sensation in his    
limbs1 with constant sickness  and      
retching1 and great debility4 ,he looked

 alarmed and anxious1 and  was restless4
 ,the pupils were at first dilated1 then
 nearly natural1  and afterwards again  
dilated4 ,the extremities were cold and 
moist1  the pulse early intermitting and
 weak1 became extinct at the wrist1  and
 the action of the heart was feeble and 
irregular4 ,stimulants were             
administered internally1 but could not  
be retained1 brandy and water  with     
carbonate of ammonia was afterwards     
given in injections1 per anum4  and the 
temperature of the extremities          
maintained by mustard poultices1  and   
the application of heat4 ,after an      
interval of seven or eight hours  the   
pulse again became perceptible1 and the 
man gradually recovered4    ,the        
characteristic symptoms produced by     
poisoning with aconite1  are a peculiar 
numb tingling sensation produced in the 
tongue and  lips1 a sensation in the    
throat1 as if the palate were enlarged  
and  elongated1 and resting upon the    
root of the tongue1 irritability of  the

 stomach1 a numb creeping or tingling   
sensation felt in the limbs1  or over   
the whole surface1 and depressed action 
of the heart1 and  consequent           
prostration and coldness of the         
extremities4 ,death when it  occurs1    
seems to depend on the depressing effect
 produced upon the  heart4 ,from this it
 would seem that the proper treatment   
would be1  #ast1 to promote the         
evacuation of the poison by mild means4 
#bnd1 to  maintain the circulation1 by  
keeping the patient as quiet as possible
  in a horizontal posture1 by the       
application of sinapisms and external   
warmth to the extremities1 and by the   
administration of stimulants by  the    
mouth or when they cannot be retained1  
by the rectum1 and #c;d1 to  control1 if
 possible1 the vomiting4    ,pereira    
states that aconite1 when dropped in the
 eye1 or when taken  internally in      
poisonous doses1 produces contraction of
 the pupils1 and  that with the         
exception of opium1 it is the only      

article which does so4  ,in the above   
case1 and in one other1 which was       
likewise seen by the  writer1 the pupils
 were dilated1 and the same condition   
was observed in  several cases which    
have been communicated to him4    ,the  
above case is note-worthy from the great
 severity of the symptoms  endangering  
the patients life1 which followed the   
administration of a  single tea-spoonful
 of the poison4 ,it must have been      
absorbed too1 with  great promptness1   
since the vomiting1 which took place in 
five minutes  afforded no relief4 ,this 
probably depended on the stomach being  
empty  at the time4 ,much of the        
difference observed in the effects      
produced by  the same dose1 too1        
doubtless depends on the variation of   
the strength  of the tincture1 caused   
either by the employment of different   
formul  in its preparation1 or by the   
occasional use of decayed and inferior  
roots in making it4    #aib             
,,spurious ,,sulphate ,,of              

,,quinine4--,we understand that the     
article referred  to in the subjoined   
note1 has likewise been offered for sale
 in this  city4 ,it bears the label of  
,pelletier1 ,delondres  ,levaillant4 ,we
 hope  our ,western friends will be on  
their guard against this atrocious      
swindle4     ,,to ,,the ,,editor ,,of   
,,the ,,new ,,york ,,journal ,,of       
,,pharmacy3     ,dear ,sir1--,i would   
direct the attention of druggists and   
apothecaries   to an article sold in    
,new ,york1 purporting to be quinine1   
put up so as   to resemble the ,french4 
,it has somewhat the appearance of that 
article1 but upon examination   will be 
found to be totally devoid of           
bitterness1 c4 ,i should suppose   it to
 be mannite4     ,i am led to believe   
that #ejj ounces have already been      
shipped to the   ,west1 and some has    
been sold in this vicinity4     ,i hope 
that your numerous subscribers may      
profit by this hint1 and   that the     
parties selling the same as quinine1 may

 be frustrated in   their nefarious     
traffic4     ,your obedient servant1 ,r4
 ,j4 ,d4     ,,brooklyn1 ,may #bh1      
#aheb4      ,,maganese4--,some attention
 has lately been given1 in ,france1 to a
 variety  of preparations of maganese4  
,maganese is commonly found associated  
with  iron in minute quantities4 ,it    
appears to be an invariable constituent 
of the blood1 and in certain diseases1  
in which the iron1 normally  contained  
in that fluid1 is deficient1 the        
maganese would seem to be  deficient in 
similar proportion4 ,it is said that the
 preparations of  maganese1 given in    
connection with those of iron1 in such  
diseases1  produce effects which cannot 
be obtained from iron alone4 ,various   
formul have been offered for its        
administration4 ,commonly similar  salts
 of the two articles1 as the sulphate1  
lactate1 carbonate1 c41  are given      
together1 the manganese being to the    
iron in the proportion  of from #a_/b to
 #a_/c4 ,the subject would seem to      

deserve further  inquiry4      ,,our    
,,exchanges4--,owing to a variety of    
circumstances1 the ,journal  has not    
been forwarded with proper regularity to
 the ,editors of the  ,journals in our  
own ,country1 with whom we would desire 
to exchange4  ,exchanges and books      
intended for us should be directed 8,,to
 ,,the ,,editor  ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,york
 ,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy10 care of    
,,george ,d4 ,,coggeshall1 #hji         
,broadway1 or of ,t4 ,b4 ,,merrick1 ,no4
 #aj ,gold ,street4 ,foreign ,exchanges 
may be sent through the house of ,h4    
,,bailliere1 ,london1 or ,j4 ,b4        
,,baillere1 ,paris4    #aic             
,,new ,,york    ,,journal ,,of          
,,pharmacy4    ,,july1 #aheb4           
,,notes ,,in ,,pharmacy1 ,no4 #c4       
,,extr4 ,,liq4 ,,cubeb4--,the formula   
for this preparation1 made officinal in 
the lately revised ,u4 ,s4 ,pharmacopia1
 appearing to me to afford rather  an   
ethereal oil1 than what may be properly 
called a fluid extract1  ,i am induced  

to make known the process which ,i have 
been accustomed  to adopt1 during some  
years1 to obtain what ,i conceive to be 
a true  extract1 containing1 in an      
agreeably administrable form1 all and   
the  whole of the properties belonging  
to the berry1 and which has given  much 
satisfaction in practice1 particularly  
to patients1 some of  whom who have had 
extensive experience in the use of      
anti-gonnorrhl  compounds1 ,i have heard
 state that it is the only thing of the 
kind  they had ever taken which was not 
disagreeable to the stomach4 ,i take of 
,pulv4 ,cubeb4 crud4 i   ,ether4 ,sulph4
   ,sp4 ,vin ,rect4   ,aqu ,pur  q4 s4  
,the coarsely powdered cubebs1 being    
lightly packed in a displacement        
funnel1 ,i pour upon it as much of a    
mixture of equal parts of ether and     
spirit of wine1 as it will imbibe1 and1 
having covered closely the top  of the  
apparatus with moistened bladder1 and   
corked the lower aperture1  allow it to 
stand for twenty-four hours4 ,i then    

uncork it1 and after it  has ceased #aid
 dropping1 displace the remainder with  
,sp4 ,vin4 ,rect4  until the original   
quantity 7generally a pint17 be         
obtained2 this ,i  set aside in an open 
and shallow vessel to evaporate         
spontaneously1  until all the ether1 and
 most of the spirit has passed off1     
reducing  the quantity to about one     
half4 ,i then obtain1 by displacement   
with  diluted alcohol1 another pint of  
the liquid1 exposing it in the same     
manner1 until three-fourths of the      
quantity is evaporated spontaneously  as
 before2 again another pint is obtained 
by displacement with water1  7this will 
be a proof spirit tincture17 which is   
added to the former1  and allowed to    
lose by the same means1 about           
one-fourth1 or sufficient  to leave a   
resulting quantity of one and a half    
pints1 which will  contain about eight  
ounces of alcohol4 ,the displacement    
with water is  continued to exhaustion1 
when enough fluid will be obtained to   

raise  the quantity1 when added to that 
already prepared1 to two and a half     
pints1 which is transferred to a proper 
bottle1 and there is dissolved  in it   
sixteen ounces of white sugar1 yielding1
 in toto1 three pints  of fluid extract1
 equal to one pound of the berries1 one 
fi of which  represents j of the dry    
powder4 ,the dregs1 when dried1 are     
destitute  of sensible properties1      
appearing to be merely ligneous remains1
 and  the loss in weight1 when time is  
had1 may be easily calculated and       
compared with the recorded analyses4    
,the extract has the appearance  of a   
somewhat thick1 brownish colored liquid1
 possessing the peculiar  taste and     
smell of the cubebs in a remarkable     
degree1 remaining  homogeneous for some 
time after agitation1 and showing after 
settling  a large proportion of the     
oleaginous constituents of the berry4   
,having  aimed more at efficiency than  
beauty in this preparation1 ,i claim for
  it the former rather than the latter1 

and if it should not invite the  eye1 it
 will be found very agreeable to the    
palate4 ,fluid extract of  valerian may 
be prepared by the same process1 and1   
indeed1 all those of  a volatile nature1
 whose active principles are soluble in 
any of the  above menstrua4      ,,ung4 
,,aqu ,,ros4--,the great trouble with   
this preparation is1 that the  water    
will separate from it after a time1     
giving it a #aie lachrymose  and        
unhandsome appearance4 ,this defect is  
completely remedied by using  only one  
half the quantity of ,aq4 ,ros1 by which
 a better consistence  and much nicer   
preparation is obtained1 and one more1  
in accordance  with the soubriquet      
8,cold ,cream10 which is given to it by 
the fair  sex1 for whose use1 as a      
cosmetic1 it is far superior to the     
highly  scented1 and irritating fancy   
article of the same name4 ,it is also   
an admirable unirritating1 cooling1     
dressing for surgical use2 but ,i  would
 remark1 en passant1 that it is a very  

unfit medium for the  composition of    
ointments1 for which purpose it is      
sometimes prescribed  to the annoyance  
of the apothecary4 ,in such cases the   
physician should  be apprised that the  
addition of a drop of oil of rose to    
simple cerate  would answer his purpose 
much better1 as the odor only is the    
quality  desired4 ,i think the above    
note might not be undeserving the       
attention  of the next revisers of the  
,pharmacopias4      ,,ung4 ,,peruvian4  
,it is sometimes difficult to make this 
ointment smooth1  as1 though readily    
miscible at first1 continued trituration
 causes the  balsam to separate1 and    
like the colored person who 8the more he
 was  called1 the more he would not     
come10 the more it is rubbed1 the more  
it  separates4 ,this hostility to union 
is readily overcome by the addition  of 
ten drops or so of alcohol for each     
drachm of the balsam4 ,it is  perhaps   
unnecessary to state that this          
difficulty will not be had when  the    

balsam is adulterated with alcohol--a   
good practical test of the  purity of   
the article4      ,,pharmaceutical      
,,ethics4--,morality being at present in
 the ascendant1 as  it should always be1
 it may not be inappropriate1 though    
more important  than practical1 to 8make
 a note0 of some fashionable practices  
prevalent amongst the more ostentatious 
pharmaceutists of the day1  savoring    
much more strongly of 8,quackery10 to   
use a vulgar phrase1  than ,art ,unions1
 c4 are pronounced by legal wisdom to do
 of the  8,lottery40 ,i allude1 for     
example1 to the system of getting up1   
under  some mystified appellation1      
certain preparations1 as 8,brown's      
,elixir10  8,white's ,essence10 or      
8,black's ,compound10--something or #aif
 other1  which are merely the ordinary  
preparations of the shop1 or could      
easily be prepared if they were worth   
the trouble1 but under assumed  names1  
are heralded forth at the ne plus ultra 
of pharmaceutical  perfectibility4 ,i do

 not envy a reputation so acquired1 nor 
do ,i wish  to speak of it in that      
spirit1 but to point out its            
inconsistency with  correct principles1 
and designate it as unworthy of         
honorable ambition4  ,such preparations 
generally 8hail0 from some obscure place
 or person1  but are occasionally       
dabbled with by others who should give  
themselves  to better things4 ,it is    
self evident1 from the nature of his    
calling1  that the exclusive duty of the
 apothecary per se1 is to make1 as      
faithfully or skilfully as he may1 the  
various preparations of the             
,pharmacopia1 as therein set down1 when 
he is called upon to do so1  and to     
compound accurately the prescriptions of
 the physician4 ,if1 by  long experience
 or increased skill1 he may have been   
led to any real  discovery or           
improvement1 the minuti of which he does
 not choose to  divulge1 7the reverse of
 which would be the more generous17 its 
nature  should be stated1 when relating 

to a preparation1 in terms distinct     
enough at least1 to convey an idea of   
its real composition and medical        
properties3 thus tinctures should not be
 misnamed ,essences or ,extracts2       
,fluid ,extracts1 or ,concentrated      
,infusions1 ,elixirs2 ,syrups1          
,panaceas1  c4 thus avoiding the        
inconsistency of condemning1 if not     
morally1 at  least constitutionally1 the
 more open mountebank who plunders your 
pockets1 while the beam is in your own  
eye4 ,it is also perhaps worthy  of     
remark that the necessity does not      
appear any longer to exist of  retaining
 those prescriptively excellent         
preparations made by some1 no  doubt1   
very respectable apothecary in ,london1 
claiming1 with a dozen  others1 to be   
the sole possessor of the original      
receipt4 ,they are  imported at a very  
high price1 and as the composition of   
most1 perhaps  all1 is1 or can be known1
 might be made by any apothecary here as
  well as in ,london4 ,some of them     

might be deserving of adoption into  the
 ,pharmacopia1 as have been ,dover's    
,powder1 ,daffy's ,elixir1 c4  already4 
,it is said by connoisseurs in wines1   
that madeira is very  much improved by  
#aig crossing the line2 but ,i am not   
aware that  pharmaceutical preparations 
are at all benefitted by crossing the   
ocean4 ,their genuineness1 too1 has     
become a by-word4 ,by the way1 ,i  was  
gravely informed by a certain importer1 
the other day1 of whom  ,i enquired     
concerning one of these genuine         
articles1 that it was  obtained directly
 from the inventor4 ,i was at a loss to 
imagine the  8modus transits10 nor had  
,i the hardihood to enquire1 the good   
man  having been gathered to his fathers
 scores of years ago4    ,various are   
the unworthy practices1 one or two of   
which are thus curtly  alluded to1      
deserving of a more studied notice and  
severe censure1 than  ,i am able or     
willing to give them4 ,such matters1    
though not exactly  8putting money in   

the purse10 should be attended to4 ,the 
purging of our  profession--for it is   
one--of them1 would be a highly         
meritorious service4      ,,chloric     
,,ether4    ,,by ,j4 ,f4 ,,holton1      
,,professor ,,of ,,botany ,,in ,,the    
,,new ,,york ,,college ,,of  ,,pharmacy4
    ,in the early part of this century1 
some chemists in ,holland found a       
peculiar oily fluid of very fragrant    
smell1 resulted from the action of      
chlorine on ,olefiant gas4 ,it is       
generally known as the ,dutch liquid2 it
  has been called also chloric ether and
 bichloric ether4 ,its composition  is  
,c#d ,h#b ,o#b4    ,in #ahca1 ,mr4      
,samuel ,guthrie of ,sackets ,harbor1 in
 this ,state1 distilled  alcohol from   
the so called chloride of lime1 and     
obtained a product so  closely          
resembling the ,dutch liquid that he    
though it identical4 ,from  some        
relations to formic acid1 it was        
afterwards called ,chloroform1 and      
chloroformid4 ,its composition is ,c#d  

,,ho#c4 ,in #ahdg1 anasthetic           
properties brought #aih chloroform      
prominently before the public4 ,we  find
 an article by ,prof4 ,b4 ,silliman1    
,jr41 in the ,american ,journal of      
,science1 new series1 vol41 #e1 p4 #bdj1
 in which it is stated that 8the  terms 
chloric ether1 bichloric ether1         
perchloride of formyle1 ,dutch oil  and 
oil of ,dutch chemists1 are all synonyms
 of chloroform40    ,in a recent visit  
of the writer at ,new ,haven he saw a   
prescription of  8chloric ether40 ,being
 reminded of the singular error in the  
,journal  printed there1 he inquired    
into the nature of the article          
dispensed4  ,it proved to be a solution 
of chloroform in alcohol1 and on his    
return  to this city he found the same  
practice here to a small extent4 ,the   
proportions in the article bearing this 
name vary greatly2 often  it seems that 
the mere contents of the wash-bottle are
 in this way  disposed of1 containing of
 course a large proportion of water4    

,mr4  ,currie1 one of our most careful  
and consciencious chemists1 usually     
prepares it so as to contain #aj per    
cent4 in bulk of chloroform4 ,a more    
convenient formula would be1 chloroform 
#a part1 alcohol #aj parts4 ,some  such 
article under the name of ,tinctura     
,chloroformi ought to have place  in our
 pharmacopia4    ,but to our confusion  
the term chloric ether is applied to yet
 another1  and entirely a different     
body1 formed by the distillation of     
alcohol  and hydrochloric acid1 the     
composition of which is ,c#d ,h#e ,o4   
,this  is also called hydrochloric ether
 and muriatic ether4    ,but to neither 
of these four substances does the name  
chloric ether  properly belong4 ,were   
there such a thing1 it would be obtained
 from the  action of chloric acid on    
alcohol1 a reaction which is prevented  
by the  decomposition of the chloric    
acid by the alcohol1 to which it gives  
part of its oxygen1 forming acetic acid4
    ,this subject is not of so much     

importance intrinsically as it is by way
  of illustrating the extreme importance
 of rigid adhesion to systematic        
nomenclature as the only means of saving
 us from dangerous errors and           
inextricable confusion4    #aii         
,,on ,,the ,,preparation ,,of ,,pure    
,,magnesia4    ,,by ,,henry ,,wurtz1 ,m4
 ,a4    ,the preparation of few         
substances presents such difficulties as
 that of  ,pure ,magnesia4    ,it seems1
 however1 at first glance1 that the     
cheapness and general  purity of the    
sulphate which occurs in commerce1 would
 render this  an easy task4             
,unfortunately1 however1 no simple      
process has yet been  proposed for      
obtaining pure magnesia from the        
sulphate4 ,the usual  course is to      
precipitate from the boiling solution   
with carbonate  of soda1 and to expel   
the carbonic acid from the magnesia alba
 thus  obtained1 by ignition4 ,on trying
 this process1 however1 it was found    
that the carbonate of magnesia thus     

precipitated could not be freed  from   
soda by washing4 ,after an enormous     
quantity of hot distilled  water had    
passed through it on the filter1 the    
slight residue left by  evaporation of  
the washings1 still gave the soda tinge 
to flame4    ,it is true that the trace 
of the soda compound thus retained might
  probably be washed out of the magnesia
 after its ignition1 but the  difficulty
 and tedium of the operation of washing 
the very voluminous  precipitate1       
together with the expense attendant upon
 the necessity  of using pure carbonate 
of soda1 to avoid the presence of       
silica1  phosphoric acid1 and other     
impurities1 which1 if present1 would    
inevitably contaminate the magnesia1    
induced me to reject this method4  ,in  
fact this method1 which was formerly    
almost used universally by  analysts for
 the determination of magnesia is now   
rejected by them1  except in some       
unavoidable cases4#af    #af ,h4 ,ross's
 ,handbuch1 last edition1 #b1 #cc4      

,the substitution of carbonate of       
ammonia for carbonate of soda is        
inadmissible with any regard to economy1
 on account of the existence  of the    
soluble double sulphates of ammonia and 
magnesia4 ,a trial was  made to         
decompose sulphate of magnesia by mixing
 its anhydrous powder  with a large     
quantity of carbonate of ammonia1 and   
igniting1 but the  only trace of #bjj   
decomposition which appeared was a      
slight alkaline  re-action of the       
aqueous solution of the mass4    ,i must
 here mention an impurity which ,i have 
met with in commercial  sulphate of     
magnesia1 and this is a double sulphate 
of magnesia and  potash1 which occurs in
 small crystals1 apparently             
rhombohedrons1 among  the rectangular   
prisms of the ,epsom salt4 ,it may      
probably be separable  by               
recrystallization1 though this1 with    
sulphate of magnesia1 is rather  a      
difficult affair4    ,the method which  
,i adopted for preparing pure magnesia  

was the  ignition of the nitrate        
prepared from the commercial magnesia   
alba4  ,the impurities in the commercial
 carbonate which ,i made use of were    
sulphate and chloride1 a surprisingly   
large quantity of silica1 a trace  of   
phosphoric acid easily detectable by    
molybdate of ammonia1 oxide of  iron1   
alumina1 lime1 alkalies and some organic
 matter4 ,a small excess  of this impure
 article was added to commercial nitric 
acid and the  whole boiled2 the silica1 
oxide of iron1 alumina and phosphoric   
acid  were thus separated by the excess 
of magnesia and the filtered solution   
contained no trace of either of them2   
the solution was slightly colored  by   
organic matter4    ,either of two       
methods may now be adopted for          
separating the lime4    ,one is to add a
 late excess of ammonia1 then a little  
oxalic acid1 and  filter4 ,to this      
method1 besides the expense of so large 
a quantity  of pure ammonia the         
necessity of the subsequent             

decomposition and  expulsion by heat of 
the very large quantity of nitrate of   
ammonia  formed is a serious objection4 
,unsuccessful attempts were made to     
separate the lime by adding oxalic  acid
 immediately to the neutral solution of 
nitrate of magnesia4 ,it was  found upon
 experiment that oxalate of lime is     
somewhat soluble in a  solution of      
nitrate of magnesia4    ,the other      
method1 which is preferable1 consists in
 adding to the  solution a little       
sulphate of magnesia1 and then a        
quantity of alcohol1  but not enough of 
the latter to produce any immediate     
precipitation4  ,if a precipitate is    
formed immediately1 #bja water is added1
 for1  singularly enough1 it was found  
that the liquid filtered from this      
first precipitate still contained lime4 
,in the course of time the  sulphate of 
lime separates in the form of small     
crystals4    ,the filtered liquid is now
 evaporated in porcelain dishes1 and the
  residue transferred to porcelain      

crucibles1 or still better1 to  platinum
 dishes1 and the nitric acid expelled by
 a gentle heat4 ,by  a slight           
modification ,i have succeeded in       
shortening this operation  very much1   
that is by adding1 from time to time1   
powdered carbonate  of ammonia to the   
mass1 and stirring with a glass rod1 or 
a platinum  spatula4 ,when no more red  
gases are evolved the heat is raised to 
redness for a few minutes4 ,the mass    
thus obtained requires washing with     
pure water to separate alkaline salts   
and some sulphate of magnesia  which it 
still contains4    ,magnesia thus       
prepared was found1 by a most rigid     
qualitative analysis1  to be perfectly  
pure4 ,i am aware1 however1 that the    
process is a  troublesome one1 and it is
 very much to be desired that some one  
would  present us with a simple and     
direct process of obtaining pure        
magnesia  from the sulphate4      ,,on  
,,tincture ,,of ,,ipecacuanha4    ,,by  
,g4 ,f4 ,,leroy1 ,,of ,,brussels4       

,officinal preparations during          
reposition or preservation1 when  placed
 in situations proper to preserve them  
from all changes1 yet  undergo such     
important modifications1 that the       
pharmaceutist is  frequently obliged to 
reject them as worthless4 ,we are       
accustomed to  consider alcoholic       
tinctures1 by reason of the vehicle used
 in their  preparation1 as amongst the  
most stable of officinal preparations2  
and  therefore very few #bjb            
pharmacologists have observed the       
changes  they undergo4 ,amongst those   
whose attention has been drawn to the   
subject1 ,i may particularly cite3 #ast1
 ,baum1 who has remarked that  tincture 
of saffron deposits a substance         
analagous to amber4--7,elements  of     
,pharmacy1 #b;d ed4 #aghi47    #bnd4    
,guibourt1 who presented to the ,academy
 of ,medicine at ,paris1 some           
observations on the changes in its      
composition which tincture of iodine    
undergoes according to the time when it 

was prepared1 7year #ahdf47    #crd4    
,bastick1 with the desire of            
ascertaining the nature of the changes  
to which alcoholic preparations are     
subject1 placed various tinctures1      
during several months1 in situations    
similar to those of a pharmacy1  that is
 to say1 exposed to a temperature       
varying from #fj to #hj  ,fahrenheit1 in
 bottles half filled1 and to which air  
was1 from time to  time1 admitted4      
,on examining them1 some time           
afterwards1 he found that most of them  
had undergone active fermentation in a  
greater or less degree1 and  that the   
alcohol had gradually become converted  
into acetic acid4 ,the  tinctures had   
generally lost their color and taste1   
and contained a  precipitate which was  
partially re-soluble in a proportion of 
alcohol  corresponding to that which had
 been decomposed4--7,pharmaceutical     
,journal and ,transactions1 #ahdh47     
,the tinctures prepared with weak       
alcohol are the most subject to this    

species of change4    #dth4 ,tincture of
 kino changes so with time1 that it     
passes from the  liquid to the          
gelatinized state4 ,this change even    
affords an excellent  test when it is   
suspected that catechu may have been    
substituted for  kino in this           
preparation4--7,dorvault1 ,officine1    
#ahej1 #c;d4 ed47    ,in general1       
pharmacologists consider that tinctures 
only deteriorate  by the evaporation of 
the alcohol used in their preparation1  
and that  this evaporation has the      
effect of concentrating them too much1  
and of  giving rise to the precipitation
 of a part of the principles which were 
held in solution4    ,i do not entirely 
concur in this opinion2 on the contrary1
 ,i #bjc  believe that1 in many cases1  
the precipitates which are formed in the
  tinctures1 do not arise from the      
evaporation of a part of the vehicle1   
but from a modification which takes     
place in a part of the principles  held 
in solution1 and which1 becoming less   

soluble1 or even insoluble1  are        
precipitated4    ,amongst these         
precipitates ,i shall place that which  
is almost uniformly  found in tincture  
of ipecacuanha4    ,druggists generally 
are aware that this tincture1 shortly   
after its  preparation1 throws down a   
deposite of a yellowish white color1    
very  light1 and increasing daily2 that 
when separated by filtration a new      
deposit immediately commences1 and      
recourse must again be had to           
filtering4    ,it is only after three or
 four filterings1 at intervals of five  
or six weeks1 that the formation of this
 deposit can be arrested4  ,in the      
course of ,july of this year1 ,i        
prepared from the ,belgian              
,pharmacopia1 some tincture of          
ipecacuanha1 to be used in the          
preparation of some syrup of the same4  
,desiring to follow the different phases
 which it presents1 and to  study1 as   
far as possible1 the nature of the      
precipitate formed in  it1 7for as yet  

,i believe that no research has been    
directed to this  subject47 ,i took     
advantage of the opportunity which this 
preparation  afforded me4    ,about six 
weeks after its preparation1 this       
tincture contained a  deposit which was 
yellowish white1 tolerably abundant1    
very light1 and  rising on being shaken4
    ,i again suffered the precipitate to
 form1 and after some days1 ,i  decanted
 the clear liquor1 and threw the deposit
 on a filter4 ,i  afterwards mixed the  
decanted liquors and that which was     
filtered1 in a  bottle4    ,the         
precipitate remaining on the filter1 ,i 
repeatedly washed4 ,i put it  to dry    
spontaneously1 but perceiving1 after    
twenty-four hours1 that  it was becoming
 the prey of a number of little         
cryptogami1 formed in  the same manner  
as in animal gelatine which dries slowly
 in the air1 ,i  hastened the desication
 by carrying the filter into a medium of
 from  #cj to #ce centigrade4 #bjd      
,this deposit1 during the process of    

drying1 loses its hydrogen1 changes     
color1 becoming reddish brown1 and is   
slightly translucid1 when very  dry it  
is friable4    ,the quantity obtained in
 this first filtering1 weighed #e grains
 of  the ,netherland weights1 or #j1cbej
 milligrammes2 from an ounce or #cb     
grammes of roots1 employed towards the  
end of ,october1 ,i again saved  the    
deposit which was formed3 it weighed #a 
grain1 ,netherland1 or #j1jfe           
milligrammes4    ,at present1 at the end
 of ,november1 a third deposition is    
taking place1  and will be collected to 
be added to the others4    ,during the  
whole time the tincture had no effect   
either upon blue or  red litmus paper4  
,physical properties4 ,the precipitate  
is solid1 friable1 of a reddish  color1 
slightly translucent1 without taste4    
,chemical properties4 ,ether1 alcohol1  
water1 cold or boiling1 have no  action 
upon it2 dilute hydrochloric1 sulphuric 
and nitric acids1 have  no action when  
cold4 ,concentrated nitric acid1 when   

cold1 produces no  effect upon it1 but  
if heated to ebullition it attacks it   
actively1  becoming of a brownish red   
color4 ,put in a glass tube closed by   
one  only of its extremities1 the other 
being furnished with two pieces  of     
litmus paper1 the one becomes blue1 the 
other red4 ,if the tube is  placed in   
the flame of a spirit lamp1 in a few    
instants the matter  swells and the     
reddened paper becomes again blue4      
,placed on a slip of platina1 and       
exposed to the flame of a spirit lamp1  
it swells1 giving out a strong odor of  
burnt animal matter2 it burns  without  
flame and leaves a white ash4 ,this ash 
treated by reagents1 has  the           
characteristics of lime4    ,as may be  
seen by this short exposition1 the      
deposit is by no means a  product       
resulting from the evaporation of a part
 of the alcohol1 which  holds in        
solution the principles that are        
deposited1 but a particular  organic    
matter united to lime1 which is formed  

at the expense of the  azotized         
principle contained in the roots of the 
ipecac4 ,what is the  azotised principle
 which concurs in the formation of this 
substance8  ,certainly it is not one    
#bje of those which are commonly met    
with in  vegetables1 otherwise the      
phenomenon which is observed in the     
tincture  of ipecac would be observed in
 the tinctures made with the other      
roots4 ,is it the emetine which is      
decomposed8 ,if that be the case1 the   
tincture of ipecac would be considered  
rightly an uncertain preparation4       
,from the character assigned by ,m4     
,willigh to his ipecacuan acid1  as well
 as to the tribasic salt of lead1       
7,journal de ,chimie et de  ,pharmacie1 
,octobre1 #ahea17 it will be readily    
understood1 how ,i at  first thought1   
without1 however1 having made any       
serious researches1  that it might be   
this acid united with the lime1 to which
 the  precipitate was owing4 ,but the   
analysis made by that chemist1 which    

denotes the absence of nitrogen in its  
composition1 does not permit us  to     
entertain this idea4    ,as will readily
 be perceived1 my researches are far    
from complete1 as ,i  had not a         
sufficient quantity of the precipitate  
at my disposition4 ,but  while waiting  
to complete them1 ,i did not wish to    
delay acquainting the  learned world    
with a fact which appears to me         
extraordinary and until  now unique1 and
 at the same time to call to it the     
attention of those  better situated than
 myself to pursue such                  
researches4--,presse ,medicale  ,belge4 
,,on ,,the ,,mode ,,of ,,ascertaining   
,,the ,,purity ,,of ,,essential ,,oil   
,,of ,,bitter  ,,almonds4    ,mr4       
,redwood laid before the meeting some   
samples of oil of bitter  almonds1      
prepared by different makers1 together  
with the results of  experiments he had 
made with the view of ascertaining      
whether or not  they had been subjected 
to adulteration4    ,he stated1 that his

 attention had been directed to the     
subject by more  than one of the dealers
 in this article1 in consequence of its 
having  been represented that some of   
the samples had #bjf been adulterated   
with alcohol1 an inference which had    
been drawn from the fact that the       
suspected samples had a much lower      
specific gravity than others met  with  
in commerce4    ,he had been furnished  
with five samples from different makers1
 the  specific gravities of which were  
as follows3     #a4   #ajeb4d   #b4     
#ajee4b   #c4   #ajfg4   #d4   #ajha4   
#e4   #ajhb4b    ,the merchants having  
no better mode of testing the quality of
 this  oil than by its flavor1 its      
specific gravity1 and other physical    
characters1 it was important to         
ascertain what reliance could be placed 
on this class of observations4 ,it was  
well known that spirit was  sometimes   
mixed with it1 the effect of which would
 be to reduce its  specific gravity1 and
 this addition1 to the extent to which  

it would be  likely to be made1 would   
not impair the flavor of the oil1 or    
alter its  sensible characters in any   
other way than is above stated4 ,the    
light  oils were1 therefore1 very       
naturally suspected to have been reduced
  with alcohol4    ,the experiments he  
had made in reference to this subject   
had fully  satisfied him that the       
specific gravity of essential oil of    
bitter  almonds1 within certain limits1 
could not be relied on as affording     
evidence of purity or adulteration4 ,the
 specimens on the table1 to  which he   
had already referred1 although differing
 in specific gravity  to the extent of  
nearly thirty grains in the thousand    
grain-measures1  he believed to be all  
free from adulteration4    ,before      
describing the tests which he had found 
to afford the most  satisfactory        
indications1 he described the proximate 
constituents of  the crude oil1 which   
vary considerably in proportion in      
different  samples1 and hence the       

differences in density and in some of   
the  properties of the oil4             
,according to ,liebig and ,gregory1     
crude oil of bitter almonds consists  of
 hyduret of benzoyle1 hydrocyanic acid1 
benzoic acid1 and  benzoine1 and these  
probably are not its only constituents4 
,of these  the two first may be said to 
be essential constituents1 and the      
others  accidental1 being the result of 
changes which #bjg the hyduret of       
benzoyle1 or true oil of bitter almonds1
 undergoes4    ,the hyduret of benzoyle 
has the ordinary characters of an       
essential  oil4 ,when pure it is a      
colorless1 transparent liquid1 the      
specific  gravity of which is #ajdc4 ,it
 possesses the peculiar almond flavor1  
and  is not poisonous4 ,this1 which is  
the true oil of bitter almonds1 ought   
to constitute about eighty-five or      
ninety per cent4 of the crude oil4      
,when oil of vitriol is added to pure   
hyduret of benzoyle the mixture         
acquires a dark reddish brown color1 but

 no other visible change takes  place4  
,if the hyduret of benzoyle be exposed  
to the air it speedily becomes          
oxidized1 and by the substitution of an 
atom of oxygen for one of  hydrogen it  
is converted into benzoic acid4 ,the    
benzoic acid present  in oil of bitter  
almonds is the result of this           
transformation1 and  sometimes it occurs
 to such an extent that it is deposited 
from the  oil in crystals4 ,benzoic acid
 is not colored by the action of oil of 
vitriol4    ,benzoine is also a product 
of a remarkable change which hyduret of 
benzoyle1 when mixed with hydrocyanic   
acid1 is liable to undergo4 ,like       
benzoic acid1 it is a solid crystalline 
body1 but unlike benzoic acid1  when    
mixed with oil of vitriol1 it forms a   
violet colored compound4    ,the        
characters and properties of hydrocyanic
 acid are too well known  to require    
notice4 ,it is this constituent1 which  
is sometimes present  to the extent of  
eight or ten per cent41 that gives to   

oil of bitter  almonds its poisonous    
properties4    ,in examining oil of     
bitter almonds1 with the view of        
determining  whether it be pure or not1 
it is necessary to consider the         
influence on  the action of the reagents
 employed1 of variations in the number  
and  proportions of the several         
constituents present4 ,this is          
especially the  case with reference to  
the use of oil of vitriol as a test4    
,on adding oil of vitriol to the samples
 of oil under notice1 it was  found that
 it formed with all of them a clear but 
very dark colored  mature1 from which no
 separation took place4 ,the color of   
the mixture  thus produced1 however1    
differed to a #bjh greater or less      
extent in  each case4 ,the lightest of  
the oils produced a reddish-brown color1
  similar to that afforded by pure      
hyduret of benzoyle1 while the  heaviest
 oil formed a bright red mixture1 having
 a shade of violet1 and  those of       
intermediate density gave intermediate  

shades of color4    ,these results1     
viewed in connection with the           
differences of density  in the different
 specimens1 were at first thought to    
indicate that  the light specimens had  
some admixture foreign to the oil1 but  
on  examining the action of the test on 
pure hyduret of benzoyle and the  other 
legitimate constituents of the crude    
oil1 it was evident that  such an       
inference could not be justly drawn1    
and1 indeed1 suspicion  now seemed      
rather to attach to the heavy oil4      
,subsequent experiments1  however1      
showed that the light oil distils at a  
lower temperature than  the heavy1 and  
that if the heaviest specimens were     
distilled with  water1 the first        
portions that passed over produced      
precisely the same  reaction as the     
light specimens above referred to1 while
 the last  portions that passed over1   
and especially the oil obtained from the
  water by distilling it1 after         
saturating it with common salt1 produced

  with oil of vitriol a splendid crimson
 color1 the purity and intensity  of    
which could hardly be surpassed4    ,it 
thus became pretty evident that the     
differences in the reaction  of oil of  
vitriol with the different specimens of 
oil under notice1  arose from variations
 in the circumstances under which the   
oils were  distilled1 and it seemed     
probable that the heavy oil had been    
obtained  by distilling the almond cake 
with water1 to which a large quantity of
  salt had been added1 so as to raise   
the point of ebullition1 while the      
light oil either was the product of a   
process in which less salt had  been    
added to the water1 or consisted of the 
first portions distilled4    ,in order  
to obtain more satisfactory evidence of 
the absence of spirit1  or other foreign
 substance1 from these samples of oil1  
nitric acid  was used as a test4 ,if oil
 of bitter almonds be mixed with about  
twice  its volume of nitric acid1 of    
specific gravity #a4dbj1 no immediate   

action occurs4 ,the greater part of the 
oil floats over the surface  of the     
acid1 and1 if the former be free #bji   
from adulteration1 no  change of color  
takes place within several hours in     
either2 but after  the lapse of three or
 four days crystals of benzoic acid will
 begin to  be formed from the oxidation 
of the hyduret of benzoyle by the nitric
  acid1 and these will increase in      
quantity until the whole becomes a      
solid mass of crystals1 which will      
gradually assume a bright emerald  green
 color4 ,this reaction is very          
characteristic4 ,if spirit be present   
in the oil to the extent of eight or ten
 per cent41 the acid1 after a  few      
minutes1 will begin to react upon this1 
and a violent effervescence  will       
shortly ensue1 accompanied by the       
disengagement of nitrous vapors4    ,by 
using strong nitric acid1 of specific   
gravity not less than #a4e1 the         
presence of a very minute quantity of   
spirit may be detected4 ,the pure  oil1 

when mixed with an equal volume of this 
strong acid1 forms a clear  and uniform 
mixture1 from which nothing separates1  
and which undergoes  but a very slight  
change of color and no other visible    
alteration4 ,the  presence of two or    
three per cent4 of spirit1 however1 is  
sufficient to  cause a violent reaction 
and the disengagement of nitrous vapors4
    ,after trying several other         
reagents1 the foregoing were those which
  were found to afford the most         
satisfactory results1 and appeared  to  
be conclusive with regard to those      
adulterations1 likely to be             
practised4--,pharmaceutical ,journal1   
,london4      ,,on ,,hoffman',s         
,,anodyne ,,liquor4    ,,by ,,william   
,,procter1 ,,jr4    ,perhaps in no      
preparation in general use does the     
practice of  manufacturers1 and the     
requirements of pharmacopial            
authorities1 more  widely differ than in
 the compound spirit of #baj ether1     
universally  known as ,hoffman's        

,anodyne ,liquor4 ,according to the     
,united ,states and  ,london            
,pharmacopias it consists of three fluid
 drachms of heavy oil of  wine 7,oleum  
,ethereum1 ,u4 ,s4 ,p47 dissolved in a  
mixture of eight fluid  ounces of ether 
and sixteen fluid ounces of alcohol4    
,the ,edinburgh  ,pharmacopia has only  
the simple spirit of ether1 without the 
oil of  wine1 whilst the ,dublin        
,pharmacopia of #ahej under the name of 
,spiritus  thereus ,oleosus1 gives the  
following formula1 which includes the   
preparation of the oil of wine and its  
subsequent solution1 to make the        
anodyne3--,mix a pint of alcohol and a  
pint and a half of oil of vitriol  in a 
glass matrass1 adapt a ,liebig's        
condenser1 and by heat distil  until a  
black froth rises4 ,separate the lighter
 etherial liquid in the  receiver1      
expose it for #bd hours in a capsule1   
wash the residual oil  with water1 and  
dissolve it in a mixture of five fluid  
ounces of ether1  and ten fluid ounces  

of alcohol4 ,in ,france1 ,hoffman's     
anodyne consists  of equal parts of     
ether and alcohol1 without oil of wine4 
,owing to the careless or intentionally 
mystified manner of expressing  himself1
 it is impossible now to ascertain      
whether the original  preparation of    
,hoffman 7published in #agcb7 was       
constant in its  strength1 as now       
recommended by the ,pharmacopia4 ,beaum1
 7as quoted  in ,macquer's ,chem4       
,dict41 ,london1 #agga17 says1 in       
speaking of the  rectification of       
sulphuric ether1 8,by distilling the    
liquor in the  first receiver1 together 
with a very small quantity of oil of    
tartar1  by a very gentle heat of a lamp
 furnace1 about two pounds and four     
ounces of pure ether may be obtained2   
and afterwards1 when a new  receiver is 
adapted1 and a stronger heat applied1   
from eight to ten  ounces of aromatic   
liquor1 which makes a good anodyne      
mineral liquor  of ,hoffman1 will be    
distilled40    ,the third edition of    

,lewis' ,dispensatory1 published at     
,dublin1 #agfh1  has the following      
formula for this preparation1 which     
appears to be  what the apothecaries of 
that day employed3      8,hoffman's     
,mineral ,anodyne ,liquor40     ,into   
half a pound of concentrated oil of     
vitriol1 placed in a #baa   large glass 
retort1 pour by little and little1      
through a long stemmed   funnel1 one    
pint and a half of highly rectified     
spirit of wine4 ,stop   the mouth of the
 retort1 digest for some days1 and then 
distil with   a very gentle heat4 ,at   
first a fragrant spirit of wine will    
arise2   and after it a more fragrant   
volatile spirit1 to be caught in a fresh
   receiver4 ,the receiver being again  
changed1 a sulphurous1 volatile1   acid 
phlegm comes over1 and at length a sweet
 oil of vitriol1 which   should be      
immediately separated1 lest it be       
absorbed by the phlegm4   ,mix the first
 and second spirits together1 and in    
every two ounces   of this mixture      

dissolve twelve drops of the sweet oil4 
,if the liquor   has any sulphurous     
smell1 re-distil it from a little salt  
of tartar4     8,whether this is the    
exact preparation1 so much recommended  
and so   often prescribed by ,hoffman as
 an anodyne and anti-spasmodic1 we      
cannot determine4 ,we learn from his own
 writings that his anodyne   liquor was 
composed of the dulcified spirit of     
vitriol1 crude ether   and the aromatic 
oil which rises after it2 but not in    
what proportions   he mixed them        
together4 ,the ,college of ,wirtemburg  
seems to think that   all the oil was   
mixed with all the spirit obtained in   
one operation   without regard to the   
precise quantities40    ,the product of 
this recipe must have been analogous to 
the present  officinal spirit1 the      
formula for which is evidently modeled  
after it4  ,the great excess of alcohol 
distills over first1 until the boiling  
point rises to the ether producing      
temperature1 when ether is obtained1    

and finally the sulphurous oily product4
 ,the recipe gives no direction  to     
isolate the oil of wine before measuring
 it1 which is perhaps less  necessary1  
as the ethereal part of the distillate  
is removed previously  to the production
 of the oil which is found in the       
receiver in  globules1 and not in       
solution4    ,the process now adopted by
 the manufacturers in this city1 avoids 
the  isolation of the oil of wine1 and  
from the nature of the conditions  the  
product is liable to vary in the        
proportions of its ingredients1  not    
only in different laboratories1 but at  
different operations in  the same       
laboratory4 ,in the preparation of ether
 it is usual in this  city to push the  
process as far as #bab possible1 as long
 as the  residue is not so concentrated 
as to eliminate much permanent gas4  ,in
 the rectification of this first crude  
product1 the distillate is  reserved as 
rectified ether as long as its specific 
gravity marks #ed  ,beaum1 or there     

about4 ,by continuing the process the   
product is found  to consist of ether1  
alcohol and water1 impregnated with oil 
of wine4  ,every one who has made ether1
 knows how very liable the product is to
  vary with an ill regulated heat2 on   
the one hand unaltered alcohol will     
pass over1 if the temperature is too    
low1 whilst too great a heat1           
especially towards the last of the      
process1 will favor the formation  of   
oil of wine and sulphurous acid4 ,this  
last distillate1 therefore1  will vary  
in composition1 and it is from this that
 ,hoffman's anodyne  is made in some of 
the best of our laboratories4 ,there is 
no known  practicable method of         
ascertaining the per centage of heavy   
oil of wine  in this liquid4 ,the means 
used by the manufacturer are founded on 
the  sensible properties of an arbitrary
 standard specimen of ,hoffman's        
anodyne previously made1 and on the     
degree of opalesence or milkiness  it   
produces when added to a certain measure

 of water4--,this milkiness is          
occasioned by the oil of wine present2  
but experience has shown that  the      
degree of milkiness is not strictly in  
proportion to the quantity  of oil      
present1 the relative proportion of     
ether and alcohol1 and  perhaps water   
present in the anodyne liquid has a     
marked influence on  the phenomenon2 if 
too much alcohol1 the milkiness is not  
produced1 or  but partially2 if too much
 ether1 oily globules separate and float
 with  but moderate opalescence4 ,in    
converting this second etherial         
distillate  into commercial ,hoffman's  
anodyne1 the operator has to make       
several  essays1 sometimes adding water1
 sometimes alcohol or ether1 until  the 
taste1 the smell1 and the opalescence   
agree1 as nearly as can be  approached1 
with his standard specimen4 ,in the     
process of rectification  it is probable
 that at least a part of the heavy oil  
of wine is  decomposed1 with the        
production of the light oil or etherole1

 and that  the commercial ,hoffman's    
anodyne differs in this respect1 as well
 as in  containing a much smaller       
proportion of oil of wine1 from that of 
the  ,pharmacopia4 #bac    ,to get a    
better idea of the preparation in use   
here1 authentic  specimens were obtained
 from four of our largest manufacturing 
chemists1 and compared with compound    
spirit of ether made for the  occasion  
strictly according to the ,united       
,states ,pharmacopia4 ,their  density   
was carefully taken with the #ajjj grs4 
bottle4                                 
specific                                
gravity                                 
at #fj ,f4   ,a1 ,wetherill  ,brothers1 
4#hibe   ,b1 ,smith1 ,pemberton  ,co4   
4#hgbc   ,c1 ,rosengarten  ,dennis1     
4#hdie   ,d1 ,powers  ,weightman1       
4#hcid   ,e1 ,u4 ,s4 ,pharmacopia       
4#haea    ,equal measures of each       
specimen and distilled water were mixed 
together2 they all produced opaque milky
 liquids2 globules of oil  of wine soon 

separated from the mixture with ,e1 and 
floated on the  surface1 while the      
liquid gradually lost its opacity as    
more of the  oil arose4 ,the mixture    
with ,d became less opaque by standing1 
a small  portion of oil rising to the   
surface4 ,the mixture with ,a1 ,b and ,c
  retained their opacity without        
apparent separation of oil of wine1 ,a  
being the most so4    ,a was the mildest
 and least repulsive to the taste1      
because least  ethereal4 ,c was the next
 least ethereal1 but had pungency not   
arising  from ether4 ,b was more        
ethereal than the preceding1            
notwithstanding  its greater specific   
gravity4 ,d was yet more charged with   
ether4 ,e  presented sensible properties
 differing from all the others1 being   
more  etherial and aromatic1 but without
 a peculiar taste noticeable in the     
other specimens1 more especially in ,c4 
,when #b #a_/b fluid drachms of each    
specimen was shaken in graduated  tubes 
with #fj grains of carbonate of potassa1

 they were de-hydrated  somewhat in the 
ratio of their specific gravities4 ,a   
and ,b dissolved  the salt readily by a 
few minutes' agitation1 and the         
separated aqueous  alkaline solution    
equalled a third of the bulk of the     
mixture4 ,in ,c and  ,d only about half 
of the salt was dissolved1 whilst in ,e 
the salt was  merely rendered pasty4    
,to get an idea of the proportion of    
ether present in these #bad  specimens1 
a solution of dry chloride of calcium in
 an equal weight  of water1 was made4   
,five parts of this solution was mixed  
with three  parts of each of specimens  
of ,hoffman's anodyne1 in tall tubular  
vials1  corked1 well agitated and       
allowed to stand for twelve hours4 ,in  
,a1  ,b and ,c1 no separation of ether  
occurred1 but in each of them a few     
globules arose to the surface1          
consisting chiefly of light oil of wine4
  ,in ,d a stratum of ether holding oil 
of wine in solution1 equal to one       
seventh of the bulk of the spirit used1 

or nearly half a part4 ,whilst  in ,e   
the super-stratum of ether equalled     
one-third of the spirit used1  and had a
 light yellow color1 due to the oil of  
wine4    ,these data will give an       
approximative idea of their             
compositions2 it  would appear that ,a  
was chiefly alcohol and water1 with but 
little  ether2 that ,b contained almost 
as much water as ,a1 but less alcohol   
and more ether2 that ,c contained much  
less water than ,a or ,b1 but less      
ether and more alcohol than ,b1 and more
 ether and less alcohol than  ,a2 that  
,d contained rather more water than ,c1 
but more ether and less  alcohol than   
either of the preceding2 and lastly that
 ,e contains more  ether1 and less      
alcohol and water than either of the    
others4    ,in regard to the proportion 
of ethereal oil1 the experiments give no
  positive clue4 ,it would appear that  
,b and ,d contained the most among  the 
commercial specimens1 and that ,d       
approaches nearest the composition  of  

the officinal spirit1 yet all of them   
when compared with the  officinal are   
deficient in this ingredient4    ,it    
must be apparent from these results1    
that the opacity of a mixture  of       
,hoffman's anodyne and water1 is no     
index of the proportion of oil  of wine 
the former contains1 that property being
 dependent apparently  on the state of  
combination in which the oil exists1 nor
 would we  pronounce on the medicinal   
value of the specimens1 a task belonging
  to the physician4 ,whatever curative  
reputation the compound spirit of  ether
 may have earned1 certainly belongs to  
the commercial spirit1 and  not to that 
of the ,pharmacopia1 which is not to be 
had in the shops4    ,the exact nature  
of the liquid left after the            
rectification of #bae  ether is an      
inquiry well worthy of further          
investigation4 ,the alcohol  of commerce
 is not a homogenous substance4 ,besides
 water1 it contains  odoriferous oily   
matter1 produced in the original        

fermentation1 and  which is not wholly  
removed in the rectification of whiskey4
 ,this  matter1 modified by the action  
of sulphuric acid and heat1 with the    
volatile substances generated during the
 ether process1 are contained  in it4   
,it may also be that the ether in this  
residue is more intimately  combined    
with water than in a mere mixture of    
water1 alcohol1 and ether  of the same  
strength1 as suggested to me by ,mr4    
,pemberton4    ,the question very       
naturally arises1 why do not the        
manufacturers  prepare the officinal    
,hoffman's anodyne1 or why do they not  
furnish  the ethereal oil of the        
,pharmacopia1 that the apothecary may   
make  it himself by simple mixing8      
,there are several reasons4 #ast1 the   
apothecary1 the physician1 and to a     
large extent the consumer1 have  become 
accustomed to the present commercial    
preparation1 and the  majority1 both of 
apothecaries and physicians1 would      
reject the true  officinal spirit1 if   

presented to them1 as not correctly     
made2 #b;d1  druggists1 as a general    
rule1 would refuse to pay the greatly   
increased  price1 absolutely required to
 remunerate the manufacturer1 for the   
greater consumption of time and         
materials1 and increased skill and risk 
in manipulation4 ,having1 on several    
occasions1 prepared the officinal  oil  
of wine and ,hoffman's anodyne1 ,i can  
corroborate the statements  of ,mr4     
,kent1 at p4 #bee1 relative to the small
 yield1 and consequent  costliness of   
officinal heavy oil of wine4 ,the       
so-called oil of wine1  which is        
imported into this city from ,england1  
and which is sometimes  employed for    
making the officinal spirit1 is an      
ethereal solution of  etherole1 one     
specimen yielding only seven per cent4  
of it4 ,and #c;d1  in the preparation of
 ether1 the residue left in the still   
after the  rectification of the ether   
above #ed ,beaum1 must either be thrown 
away1 or converted to the only use to   

which it can be applied with  advantage1
 viz41 ,hoffman's anodyne4 ,it is for   
this reason that the  price of the      
commercial 8anodyne0 is so low1 being   
about fifteen cents  per pound4 #baf    
,it may become a question in the next   
revision of the ,pharmacopia1  whether  
it would not be better to reconstruct   
the formula for compound  spirit of     
ether1 somewhat on the plan of the      
manufacturers1 or that  quoted at page  
#bac1 from ,lewis's ,dispensatory1 so as
 to render it more  practicable and     
likely to be followed4 ,of course it    
should be done with  due consideration  
of the difficulties involved in the     
production of a  spirit of uniform      
strength4--,american ,journal of        
,pharmacy4      ,,on ,,gutta ,,taban4   
,,by ,,berthold ,,seemann4    ,the      
,taban 7,isonandra ,gutta1 ,hook471     
which was formerly so plentiful  in     
,singapore1 has long since been extinct4
 ,a few isolated trees may  here and    
there occur1 but they are very scarce1  

and ,i have not been  able to obtain    
even the sight of one4 ,several of the  
white residents  keep in their gardens  
as a curiosity1 a plant or two1 but they
 grow  very slowly4 ,it must ever be an 
object of regret1 that on the first     
introduction of the ,taban gum1 its     
proper name was not promulgated4  ,now  
everybody in ,europe and ,america speaks
 of ,gutta ,percha1 when1 in  fact1 all 
the time they mean the ,gutta ,taban4   
,the substance termed by  the ,malays   
8,gutta ,percha0 is not the produce of  
the ,isonandra ,gutta1  ,hook41 but that
 of a botanically unknown tree1 a       
species of ,ficus1 ,i  am told4 ,the    
confusion of these two names has become 
a popular error--an  error which science
 will have to rectify4    ,the          
exportation of the indigenous ,gutta    
,taban from ,singapore commenced  in    
#ahdd1 but as early as the end of #ahdg1
 all1 #bag or at least  most1 of the    
trees had been exterminated4 ,that at   
present shipped from  the place1 is     

brought in coasting vessels from the    
different ports of  ,borneo1 ,sumatra1  
the ,malayan peninsula1 and ,jahore     
,archipelago4#ag  ,the difference       
existing in its appearance and property 
is owing to  the intermixture of ,gutta 
,percha1 ,jelotong1 ,gegrek1 ,litchu1   
and  other inferior ,guttas1 made by the
 natives in order to increase the       
weight4--,though far from being extinct 
in the ,indian ,archipelago1  ,gutta    
,taban will every year be more difficult
 to obtain1 as the coast  region is said
 to be pretty well cleared1 and a long  
transport from  the interior must1 by   
augmenting the labor1 increase the value
 of the  article4    #ag    8,the total 
export of ,gutta ,taban from ,singapore 
has been3     ,in #ahdd                 
#a picul   ,in #ahde                    
#afi picul   ,in #ahdf                  
#e1cfd picul   ,in #ahdg                
#i1bif picul   ,in #ahdh to the #ast of 
,july    #f1gfh picul                   
,total                #ba1eih piculs4   

valued at #bgd1aij ,spanish dollars4    
,about #bgj1jjj trees have probably     
been felled during the three and a half 
years that the trade has  existed1 and  
the value of each tree has thus on an   
average1 been about  a dollar40--,j4 ,r4
 ,logan1 8,on the ,range of the ,gutta  
,taban ,collectors1  and present ,amount
 of ,import into ,singapore40 ,mr4      
,logan has promised  an article on the  
various substances intermixed with the  
,taban1 a  subject of the highest       
interest2 but he has hitherto           
disappointed his  readers4    ,a few    
months after the publication of your    
first account of the  plant1 in         
,january1 #ahdg1 an article on the same 
subject appeared in  the ,journal of the
 ,indian ,archipelago1 by one of its    
most able  contributors1 ,dr4 ,t4       
,oxley4 ,as that article contains many  
statements  not contained in yours1 and 
as it may possibly have escaped your    
notice1 ,i shall make a few extracts    
from it4     8,the ,gutta ,taban tree   

belongs to the natural order ,sapotace1 
but differs so much from all described  
genera1 that ,i am inclined   to        
consider it a new one4 ,i shall1        
therefore1 endeavor to give its         
general character1 leaving the honor of 
naming it to a more competent           
botanist1 especially as1 from want of   
#bah complete specimens1 ,i have   not  
quite satisfied myself regarding the    
stamens and fruit4     8,the tree is    
from sixty to seventy feet high1 from   
two to three feet   in diameter4 ,in its
 general aspect it resembles the ,durian
 7,durio   ,zibethinus1 ,linn471 so much
 so as to strike the most superficial   
observer4 ,the leaves are alternate1    
obovate-lanceolate1 entire1             
coriaceous1 their upper surface is of a 
pale green1 and their under   surface   
covered with a close1 short1            
reddish-brown hair4 ,the flowers   are  
axillary1 from one to three in the      
axils1 supported on short   curved      
pedicels1 and numerous along the        

extremities of the branches4   ,the     
calyx is inferior1 persistent           
coriaceous1 divided into six sepals1    
which are arranged in double series4    
,the corolla is monopetalous1           
hypogenous1 and divided1 like the calyx1
 into six acuminate segments4   ,the    
stamens1 inserted into the throat of the
 corolla1 are in a single   series1 and 
variable in number1 but to the best of  
my observation1   their normal number is
 twelve2 they are most generally all    
fertile4   ,the anthers are supported on
 slender bent filaments1 and open by two
   lateral pores4 ,the ovary is         
superior1 terminated by a long single   
style1 and six-celled2 the cells are    
monospermous4 ,the fruit is   unknown to
 me4     8,only a short time ago the    
,taban tree was tolerably abundant on   
the   ,island of ,singapore1 but        
already1 7middle of #ahdg7 all the large
   timber has been felled4 ,its         
geographical range1 however1 appears to 
be considerable1 it being found all up  

the ,malayan peninsula1 as far   as     
,penang1 where ,i have ascertained it to
 be plentiful4 ,its favorite            
localities are the alluvial tracts on   
the foot of hills1 where it   forms the 
principal portion of the jungle4        
8,the quantity of solid gutta obtained  
from each tree varies from   five to    
twenty catties1 so that1 taking the     
average of ten catties1   which is a    
tolerably liberal one1 it will require  
the destruction   of ten trees to       
produce one picul4 ,now1 the quantity   
exported from   ,singapore to ,europe1  
from the #ast of ,january1 #ahde1 to the
 middle of   #ahdg1 amounted to #f1iah  
piculs1 to obtain #bai which1 #fi1ahj   
trees   must have been sacrificed6 ,how 
much better would it be to adopt the    
method of tapping the tree practised by 
the ,burmese1 in obtaining the          
caoutchouc1 than to continue the present
 process of extermination40#ah    #ah   
,t4 ,oxley1 in the ,journal of the      
,indian ,archipelago1 vol4 i1 p4        

#bb-cj4    ,a mercantile house in       
,singapore lately received from ,manilla
 a gum  which was supposed by those who 
sent it to be ,gutta ,taban1 but  proved
 a different substance4 ,it was         
accompanied by specimens of  the tree   
producing it1 and a note stating that   
the gum abounded in  the ,philippine    
,islands4 ,as it will probably make its 
appearance in  ,england1 and perhaps    
become of some importance1 ,i may add   
that those  specimens presented to me by
 the merchant1 belong to the genus      
,ficus2  but whether to a new or an     
already described species1 want of books
  prevented me from                     
determining4--,hooker's ,jour4 of       
,botany4      ,,on ,,gambir4    ,,by    
,,berthold ,,seeman4    ,black pepper   
7,piper ,nigrum1 ,linn47 and ,gambir    
7,uncaria ,gambir1  ,roxb47 are grown in
 great quantities in ,singapore1 and    
exclusively  by the ,chinese1 for both  
these articles are so exceedingly cheap1
  that ,europeans have not deemed it    

worth their while to engage in the      
speculation4 ,pepper and ,gambir        
plantations are always combined1 because
  the refuse of the gambir leaves serve 
as an excellent manure for the  pepper2 
and moreover1 what is of equal1 if not  
greater importance1  kills the ,lalang1 
7,andropogon caricosus1 ,linn471 a plant
 which1 like  the couch-grass 7,triticum
 repens1 ,linn471 spreads with          
astonishing  rapidity over the fields1  
growing so close together and so high1  
that  within a short spate of time      
valuable plantations #bbj are rendered  
useless1 and many have to be given up   
from the utter impossibility of  freeing
 the ground from this weed4    ,the     
process by which gambir is extracted and
 prepared is simple4 ,the  leaves are   
boiled in water1 until all their        
astringent property is  extracted4 ,the 
decoction is then poured into another   
vessel1 in which  it becomes            
inspissated1 and1 when nearly dry1 is   
cut in small square  pieces1 and thus   

brought into the market4 ,m',culloch    
states that sago  is used in thickening 
it4 ,this1 however1 at least in         
,singapore1 is not  the case2 but1      
instead of sago1 a piece of wood is     
dipped into the  vessel1 by which the   
desired effect is produced4 ,it must1   
indeed1 be  an extraordinary substance1 
the mere dipping of which into the fluid
  can cause it to become a thickened    
mass4 ,i was very eager to obtain a     
piece of this wood2 unluckily1 the      
,chinaman whose laboratory ,i visited1  
could not be persuaded to part with his1
 and a friend of mine1 who was  exerting
 himself to procure a sample1 had not   
succeeded at the time of  the ,herald's 
departure3 he promised1 however1 to send
 it to ,england1  accompanied by the    
,malayan name1 and specimens of the     
tree4--,hooker's  ,journal of ,botany4  
,,on ,,the ,,galbanum ,,plant4    ,,by  
,f4 ,a4 ,,bushe4    ,the author states1 
that in his travels in ,persia he       
discovered the  plant which yields      

galbanum4 ,in ,june1 #ahdh1 he found it 
on the  declivities of the ,demawend4   
,it is a ferula1 from the stalks of     
which a liquid issues abundantly1 by the
 odor and nature of which he            
immediately recognised galbanum1 and his
 guides assured him1 moreover1  that    
galbanum is gathered from this plant4   
,the author has not yet  distinctly     
determined #bba the plant4 ,it appears  
to differ from  ,ferula erubescens      
7,annales des ,sciences1 iii41 ,sr4     
#ahdd1 p4 #caf17  only by the absence of
 commissural vit2 but as neither        
,aucher-,eloy1  nor ,kotschy1 who have  
both collected the ,ferula erubescens1  
make any  mention of its yielding       
galbanum1 the author is in doubt whether
 his  plant be the same1 or a variety of
 it4 ,don's genus galbanum 7,trib4      
,sibrin7 and ,lindley's ,opadia 7,trib4 
,smyrne7 do not agree with the  plant   
seen by ,bushe1 unless that both of     
these authors have made their           
descriptions from imperfect fruits1 or  

that there exist other plants  which    
yield galbanum4--,the plant which ,bushe
 describes is called in  some parts of  
,persia1 ,khassuch1 7not ,kasneh1 which 
means ,cichor  intybus1 nor ,gshnis1    
which is ,coriand4 sativum71 and appears
 to be  confined to certain districts of
 ,persia4 ,in the whole large district  
of the ,elburs-chain1 from the          
south-east angle to the south-west      
angle of the ,caspian ,sea1 it is only  
found in the neighborhood of the        
,demawend2 but here at an elevation of  
from #djjj to #hjjj feet1 and even  on  
the declivity of the top of the         
,demawend4 ,it exists neither on the    
mountains of ,talysch1 nor in the       
districts of ,karadagh and ,tabris4 ,it 
is said to re-appear on the ,mount      
,alwend1 near ,hamadan1 and in the      
neighborhood of the great salt desert4  
,near ,hamadan ,aucher-,eloy has        
gathered his ,ferula erubescene1 and    
this supports the supposition that  the 
author's plant is the same4 ,in the salt

 desert itself ,bushe did not  meet with
 it again4 ,the inhabitants of the      
,demawend collect the gum  resin1 which 
issues spontaneously from the lower part
 of the stalk2  they do not make        
incisions in the plant2 but it is not at
 this place  that the galbanum is       
collected for commercial purposes4 ,when
 fresh1  the gum resin is white like    
milk1 liquid1 and somewhat glutinous4   
,in  the air it soon becomes yellow1    
elastic1 and finally solid4 ,the odor   
is rather strong1 unpleasant1 and       
similar to that of our commercial       
galbanum4--,central ,blatt1 fr #aheb1   
,no4 xiii4    #bbb      ,,editorial4    
,,the ,,prevention ,,and ,,cure ,,of    
,,many ,,chronic ,,diseases ,,by        
,,movements4 ,an  exposition of the     
principles and practice of these        
movements1 for the  correction of the   
tendencies to disease in infancy1       
childhood and  youth1 and for the cure  
of many morbid affections of adults4    
,,by ,m4  ,,roth1 ,m4 ,d41 ,london1     

#ahea4    ,open quackery was at one time
 contented with the market-place and the
  stage2 its merits and achievements    
were announced only by the lungs of  its
 professors and their assistants4 ,we   
have changed all that4 ,quackery  has   
improved with the age4 ,it has got      
possession of the newspapers1  and      
forces its way in the pulpit2 it has its
 colleges and graduates1  it edits      
journals and writes books2 but it has   
changed its form1 not  its spirit2 at   
bottom it is as shameless1 and lying and
 rediculous as  ever4 ,while its essence
 is eternal its form is constantly      
changing4 ,a  variety springs up1       
flourishes1 attains its maturity1 then  
dies away1  to be replaced by another1  
or to be revived in a distant country or
 a  future generation4 ,the facilities  
of intercommunication afforded by       
railroad and steam vessels yield the    
same advantage to imposture and         
credulity1 that they give to science and
 truth4 ,we import nonsense and  humbug 

as well as silks and dry goods4 ,but as 
was observed on another  occasion1 home 
manufacture has sprung up1 and we have  
become exporters  as well as importers4 
,spiritual knocking are set off against 
,mesmerism2  ,thompsonianism is sent in 
exchange for ,hygeia2 native            
,sarsaparillas  have driven the foreign 
from the market2 ,mormonism goes a long 
way  to balance ,homeopathy1 while the  
8,great ,harmonican10 in size1 in       
pretension and in absurdity1 is scarcely
 to be rivalled any where in  the       
present age4    ,the newest delusion    
that pretends to be a system1           
,kinesipathy1 is1  in the country of its
 origin1 already several years old4 ,it 
comes to  us from ,sweden1 and          
recommends the treatment of diseases by 
means  of various exercises1 and above  
all1 blows on different parts of  the   
body4 ,all these are set forth with the 
greatest gravity1 and  defined and      
commented on with as much precision as  
if the author was  bringing forward a   

,national ,pharmacopia4 ,in the         
treatment of disease  the motives1      
positions1 and blows1 are varied in the 
strangest1 and  often most ludicrous    
manner4 ,witness the following          
prescription  for gonorrhea1 which is   
complete except as the author states    
8some  movements depending on particular
 circumstances40    #a4 8,percussion on 
the sacrum in the stride standing       
position4    #b4 8,transversal chopping 
on the neck in the sitting position4    
#c4 8,pressure above the os pubis in the
 lying position1 with elevated  back1   
while the separated and bent legs are   
drawn towards the abdomen4  ,vibration  
of the perineum1 in the same position40 
8,the treatment begins with percussing  
the sacrum1 in the stride  standing     
position1 which in the first day or two 
not only allays and  relieves the more  
violent inflammation and copious        
secretion1 but also  changes the whole  
state of the disease in such a manner1  
that the  following treatment by        

movements1 7different #bbc according to 
the  state of the patient17 produces an 
increased flow of arterial blood  in the
 upper extremities1 and the cure is very
 much accelerated4 ,in  the first stage1
 during which only moderate stitching   
pains1 tension1  and little secretion   
appears2 the percussion on the sacrum   
alone is  sufficient1 if repeated three 
or four times daily4 ,if the symptoms   
become more violent1 and accompanied by 
chordee and pain during  urinating1 c41 
then other movements are necessary1 then
 make use of  the transversal chopping  
of the neck1 which acts strongly against
 the  chordee1 and of the pressure above
 the os pubis in the above mentioned    
lying position1 which increases the     
venous absorption of the bladder  and   
sexual organs1 by its effect on the     
excited nerves of these parts4  ,in the 
second period if the urinating is very  
difficult1 the perineum  swollen and    
painful1 the discharge mixed with blood1
 and fever is  present1 then a more     

general treatment is necessary4 ,to     
increase the  more local absorption in  
the urethra1 vibrations along the whole 
tract  of the perineum from before      
backward are employed40    ,that        
percussion on the sacrum has long been  
known as a remedial measure  in moral   
complaints we are perfectly aware1 but  
that it was to become  an article of    
materia medica is something new under   
the sun6    ,kinesipathy has not yet1 we
 believe1 been formally introduced into 
the ,united ,states1 but we hear that a 
new set of quacks1 who call  themselves 
,psychologists1 have adopted something  
from its rules1 and  are employing      
8percussions and flagellations0 as one  
of their means for  the cure of the     
various ills that flesh is heir too4    
,after all some partial truth1 long well
 known and acted on by the  profession1 
as is the case in most successful       
quackeries1 underlies  ,kinesipathy4    
,exercise and stimulation of the        
external surface1 are  in themselves    

exceedingly beneficial1 and under the   
influence of a  charlatan1 patients will
 submit to a discipline1 which if       
directed by a  physician would never    
receive more than momentary attention4  
,,pharmacy ,,in ,,richmond4--,we are    
glad to see the following call to the   
,apothecaries of ,richmond1 in the ,july
 number of the ,american ,journal  of   
,pharmacy1 and we hope that the example 
will be imitated in all our  towns1 in  
which the number of pharmaceutists is   
sufficient to form a  society4 ,mutual  
association is the best means of        
promoting the true  interests and       
standing of the profession4    8,the    
undersigned1 believing that by friendly 
co-operation among  themselves1 their   
respectability will be increased2 their 
standing in  the community will become  
more elevated1 faults in their          
profession  be remedied1 evils to which 
they are now subjected be removed2  that
 their art may be more systematized1 and
 better regulated2 a  more friendly     

feeling towards each other be excited   
amongst them1  their mutual interests   
advanced1 and the public good promoted2 
do  most earnestly call upon their      
brethren1 engaged in ,pharmaceutical    
pursuits1 to meet at the ,gentlemen's   
,parlor1 ,exchange ,hotel1 on ,friday   
evening1 #aath inst41 at #h o'clock1 for
 the purpose of considering the         
advantages that would result to all of  
them1 from the formation of  some       
organized ,association1 that would have 
for its #bbd object the  above named    
desirable ends2 as well as to encourage 
among themselves  mutual improvement in 
the knowledge so necessary to a proper  
discharge  of those duties1 7both to    
themselves and the public17 which their 
situations as men occupying positions   
among the most responsible in  life1    
impose upon them4    ,as the            
organization which it is now proposed to
 form1 would contemplate  the good of   
all its ,members1 it is most earnestly  
hoped that all the  ,druggists and      

,apothecaries who feel any interest in  
this important  subject1 will cordially 
unite their intelligence and talents in 
an effort to accomplish the above named 
ends1 and that the proper  preliminary  
steps will be taken for the formation of
 a society of the  ,apothecaries in this
 city1 which will prove beneficial to   
its members1  an honor to their         
profession1 and a credit to the city of 
,richmond40     ,,andrew ,,leslie1   ,s4
 ,m4 ,,zachrisson1   ,,purcell1 ,,ladd  
,,co41   ,,seabrook   ,,reeve1   ,,adie 
,,gray1   ,,peyton1 ,,johnston  ,,bro41 
,h4 ,,blair1   ,,chas4 ,,millspaugh1    
,,alex4 ,,duval4    ,richmond1 ,june    
#hth1 #aheb4      ,,suppositories ,,of  
,,butter ,,of ,,cacao4--,butter of cacao
 has of late been  largely employed in  
the formation of suppositories1 for     
which it is  admirably adapted1 by its  
consistence1 and by the facility with   
which  it becomes liquid at the         
temperature of the body4 ,some times a  
good  deal of difficulty is encountered 

in incorporating it with laudanum1      
chloroform1 extracts and solutions4 ,in 
such cases ,m4 ,stanislas ,martin       
recommends that the butter be first     
moulded in the desired form1 and  that  
then a cavity be formed in it1 by means 
of an iron wire slightly  warmed1       
sufficiently large to contain the       
prescribed medicine4 ,the  orifice can  
then be closed with a thin layer of the 
butter of cacao1  formed by rubbing a   
morsel of it upon an iron spatula1 or   
the blade of  a knife slightly warmed in
 a spirit lamp4    ,a number of the     
suppositories thus prepared beforehand1 
can be  preserved in envelopes which    
serve them for a mould1 these being     
removed only when they are about to be  
used4      ,,delegates ,,to ,,the       
,,convention ,,for #aheb4    ,at a      
meeting of the ,college of ,pharmacy of 
the ,city of ,new ,york1 held  ,june    
#bhth1 ,messrs4 ,george ,d4             
,coggesshall1 ,william ,hegeman and ,l4 
,s4  ,haskell1 were elected ,delegates  

from this ,college to the ,national     
,pharmaceutical ,convention1 to meet at 
,philadelphia1 on the first ,monday  in 
,october next4 ,it was resolved that in 
case of any disability of  either of    
their number to attend1 the remaining   
delegates should be  authorised to fill 
the vacancy4    ,the re-issue of        
,president ,guthrie's official call for 
the meeting of  the ,convention was     
expected in time for this number of the 
,journal1  but has not been received4   
,it will doubtless appear in our next   
with a  further notice of this important
 subject4    #bbe          ,,new ,,york 
,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4    ,,august1 
#aheb4      ,,amount ,,of ,,loss ,,in   
,,powdering ,,various ,,drugs4    ,the  
following results are from the mill     
returns of a drug house in this  city4  
,they show the actual loss incurred in  
powdering these different  articles1 and
 are1 so far1 of service by indicating  
the practical loss  arising from the    
process4    ,as the per centage of loss 

varies very much with the quantity      
subjected  to the process1 ceteris      
paribus1 the quantities of each parcel  
are  also given4                        
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
-----------   ,,salts1 ,,crystaline     
,percentage        ,percentage          
,percentage        ,percentage          
,,substances1 c4   ,quantity of ,loss   
,quantity of ,loss  ,quantity of ,loss  
,quantity of ,loss                      
----------------------------------------
--------------------------------        
lbs4              lbs4              lbs4
              lbs4    ,acid4 ,tartaric4 
#eef     #a4jh     #adbf     #a4fa      
#gbc     #a4ch      #bef     #d4ie      
#eed     #a4dd                          
,cobalt 7,arsenic71     #abb     #a4fc  
,alumin  ,potass                        
,sulph4               #gd     #e4dj     
#di     #f4ab                           
,ammoni ,muriat4       #bjb     #h4da   
,potass ,nitrat4       #ejj     #c4ih   

#aij     #b4cf      #ejj     #a4hj      
#ij     #c4jf                           
#cjj     #h4ag                          
------ ,sulphat4           #fc     #a4ei
       #ih     #c4jf                    
------ ,bitartrat4       #aaff      4#dc
     #baba      4#dg     #ajjg      4#di
     #aaae      4#dd                    
#aaae      4#da     #aafj      4#eb     
#aaaf      4#dd     #bfej      4#cg     
#ajfh      4#dg     #aafc      4#dc     
#aaee      4#dc              ,sod       
,biborat4         #aaj    #bj4ia        
#ej    #aj4jj                           
,soap1 ,olive ,oil1                     
white1               #fb    #cc4cc      
,,vegetable ,,sub-                      
,,stances1 ,,barks4                     
,canella ,alba1          #fg     #d4dh  
#ej     #d4jd                           
,cassia1                #cj     #e4jj   
#gd     #e4dj                           
,cinchona                               
,maracaibo1          #afe     #c4id     
#agd     #d4be      #iba     #d4ef      

#bbf                                    
,cinchona ,flava1                       
7,calisaya7        #cj      #e4jj       
#dg      #d4be      #dj      #e4jj      
------ ,rubra1          #dd      #d4ed  
#afj      #d4je      #ei      #e4jh     
#if     #d4ff     ,mezerion1            
#cb      #g4ha                          
,myrica ,cerifera1    #he      #c4ec    
#ib      #d4cd                          
,prinos verticill4   #bd      #d4af     
,prunus ,virginian4   #ej      #d4jj    
,,berries4                              
,capsicum1          #aff      #c4fg     
#ie      #c4ae      #fd      #d4fi      
#hj     #c4ge     ,cubeba1              
#fh      #d4cb       #ej      #d4jj     
#gi      #c4gg      #ed     #c4gj       
#ib      #c4bf                          
,,gums ,,and ,,resins4                  
,aloes ,soct1        #bbj      #g4bg    
#cbj      #e4bc                         
,acacia1            #bbe      #d4jj     
#bag      #c4fd     #aba      #d4ac     
#ge     #d4fi                           

#fd      #c4ab       #ic      #c4gf     
#fd      #c4ab               ,catechu1  
#gj      #d4bh       #ga      #d4hi     
,euphorbium1         #eb      #c4hd     
,gambogia1           #ca      #d4hd     
#ch      #c4hi                          
,kino1               #ej      #d4jj     
#dd      #c4da      #dd      #c4dj      
,mastiche1           #ae      #h4dg     
,myrrha1            #aag      #d4bg     
#ce      #e4ga              #e4fi       
,opium1              #gj      #g4ad     
#ge      #f4ff     #ajj      #e4jj      
#ej      #f4jj       #fa      #h4id     
#be      #f4jj      #ie     #h4db       
#ha      #d4ic       #fc      #f4gb     
#ajj      #g4be      #ge     #f4jj      
#aca      #f4df       #fb      #f4gh    
#bg      #h4be     #aee     #e4fc       
,sanguis ,draconis1   #aj      #e4jj    
,scammonium                             
,lachrym1          #bi      #f4hi       
#i      #h4cc      #ad      #c4eg       
#de      #d4dd                          
#ce     #b4hf     ,tragacantha1         

#cj      #e4jj       #ce      #d4bh     
,,herbs4                                
,aconite1            #ch      #e4bf     
,cicuta1             #ce      #e4ga     
,digitalis1          #dg      #d4be     
#cb      #d4cd      #bh      #c4eg      
,lobelia1            #bh      #d4ch     
#cd      #d4fa                          
,hyoscyamus1         #dj      #h4ge     
,,flowers4                              
,arnica1             #ag      #e4hh     
,caryophyllus1       #bh      #e4cf     
#ee      #b4gb      #ej      #d4jj      
,humulus1           #bfh      #d4aj     
#aie      #e4ab     #bbb      #c4hj     
#beb     #c4eg                          
#bah      #d4aa      #aic      #d4ad    
,,fruit4                                
,colocynth4#ai      #bf     #fe4ch      
#ee     #fi4ji                          
,,leaves4                               
,buchu1             #ajd       4#if     
,senna ,alex4         #da      #c4fa    
#bf      #e4ff                          
,senna ,indic4        #ej      #c4if    

,uva ,ursi1           #db      #d4gj    
#ej      #d4jj                          
,,roots4                                
,calamus1            #bg      #g4da     
#bbg                                    
,cimicifuga                             
,racemosa1          #fi      #d4cd      
,colomba1            #aid      #d4ac    
#ie      #b4eb      #gi      #c4gi      
#id     #d4be     ,cucuma1 ground1      
#fej      #c4jh                         
,gentiana1 ground1   #bbg      #b4bj    
#bhj      #b4ej     #adi      #b4fh     
------ powdered1        #gb      #d4ag  
#ga      #d4bb                          
,glyyrrh4            #aef      #c4hd    
#ade      #d4ac      #gj      #d4aa     
#cac     #d4ae     ,helleborus1         
#eh      #d4ca                          
,hydrastis canad4     #cg      #e4dj    
#ej      #e4jj                          
,ictodes ,ftidus1     #be      #d4jj    
,inula1               #ej      #d4jj    
,ipecac4              #ii      #d4dd    
#hj      #c4ge     #aji      #d4ac      

#gc     #d4gf                           
#if      #d4ag     #cba      #c4db      
,iris ,flor4          #bcb      #c4jb   
#ach      #c4fb                         
,jalap1              #ada      #d4eb    
#cca      #c4gf     #aic      #d4ci     
#bja     #d4bc                          
#bga      #c4ac                         
,rheum ,indic4         #if      #d4af   
#gh      #c4hd      #ge      #d4jj      
#dj     #c4ge                           
#if      #d4ad      #hg      #c4dd      
#ih      #c4eg     #cad     #d4df       
------ ,russicum1        #bh      #c4eg 
#fc      #d4gf      #cj      #d4ag      
,sanguinaria1         #ej      #c4if    
,salep1               #fg      #f4ff    
#be      #d4jj                          
,scilla1              #bg     #aa4aa    
#ha      #f4ag      #ee      #h4ah      
#dj    #ac4ab                           
#cj     #af4ff                          
,senega1              #ei      #e4jh    
,serpentara1          #de      #d4dd    
,spigelia ,marilan4    #eb      #d4gf   

,valeriana1           #dg      #d4bd    
,zingib4 ,jam4        #aad      #d4cg   
#eh      #e4ag     #aae      #d4jj      
,,seeds4                                
,anisum1              #eh      #d4bg    
#ajb      #b4id                         
,cardamomum1#bj      #ej     #bf4jj     
#fa      #d4ib                          
,colchicum1           #fa      #d4ji    
#cg      #d4jj                          
,coriandrum1          #ii      #b4jb    
,linum1 ground1      #ecc       4#ic    
4#ha                                    
,lobelia1             #fg      #g4df    
,nux ,vomica1         #ajj      #c4jj   
#eb      #c4hd      #ff      #d4ed      
,,sundries4                             
,cantharis1           #fh      #d4da    
#fh      #d4da      #fe      #c4hb      
#aab     #c4eg                          
#ci      #c4gi      #da      #d4hh      
#ec      #f4jj      #db     #c4eg       
,ext4 ,colocynth4                       
,comp4         #cc      #d4eg           
,ext4 ,glyyrrh4        #ej      #d4jh   

#bjj      #c4ej                         
,ext4 ,jalap1          #bj      #d4hf   
,galla1               #gj      #d4ba    
#gc      #d4aa      #bh      #e4bf      
#ef     #c4ed     ,secale ,cornut4      
#ca      #d4gi      #bi      #e4jh      
#cj      #c4cc                          
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
--------    #ai ,this includes loss of  
,seeds4    #bj ,of this #ba4jj is loss  
in ,hulls4    ,from the above results   
the following table1 showing the average
 loss on  each article1 has been        
calculated3                             
----------------------------------------
   #bbh                         ,average
                               per      
centage                                 
of ,loss4                               
-------------   ,,salts1 ,,crystaline   
,,substances1 c4                ,acid1  
,tartaric                #a4ej          
,cobalt 7,arsenic7              #a4fc   
,alumin et ,potass1           #e4gf     

sulphat4 7calcined7         ,ammoni     
,muriat4               #h4da     ,potass
 ,nitrat4               #b4hj     ------
 ,sulphat4                  #b4cg       
------ ,bi-tartrat4                4#de 
,sod ,bi-,borat4               #ae4de   
,soap1 ,olive ,oil1 white       #cc4cc  
,,vegetable ,,substances4               
,,barks4                  ,cannella     
,alba                 #d4bf     ,cassia 
#e4bj     ,cinchona ,maracaibo          
#d4be     ------ ,flava 7,calisaya7     
#d4ge     ------ ,rubra                 
#d4eh     ,mezerion                     
#g4ha     ,myrica ,cerifera             
#c4ih     ,prinos ,verticill4           
#d4af     ,prunus ,virginian4           
#d4jj   ,,berries4                      
,capsicum                      #c4ha    
,cubeba                        #c4ha    
,,gums ,,and ,,resins4                  
,aloes ,soct4                   #f4be   
,acacia                        #c4gh    
,catechu                       #d4eh    
,euphorbium                    #c4hd    

,gambogia                      #d4cf    
,kino                          #c4fj    
,mastiche                      #h4dg    
,myrrha                        #c4ae    
,opium                         #f4fa    
,sanguis ,draconis              #e4jj   
,scammonium ,lachrym            #e4bb   
,tragacantha                   #d4fd    
,spegelia ,mariland4            #d4gf   
,,herbs4                                
,aconite                       #e4bf    
,cicuta                        #e4ga    
,digitalis                     #d4jd    
,lobelia                       #d4di    
,hyosciamus                    #h4ge    
,,flowers4                              
,arnica                        #e4hh    
,caryoph4                      #d4jc    
,humulus                       #d4ad    
,,fruit4                                
,colocynth4                   #fg4bc    
,,leaves4                         ,buchu
                          4#if          
,senna ,alex4                   #d4fc   
------ ,ind4                      #c4if 

,uva ,ursi                      #d4ce   
,,roots4                                
,calamus                       #g4da    
,cimicituga ,racemosa           #d4cd   
,colomba                       #c4dg    
,curcuma ground1               #c4jh    
,gentian4 ground1              #b4df    
------ powdered                  #b4bj  
,glyyrrh4                      #d4jf    
,helleborus                    #d4ca    
,hydrastis ,canad4              #e4bj   
,iclodes ,ftidus               #d4jj    
,inula                         #d4jj    
,ipecacuanha                   #d4aj    
,iris ,flor4                    #c4cd   
,jalap                         #d4jj    
,rheum ,indicum                 #c4ia   
------ ,russic4                   #d4ag 
,sanguinaria                   #c4if    
,salep                         #c4hd    
,scilla                        #i4dc    
,senega                        #e4jh    
,serpentaria                   #d4dd    
,lobelia                       #g4df    
#bbi                                    

,valerian4                     #d4bd    
,zingib4 ,jam4                  #d4ea   
,,seeds4                                
,anisum                        #c4fj    
,cardamom4                     #d4ib    
,colchicum                     #d4je    
,coriandrum                    #b4jb    
,linum 7ground17                4#hg    
,nux ,vomica                    #c4gi   
,,sundries4                             
,cantharis4                    #d4ca    
,ext4 ,coloc4 comp4             #d4ed   
,ext4 ,glyyrrh4                 #f4be   
,ext4 ,jalap                    #d4hg   
,galla                         #d4cd    
,secale ,cornutum               #d4ci   
,,on ,,the ,,preparations ,,of ,,iron   
,,used ,,in ,,medicine4    ,,by ,,henry 
,,wurtz4    ,the preparations of iron   
being among the most important articles 
of  the ,pharmacopia1 it is surprising  
that so little attention is paid by     
many druggists and pharmaceutists to the
 preparation and preservation  of these 
articles in a pure state4 ,the greater  

part of the preparations  of iron to be 
found in the shops are far from having  
the chemical  composition indicated by  
their labels1 and in fact1 few of the   
formulas  given in any of the           
,pharmacopias for preparations of iron1 
are capable  of giving even tolerably   
pure products4    ,if there is any      
difference in a therapeutical point of  
view1 between  compounds of the         
protoxide and compounds of the peroxide 
of iron1  and if any value is to be     
attached to definite composition in     
medicines1 enabling physicians to       
administer known quantities to  their   
patients1 this state of affairs should  
not exist4 ,persons who  handle the     
compounds of protoxide of iron1 should  
be aware of the fact  that few          
substances are more speedily and        
completely destroyed than  these by the 
action of #bcj moist air2 thus1 one     
hundred parts of  the carbonate of iron1
 require less than seven parts of oxygen
 for  complete conversion into          

sesquioxide of iron1 and one hundred    
parts  of pure copperas require less    
than three parts of the same element  to
 effect a like change in all the        
protoxide of iron which it contains4    
,as these protoxide of iron compounds1  
however1 oxydate themselves  only in the
 presence of water1 the mode of         
preservation which ,i would  propose1 is
 very simple3 ,it is only necessary to  
dry them perfectly  and to introduce    
into the vessels in which they are to be
 preserved1  a few small lumps of       
quicklime1 which will keep the air in   
the  interior of the vessel continually 
dry4 ,to prevent any contamination  of  
the preparation by direct contact with  
the lime1 the latter must be  securely  
folded in one or two thicknesses of     
filtering paper4    ,the iodide of iron 
and the carbonate1 phosphate1 arseniate1
 lactate  and citrate of protoxide of   
iron may be preserved in this way1 also 
the anhydrous sulphate 7,ferri ,sulphas 
,siccatum71 but it is evident  that     

crystallized copperas would not retain a
 definite composition  under these      
circumstances1 because it would soon    
lose its crystal  water4 ,to preserve   
crystallized copperas1 it is best to    
pulverize  the crystals rather finely   
and dry the powder by repeatedly        
pressing  strongly between folds of     
filtering paper1 before putting up4     
,some have  attempted to preserve the   
crystals under the surface of strong    
alcohol1  but having tried this plan ,i 
must report unfavorably1 for although   
the copperas remained for a while       
intact1 yet1 on examination after a     
considerable lapse of time1 a large     
proportion of sesquioxide of iron  was  
found4 ,in fact1 this result was to be  
anticipated in consideration  of the    
well-known fact that strong alcohol has 
itself an attraction for  oxygen1 and   
always absorbs a certain amount of it   
when exposed to the  air1 serving thus  
merely as a medium for transmitting     
oxygen to any  copperas which may be    

immersed in it4    ,i think it may be   
confidently stated that none of the     
protoxide  compounds of iron should be  
kept in solution1 either in water or    
alcohol1 for medical purposes1 unless in
 vessels #bca hermetically  closed4     
,some say1 notwithstanding1 that iodide 
of iron in solution  may be preserved by
 keeping in it a piece of metallic iron1
 a deposite  being formed1 however1 in  
the liquid which is supposed to be      
nothing  more than sesquioxide of iron1 
but in which ,i strongly suspect the    
presence of a subiodide of iron1 and    
consequent abstraction of iodine  from  
the solution4 ,of course1 however1 this 
question can only be  settled by a      
chemical examination of the deposit     
alluded to4    ,the sulphate of iron is 
the starting point in preparing all the 
compounds of iron which are used in     
medicine1 and it is important           
therefore1 to know how to separate      
easily the impurities which are         
contingent to this extremely cheap      

article of commerce4 ,the impurities    
which commercial copperas most          
frequently contains are more or less    
sulphate of sesquioxide1 together with a
 little sesquichloride of iron1  and    
more rarely1 traces of the sulphate of  
copperas1 manganese1 alumina  and lime4 
,a small addition of oxide of silver to 
the solution will  precipitate all      
chlorine present1 and subsequent        
digestion for a few  minutes with       
carbonate of baryta will remove every   
trace of sulphate  of sesquioxide of    
iron1 and of alumina4 ,copper may1 of   
course1 be  removed by immersion of     
metallic iron4 ,traces of lime may be   
separated  by recrystallization1 but if 
traces of manganese are present1 as is  
sometimes the case1 ,i1 know no way by  
which it can be separated4 ,i am  not   
aware1 however1 that the presence of    
such a trace of manganese in  a         
preparation of iron would impair its    
therapeutical value4 ,another  method of
 getting rid of the sulphate of         

sesquioxide is to acidulate  the        
solution with sulphuric acid and1       
agitate with some pulverized            
protosulphide of iron1 which will reduce
 the sesquioxide to protoxide4    ,when 
a solution of pure sulphate of protoxide
 of iron1 free from  sesquioxide1 merely
 is required for preparing the carbonate
 or other  insoluble protocompound1 the 
method with carbonate of baryta is to be
  preferred1 and in some rare cases when
 the presence of sulphate of lime  in   
the solution of copperas obtained is of 
no importance1 carbonate  of lime may be
 #bcb substituted for carbonate of      
baryta1 and will  accomplish the same   
object4    ,when a solution of pure     
protosulphate of iron thus obtained is  
used  for the preparation of carbonate  
of iron1 care must be taken to use  for 
precipitating1 a solution of carbonate  
of soda which is free from  silica1     
phosphoric acid1 etc41 which if present 
would surely go down  with the          
precipitate4 ,the precipitated carbonate

 should be washed with  water which has 
been freed from air by previous boiling 
and better  with water which is still   
boiling hot1 dried as quickly as        
possible1  first by pressure between    
folds of paper and then in a water bath1
  and preserved in well closed vessels  
containing lumps of quicklime as        
recommended above4    ,the formulas     
given in the ,pharmacopias for the      
preparation of the  sesquioxide of iron1
 which besides being employed as a      
remedy itself1  is used in preparing all
 the other sesquicompounds of iron used 
in  ,pharmacy1 appear to be open to     
great objection on the ground of        
affording1 instead of a pure sesquioxide
 of iron1 an indefinite  mixture of     
sesquioxide with carbonate of the       
protoxide4 ,no necessity  whatever      
exists for this2 the following modus    
operandi1 besides  being much less      
troublesome in its execution than those 
given by the  ,pharmacopias1 will       
furnish a product of constant           

composition1 being  an anhydrous        
sesquioxide of iron free from protoxide1
 and either  chemically pure or very    
nearly so4 ,the materials required are1 
five  parts of commercial copperas which
 has been recrystallized once or  twice1
 six parts of crystallized pure         
carbonate of soda1 7,na ,o1 ,c ,o#b     
#aj ,,ho7 or two parts of dry carbonate 
of soda1 and one part of  nitrate of    
soda4 7,chili saltpetre74 ,the carbonate
 and nitrate of soda  are dissolved     
together in one portion of hot water and
 the copperas  in another portion1 and  
the two solutions1 after filtrating     
mixed  together1 evaporated to dryness  
and the dry mass exposed to the lowest  
possible red heat for a few minutes4 ,on
 pouring water upon the mass  thus      
obtained1 sulphate of soda and nitrate  
of soda dissolve and  sesquioxide of    
iron separates as a heavy powder very   
easily washed  #bcc by decantation4     
,when thoroughly washed and dried it    
appears as  a dark reddish brown        

perfectly impalpable powder1 which is   
perfectly  and easily soluble in dilute 
acids1 and even in acetic acid and the  
composition of which is ,fe#b ,o#c4     
,one great advantage of this process1 is
 an avoidance of the immense  tedium of 
washing the precipitates obtained in the
 ordinary processes4    ,i have but one 
more suggestion to make with regard to  
preparations of  iron1 and that is in   
the preparation of ,ferri ,pulvis or    
powder of  iron by reduction of the     
sesquioxide--to propose the substitution
 of  common coal gas as a reducing agent
 for the hydrogen gas directed by  all  
the formulas1 the former being obviously
 so vastly more convenient  and far less
 expensive4      ,,note ,,on ,,the      
,,preparation ,,of ,,bestucheff',s      
,,tincture4    ,,by ,,fr4 ,,ma,,er4     
,pure sesqui-chloride and poto-chloride 
of iron are unknown to the  ,pharmacopia
 of the ,united ,states1 a fact which   
seems strange to  a ,german             
pharmaceutist1 since they are met with  

in every ,german  dispensatory1 and     
require great care for their proper     
preparation4    ,the ,american          
,pharmacopia indeed recognizes a        
tincture of chloride  of iron1 prepared 
by dissolving the sub-carbonate 7sesqui 
oxide7 of  iron in hydrochloric acid1   
and adding alcohol4 ,this tincture would
  be rejected throughout ,germany1 since
 they endeavor there to obtain  the     
preparations of perchloride of iron free
 from any traces of  sesqui-chloride1   
while those of the sesqui-chloride      
should contain no  admixture of the     
proto salt4 ,this shows the practical   
character of the  ,american #bcd        
,pharmacopia1 which does not demand of  
the apothecary a  purity of preparation 
which it is next to impossible to meet4 
,while making this acknowledgment1 a    
good formula for the preparation  of    
sesqui-chloride of iron still remains   
desirable4--,this drug too1 is          
sometimes used in ,american practice1 as
 may be seen from the 8,notes on        

,pharmacy10 by ,mr4 ,benjamin ,canavan1 
in the ,may number of the ,new ,york    
,journal of ,pharmacy4 ,mr4 ,canavan has
 given one of the oldest formul  from   
the ,austrian ,pharmacopia of #ahbj1 as 
found in the ,pharmacopie  ,universelle 
by ,jourdan4 ,this formula directs us to
 dissolve the iron  in a kind of aqua   
regia1 and then to evaporate the        
superfluous acid by  means of a sand    
bath4 ,the sesqui-chloride thus obtained
 is employed in  the preparation of     
8,bestucheff's tincture10 by dissolving 
one ounce of  it in an ounce of water1  
adding twelve ounces of ether and       
agitating1  then decanting the ethereal 
solution1 and finally mixing it with    
four  times its bulk of alcohol4        
,having had frequent occasion to prepare
 this tincture as well in  ,germany as  
in this city1 it may not be unsuitable  
if ,i give here the  formula for its    
preparation1 which seems to me the most 
convenient1 as  well as my reasons for  
thinking so4    ,the sesqui-chloride of 

iron may be obtained in a pure and      
neutral  state1 by passing a current of 
chlorine gas through a solution of      
proto-chloride of iron1 until a solution
 of the red ferrocyanide of  potassium  
of ,gmelin no longer produces a blue    
precipitate1 and then  evaporating the  
solution by means of a water bath4 ,in  
this manner the  salt can readily be    
obtained in a crystalline form4 ,one    
ounce of the  crystals thus obtained is 
to be dissolved in twelve ounces of     
ether1 if  we retain the alleged        
proportions1 mixed with four times its  
bulk of  alcohol1 and finally bleached  
by exposing it to the direct light of   
the  sun4    ,the ,prussian ,pharmacopia
 of #ahdf gives the following           
proportions3--,one  drachm of the       
sesqui-chloride of iron1 or two drachms 
of the aqueous  solution1 one fluid     
ounce of ether1 and three fluid ounces  
of alcohol4  #bce    ,here we have to   
notice1--#ast1 ,that it is preferable to
 take ether and  alcohol by weight      

rather than by measure1 since their     
volume is very  much influenced by the  
temperature1 which may range from #cb to
 #fj or  #hj4    #bnd1 ,that the        
sesqui-chloride1 prepared with          
nitro-nuriatic acid1 is  not so easy to 
obtain in crystals1 in consequence of   
the adhering  nitro-nuriatic acid1 which
 is always retained in small quantities4
 ,on  the other hand1 by drying the salt
 you will1 in almost every case1  spoil 
a quantity of it by driving off too much
 of the acid4    #crd1 ,that the        
sesqui-chloride of iron1 if in crystals1
 is easily and  wholly soluble in ether1
 while the aqueous solution of it is but
  partially so1 a portion being         
decomposed1 as is evidenced by the      
solution becoming muddy4 ,the ethereal  
solution1 if prepared in the last       
mentioned manner1 must be of uncertain  
strength1 which is avoided by  the      
first4    ,in ,europe ,bestucheff's     
tincture is much used by physicians4 ,it
  sometimes agrees better in the        

bleached state1 sometimes when colored4 
,when first prepared the tincture has a 
yellow hue1 which it loses by  exposure 
to the light of the sun4 ,if1 after it  
has thus been bleached1  it is placed in
 a dark closet1 it again becomes        
yellowish1 though the  color is not so  
deep as at first4      ,,on ,,socotrine 
,,aloe ,,juice1 ,,or ,,liquid           
,,socotrine ,,aloes4    ,,by ,,jonathan 
,,pereira1 ,m4 ,d41 ,f4 ,r4 ,s41        
7,physician to the ,london ,hospital47  
,it has long been known that the        
,socotrine aloes imported into ,england 
varies considerably in its consistency1 
and is sometimes met with in  a soft or 
semi-fluid state4 ,frequently1 on       
opening a package of this  sort of      
aloes1 the interior is found to #bcf be 
quite soft1 while the  exterior is firm 
and hard4 ,in general this arises from  
insufficient  evaporation of the aloe   
juice4    ,in the third edition of my   
,elements of ,materia ,medica1 7vol4    
ii41  part #a1 p4 #ajgg1 published in   

#ahej17 ,i have briefly referred to a   
soft or semi-liquid ,socotrine aloes1   
which had a bright or palm-oil  yellow  
color and odor4 ,at that time ,i had but
 little opportunity of  investigating   
this very interesting drug2 but a large 
importation of  it having recently taken
 place1 ,i have more fully examined it1 
and1 as  it appears to me to be the raw 
or unboiled juice of the plant yielding 
what is known in commerce as ,socotrine 
aloes1 ,i propose to distinguish  it    
from the ordinary soft ,socotrine aloes 
by the name of 8,socotrine  ,aloe       
,juice40    ,messrs4 ,horner1 the       
holders of the whole of the present     
importation  of this juice1 inform me   
that it was purchased of the ,arabs up  
the  ,red ,sea1 by a merchant1 who was  
assured by the venders that it was  very
 fine aloe juice1 and had not been      
boiled or otherwise altered4 ,it  was   
imported into ,london by way of ,madras1
 in casks each containing  six cwt4 ,i  
am informed that the contents of some of

 the packages have  undergone           
decomposition during the voyage4    ,its
 consistence is that of treacle or very 
thin honey2 its color deep  orange or   
palm oil yellow2 its odor powerful1     
fragrant1 and resembling  that of fine  
,socotrine aloes4 ,by standing it       
separates into two  parts1--an inferior1
 paler colored1 opaque1 finely granular 
portion1  and a superior1 darker        
colored1 transparent liquid4 ,the latter
 forms1  however1 a very small portion  
of the whole mass4    ,when the granular
 portion is submitted to microscopic    
examination1 it  is found that the      
opacity and granular appearance arise   
from myriads of  beautiful prismatic    
crystals4 ,if a temperature of #acb     
,fah4 be applied  to the juice these    
crystals melt or dissolve1 and the juice
 becomes  deep red and transparent2 and 
when the liquid becomes cold it retains 
its transparency1 and does not deposit  
any crystals4 ,by evaporation  the juice
 yields a solid1 transparent extract1   

having all the #bcg  characters of fine 
,socotrine aloes1 in which no traces of 
crystalline  texture can be discovered4 
,mr4 ,jacob ,bell has ascertained that  
#ad lbs4  of the juice yield #hlbs4     
#abozs4 of solid extract1 or #fb #a_/b  
per  cent4 when the juice is mixed with 
cold distilled water1 it becomes  opaque
 yellow1 and renders the water turbid1  
but is not miscible with  it4 ,if1      
however1 heat be applied1 the juice     
dissolves in the water1  forming an     
almost clear1 rich red liquid4 ,as the  
solution cools1 it  at first becomes    
turbid1 owing to the separation of an   
opaque yellow  precipitate1 which1      
apparently1 is the crystalline principle
 in an  amorphous form4 ,this gradually 
separates from the liquid and collects  
as a clear resiniform mass 7commonly    
called the resin of aloes7 at  the      
bottom of the vessel1 leaving the       
supernatant liquid tolerably  clear4 ,if
 the juice be shaken up with rectified  
spirit of wine1 an  uniform clear       

mixture is obtained1 from which numerous
 yellow crystals  rapidly fall to the   
bottom of the liquid4 ,similar results  
are obtained  when we mix the juice with
 equal parts of rectified spirit of wine
 and  water4    ,this crystalline       
constituent of ,socotrine aloes is      
doubtless1 either  the aloin#ba         
described by ,messrs4 ,t4  ,h4 ,smith1  
of ,edinburgh1 and  by ,dr4 ,stenhouse1 
or a principle closely allied to it4    
,dr4 ,stenhouse1 to whom ,i have given a
 sample of it1 is now engaged in  its   
investigation2 and in a letter which ,i 
have received from him1  he says1 that  
though he has not been able to get the  
aloin ready for  analysis1 yet from the 
experiments he has already made with it1
 he has  scarcely a doubt that it will  
be found identical with that formerly   
obtained from ,barbados aloes4 ,it      
forms1 he adds1 a precisely similar     
combination with bromine1 and1 in short1
 agrees with it in every  particular2 ,i
 shall1 therefore1 provisionally term   

this crystalline  principle the aloin of
 ,socotrine aloes4 ,on comparing it with
 a fine  specimen of aloin1 kindly      
presented to me by ,messrs4 ,smith1 ,i  
find its  crystals smaller and more     
tapering--the summits of the crystals   
being  more acute4    #ba ,see ,new     
,york ,journal of ,pharmacy1 ,no4 vi4   
page #agg4    ,in drying1 the crystals  
of the ,socotrine aloin have a strong   
#bch  tendency to break up2 so that     
crystals which in the moist state  are  
moderately large and regular1 become    
small and pulverulent when  dry4 ,like  
the aloin crystals of ,messrs4 ,smith1  
the aloin crystals of  ,socotrine aloes1
 strongly doubly refract and depolarize 
light1 and are1  therefore1 beautiful   
objects when viewed by the polarizing   
microscope4    ,the crystals of aloin   
contained in ,socotrine aloe juice      
cannot be  confounded with the crystals 
of oxalate and phosphate of lime found  
in the juices of various plants1 and    
which are called by botanists  raphides4

 ,the appearance under the microscope of
 the former is very  different from that
 of the latter4 ,moreover1 the ready    
fusibility1  solubility1 and complete   
combustibility of aloin crystals easily 
distinguish them from the calcareous    
salts just referred to4 ,on  platinum   
foil the aloin burns without leaving any
 residue1 except such  as may arise from
 the presence of traces of some foreign 
matter4    ,aloin may be readily        
obtained from the juice by mixing the   
latter with  spirit 7either rectified or
 proof17 and collecting and drying the  
precipitate4 ,when procured in this way 
it appears to the naked eye like  a     
yellow powder2 but when examined by the 
microscope it is found to  consist of   
minute fragments of crystals4    ,the   
tincture from which the aloin has been  
separated1 yields by  distillation a    
spirit having the fragrant odor of the  
juice2 showing  that the latter contains
 some volatile odorous principle4 ,by   
evaporation the tincture yields a       

resiniform extract4    ,in the first    
edition of my ,elements of ,materia     
,medica1 published  #ahdj1 ,i have      
stated1 that by digesting hepatic aloes 
in rectified  spirit of wine1 a         
yellowish granular powder is obtained   
which is  insoluble in cold water1      
alcohol1 ether1 and dilute sulphuric    
acid1  but is readily soluble in a      
solution of caustic potash1 forming a   
red  colored liquid4 ,the powder like   
residue here referred to1 is identical  
with the aloin of ,socotrine aloes4     
,when examined by the microscope1  it is
 perceived to consist of very minute    
prismatic crystals1 which  depolarize   
polarized light like the larger crystals
 of aloin above  referred to4 ,i #bci   
think1 therefore1 that it may be safely 
inferred  that hepatic aloes has been   
prepared without the employment of      
artificial heat1 and that its opacity is
 due to the presence of minute  crystals
 of aloin4    ,when ,socotrine aloes is 
digested in rectified spirit1 an        

insoluble  portion is also obtained2 but
 its color1 instead of being yellow1  as
 in hepatic aloes1 is dark brown4 ,on   
submitting this dark brown  insoluble   
portion to microscopic examination1 ,i  
find that it contains  depolarizing     
crystals4    ,artificial ,socotrine     
aloes 7prepared by evaporating this aloe
 juice7  also yields1 when digested in  
rectified spirit1 a dark brown insoluble
  portion4    ,i think1 therefore1 that 
,socotrine aloes differs from hepatic   
aloes in  the circumstance of its having
 been prepared by the aid of artificial 
heat2 by which its aloin constituent has
 become altered4 ,this inference  is    
further substantiated by the fact1 that 
after it has been melted1  hepatic aloes
 is found to have acquired the clearness
 and transparency  of the ,socotrine    
sort4    ,the clear supernatant portion 
of aloe juice1 from which the above     
crystals have subsided1 would probably  
also yield1 by spontaneous  evaporation1
 an extract resembling1 or identical    

with1 ,socotrine aloes4    ,that        
,socotrine and hepatic aloes were       
obtained from the same plant1  and were 
not different species of aloes1 ,i have 
long suspected2 and  in the first       
edition of my work on ,materia ,medica1 
published in #ahdj1  ,i have observed   
that 8the similarity of the odor of     
,socotrine and  hepatic aloes leads to  
the suspicion that they are obtained    
from the  same plant2 and which is      
further confirmed by the two being      
sometimes  brought over intermixed1 the 
,socotrine occasionally forming a vein  
in a  cask of the hepatic aloes40       
,the intermixture of the two sorts of   
aloes in the same cask might be         
explained by supposing that the         
consolidation of the clear portion of   
the juice has produced the so-called    
,socotrine aloes2 while the opaque      
aloin containing portion of juice has   
yielded what is termed hepatic  aloes4  
#bdj    ,in the third edition of my work
 above alluded to1 ,i have stated that  

the name of opaque liver-colored        
,socotrine aloes might with propriety   
be applied to hepatic aloes4 ,but until 
the present time ,i have been  unable to
 offer a plausible explanation of the   
cause of the difference  in these two   
commercial kinds of aloes4    ,from the 
preceding remarks ,i think we may infer3
    #a4 ,that aloin pre-exists in a     
crystalline form in the juice of        
,socotrine aloes4    #b4 ,that the      
substance which deposits as a decoction 
of ,socotrine aloes  cools1 and which is
 usually termed the resin or the        
resinoid of  ,socotrine aloes1 is the   
aloin in a modified state4    #c4 ,that 
hepatic aloes#bb is the juice of the    
,socotrine aloes plant  which has been  
solified without the aid of artificial  
heat4    #d4 ,that hepatic aloes owes   
its opacity to the presence of minute   
crystals of aloin4    #e4 ,that the     
juice of ,socotrine aloes yields1 when  
evaporated by  artificial heat1 an      
extract possessing all the properties of

 commercial  ,socotrine aloes4--,pharm4 
,journ4 ,april1 #aheb4    #bb ,by the   
term 8hepatic aloes0 ,i mean the opaque 
liver-colored  aloes imported into      
,england from the ,east ,indies 7usually
 from ,bombay74  ,this sort of aloes is 
very different from the hepatic         
,barbadoes  aloes1 which formerly       
appears to have been exclusively called 
8hepatic  aloes40      ,,the ,,chemical 
,,composition ,,of ,,cod-,,liver ,,oil4 
,,by ,,dr4 ,h4 ,l4 ,,winckler4    ,of   
all the drugs which have been introduced
 into medical practice  within the last 
ten years1 none has excited so much     
attention1 and  has met with so         
favorable a reception1 as cod-liver oil4
 ,to what  principles its peculiar      
properties are to be referred1 has not  
yet been  ascertained4 ,by some they    
have been attributed #bda to the        
presence  of a small quantity of iodine2
 but this has not proved a satisfactory 
explanation4 ,many chemists have        
endeavoured to solve this problem1  but 

without success4--,amongst others1 ,dr4 
de ,jongh1 who attributed its  virtue to
 gaduin--a new principle which he had   
discovered in the oil1  with the usual  
fatty acids1 and some of the            
constituents of bile1 and  traces of    
iodine and bromine4    ,the results of  
my researches are different1 in an      
important degree4  ,according to my     
experience1 cod-liver oil is an organic 
whole of a  peculiar character1         
differing in its chemical composition   
from any of  the fat oils which have    
been heretofore applied to medical      
purposes4    ,the evidences for this    
conclusion are the following3    #a4    
,when the clear1 pale cod-liver oil is  
saponified with potash1 and  the        
resulting soap treated with tartaric    
acid1 oleic and margaric acids  are     
obtained4    #b4 ,when a mixture of six 
parts of caustic potash1 twenty-four    
parts  of distilled water1 and          
twenty-four parts of cod-liver oil1     
after  being allowed to remain at an    

ordinary temperature1 and often shaken1 
and finally diluted with twenty-four    
parts of distilled water1 is  distilled1
 a distillate is obtained1 which        
possesses an intense odor  of cod-liver 
oil1 and contains an appreciable        
quantity of a peculiar  organic         
compound1 namely1 oxide of propyl4      
#c4 ,when nine parts of cod-liver oil   
are saponified with five parts of  oxide
 of lead1 with the necessary quantity of
 distilled water1 in a  porcelain       
vessel1 by the heat of a water bath1 the
 oil is decomposed  into oleic and      
margaric acids1 and a new acid propylic 
acid4 ,the chief  part of this acid     
combines1 like the oleic and margaric   
acids1 with the  oxide of lead1 as it   
appears1 to form a basic compound2 and  
another  lead salt1 probably an acid    
one1 can be washed out of the plaister  
with  distilled water4 ,it is worthy of 
remark1 that no glycerine is formed  in 
this process4 ,the plaister smells of   
train oil and herrings2 and  when it is 

exposed in a thin layer to the action of
 the atmosphere in a  water bath1 it    
becomes colored dark brown1 after the   
#bdb evaporation  of the water2 and by  
the same means it loses its penetrating 
odor4  ,the cause of the coloring is due
 to the strong disposition which the    
salts of propylic acid possess to       
oxidize1 and consequently1 to become    
brown4 ,when the solution of the acid   
propylate of lead is treated  with      
sulphuretted hydrogen1 after the        
separation of the sulphuret of  lead1 is
 obtained an entirely colorless and     
strongly acid reacting  solution1 which 
by evaporation in a water bath1 becomes 
by degrees  colored4 ,at the            
commencement of the last part of the    
operation it  loses its penetrating     
odor1 and at last leaves a dark brown   
residue4  ,exactly in the same manner1  
the watery solutions of neutral         
propylates  of barytes and ammonia      
behave themselves4 ,the neutral1        
colorless1 and  undecomposed ammoniacal 

salt smells of herrings2 and the baryta 
salt1  as concentrated decoction of     
meat4    #d4 ,when the before-described 
7,no4 #b7 solution of cod-liver oil soap
  is thrown into a capacious distillery 
apparatus1 with the addition  of caustic
 lime and chloride of ammonium1 7in the 
proportion of  six drachms of caustic   
potash1 three ounces of cod-liver oil1  
six  ounces of water1 six ounces of     
fresh burnt lime1 and one drachm of     
chloride of ammonium17 with the         
precaution1 that the mixture of lime    
and chloride of ammonium be not added   
until the soap is formed in  the retort1
 so that it may penetrate thoroughly the
 mass1 and the  distillation proceeded  
with by means of a gentle heat1 as the  
formation  of hydrate of lime evolves   
considerable heat1 there distils rather 
quickly a clear1 watery fluid1 over     
which is a concentrated solution of     
propylamin free from ammonia4 ,by       
saturating this solution with diluted   
sulphuric acid1 and adding alcohol1     

sulphate of propylamin readily          
crystallizes out of it4    ,this simple 
experiment serves to prove1 with        
certainty1 that cod-liver  oil contains 
oxide of propyl4 ,the propylamin thus   
obtained possesses  all the properties  
of that obtained from the pickle of     
herrings1 or  ergot of rye4             
,cod-liver oil by saponification with   
potash1 is separated into  oleic and    
margaric acids1 and oxide of propyl2 and
 with oxide  #bdc of lead1 into oleic   
and margaric acids1 and propylic acid--a
  higher result of the oxidation of     
propyl--and gives by either process  of 
saponification no hydrate of the oxide  
of glycyl4 ,the glycyl  7,c#f ,h#c7 is  
in this oil replaced by propyl 7,c#f    
,h#g74 ,only  in cod-liver oil are the  
conditions offered for the formation of 
propylamin 7,n ,h#b ,c#f ,h#g71 by the  
presence of ammonia1 as  all the fat    
oils employed in medicine are free from 
this substance2  therefore none of these
 oils can be substituted for cod-liver  

oil4    ,should this research of        
,winckler1 as to the existence of the   
hydrate  of the oxide of propyl in      
combination with the fatty acids in     
cod-liver  oil1 be confirmed1 it will   
establish an important fact in          
chemistry1  and may explain the         
therapeutic action of that remedy which 
has  heretofore puzzled both chemists   
and physicians4 ,the combinations  of   
the radical propyl have been previously 
only known as artificial  productions2  
therefore ,wincklers's experiments1 if  
true1 show that  they exist in nature1  
or1 in other words1 that they are       
educts1 and  not products1 from         
cod-liver oil4 ,moreover1 the presence  
of oxide of  propyl1 and the absence of 
oxide of glycyl in cod-liver oil1 will  
enable chemists to distinguish by tests1
 with certainty1 this oil from  other   
fatty oils4--,annals of ,pharmacy1      
,june1 #aheb4      ,,guarana4           
,,communicated ,,by ,d4 ,,ritchie1      
,,surgeon1 ,r4 ,n4    ,a medicinal      

substance named guaran was presented to 
me about two years  ago by a ,brazilian4
 ,the virtues which he asserted that it 
possessed  induced me to employ it as a 
remedy in several troublesome and       
obstinate cases of disease4 ,the        
consequent benefit was so decided1 that 
,i was convinced of the #bdd great value
 it possessed as a remedial  agent4     
,this conviction1 with the belief that  
it was still unknown1  impelled me to   
bring the subject under the notice of   
the profession  in this country4 ,a     
short account of it was therefore       
transmitted to  the editor of the       
8,edinburgh ,monthly ,medical ,journal10
 who forthwith  submitted it to         
,professor ,christison4 ,to the kindness
 and extensive  acquirements of this    
gentleman ,i am indebted for the        
information1 that  the subject had      
already engaged the attention1 of the   
brothers ,martius  in ,germany1 and     
several ,french writers4 ,it was a      
matter of satisfaction  to me to find   

that the opinions ,i had expressed      
regarding the great  prospective        
importance of this substance were fully 
borne out by all  those who have        
diligently examined it4    ,as a        
knowledge of the properties and uses of 
guaran appears to be  still little      
diffused in this country1 ,i shall      
consider that ,i am  performing an      
acceptable service to the medical       
profession in placing  before it an     
abstract of the more important facts    
that are known  regarding this          
substance4 ,public attention was first  
directed to it  by ,m4 ,gassicourt in   
#ahag1 7,journal de ,pharmac41 tom4     
iii41 p4 #bei72  but the merit of       
discovering the source whence it is     
derived1 and of  furnishing a more      
complete description of it1 belongs to  
,von ,martius1  in the year #ahbf1      
7,reise1 vol4 ii41 p4 #ajfa1 et seq47   
,the term guaran is derived from the    
name of a tribe of ,indians1 who  are   
dispersed between the rivers ,parama and

 ,uruguay1 by whom it is  very commonly 
used as a condiment or medicine4 ,it is1
 however1 more  extensively prepared for
 commercial purposes by the ,mauhs1 an  
,indian  tribe in the province of       
,tapajoz4 ,it is1 according to ,martius1
 prepared  from the seeds of the        
,paullinia sorbilis1 a species belonging
 to the  natural family ,sapindace4 ,the
 characters of the species              
are3--,glabra1  caule erecto angulato1  
foliis pinnatis bijugis1 foliolis       
oblongis1  remote                       
sinuato-obtuse-dentatis1 lateralibus    
basi rotundatis1 extimo  basi cuneato1  
petiolo nudo angnlato1 racemis          
pubescentibuserectis1  capsulis         
pyriformibus apteris rostratis1 valvulis
 intus villosis4 ,the  seeds1 which     
ripen in the month of #bde ,october and 
,november1 are  collected1 taken out of 
their capsules1 and exposed to the sun1 
so as  to dry the arillus in which they 
are enveloped1 that it may be more      
readily rubbed off by the fingers4 ,they

 are now thrown upon a stone1  or into a
 stone mortar1 and reduced to powder1 to
 which a little water  is added1 or     
which is exposed to the night dew1 and  
then formed by  kneading into a dough4  
,in this condition it is mixed with a   
few of the  seeds entire or contused1   
and divided into masses1 weighing each  
about  a pound1 which are rolled into   
cylindrical or spherical forms4 ,these  
are dried by the sun or by the fire1 and
 become so hard as to be broken  with   
difficulty4 ,their surface is uneven1   
brown1 or sometimes black1  from the    
smoke to which they have been subjected2
 their fractured  surface is conchoidal1
 unequal1 and resinoid2 color reddish   
brown1  resembling chocolate4 ,this is  
the guaran1 and in this condition1 or   
reduced to powder1 it is kept for use or
 carried to market4 ,the ,museum  of the
 ,edinburgh ,college of ,physicians     
contains a specimen of it in  each of   
these forms4 ,as it is liable to be     
adulterated with cocoa or  mandioca     

flour1 it is of great importance to be  
aware that the genuine  article is      
distinguished by its greater hardness   
and density1 and that1  when powdered1  
it does not assume a white color1 but a 
grayish-red tint4    ,a chemical        
analysis of this substance was first    
made by ,theodore  ,martius1 in #ahbf1  
7,buchner's ,repert4 de ,pharm4 xxxi41  
#ahbi1 p4  #cgj74 ,he found it to       
consist of a matter 7tannin87 which iron
  precipitated green1 resin1 a fat green
 oil1 gum1 starch1 vegetable  fibre1 and
 a white1 bitter1 crystalline product1  
to which the  efficacy of the medicine  
was principally owing1 and which he     
called guaranine4 ,this he believed to  
be distinct from1 but allied  to1 theine
 and caffeine1 and to possess the       
following elementary                    
constituents3--,c#h1 ,h#aj1 ,o#b1 ,n#d4 
,another very careful analysis of guaran
 was made in the year #ahdj1 by  ,,mm4  
,berthemot and ,dechastlus1 7,journal de
 ,pharmacie1 tom4 xxvi41 p4  #eah1 et   

seq471 which varies in some degree from 
the preceding4 ,they  found the matter1 
which #bdf was considered to be resin by
 ,martius1  a combination of tannin with
 guaranine1 existing in a form insoluble
  in water or ether4 ,they also         
determined the perfect identity of the  
crystalline matter with caffeine4 ,it is
 found to exist in a much larger        
proportion in the fruits of the         
,paullinia than in any of the plants    
from which it has hitherto been         
extracted4 ,alcohol is the only agent   
which completely removes it from the    
guaran4 ,to this solution the  addition 
of lime or hydrated oxide of lead gives1
 on the one hand1 the  insoluble        
tannates1 and on the other1 the         
crystalline matter4    ,the medicinal   
virtues of this substance have been     
attentively examined  by ,theodore      
,martius1 7,op4 cit471 and more         
particularly by ,dr4 ,gavrelle  7sur une
 nouvelle substance mdicinale1 etc43    
,paris1 #ahdj71 who  employed it very   

often while in ,brazil1 as physician to 
,don ,pedro1  and afterwards in ,france4
 ,by both it is considered a valuable   
remedy1  and an important addition to   
the ,materia ,medica4 ,by the vulgar it 
is held to be stomachic1 antifebrile1   
and aphrodisiac2 is used in  dysentery1 
diarrha1 retention of urine1 and various
 other affections4  ,it stimulates1 and 
at the same time soothes1 the gastric   
system of  nerves4 ,it reduces the      
excited sensibility of the cliac plexus1
  thereby diminishing febrile action1   
and strengthening the stomach and       
intestines1 particularly restraining    
excessive mucous discharges1  increasing
 the action of the heart and the        
arteries1 and promoting  diaphoresis4   
,it is therefore indicated as a valuable
 remedy in fevers1  or reduced vital    
power resulting from cold or prolonged  
wetness1 grief1  to great muscular      
exertion1 depression of spirits1 long   
watching1 and  also in colic1           
flatulence1 anorexia1 nervous           

hemicrania1 or in a dry  condition of   
the skin4 ,it is contra-indicated in a  
plethoric or loaded  condition of the   
abdominal viscera1 and when there exists
 determination  of blood to the head4   
,it is said to increase the venereal    
appetite1 but  to diminish the          
fecundating power4    ,in cases where   
irritation of the urethra or urinary    
bladder succeed  venereal or attend     
organic disease1 it exerts a most       
salutary effect in  soothing the        
irritability of the mucous #bdg         
membrane1 relieving the  nervous        
prostration which accompanies these     
affections1 and exalting  vital power4  
,unlike the disagreeable remedies which 
are generally1 and  often without       
success1 employed in these affections1  
it is taken with  pleasure1 and with an 
amount of success which1 as far as my   
experience  extends1 is universal4      
,if we examine guaran according to its  
chemical characters1 it must be  guarded
 as a most valuable substance1 from its 

possessing in so great  a proportion    
that important nitrogenous principle    
guaranine4 ,this1  if not identical with
 caffeine1 is at least analagous to it1 
and to  theine1 and theobromine1--all   
important elements of food and grateful 
stimulents4 ,from its chemical          
constitution1 then1 we may predict with 
great certainty its physiological action
 being powerfully tonic2 but  in the    
combination in which it is found1       
experience indicates that it  possesses 
conjoined more valuable properties than 
belong to the simple  tonics4 ,its power
 of correcting generally the discharges1
 and restoring  the normal vitality of  
the mucous membranes1 must be viewed as 
one of  these4    ,guarana1 in the state
 of powder1 is exhibited in doses of j1 
three  or four times daily1 mixed with  
water and sugar1 or with syrup and      
mucilage1 conjoined with an aromatic1 as
 cinnamon1 vanilla1 or  chocolate4 ,a   
convenient form is that of extract1     
obtained by treating  the guaran with   

alcohol1 and evaporating to the         
consistence of pills4  ,this may be     
exhibited in the form of solution or    
pills4 ,the ,brazilians1  however1 use  
the powder with sugar and water alone1  
and consider this  draught grateful and 
refreshing4--,monthly ,jour4 of ,medical
 ,science1  ,may1 #aheb4    #bdh        
,,colored ,,fires ,,for ,,pyrotechnical 
,,purposes4    ,erdmann1 in the last    
number of his journal1 gives the        
following formul  for preparing colored 
fires1 which he has proved and found to 
answer  the purpose intended admirably4 
,he particularly enjoins the caution    
that the ingredients1 after being       
powdered in a mortar separately1  should
 be mixed with the hand1 as dangerous   
explosions would inevitably  follow from
 the ingredients being rubbed together  
with any hard  substance4     ,red4     
,chlorate of potash1             #fa    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,carbonate of strontia1
          #bc     parts4     ,rose ,red4

     ,chlorate of potash1               
#fa     parts4   ,sulphur1              
#af     parts4   ,chloride of calcium1  
#bc     parts4     ,yellow1 ,no4 #a4    
,chlorate of potash1             #fa    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,dried soda1           
#bc     parts4     ,yellow1 ,no4 #c4    
,saltpetre1                      #fa    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#ag #a_/b parts4   ,dried soda1         
#bj     parts4   ,charcoal1             
#a #a_/b parts4     ,dark ,blue4        
,chlorate of potash1             #fj    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,carbonate of copper1  
#ab     parts4   ,burnt alum1           
#ab     parts4     ,sulphate of potash  
and ammonio-sul-     phate of copper may
 be added to     render the color more  
intense4     ,purple ,red4     ,chlorate
 of potash1             #fa     parts4  
,sulphur1                        #af    
parts4   ,chalk1                        
#bc     parts4     ,orange ,red4        

,chlorate of potash1             #eb    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#ad     parts4   ,chalk1                
#cd     parts4     ,yellow1 ,no4 #b4    
,saltpetre1                      #ej    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,dried soda1           
#bj     parts4   ,gunpowder1            
#ad     parts4     ,light ,blue4        
,chlorate of potash1             #fa    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,burnt alum1           
#bc     parts4     ,dark ,violet4       
,chlorate of potash1             #fj    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,carbonate of potash1  
#ab     parts4   ,burnt alum1           
#ab     parts4     ,light ,violet4      
,chlorate of potash1             #ed    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#ad     parts4   ,carbonate of potash1  
#af     parts4   ,burnt alum1           
#af     parts4     #bdi     ,green4     
,chlorate of potash1             #gc    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      

#ag     parts4   ,boracic acid1         
#ai     parts4     ,light ,green4       
,chlorate of potash1             #fj    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#af     parts4   ,carbonate of barytes1 
#bd     parts4     ,for ,theatrical     
,purposes4     ,white1 ,no4 #a4         
,saltpetre1                      #fd    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#ba     parts4   ,gunpowder1            
#ae     parts4     ,white1 ,no4 #b4     
,saltpetre1                      #fd    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#bb     parts4   ,charcoal1             
#b     parts4     ,red4     ,nitrate of 
strontia1            #ef     parts4     
,sulphur1                        #bd    
parts4   ,chlorate of potash1           
#bj     parts4     ,green4     ,nitrate 
of barytes1             #fj     parts4  
,sulphur1                        #bb    
parts4   ,chlorate of potash1           
#ah     parts4     ,rose4     ,sulphur1 
#bj     parts4   ,saltpetre1            
#cb     parts4   ,chlorate of potash1   

#bg     parts4   ,chalk1                
#bj     parts4   ,charcoal1             
#a     parts4     ,blue4     ,saltpetre1
                      #bg     parts4    
,chlorate of potash1             #bh    
parts4   ,sulphur1                      
#ae     parts4   ,sulphate of potash1   
#ae     parts4   ,ammonio-sulphate of   
copper1     #ae     parts4              
,,extractum ,,lobeli ,,fluidum4    ,,by 
,,william ,,procter1 ,,jr4    ,having   
had occasion to prepare a fluid extract 
of lobelia at the  solicitation of a    
druggist1 the following process was     
employed1 which  is based on the fact1  
that in the presence of an excess of    
acid1 the  lobelina of the natural salt 
which gives activity to the drug1 is not
  decomposed and destroyed by the heat  
used1 as explained on a former          
occasion1 7vol4 xix4 page #ajh of this  
,journal47    ,take of ,lobelia 7the    
plant17 finely bruised1 eight ounces1   
7troy7     ,acetic acid          one    
fluid ounce4   ,diluted ,alcohol        

three pints4   ,alcohol              six
 fluid ounces4 #bej    ,macerate the    
lobelia in a pint and a half of the     
diluted alcohol1  previously mixed with 
the acetic acid1 for twenty-four hours2 
introduce  the mixture into an earthen  
displacer1 pour on slowly the remainder 
of  the diluted alcohol1 and afterwards 
water until three pints of tincture  are
 obtained2 evaporate this in a water    
bath to ten fluid ounces1  strain1 add  
the alcohol and1 when mixed1 filter     
through paper4    ,each teaspoonful of  
this preparation is equal to half a     
fluid ounce  of the tincture4 ,it may be
 employed advantageously to make a syrup
 of  lobelia1 by adding two fluid ounces
 of the fluid extract1 to ten fluid     
ounces of simple syrup1 and mixing4     
,syrup of lobelia is an eligible        
preparation for prescription use1 in    
cases where lobelia is indicated  as an 
expectorant4--,american ,journal of     
,pharmacy4      ,,new ,,method ,,for    
,,preparing ,,and ,,exhibiting          

,,protiodide ,,of ,,iron4    ,,by ,m4   
,h4 ,,bonnewyn4    ,several methods have
 been proposed for the preparation and  
exhibition  of protiodide of iron1 all  
of which are1 as far as ,i am acquainted
 with  them1 subject to many            
inconveniences and objections4 ,it is on
 this  account that ,i offer to my      
fellow-laborers a new method1 which both
 on  account of its uniformity of action
 and facility of administration1        
deserves to be adopted universally4     
,every practical man knows that all     
preparations of protiodide of iron  are 
bad1 for instance1 syrupus ferri iodidi 
is a medicine which is  generally       
disliked1 and in some individuals causes
 nausea and even  vomiting4 ,the pilul  
ferri iodidi #bea likewise disagree with
 some  constitutions1 and when they seem
 to agree1 they never produce the  same 
regular effects even if prepared at the 
same labratory4 ,according  to trials   
made by an experienced physician1 who   
has administered the  protiodide1       

prepared according to my method1 ,i am  
assured that this  remedy prepared by a 
double decomposition in the stomachs of 
the  patients1 has always agreed with   
them1 and produced more constant and    
salutary effects4 ,it is already a      
well-known fact1 that the iodide of     
iron in its incipient state is better   
assimilated by the organs4    ,no4 #a4  
,dissolve one gramme of iodide potassium
 in #cjj grammes of water4  ,no4 #b4    
,take sulphate of iron #a #a_/b grammes2
 make a powder and divide  into eighteen
 equal parts4 ,dissolve one of the      
powders in a large  table-spoonful of   
sugared water before swallowing it2 take
 immediately  afterwars1 one            
table-spoonful of the solution4    ,it  
is evident that by this operation1 each 
time their is produced in  the stomach  
one grain1 or about five centigrammes of
 iodide of iron in  its incipient state4
    ,although these proportions do not  
correspond absolutely1 but only         
approximately with their chemical       

equivalents1 nevertheless1  their       
effects answer fully the purposes both  
of the chemist1 and                     
,physician4--,annals of ,pharmacy and   
,practical ,chemistry4      ,,tannate   
,,of ,,zinc4--,the preparation announced
 of late1 under the name of  the ,salt  
of ,barnit1 as infallible against       
gonorrhra when used as an  injection1   
is1 according to the analysis of ,m4    
,chevalier1 a tannate  of zinc4 ,this   
salt which is soluble1 may be prepared  
by saturating a  solution of tannic acid
 with freshly precipitated and moist    
oxide of  zinc1 filtering and           
evaporating in a water bath4    #beb    
,,editorial4      ,,the                 
,,convention4--,we cheerfully give place
 to the following notice from  ,dr4     
,guthrie1 in regard to the approaching  
meeting of the ,pharmaceutical          
,convention4 ,we regret to learn that   
the time appointed1 is not the  most    
convenient one for many of the delegates
 whom we may expect from  the south4 ,it

 is too late1 however1 to change the    
time of meeting1  were there any        
authority by which such change could be 
made4 ,in view  of the importance of the
 object1 we hope that there may be a    
full  attendance on the part of the     
delegates1 even at the cost of some     
personal sacrifice4 ,if the whole       
country be represented1 a time can  then
 be chosen for a future meeting which   
will suit a majority of those  present3 
8,,notice4--,the ,annual ,meeting of the
 ,u4 ,s4 ,pharmaceutical ,convention1   
will take place in ,philadelphia1 on    
,wednesday1 the #fth of ,october next4  
,it being a matter of much importance   
that this meeting should number   as    
many of our ,druggists and ,chemists as 
possible1 ,i deem it proper to   suggest
 that not only all regularly            
incorporated and unincorporated         
associations of this kind should see    
that they are fully represented1   but  
that where no associations exist as yet1
 the apothecaries should   send one or  

more of their number as delegates to the
 convention1--such   will1 no doubt1 be 
cheerfully admitted to seats in the     
convention4     ,this meeting it is to  
be hoped1 will either take the necessary
 steps   to the formation of a regular  
and permanent national organization1 or 
possibly effect such organization during
 its sittings4     ,we trust all who    
feel an interest in this important      
subject1 will   remember the time and   
place1 and give us their assistance in  
person or   by delegate4     ,c4 ,b4    
,,guthrie1 ,president of ,convention40  
,,the ,,american ,,journal ,,of         
,,pharmacy4--,the editor of the         
,american ,journal of  ,pharmacy1 has   
done much to raise the standard of      
,american ,pharmacy4 ,he  has a solid   
reputation founded on large knowledge   
and great industry4  ,it is with        
pleasure then that we observe the       
attention he bestows  upon our ,journal4
 ,he has taken1 however1 rather an      
unusual course1 in  animadverting       

separately upon most of the directly    
practical articles  that have appeared  
in our pages1 and his criticisms have   
given rise to  some reclamations on the 
part of our contributors1 which we      
subjoin3     ,,comments ,,on            
8,,comments40--,the ,american ,journal  
of ,pharmacy   7,philadelphia71 for     
,july1 contains 8,pharmaceutical        
notices1 being   extracts from various  
articles in the ,new ,york ,journal of  
,pharmacy1   with comments by the       
editor10 in which #bec our friend       
,procter1   criticises1 rather severely1
 some of the pharmaceutical formul   and
 suggestions that have been offered in  
this ,journal4 ,with full   respect for 
the great acquirements and high         
character as a practical                
pharmaceutist1 to which my friend       
,procter is justly entitled1 ,i   should
 have been glad if the articles1 upon   
which he comments1 had   met his        
approval2 and ,i know of no one that ,i 
would rather should set   me right1 if  

anything that ,i have offered does not  
find acceptance   with him4 ,with the   
greater part of his comments1 ,i do not 
think there   is occasion for           
controversy1--matters of fact readers   
can judge for   themselves1 and it      
certainly is of little consequence1 who 
may be   found in error1 compared with  
the elucidation of truth4           99  
99       99       99       99     ,in   
respect to the consistence of ,syrup of 
,gum ,arabic1 he is probably   nearer   
right1 7during this hot weather1 at any 
rate7 than ,i was1   and still1 ,i think
 he is not right4 ,my experience with   
the present   officinal formula1 had    
been in the cold season1 when ,i found  
the syrup   decidedly too thick for     
convenient use1 especially by itself2 a 
large   proportion of it crystallized in
 the temperature of the shop1 and the   
mouth and neck of the bottle choked up  
with candied syrup every two or   three 
times it was used4 ,i had found the     
former syrup to answer very   well in   

regard to consistence and flavor1       
though1 it certainly could   not be     
considered permanent2 it had to be made 
in small quantities   and frequently2   
indeed1 ,i do not suppose that any      
liquid combination   of gum1 sugar and  
water only1 can be made of a permanent  
character4   ,since reading ,mr4        
,procter's comments1 ,i have made this  
syrup again by   the present formula1   
and it does keep decidedly better at    
this season1   than that made in the    
other proportions1 yet not perfectly2   
and there   is considerable             
crystallization1 even in the very hot   
weather we have   had lately4 ,i infer  
that syrup which crystallizes at this   
season1   has an excess of sugar in it1 
the crystals formed tending further to  
reduce the remaining syrup1 and thus    
sooner promote acidity than if   a      
proportion of sugar had been used which 
could remain in solution4   ,perhaps1 a 
medium between the two formul could be  
hit upon1 in which   the proper balance 

might be better attained4           99  
99       99       99       99     ,in   
the formula offered for ,compound ,syrup
 of ,squill1 in our ,journal   for      
,april1 there is an error of four ounces
 in the quantity of honey1   which      
should have been twenty-two ounces4     
,whether it was made by   the printer or
 not cannot be ascertained1 as 8the copy
 has been   destroyed40 ,i had not      
noticed it until my attention was called
 to it   by ,mr4 ,procter's comments4   
,the quantity of sugar used by me in    
making   this syrup was1 for            
convenience1 one pound avoirdupois      
weight2 that of   honey1 one pound and a
 half1 same weight4 ,in transcribing the
 formula   for a medical ,journal1 ,i   
thought ,i must1 per custom1 render it  
in troy   weights2 so as #ae oz4 troy   
are #bjj grs4 more than one pound av41  
,i set   down #ae oz41 and intended to  
set down #bb oz4 of honey1 as being only
   #fj grs4 more than one pound and a   
half av4 ,i think this addition of   #d 

oz4 of honey will make the whole come up
 to ,mr4 ,procter's measure   of 8#ef   
fluid ounces before the ebullition10 c41
 and a little over4   ,the boiling can  
be continued only for a few minutes4 ,i 
was formerly   in the practice of       
boiling to three pints1 and adding #dh  
grs4 tartar   emetic1 but finding that  
,i had to evaporate more than half a    
pint1   and judging that #bed the       
strength of the resulting preparation   
was rather lessened than increased      
thereby1 ,i concluded to stop at   three
 and a half pints4 ,as to the proportion
 of sugar and honey1   they amount      
together to #b #a_/b pounds av41 which  
with two pints of   an evaporated       
menstruum1 containing the extractive    
matter soluble   in diluted alcohol of  
#h oz4 of the roots1 furnishes a syrup  
of good   consistence4 ,it may be       
observed1 that solution of sugar in a   
menstruum   so charged1 is quite        
different from that in water4 ,perhaps1 
however1   an equal amount of sugar with

 that of the honey1 would be preferable4
   ,i can only say1 that ,i employed the
 same quantity a number of times1   but 
reduced it several years since1 because 
it appeared to be too   much for some   
reason1 the particulars of which ,i do  
not recollect4   ,and as this formula   
has always given me a satisfactory      
preparation1   ,i have thought no more  
about it1 until now4 ,or perhaps1 it    
would be   better to continue the       
evaporation to three pints1 with the    
advantage   of producing a more         
symmetrical result1 corresponding1 at   
the same   time1 with the quantity of   
the ,pharmacopia4 ,but1 is not the      
officinal   formula 8almost as far out  
of the way0 the other way8 ,forty-two   
oz4 of sugar in forty-eight fluid oz4 of
 syrup6 ,can such an amount   remain in 
solution twenty-four hours at any       
ordinary temperature8 ,if   mine is an  
8anomaly10 is not this an impossibility1
 8in point   of consistence08 ,in       
reference to the alcoholic objection1 it

 may   be remarked1 that the evaporation
 in the case commented upon1 is   not   
8from #d pints of tincture to #b pints10
 but from #d #c_/d pints   to #b pints4 
,the small portion of alcohol1 that may 
remain after   this evaporation and the 
continued heat to the end of the        
process1   can scarcely be of serious   
consequence in the doses in which it is 
prescribed2 it may have some influence  
in preserving the syrup1 and   also in  
promoting its medical action4 ,be all   
this as it may1 so far   as taste is a  
criterion1 this preparation appears to  
be of at least   double strength in the 
qualities of both roots1 of the         
officinal syrup   carefully made by the 
second process given1--the first being1 
as ,i   suppose1 with all apothecaries  
of the present day1 8an obsolete idea40 
,g4 ,d4 ,c4      ,,remarks ,,on ,,the   
,,comments ,,made ,,by ,,the ,,editor   
,,of ,,the ,,philadelphia ,,journal     
,,of ,,pharmacy1 ,,on ,,some ,,extracts 
,,from ,,various ,,original ,,articles1 

,,published  ,,in ,,the ,,new ,,york    
,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy3--,after      
giving the formula for  preparing       
,stramonium ,ointment1 as modified by   
,e4 ,dupuy1 the editor  of our          
contemporary adds1 8the objection to the
 officinal formula  on the score of     
color1 is hardly valid1 and if it was   
so1 it would  be better to color it with
 extract of grass1 than to substitute a 
preparation which will constantly vary  
in strength and appearance or  with the 
age of the leaves4 ,the officinal       
extract of stramonium1 is  easily       
incorporated with lard1 and produces a  
brown colored ointment of  comparatively
 uniform strength40 ,we do not pretend  
to have furnished a  formula vastly     
superior to that received in our        
officinal guide4 ,but  as we were       
writing for our locality chiefly1 and   
knowing the general  expectation #bee   
and usage of furnishing stramonium      
ointment of a  green color1 we have     
given a formula which does furnish an   

ointment  having a proper strength1     
requisite color1 without the loss of    
time  and material necessarily incurred 
in manufacturing a color ad hoc as      
suggested by ,w4 ,procter1 ,jr41 which  
from the contamination of the           
decomposed chlorophylle of the extract1 
would never compare favorably           
7notwithstanding all that useless waste 
of trouble17 so far as its  appearance  
is concerned1 with the far readier mode 
proposed for  transforming at once by a 
few short manipulations the dry         
stramonium  into an alcoholic extract   
and ointment without liability to       
alteration  during the process4         
,respecting the keeping of both         
ointments1 we can  affirm that the one  
prepared by the modified formula1 will  
keep as well  if not better and longer1 
than the other1 and as the color is a   
point  of some importance for our public
 and practitioners1 we are satisfied    
that it will be preferred on the score  
of economy of time as well as  for its  

color1 which is desirable at least      
within our circle of custom4            
,,emplastrum ,,epispasticum ,,with      
,,camphor ,,and ,,acetic ,,acid4--,mr4  
,procter1  objects to the addition of   
acetic acid to the officinal blistering 
cerate1 and seems to smile at the idea  
of fixing by it the volatile  principle 
of the cantharis1 which1 by the way1 he 
gratuitously makes  the author to say is
 a neutral substance1 when he says not a
 word about  it4 ,he quotes the         
authority of ,mr4 ,redwood1 who in the  
,pharmaceutical  ,journal1 ,october1    
#ahda1 speaks of acetic acid as not     
being a good  solvent for cantharidine4 
,the reason is1 in all probability1 from
 the  fact of his using the ,london     
standard strength1 which is but #a4dh4  
,for  ,messrs4 ,lavini and ,sobrero1    
7,memoire lu a l'academie des sciences  
de  ,turin1 #i ,mars1 #ahde17 state that
 8concentrated acetic acid11 dissolves  
cantharidine1 but more readily under the
 influence of heat40 ,respecting  the   

volatility of cantharidine1 these same  
chemists have stated in the  same paper 
8that while manipulating with but #eb   
grammes of flies1 for  the researches   
they were making on cantharidine1 one of
 them suffered  from blisters produced  
on the face and lips1 by the emanations 
from  these insects40 ,besides their    
authority1 ,soubeiran1 in his ,traite de
  ,pharmacie1 and ,dorvault in the      
,officine1 both state that cantharidine 
is a very volatile substance1 even at   
ordinary temperature1 and if that  is1  
as it appears to be1 the ease1 what     
reliable information have we  that only 
#a-cjth of a grain was volatilized in   
the experiment mentioned  by ,w4        
,procter1 ,jr41 made with #ajj grs4 of  
powdered cantharides8 ,is it  not very  
probable1 that in removing the          
hygrometric water1 much more  was lost8 
,whatever may be the changes which take 
place by the addition of acetic  acid in
 a concentrated state1 it is a fact1    
proved by experience1 that  the         

blistering plaster thus prepared1 keeps 
better--that is1 retains  its power     
longer than the officinal one even      
exposed to the air in  thin layers4 ,as 
an example of the stability of this     
combination1 we  have ,brown's          
,cantharidine which1 to all appearance1 
is made from an  etherial extract of    
cantharides additioned with concentrated
 acetic  acid and incorporated in melted
 wax4 ,we find such a mixture1 although 
spread on paper and but imperfectly     
protected from the air1 retaining  for a
 long period its vesicating properties4 
,is this advantage produced  by a simple
 acid #bef saponification of the cerate1
 without reaction  on the active        
principle1 but that of protecting it    
from atmospheric  influences8 ,we think 
it probable that there is a modification
 taking  place1 both on the cantharis   
and other components of the cerate4     
,e4 ,d4      ,,the ,,richmond           
,,pharmaceutical ,,society4--,a large   
number of the ,druggists  and           

,apothecaries of the city of ,richmond1 
held a meeting on the #aath  of ,june   
for the purpose of forming a            
,pharmaceutical ,society1 and1  having  
appointed a committee to draft a        
constitution and bye-laws1  and to      
report to an adjourned meeting1 on the  
#bhth of the same month1  assembled on  
that day1 and adopted the constitution  
and bye-laws  reported by the committee4
 ,the election of officers was postponed
 until  the #fth of ,july4    ,at a full
 meeting of those who had signed the    
constitution1 the  following gentlemen  
were elected officers of the society1   
for the next  twelve months1 viz3       
,president1                             
,,alexander ,,duval4   #ast ,vice       
,president1           ,,james ,p4       
,,purcell4   #bnd ,vice ,president1     
,j4 ,b4 ,,wood4   ,recording ,secretary1
          ,,chas4 ,,millspaugh4         
,corresponding ,secretary1      ,s4 ,m4 
,,zachrisson4   ,treasurer1             
,w4 ,s4 ,,beers4   ,librarian1          

,,john ,t4 ,,gray4    ,after which1     
several nominations for members and     
associate members  having been made1 the
 society adjourned to ,monday1 #acth    
instant1  that the ,president might1    
during the recess1 appoint the standing 
committees1 as required by the          
constitution4    ,the ,society having   
assembled on the #acth instant1 the     
following  committees were reported3    
,committee on ,admission--,j4 ,bum1     
,john ,t4 ,gray1 ,e4 ,j4 ,pecot4        
,committee on ,pharmaceutical           
,ethics--,o4 ,a4 ,strecker1 ,s4 ,w4     
,zachrisson1  ,a4 ,bodeker4             
,committee of ,finance--,peyton         
,johnston1 ,benjamin ,f4 ,ladd1 ,edward 
,mc,carthy4    ,committee on            
,library--,andrew ,leslie1 ,james ,p4   
,purcell1 ,william ,m4 ,dade4           
,executive ,committee--,john ,purcell1  
,w4 ,s4 ,bum1 ,r4 ,r4 ,duval3    ,after 
which1 several nominations were made4   
,appropriations were placed  at the     
disposal of the library committee for   

subscriptions to various  periodicals1  
and for the purchase of books1 after    
which1 the meeting  adjourned4    #beg  
,,new ,,york    ,,journal ,,of          
,,pharmacy4    ,,september1 #aheb4      
,,on ,,the ,,oil ,,of ,,grain ,,spirit1 
,,or ,,fusel ,,oil4    ,,by ,,edward ,n4
 ,,kent4    ,the oil of grain spirit1   
has recently attracted considerable     
attention  from the fact of its being   
the basis of a number of artificial     
perfumes  or essences1 one of which has 
been extensively used under the name of 
banana or pear essence4    ,the crude   
oil1 as is well known1 consists         
principally of hydrated oxide  of amyl1 
mixed with more or less alcohol1 and    
small quantities of other  substances1  
the nature of which is not generally    
known1 though it has  been asserted that
 nanthic ether and nanthic acid may be  
found among  them4 ,to obtain the latter
 articles was a desired object1 and that
  which led to the subject of this      
paper4    ,crude fusel oil1 7or oil of  

grain spirit7 when distilled in a glass 
retort1 commences to pass over at about 
#aij ,fahrenheit1 and a  considerable   
portion is obtained below #bab2 which   
consists mostly of  alcohol and water1  
with a small quantity of the hydrated   
oxide of amyl4  ,by changing the        
receiver and continuing the operation to
 about #bhj1 a  large product is        
obtained1 consisting principally of     
hydrated oxide of  amyl1 but            
contaminated with a little alcohol and  
water1 and a trace of  less volatile    
oil1 which may be found in larger       
quantity in the residue  remaining in   
the retort4 ,this residue is small1 of  
an agreeable odor1  and consists of     
several substances among #beh which may 
be found1 an  oil having the            
intoxicating smell1 but not the chemical
 properties of  nanthic ether1 other    
than a similarity in its boiling point4 
,to obtain a more perfect separation of 
the substances contained in the  crude  
oil1 a small copper still was           

constructed1 on the principal which  is 
now so successfully used in the         
manufacture of high proof alcohol1  and 
which proved highly useful for the above
 purpose4 ,this still is so  arranged1  
that the vapor which is evolved by the  
boiling liquid1 passes  through a series
 of bent tubes1 each of which is        
connected with a  return pipe for       
returning vapors less volatile than     
boiling water1 back  to the still4      
,these tubes are enclosed in a copper   
funnel filled with  cold water1 which   
becomes heated as the operation         
proceeds1 and finally  boils2 the less  
volatile vapors are thus prevented from 
passing over1  and the alcohol and water
 are almost perfectly separated from the
 oil  remaining in the still4--,if the  
water is then drawn off from the vessel 
containing the serpentine tube1 the     
distillation may be continued till  it  
ceases spontaneously4    ,the product   
thus obtained1 when rectified from a    
little dry caustic  potash to remove    

coloring matter and acetic and          
valerianic acid1  and again rectified   
from dry quick lime to remove water1    
gives pure  hydrated oxide of amyl4     
,the residue left in the copper still is
 most easily obtained by  distillation  
with water1 containing a little         
carbonate of soda to  neutralise the    
free acids contained in it4 ,a small    
quantity of a  yellow oil is thus       
obtained1 having an agreeable vinous    
odor similar  to nanthic ether1 but     
unlike that ether it yields fusel oil1  
instead  of alcohol1 when distilled     
repeatedly from caustic potash4 ,it is  
consequently an amyl compound1 while    
nanthic ether is known to be  the       
nanthate of oxide of ethyle4    ,the    
residue remaining in the still after the
 above distillation with  water1        
consists of acetic and valerianic acids 
in combination with the  soda1 and the  
solution holds in suspension a          
considerable quantity of  byrated oxide 
of iron1 which formerly existed in      

combination with the  acids4 #bei       
,from the above statement it appears    
that crude fusel oil contains the       
following substances1 viz3     ,alcohol1
   ,water1   ,hydrated oxide of amyl1   
,acetic acid1   ,valerianic acid1       
,oxide of iron4    ,and an amyl         
compound1 analagous to nanthic ether4   
,,easy ,,method ,,to ,,make             
,,hyposulphite ,,of ,,soda4    ,,by     
,,john ,c4 ,,tallon4    ,happening to   
inquire the price of hyposulphite of    
soda of a wholesale  druggist1 it       
appeared to me that the cost of its     
production is  greatly under the        
wholesale price1 ,i therefore suggest to
  apothecaries who may wish to make it  
pure1 for their own consumption1  the   
following3 ,through a saturated solution
 of sal soda 7ascertained to  be free   
from sulphate7 pass sulphurous acid gas 
until a small quantity1  taken out of   
the solution after agitation1 on the end
 of a glass rod1  gives a white         
precipitate with nitrate of silver2 then

 put the solution  into a beaker glass1 
and boil it with sulphur 7about         
one-twentieth  of the weight of the soda
 in solution7 until a little of the     
liquid1  put into a test glass1 gives1  
with a few drops of hydrochloric acid1  
a precipitate of sulphur1 and another   
portion with nitrate of silver  a white 
precipitate1 immediately turning yellow 
and then black1 when  the liquid is to  
be filtered and evaporated quickly1     
until the salt  be crystallized quite   
dry4 ,the crystals are to be put into a 
closely  stopped bottle1 and kept well  
secured from the atmosphere4 ,the       
advantage of this process over the      
common one is that it can be made in    
the store without any annoyance from the
 stench of melted sulphur2 it  costs but
 little and does not require the        
continued attention of the  operator4   
#gji ,greenwich ,street1 ,new ,york1    
,august #ab1 #aheb4    #bfj      ,,notes
 ,,in ,,pharmacy1 ,no4 #d4    ,,by      
,,benjamin ,,canavan4      ,,tinctura   

,,bestuscheffi4--,in the last number    
7#h7 of this ,journal1 ,mr4  ,mayer1    
speaking of this preparation1 says that 
the formula given by me  in the ,may    
number1 is the 8oldest0 from 8the       
,austrian ,pharmacopia of  #ahbj10 and  
suggests1 as an improvement1 preparing  
the salt by passing  through a solution 
of protochlor4 ferri1 a current of      
chlorine1 to  the proper point of       
saturation4 ,the formula ,i gave is the 
8oldest0  and the original1 for which   
reason ,i selected it1 affording as it  
does the 8,bestuscheff's tincture10 at  
one time so highly valued1  and though  
,i did not consider it very creditable  
to the scientific  accuracy of its      
8fatherland10 it is the one which 8did  
the good40 ,the  advantages1 seemingly1 
claimed by ,mr4 ,mayer for his process1 
is its  affording a more certain        
preparation4 ,this does not appear      
evident1  as the resulting tincture will
 be the same1 respectively1 by whatever 
process1 supposing equal care to be used

 in conducting it4 ,it may  be possible 
that a stronger solution is obtained1   
but that is not  asserted1 nor is it    
important1 as that would concern the    
dose1 not  the effect of the medicine4  
,the difference1 aside from the identity
  of the preparation1 appears to me to  
be that1 in one case experiment  will be
 necessary to ascertain the strength of 
the tincture1 whilst  in the other it   
can be determined more quickly by       
calculation1 but  the extra labor       
required in the process in the later    
case1 more than  counterbalances any    
superiority there may be in this        
respect4 ,i have1  however1 no objection
 to make to ,mr4 ,mayer's process1 which
 is a very  neat way of making          
8,ethereal ,tincture of ,sesquichloride 
of ,iron02  but1 ,i think1 those who    
desire to make 8,bestuscheff's          
,tincture10 will  consider it more      
strictly accurate to adhere to the      
8oldest formula40      ,,decomposed     
,,chloroform4--,a specimen of this      

article lately came into  my possession1
 to which1 ,i think it right to direct  
the attention of  apothecaries1         
although1 its villainous odor was so    
#bfa disagreeable  and suffocating1 as  
to render it almost impossible that it  
could be  administered1 still it may    
serve to teach the necessity of all     
those  having to do with the article1   
exercising such increased care that so  
bad an article could not pass through   
their hands unnoticed2 for what  might  
be the consequences in such a case if   
the sensible properties of  the article 
did not happen to be so repugnant8 ,and 
as it is desirable1  in a scientific    
point of view1 to know everything about 
so important an  agent1 it is proper and
 necessary that anything unusual in its 
regard  should be recorded4 ,the article
 in question1 was contained in a badly  
stopped bottle1 and had leaked          
one-eighth of its quantity4 ,on removing
  the cupping1 an efflorescent crust was
 observed coating the upper  surface of 

the lip of the bottle and contiguous    
stopper1 of a whitish1  partly          
yellowish-green appearance1 having a    
caustic taste1 and washing  off readily 
with water but not with chloroform1 and 
precipitating  nitrate of silver2 the   
precipitate being soluble in ammonia and
 not in  nitric acid1 leading me to     
infer from this and other circumstances1
  that this substance was1 probably a   
hydrochlorate of ammonia4 ,the neck  of 
the bottle before the stopper was       
removed1 presented a yellowish          
appearance from some colored substance  
being interposed between it  and the    
stopper1 a pretty constant accompaniment
 of this kind of  decomposition1 which  
should always be noted4 ,on removing the
 stopper1  fumes escaped having a most  
suffocating odor1 causing the bottle to 
be withdrawn quickly from the nostril   
and giving with ammonia1 the  white     
fumes characteristic of hydrochloric    
acid gas4 ,by exposure the  peculiar    
odor disappeared1 and the whole of the  

liquid passed off  without leaving any  
residue1 except a slight greasy         
appearance on the  sides of the glass   
from which it was evaporated1 which was 
not owing  to sulphuric acid4 ,the      
specific gravity was that of good       
chloroform1  and sulphuric acid acquired
 no color when agitated with a portion1 
and  the reaction with litmus was       
strongly acid4 ,the bottle having been  
emptied1 the small portion which adhered
 to the glass1 collecting  in the       
bottom1 assumed a yellowish appearance  
resembling common  muriatic acid4 ,not  
having leisure or #bfb means to make an 
elaborate  examination1 ,i handed some  
to one of our professors of chemistry1  
who  will make an accurate analysis4 ,in
 the meantime1 ,i deemed it prudent  to 
note these particulars4 ,a large        
quantity of the article1 made at  the   
same time and by the same process1 ,i   
have since learned1 has been  found to  
have undergone a similar change4 ,the   
manufacturer1 supposes  the             

decomposition to have arisen in some way
 from the sulphuric acid  used in the   
process after the manner of ,professor  
,gregory1 although  every means was used
 to separate it and none could be       
detected in it  when recently made2     
some1 however1 which was thus supposed  
to be free  from acid1 ,i found to      
slightly redden litmus1 although the    
smell was  remarkably fine2 but it has  
been found ,i learn1 that of two        
specimens  of the article taken from the
 same bottle and exposed to the light1  
one underwent decomposition and the     
other not4 ,it has occurred to  me1 that
 the surest way of separating the acid  
would be to distil  the chloroform from 
it2 but it should be remembered that the
 process  of ,gregory1 was intended to  
be adopted for smaller quantities for   
immediate use1 and not for its          
manufacture on a large scale1 to be     
kept4      ,,suppositoria4--,in the     
number of the ,new ,york ,medical ,times
 for  ,december1 #ahea1 ,i took occasion

 to mention the superiority of cacao    
butter1 to the other excipients for the 
formation of suppositories1 a  means of 
medication which had become almost      
obsolete2 not unlikely  from the        
circumstance of their having been       
prepared with iritating  substances     
which counteracted their intended       
effect4 ,in the last 7,july7  number of 
the ,american ,journal of ,pharmacy1    
7,philadelphia17 ,mr4 ,a4 ,b4  ,taylor1 
7who has not1 apparently1 seen my little
 note17 gives several  formulas for     
these1 which require the cacao butter to
 be melted1 in  which state the         
medicament is incorporated with it1 c4  
,i recur to the  subject for the purpose
 of stating that ,i have not found it   
necessary  to adopt this very           
troublesome and tedious1 not to say     
inaccurate  method4 ,the article1 at all
 seasons1 becomes sufficiently plastic  
when  8worked0 in the mortar1 or in very
 cold weather1 with the addition of  a  
drop or so of almond or #bfc other      

proper oil1 to admit of being  rolled   
with the spatula into form1 the most    
convenient one for which  ,i have found 
to be that of a cylinder about an inch  
long1 weighing  twenty grains1 and      
fitting exactly the calibre of the      
instrument used  for introducing them1  
which ,i generally use as a mould4 ,the 
active  ingredients used are mostly     
sulph4 morph4 and extr4 opii aquos4 the 
latter of which is superior to opium1 of
 course1 being nearly free  from        
narcotine4 ,vaginal suppositories would 
be equally applicable and  useful as    
anal ones4      ,,editor ,,american     
,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4--,professor  
,proctor has done me  the honor to      
notice1 favorably1 some trifles which ,i
 have found time  to contribute to our  
,journal1 among others an observation   
concerning  the supposed decomposition  
of ,fowler's solution1 with respect to  
which  he says he 8does not understand  
where the garlicky odor came from1  as  
it is only the vapor of metallic arsenic

 that possesses this  peculiarity40 ,i  
beg to assure the ,professor that the   
odor came from  the bottle4 ,the        
immediate cause of it is certainly      
mist-erious1  though it is not          
impossible that among the intricacies of
 chemical  action sufficient heat may   
have been evolved to act on how small   
soever  a portion of the metal in a     
nascent state as to cause the peculiar  
odor4 ,spontaneous combustion taking    
place in a mass of the common  mineral  
known as 8cobalt10 produces1            
unmistakeably1 both vapor and  the odor 
of arsenic1 and ,i have heard of a      
ships' crew having been  salivated by   
the vapor arising from a cargo of       
quicksilver in a high  latitude4 ,a very
 much lower degree of heat is required  
to produce vapor  than might be supposed
 from the point of volatility of the    
substance  whence it emanates1 an       
instance in point being the familiar    
process of  boiling water2 but this is  
rather a cloudy point which would       

require  the acumen of a certain        
celebrated jury to elucidate1 and to    
their  tender mercies it is perhaps the 
better part to consign it4    #bfd      
,,general ,,report ,,upon ,,the         
,,results ,,and ,,effects ,,of ,,the    
8,,drug ,,law10 ,,made ,,to  ,,the      
,,secretary ,,of ,,the ,,treasury4      
,,by ,c4 ,b4 ,,guthrie1 ,m4 ,d4    ,the 
act of ,congress1 approved #bfth of     
,june1 #ahdh1 entitled 8an ,act  to     
prevent the importation of spurious and 
adulterated drugs and  medicines10      
having now been in existence and        
enforcement almost three  years1 the    
working of the law and its effects1     
immediate and remote1  have become      
necessarily matters of fact1 and are no 
longer left to  conjecture and          
speculation4    ,at the time of the     
passage of this law by congress1 no     
inconsiderable  fears were entertained  
by its friends1 and great hopes by its  
enemies1  that it would be found        
impracticable to carry out its requisite

  provisions without great injury to    
that portion of our citizens engaged  in
 the importation of this class of       
merchandize1 in which event its  repeal 
would1 of course1 have been urgently    
solicited4#bc    #bc ,strong prima facie
 evidence of the popularity of this law 
may be  found in this significant fact  
that not a petition for its repeal has  
ever been presented to ,congress4    ,in
 entering upon the duties of the        
commission1 which ,i had the honor to   
recieve from the department1 ,i was     
fully impressed with the importance  of 
the information sought for1 and the     
necessity of a candid1 impartial  and   
unbiassed examination of facts bearing  
upon the subject1 and in  making1 to the
 department1 this report1 ,i have       
divided my results and  facts into      
immediate and remote2 the reasons for   
which1 will appear in  the detail4      
,under the general terms drugs and      
medicines1 are embraced  all articles   
intended for the treatment of the       

diseases of the human  system1 and      
though they admit of many subdivisions1 
these terms1  included under the two    
heads of chemicals and compounds1 and   
crude  drugs1 are all that is necessary 
for my #bfe purpose in speaking of  the 
effects and applications of the law4    
,first1 with regard to the effect upon  
chemicals and compound  medicines43     
,previous to the passage of this law1 no
 restriction was  laid upon any class of
 medicines coming in under this head4   
,if the  importer paid the requisite    
duty1 no questions were asked1 no limit 
was fixed as to quality or condition4   
,it needs no argument1 but  merely a    
mention of the fact1 to show that any   
compound medicine or  chemical          
preparation may be so made as to deceive
 the unsuspecting and  uneducated1 and  
even very often the druggist1           
apothecary1 physician1  and all1 because
 they were not in the habit of analysing
 their  articles1 and were deceived by  
their external1 often times very fine   

appearance4 ,under the combined         
influence of competition and            
avarice--two  strong temptations1 the   
manufacture of articles of this class   
had  become systematised1 and on purpose
 to supply the ,united ,states market4  
,the immediate and positive beneficial  
results of the law may be seen in  the  
fact that now very few1 if indeed any1  
spurious or sophisticated  chemical     
preparations1 for pharmaceutical        
purposes1 are even offered  at our      
ports1 or by any possibility find their 
way into our markets4  ,manufacturing   
chemists and importers of this          
description of medicines1  finding it   
impossible to get such goods through our
 custom houses1  will1 of course1 not   
risk the loss of bringing them here1 but
 in  their stead will import such as are
 known to come up to our required       
standards4 ,under this general head of  
chemicals1 may be included a  large     
majority of the manufactured and        
compound medicines used in  practice by 

the medical faculty1 and all the most   
important usually  purchased by others  
for domestic uses1 more especially in   
the great  west and south1 where every  
man1 almost1 is obliged to learn the    
uses  and doses of calomel1 blue mass   
and quinine1 c4 ,the certainty of       
purity in these articles alone1 is a    
matter of no small moment to the        
community at large2 of the probabilities
 of their home adulteration ,i  shall   
also refer to elsewhere4    ,a few      
articles of this class may now and then1
 either through #bff  culpable          
negligence on the part of the inspector1
 or by being entered  under a false     
name1 be imported1 but they must be few1
 and are daily  growing less4 ,an       
instance of this kind has occurred in   
,new ,york1 where  a large lot of       
sulphate of lime was offered in market1 
under the name  of precipitated chalk4  
,the ,new ,york ,college of ,pharmacy1  
standing  very properly as the guardians
 of the public health1 and protectors   

of this act1 for which they had         
petitioned and which they had agreed  to
 support1 by committee1 reported the    
fact1 and warned the holders  of the    
consequences of continuing to sell the  
article as a medicinal  preparation1    
upon which they very readily withdrew   
it4 ,how it came into  the city that    
committee have never been able to       
ascertain1 whether  imported under the  
head of plaster of ,paris1 and thus     
escaping the eye  of the inspector1 or  
whether passed by him1 or at some other 
port1  without due test and examination1
 ,i am not able to say4 ,that it was    
imported under a false name1 is1 to my  
mind1 the most likely of all4    ,if our
 ,colleges of ,pharmacy in the different
 cities1 as ,i have no doubt  they will1
 continue to thus watch the articles    
offered them and the  public1 and act   
with the independence that has          
characterised them thus  far1 no        
deception of this kind will go long     
unexposed1 and it will soon  cease      

altogether4    ,no manufactured article1
 susceptible of adulteration1 ought ever
 to be  suffered to pass by the         
,examiner of drugs without being sampled
 and  tested by analysis1 and no matter 
what its appearances1 or what its       
label2 neither the one or the other are 
guarantees of its purity1 for  both may 
alike be counterfeits4 ,the more popular
 the maker1 the higher  his name and    
reputation1 the more likely his name1   
label1 bottle and  article to be        
counterfeited1 as has ,pelletier's name 
to the article  quinine1 others to      
iodide of potassium1 c4 c4    ,secondly4
 ,the effects of the law upon crude     
drugs and medicines1 such  as leaves1   
barks1 roots1 gums1 gum resins1 c4 ,upon
 these articles1  the effect has been   
the same as upon chemicals and compound 
goods4  ,greater variations must of1    
course occur in their qualities1 as many
  of them cannot be #bfg tested with    
accuracy2 and of the rest1 very         
imperfect standards are to be found in  

any of the works on pharmacy or  materia
 medica now extant4 ,this was heretofore
 left entirely in the  hands of the     
examiner at each port1 who has been     
obliged to fix his own  standards when  
there were none laid down in the works  
referred to in  the instructions of the 
department4 ,such has been the case with
 many  of our most valuable and         
important articles of crude drugs1 gums1
 and  gum resins1--such as opium1       
scammony1 c4 ,such also has been the    
case  with many of the roots and barks1 
as rhubarb and the cinchona and all  its
 varieties4 ,one may have fixed upon    
five per cent4 of morphine1 and  another
 upon eight1 another ten1 as the        
standard for opium4 ,again1 the  same   
might occur in admitting or rejecting   
scammony4 ,one requiring  sixty or      
seventy per cent4 of resin1 another     
admitting or rejecting1  merely from the
 physical appearance of the article4    
,so again with regard to barks1         
especially the cinchonas--one refusing  

to admit any except the true medicinal  
article2 another admitting  ,maricaibo  
and other false barks usually sold in   
market as pale bark1  or used to        
adulterate that article4--,but1 upon the
 whole class of crude  drugs1 the effect
 has been highly beneficial4 ,greater   
care is taken in  their selection and   
preparation for market1 and a vast      
quantity of many  kinds of barks and    
roots heretofore finding daily their way
 into market  either in their simple    
worthlessness or mixed with purer and   
different  articles1 are now scarcely1  
if ever found2 and if seen1 they are    
about  the last of their kind4--,now and
 then1 an article may get through our   
ports1 by some adroit means of          
deception1 or be slipped in at a port   
where there is no examiner1 but this    
must be but seldom4--,but recently1  in 
,new ,york1 ,i saw several casks of gum 
guaic1 the heads of which1 for  about   
six inches1 were filled with a fair     
article1 while the remaining  portion of

 the cask was made up of the vilest     
trash imaginable4 ,this  is but a       
shallow trick that could not be often   
repeated1 for though it  might decieve  
the examiner 7as it did not71 it would  
meet detection in  #bfh the hands of the
 jobber1 who would not fail to claim    
damages  from the importer at once4     
,another mode of evading the law1 is by 
sending sample packages to the examining
 office1 or such cases as  are known to 
be all right1 and getting the whole     
invoice passed by  them4 ,this can only 
be guarded against by the examiner being
 always  upon the alert1 and where there
 is the least doubt1 refusing to pass   
anything except what he sees and knows  
to be correct as to quality4 ,the       
facility with which this fraud may be   
practised1 led the convention  of the   
,colleges of ,pharmacy to recommend that
 every package should be  examined2 an  
opinion1 ,i then and now fully concur   
in4 ,many similar  instances1 both in   
regard to chemicals1 chemical           

preparations and all  sorts of crude    
drugs1 might be given1 but they have no 
bearing upon the  object of this report1
 only as they point to a necessity for  
the law's  continuance4    ,another     
immediate result of the law is the      
exclusion of damaged drugs4  ,heretofore
 no state of damage or decay1 whether   
little or much1  prevented an article1  
either manufactured or crude1 being     
thrown into  market and sold for        
whatever it purported to be1 whether    
calomel half  oxydyzed1 iodide of       
potassium one-third deliquesced1 rhubarb
 one-half  rotten1 senna in a similar or
 worse condition from being soaked with 
salt water--they each sold under their  
original names1 and found their  way    
into the bands of the buyers of cheap   
goods1 either in that state  or powdered
 or re-bottled1 re-labelled1 and done up
 good as new4 ,the  importer got his    
drawback of twenty-five1 fifty1 and     
seventy per cent4  of duty4 ,the        
insurance company sold the goods and    

paid the difference2  bargain getters   
purchased2 the physician prescribed2 the
 apothecary  dealt out1 and the patient1
 suffering under the pains and ills of  
lingering disease1 swallowed2 all but   
the last got their pay1 while the  poor 
man who bore the unrighteous            
accumulation of the whole1 cursed his   
physician for not understanding his     
complaint1 and perchance turned his     
face to the wall and died4 ,this is no  
fancy sketch1 but true1 every  word of  
it1 and more than once acted out in the 
dream of every-day  life4 #bfi    ,under
 the proper construction and            
administration of the law1 all  this    
will and is now mostly prevented4 ,it   
must be evident that any  article of    
medicine essentially damaged1 is not fit
 to be given to the  sick as a remedy4  
,this is a very important point1 and all
 examiners  should be careful to enforce
 it strictly1 regardless of the specious
  plea of interested insurance companies
 or individuals1 for any other          

construction for their general or       
especial benefit or relief4    ,in few  
words then1 may be summed up the        
immediate effects of this law3  ,a purer
 and better class of chemicals and      
compound preparations1 a  material      
improvement in the quality of crude     
drugs imported1 such as  gums1 barks1   
roots1 leaves1 and an almost entire     
exclusion of damaged  and decayed drugs 
from our markets4    ,these results are1
 in themselves1 sufficient to mark the  
law as one  of great value1 and to      
entitle it to a sure claim for          
perpetuity1 and  its provisions to a    
steady enforcement4 ,but they are by no 
means all  that it has accomplished4    
,its remote or secondary effects1 which 
,i  propose to point out1 are equally   
important1 and they are found in the    
influence upon our home manufactures and
 trade4    ,it has often been claimed   
that the law was a tariff for protection
 to  home adulteration1 and while we    
shut out the evil in one way1 we were   

equally exposed to it in the shape of   
home preparations2 were this  even true1
 it is no argument against the law for  
keeping out foreign  adulteration1 as it
 is very evident that if both are       
equally bad1 no  pure medicine can be   
had by those who require them1 while if 
we are  certain the foreign are pure1 we
 have a choice between the pure and the 
sophisticated4 ,but ,i am satisfied that
 the amount of home adulterations  have 
been over estimated1 and that under the 
effect of this law  they are decreasing 
daily1 and perhaps mainly because the   
demand is  decreasing4    ,i have never 
believed1 though it has been again and  
again asserted1  that our medical       
gentleman to any great extent1 who buy  
and use  most largely of this class of  
goods1 have desired #bgj to buy and  use
 inferior medicines1 because they were  
cheap1 and my own direct  intercourse   
and observation1 as a druggist for five 
years1 aside from  a six years'         
experience in the profession1 has       

satisfied me of the  correctness of my  
views4 ,i speak of the country at large4
 ,wherever  it has been the case1 it has
 been the result of ignorance1 as to the
  appearance and physical properties of 
drugs that has led them into this       
error1 an error in which1 from a like   
ignorance1 they have been kept  by their
 druggist1 who has been imposed upon by 
the bland assurance  of the importer or 
jobber1 which led him to take all things
 of a like  name as of the same quality4
 ,there are those who buy because cheap1
 and  prescribe1 and perchance hope for 
success in the use of such remedies1    
but they are not found among our medical
 gentlemen of education and  character  
and entitled to the respect and         
confidence of the community  at large4  
,the flood of light thrown upon this    
subject of adulterations  of medicines  
by the reports to ,congress2 by the     
report of ,dr4 ,bailey1  special        
examiner for the port of ,new ,york2    
reports to the ,american  ,medical      

,association1 and by various other      
writers in our pharmaceutical  and      
medical journals1 through the newspapers
 of the day1 and various  other means to
 the people1 has worked1 and is working 
a revolution  in the drug trade at      
large4 ,by a desire and growing         
necessity for a  proper education of    
pharmaceutists and druggists1 a man is  
no longer  considered competent to sell1
 dispose and deal out medicinal articles
  affecting the health1 life and        
happiness of his fellow-beings1 simply  
because he can calculate a per centage1 
or make a profit4    ,the reform in this
 department is1 ,i know1 but just       
beginning1 though  long needed1 but it  
will progress1 for public opinion       
demands1 and will  continue to demand   
it4    ,physicians1 professors of       
materia medica1 and teachers of         
practical  pharmacy and chemistry are   
feeling it1 and the whole course of     
teaching  upon this and kindred         
branches1 has received more attention   

from both  professor and pupil within   
the two past years1 than ever before in 
the same length of time in the ,united  
,states4 ,from these combined  sources  
will continue to #bga flow a light that 
must shine upon and  enlighten that     
ignorance which was permitting men to   
tamper with the  life and health of the 
community4 ,this has also had the effect
 to  create a demand for pure medicines4
 ,rhubarb is no longer rhubarb unless   
the quality is such as to commend it to 
the unfortunate consumer1 and  calling a
 thing by a good name is no longer      
sufficient to redeem it  from its lack  
of curative properties and consequent   
worthlessness4    ,again1 the endeavor  
to come up to the law's standard for    
chemicals1 the  competition with the    
imported article1 the increasing demand 
for good  medicines1 together with a    
commendable emulation among our         
chemists1  has produced an improvement  
in this class of goods1 sufficiently    
visible to refute all charges of home   

adulteration because protected  from    
foreign competition2 besides this1 they 
are our fellow citizens1  within reach  
of our complaints1 with no intermediate 
dealer to shift  the blame of impurity  
to the other side of the ocean1 and thus
 wash  his innocent hands at our cost4  
,with this and the spirit of inquiry as 
to what we are selling1 what we are     
buying1 what we are administering1  what
 we are swallowing with hopes of relief1
 that is abroad1 no man can  long escape
 detection1 exposure and consequent loss
 of business1 if  engaged in the        
manufacture or sale of spurious goods4  
,these opinions are the result of the   
concurrent testimony of the  different  
examiners1 of various dealers in drugs  
throughout the  country1 from whom ,i   
had before and since my appointment to  
this  commission been in receipt of     
information1 and are fully borne out by 
my own extensive observation in almost  
every state in the union4    ,without   
inquiring or pointing out the cause1 the

 testimony to this  effect1 that the    
quality ,of drugs in general has        
improved much within  the two past      
years1 is almost universal2 and a style 
of drugs and  chemicals1 and of         
medicinal preparations1 may now be found
 on sale in  our great commercial       
emporiums1 of a quality and purity never
 before  found1 certainly not in the    
,united ,states1 and ,i question if any 
wherelse4 #bgb    ,these are the results
 of my observations1 both as to the     
remote and  immediate1 or special and   
general effects of the law4 ,and ,i feel
 that  the friends of the law have great
 reason to congratulate themselves and  
the community at large1 upon the fullest
 realizations of their hopes as  to the 
good accruing from this sanitary        
measure4    ,those who were reaping an  
iniquitous harvest either through a     
desire to  do evil for the purposes of  
gain 7if any such there could have      
been71  or through ignorance of the     
extent of such evil1 must themselves    

feel  that the law has worked no wrong  
to them even though it may have forced  
them into a different channel of trade4 
,the only ones from whom we  shall hear 
any complaints while the law is         
carefully and judiciously  executed1 or 
from whom we shall hear the plea for    
8unrestricted  commerce10 and the       
potency of the great laws of trade as in
 themselves  sufficient for the         
protection of life and health1 are those
 whose  prototypes aforetime cried out  
8,great is ,diana of the ,ephesians40   
,the value of their opinions may be     
measured by the sincerity of their      
professions1 and the weight of their    
testimony calculated by the per  centage
 of their gains4    ,i have pursued my  
enquiries among drug importers and      
jobbers1 meeting  both friends and      
enemies of the law1 among retail        
apothecaries1  professional men and     
their patients1 and my conclusions are  
that no  more popular act1 stands upon  
our congressional record4    ,i have    

only to add my sincere wish1 that it may
 long stand as a mark of  the enlighted 
wisdom of the age and nation4     ,the  
above report is but the general report  
upon the working of the   law4--,it was1
 we understand1 accompanied by a second 
private and   detailed one1 regarding   
the manner in which1 at different       
localities1   the law has been carried  
out4--,,editor4    #bgc      ,,on ,,the 
,,manufacture ,,of ,,nitrate ,,of       
,,potash 7,,saltpetre47    ,previous to 
the middle of the seventeenth century1  
the chief part of  the saltpetre        
consumed in this country was obtained   
from refuse animal  matters1 as is      
evident from the following edict1 issued
 by ,james ,i41  for the regulation of  
the 8mynes of salt peter40--8,the ,king1
 taking into  his consideration the most
 necessary and important use of         
gunpowder1  as well for supply of his   
own royall navie1 and the shippinge of  
his  lovinge subjects1 as otherwise for 
the strength1 safety1 and defence of    

his people and kingdoms1 and how greate 
a blessinge it is of ,almighty  ,god to 
this realm1 that it naturally yieldeth  
sufficient mynes of  salt peter for     
making of gunpowder for defence of      
ittself1 without  anie necessitie to    
depend uppon the dangerous chargeable   
and casuall  supply thereof from        
forraigne parts1 hath sett downe certen 
orders and  constitutions to be from    
henceforth inviolably kept and observed1
 for  the better maynteyning of the     
breed and increase of salt peter1 and   
the  true making of gunpowder4    8,noe 
person doe from henceforth pave with    
stone or bricke1 or floare  with boarde1
 anie dove-house or dove-cote1 or laie  
the same with lyme1  sand1 gravel1 or   
other thing1 whereby the growthe and    
increase of the  myne of salt peter maie
 be hindered or ympaired1 but shall     
suffer the  floure or grounde thereof to
 lye open with goode and mellowe earth1 
apt  to breede increase of the myne and 
salt peter1 and so contynue and keep    

the same4    8,that no innkeepers1 or   
others that keep stables for travellers 
and  passengers1 doe use anie deceiptful
 meanes or devices whereby to  destroy  
or hinder the growthe of salt peter in  
those stables4 ,and that  no stables at 
all be pitched1 paved1 or gravelled     
where the horse feete  used to stand1   
but planked only1 nor be paved1 pitched1
 or gravelled  before the plankes next  
the mangers1 but that both places be    
kept and  maynteyned with goode and     
mellowe earth1 fitt and apt to breede   
and  increase the myne of salt peter1   
and laide with nothinge which may  hurte
 the same4 #bgd    8,that all and every 
such person and persons as having had   
heretofore  had anie dove-house1        
dove-cote1 or stable 7which were then   
good  nurseries for the myne of salt    
peter7 have sithence carried out the    
goode moulde from thence1 and filled the
 place agayne with lyme1 sand1  gravel1 
rubbish1 or other like stuff1 or paved  
or floored the same1  whereby the       

growthe of salt peter myne there hath   
been decayed and  destroyed1 shall and  
doe within three months next contryve to
 take up  the pavements and boards      
agayne1 and carrie out the said gravel1 
lyme1  and offensive stuff from thence1 
and fill the place agayne with goode    
and mellowe earth fitt for the increase 
of salt peter1 three foote  deepe at the
 least1 and so contynue and keepe the   
same for the breede  of salt peter myne4
 ,no person1 of anie degree whatsoever1 
was to denie  or hinder the salt peter  
man workinge any earth2 nor was anie    
constable  to neglect or to forbeare to 
furnish him with convenient carriages   
necessarie for his worke2 and every     
justice to whom the salt peter  man     
should address himself for assistance   
was at his peril to fail to  render it1 
that his majesties service might not    
suffer by his default4  ,and no one was 
to give any gratuity or bribe to the    
salt peter man for  forbearinge or      
sparinge of anie ground or place which  

may be digged or  wrought for salt      
peter40    ,to lessen the annoyance to  
the owners of these dove-cotes and      
stable  beds of saltpetre1 and to       
promote the comfort of the pigeons1 the 
saltpetre man was 8to dig and carrie    
away the earth in such convenient  time 
of the daie1 and work it in suche manner
 as maie give least  disturbance and    
hurte to the pigeons1 and encrease of   
their breede1 and  in the chief tyme of 
breeding1 that it be not done above two 
howers in  anie one daie1 and that about
 the middest of the daie1 when the      
pigeons  use to be abroade4 ,and shall  
in like seasonable tyme carrie in the   
saide earth after it shall be wrought1  
and spreade itt there1 and make  flatt  
the floure of the dove-house1 and leave 
itt well and orderlie40    ,in another  
proclamation1 issued two years after    
this1 it was ordered  that whensoever   
anie ould building or house in ,london  
#bge within  three miles1 is to be      
pulled down and removed1 notice is to be

 given  at the king's storehouse in     
,southwark1 that the deputy may first   
take  as much of the earth and rubbish  
as in his judgement and experience is   
fitted for salt peter for the ,king's   
service40    ,soon after1 we find that  
this enactment which caused much        
complaint1  was repealed4 8,the         
manufacture of salt peter10 says the    
king1  8had hitherto produced much      
trouble and grievance to the lieges1  by
 occasioning the digging up the floors  
of their dove-cotes1  dwelling-houses1  
and out-houses1 and had also occasioned 
great charge  to the salt peter men for 
removing their liquors1 tubbes1 and     
other  instruments1 and carrying them   
from place to place1 but now1 divers    
compounds of salt peter can be extracted
 by other methods1 for which  ,sir ,john
 ,brooke and ,thomas ,russell1 ,esq41   
have received letters patent4    8,to   
encourage so laudable a project1 all our
 loving subjects10  continues his       
majesty1 8inhabiting within every city1 

town1 or village1  after notice given to
 them respectively1 shall carefully and 
constantly  keep and preserve in some   
convenient vessels or receptacles fit   
for  that purpose1 all the urine of man 
during the whole year1 and all the      
stale of beasts which they can save and 
gather together whilst their  beasts are
 in their stables and stalls1 and that  
they be careful to  use the best means  
of gathering together and preserving the
 urine and  stale1 without any mixture  
of water or other thing put therein4    
,which  our commandment and royal       
pleasure being so easy to be observed1  
and  so necessary for the public service
 of us and our people1 that if any      
person be remiss thereof1 we shall      
esteem all such persons contemptuous    
and ill affected both to our person and 
state1 and are resolved to  proceed to  
the punishment of that offender with    
that severity we may40    ,sir ,john    
agreed to remove the liquid             
accumulations from the houses once  in  

every twenty-four hours in summer time1 
and every forty-eight hours  in winter  
time4    ,about the year #afgj1 the     
importation of saltpetre from the ,east 
,indies  7where it is obtained as a     
natural product1 being #bgf disengaged  
by  a kind of efflorescence from the    
surface of the soil7 had so increased   
as to affect the home manufacture1 which
 has since gradually declined  and      
become extinct4 ,the manufacture of     
saltpetre from sources of the  kind     
above mentioned1 is not followed in this
 country at the present  day1 and it    
will be unnecessary to indicate here the
 process employed  in ,france1 ,sweden1 
,germany1 and other countries for       
obtaining it by the  decomposition of   
animal refuse1 the more especially as   
full accounts  are given in ,knapp's    
,technology1 ,ure's ,dictionary of ,arts
 and  ,manufactures1 and other standard 
chemical works2 we shall therefore      
confine our attention to an account of  
the processes which have been  proposed 

for obtaining nitrate of potash by the  
decomposition of  nitrate of soda and   
other sources4    ,the first of these   
processes is that of adding nitrate of  
lime to a  solution of sulphate of      
potash2 sulphate of lime is             
precipitated1 and  nitrate of potash    
obtained in solution1 which1 on         
evaporation yields  crystals of that    
salt4    ,mr4 ,hill's method of         
manufacturing nitrate of potash is by   
decomposing  nitrate of soda by means of
 muriate of potash4 ,for this purpose   
the  nitrate of soda is put into a      
suitable vessel1 made of wrought or     
cast iron1 and dissolved in as much     
water as is required1 and then  the     
equivalent quantity of muriate of potash
 is added2 decomposition  ensues1 with  
the formation of nitrate of potash and  
muriate of soda2  the greater portion of
 the latter is separated during         
evaporation1 as  it is equally soluble  
at all temperatures4 ,the nitrate       
crystallizes on  the cooling of the     

solution4 ,specimens of this nitre were 
shown at the  ,great ,industrial        
,exhibition4    ,mr4 ,rotch's processes 
for converting nitrate of soda into     
nitrate of  potash are as follows3      
,first process with ,american potashes1 
7caustic74--,in a suitable              
round-bottomed iron boiler1 he dissolves
 #bjjj lbs4 of the ashes in #ajjj       
quarts of water1 and then applies heat  
for three hours1 at the end of  which   
time the solution ought to be of a      
density of #de ,baum1 7sp4 gr4  #a4dec74
 ,in a similar boiler he dissolves #acjj
 lbs4 of nitrate of soda  in #abjj      
quarts of water1 #bgg applying the heat 
as before1 until the  solution becomes  
of the density of #de ,baum4 ,both      
solutions are then  allowed to stand for
 twelve hours to cool and settle4 ,they 
should be  heated to from #age to #bjj  
,fah41 and then both poured into a third
  vessel or crystallizing pan1 when the 
double decomposition will take  place1  
and the crystals of nitrate of potash be

 deposited1 this first  deposition      
giving from #gjj to #ijj lbs4 of good   
merchantable saltpetre4    ,care must be
 taken not to let the heat fall below   
#he1 at which the  crystals form2 and   
the better and more regularly the heat  
is kept up1  the speedier will be the   
deposition of the crystals4 ,the        
mother-liquor  should then be poured    
off1 and the crystals collected and     
thrown into  the centrifugal drying     
machines1 where they may be washed with 
weak  mother-liquors4 ,the portion of   
nitrate of potash that is left in the   
mother-liquor may be obtained by        
crystallization as before4    ,second   
process with carbonate of potash        
7,pearlash74--,the pearlash  is         
dissolved in water1 and the solution    
brought to a density of #dj  ,baum 7sp4 
gr4 #a4chd74 ,this will cause whatever  
sulphate of potash  may be contained in 
it to be deposited4 ,the solution should
 then be  left to stand for five or six 
days1 after which it should be poured   

off1 and diluted with water1 until its  
density becomes #ae ,baum  7sp4 gr4     
#a1aaf74 ,caustic lime should then be   
added in the proportion  of one-fourth  
of the weight of the original quantity  
of carbonate  employed4 ,it should then 
be poured off from the carbonate of lime
  formed1 heated and mixed with the     
solution of nitrate of soda1 as above   
described4 ,the precise proportions that
 the caustic alkali should  bear to the 
nitrate of soda1 are forty-eight parts  
of the former to  eighty-six parts of   
the latter4 ,the materials to be used   
should be  tested1 so as to enable the  
just proportions to be arranged         
according  to the formula just given4   
,the patentee states that by this means 
a  nitre is produced which is equal to  
the ,bengal saltpetre1 after the  latter
 has gone through the expensive process 
of refining4    ,a ,stockholm           
manufacturer says3--8,on dissolving     
nitrate of #bgh soda  in excess of      
caustic potash solution1 and evaporating

 to #bh or #cb  ,baum 7sp4 gr4 #a4bda or
 #a4bhe71 the chief part of the         
saltpetre  crystallizes1 contaminated by
 the magnesia which is precipitated1 and
  a small quantity of carbonate of lime4
 ,in order to obtain the whole  of the  
saltpetre1 the solution must be         
concentrated to #de or #ej  ,baum 7sp4  
gr4 #a4dec or #a4ecj74 ,here however1 a 
difficulty arises2 the  cast iron       
crystallizing vessels are not           
impermeable to the liquor1  which1      
whatever the thickness of the vessels1  
oozes through them1 thus  occasioning   
great loss4 ,the saltpetre which still  
remains in solution  after              
crystallization in the caustic solution 
at #cj ,baum 7sp4 gr4  #a4bfc71 cannot  
be collected1 and if it be employed in  
the manufacture  of soap1 this will be  
found to contain so large a proportion  
of  saltpetre1 that it deliquesces and  
falls to pieces in a few days40    8,a  
method employed in the ,russian         
manufactories is first to dissolve  the 

fine pearlash1 and the nitrate of soda  
in the relative proportions  of water   
required for their mutual decomposition1
 or rather with an  excess of potash in 
such a quantity of water that the       
resulting product  remains dissolved at 
#ej ,reaumur4 ,the solution is then     
allowed to  settle1 whereby the         
carbonates of lime and magnesia are     
deposited1  after which the liquor is   
run off into wooden crystallizing       
vessels4  ,as soon as the temperature is
 lower than #ej ,reaumur1 the principal 
part of the nitrate of potash           
crystallizes4 ,the crystallization must 
now be very attentively watched1 for as 
soon as the soda begins also to         
crystallize1 the mother-liquors should  
be run off into other vessels1  where a 
small quantity of nitrate of potash will
 crystallize1 though  the principal part
 will be soda4 ,the nitrate of potash   
and the soda  must then be purified by  
new crystallizations4 ,the salts formed 
from  the mother-liquors must be        

redissolved with the nitrate of potash  
or  the soda1 according to which of the 
two most predominates40    ,messrs4     
,crane and ,jullion patented in #ahdh   
the following method of  manufacturing  
the nitrates of potash and soda3--,the  
oxides of nitrogen  evolved in the      
process of manufacturing oxalic acid1   
are mixed with  oxygen gas or           
atmospheric air1 and #bgi made to pass  
slowly through  a chamber or other      
apparatus containing an alkali placed on
 trays  7similar to the lime in a dry   
lime purifier71 the mixed gases combine 
with the alkali1 forming a nitrate of   
potash or soda1 whichever alkali  may   
have been employed4    ,de ,sussex's    
process for the manufacture of nitrate  
of potash is as  follows3--,a solution  
is made of #aff pounds of nitrate of    
lead1 and  another of #gf pounds of     
chloride of potassium4 ,the two         
solutions are  then mixed1 when double  
decomposition takes place1 chloride of  
lead  being precipitated1 and nitrate of

 potash obtained in solution4 ,in  order
 to avoid the presence of lead in the   
nitrate of potash1 a small  portion of  
caustic or carbonated lime or magnesia  
is added1 by which  means any portion of
 the chloride of lead remaining in      
solution is  precipitated4 ,the solution
 of nitrate of potash is then evaporated
 and  crystallized4    ,nitrate of soda 
is obtained in the same way1 by         
substituting sixty-six  pounds of       
chloride of sodium for the chloride of  
potassium above                         
mentioned4--,pharmaceutical ,journal and
 ,transactions1 ,july #a1 #aheb4        
,,on ,,tincture ,,of ,,opium4    ,the   
,pharmaceutical ,society of ,antwerp has
 employed a commission  composed of its 
members to determine the best menstruum 
for the  preparation of tincture of     
opium4 ,it has arrived at the following 
results3    #a4 ,good opium gives1 when 
treated with water1 less extract than   
bad or  adulterated4    #b4 ,by warm    
digestion1 a stronger solution is       

obtained than by cold  infusion4    #c4 
,alcohol must be preferred to wine in   
the preparation of tincture of  opium4  
#d4 ,narcotine1 although alone insoluble
 in water1 becomes partially  extracted 
with the other ingredients of opium4    
,when it is advisable  to avoid the     
removal of narcotine1 proceed #bhj as   
follows3--,treat  carefully prepared    
aqueous extract of opium with1 boiling  
alcohol2 this  dissolves out the        
narcotine and morphine1 from which      
solution1 when  cold1 the narcotine     
separates4    ,after the precipitation1 
whatever ingredients are necessary to   
form the  tincture are to be added to   
the alcoholic solution4    ,by this     
opportunity1 the commission recommend   
another process by which  morphine may  
be more readily separated from          
narcotine4 ,one part of the  opium is to
 be treated with four parts of alcohol4 
,after the alcohol  has been separated  
by filtration1 the residue is again to  
be macerated  with three parts of       

alcohol4 ,the resulting tinctures1 after
 being  mixed1 are to be set aside for  
twenty-four hours to allow the narcotine
  to separate2 afterwards the morphine  
is to be precipitated with  ammonia4 ,to
 remove the last traces of morphine1 the
 fluid1 from which  the precipitated    
morphine has been filtered1 is to be    
kept in a warm  place for two days1 a   
little water having been previously     
added1 when  a fresh quantity of        
morphine will fall down4 ,by this       
method1 #a_/ab of  the weight of the    
opium employed1 can be obtained as      
morphine4--,annals  of ,pharmacy and    
,practical ,chemistry4                  
,,preparation ,,of ,,propylamine ,,from 
,,ergotine4    ,,by ,,dr4 ,f4 ,l4       
,,winckler4    ,the readers of the ,new 
,repertory for ,pharmacy1 part i41 p4   
#bb already  know that ,i have been for 
some time occupied with the             
investigation  of ergot1 and that ,i    
obtained1 by the distillation of        
ergotine with  potash1 besides ammonia1 

a substance having a very unpleasant    
odor1  which conducted itself as a      
volatile alkali1 and possessed a        
narcotic  and highly diuretic property4 
,this confirmation of a result which ,i 
had obtained some years before1 induced 
me to continue my experiments1  and ,i  
have now arrived at the conviction that 
the volatile alkali  #bha which is      
extracted from ergotine by distillation 
with potash is  propylamine 7,n ,h#b    
,c#f ,h#g1 or ,n ,h#c ,c#f ,h#f7        
consequently  the same which1 according 
to the most recent experiments1 is      
proved  to be the product of            
decomposition of narcotine by potash1   
and the  ingredient of herring-pickle4  
,the smell itself made me imagine1  long
 before ,i was acquainted with          
,wertheim's experiments1 that           
herring-pickle must likewise contain    
propylamine1 and my experiments  have   
fully confirmed this supposition1 for in
 distilling herring-pickle  with potash 
,i obtained the same propylamine as that

 extracted from a  concentrated aqueous 
solution of ergotine4 ,the properties in
 which they  agree are the following3   
#a4 ,propylamine saturates acids        
completely1 and thus forms salts        
soluble in water1 and for the most part 
in spirit of wine1 with the  exception  
of sulphate of propylamine1 which does  
not dissolve in the  latter4 ,beautiful 
white crystals may1 however1 be produced
 from the  concentrated aqueous solution
 by the admixture of alcohol of eighty  
per cent4 of strength4 ,the salts of    
propylamine dissolved in water and      
treated with tannic acid produce a white
 7flocculent7 precipitate2 with         
chloride of mercury likewise1 a white   
but pulverulent precipitate2  with      
nitrate of silver a white 7flocculent7  
precipitate2 and with  chloride of      
platinum a yellow precipitate 7a        
crystalline powder74 ,the  salts of     
propylamine have a strong odor of fresh 
ergot1 much less of  herring-pickle1 and
 are easily decomposed by potash4    #b4

 ,the concentrated aqueous solution     
being mixed with a fourth of its  volume
 of tincture of iodine1 a considerable  
dark yellowish-brown  sediment is       
precipitated1 and the supernatant fluid 
appears dark  brownish-red4 ,but in a   
very short time this sediment diminishes
  considerably1 the fluid gradually     
changes color1 so that in about  twelve 
hours' time there will be left but very 
little orange-colored  sediment1 whilst 
the fluid itself will appear almost     
colorless4  ,immediately after the      
addition of iodine the very disagreeable
 odor of  propylamine disappears1 and   
the mixture acquires the odor of iodine4
    #c4 ,when the neutral aqueous       
solution of sulphate of #bhb propylamine
  is evaporated in a water-bath it      
exhales a very disagreeable odor of     
herring1 the solution becomes very acid1
 has only a weak odor of ergot1  and all
 the re-actions cease4 ,if this         
concentrated solution be digested  with 
caustic lime in a still1 there comes    

over1 without the aid of  artificial    
heat1 almost pure propylamine1 which has
 the odor of an  ammoniacal liquid1 and 
produces all the re-actions of pure     
propylamine4    ,now the propylamine of 
ergot presents the very same results1   
and it  is on this account that until   
lately1 it has always been mistaken for 
ammonia4 ,i am convinced that it        
constitutes the odorous principle  of   
urine1 perspiration1 and in the blood1  
and is often the cause  of the odor     
which we observe in the action of       
alkaline leys upon  nitrogenous         
compounds4 ,propylamine belongs to the  
organic bases1 and  may be considered as
 the adjunct ,paarling of ammonia4 ,i   
think ,i  am justified in concluding1   
from the results of my experiments1 that
  propylamine1 combined with an acid1   
pre-exists in ergot as well as in       
herring-pickle1 and is not produced by  
the potash1 as is the case with         
narcotine4 ,i have previously           
demonstrated the presence of formic acid

  in ergot1 and it is with that acid    
that the propylamine seems to be        
united4 ,i have not yet made any        
experiments with herring-pickle4    ,it 
will now be difficult to determine      
whether the medicinal activity  of ergot
 depends on propylamine or not1 for the 
neutral salts of  propylamine dissolved 
in water are easily absorbed1 and ,i    
hope to be  able to induce physicians to
 make pharmacological and therapeutical 
experiments4    ,i have reasons to      
suppose that propylamine is likewise an 
ingredient  of cod-liver oil1 and being 
easily combined with iodine1 it may soon
  be ascertained by practical           
application whether it ought not to be  
considered as the bearer 7trger7 of     
iodine4 ,i propose to begin  the        
necessary experiments in this respect as
 soon as my apparatus is  entirely free 
from the odor of propylamine1 in order  
to avoid all error4    ,finally1 ,i had 
the idea of trying an experiment with   
regard to  propylamine upon my own      

urine1 which ,i made after a #bhc supper
  consisting of roast veal1             
potato-salad1 and a glass of water1 and 
which  was neither acid nor alkaline4 ,i
 poured three ounces of the urine1      
fresh made and still quite warm1 upon   
four ounces of burned lime1  and        
submitted it to distillation4 ,the      
distilled product had indeed  the odor  
of pure propylamine1 and re-acted       
strongly alkaline2 but  acted in a      
remarkable manner on tincture of iodine 
in the same way as  liquid ammonia4     
,after having neutralized it with       
sulphuric acid1 the  liquid showed when 
tested with tannic acid and nitrate of  
silver1 an  unmistakable proportion of  
propylamine4 ,might this be formed out  
of the  urea8 ,my experiment confirms1  
at all events1 the opinion stated above2
  the beginning is made1 and ,i may now 
pass from experiment to scientific      
deductions4    ,remarks by ,dr4         
,buchner3--,my friend1 ,dr4 ,winckler1  
in communicating  the above paper1 very 

agreeably surprised me by transmitting  
at the  same time specimens of his      
preparation of propylamine1 and that too
 in  quantities varying from one to two 
drachms1 for which ,i hereby beg to     
express to him publicly my best thanks4 
,i received from him1 namely3    #a4    
,the rough product of distillation of   
herring-pickle4    #b4 ,the aqueous     
solution of the sulphate produced from  
it4    #c4 ,the pure crystallized1 and  
by spirit of wine1 precipitated sulphate
  of propylamine4    #d4 ,the           
concentrated solution of pure           
propylamine4    #e4 ,the aqueous        
solution of the sulphate prepared with  
,no4 #d4    ,hitherto ,i have only      
experimented with the preparations ,no4 
#b1 #d and #e1  in order to verify and  
complete the statements of the above    
paper4 ,all  these solutions are quite  
colorless and clear1 like water2 they   
diffuse  already at some distance a     
strong odor of herring2 but the pure    
aqueous  propylamine1 when smelt at     

closely1 has a pungent odor1 very       
similar  to that of liquid ammonia1     
which1 however1 at a distance1 assumes1 
as  it has been said1 the smell of      
herring4 ,this odor is so peculiarly    
characteristic1 that ,i do not doubt1   
that even in water-closets1 in          
consequence of fermentation1 propylamine
 is developed1 particularly  as woollen 
clothes easily acquire there the odor of
 #bhd herring4  ,all the conditions at  
least necessary for the formation of    
propylamine  ammonia1 and               
carbo-hydrogen1 are to be found in      
water-closets4 ,in a  small close room  
its odor becomes insupportable1 and     
affects strongly  the head4 ,dr4        
,winckler1 had therefore1 good reasons  
to warn me against  it4 ,a young        
chemist1 upon whose hand ,i dropped a   
very minute quantity  of aqueous        
propylamine1 for the purpose of         
ascertaining its taste1  notwithstanding
 that he had been walking after that a  
considerable  distance1 and had been    

exposed to the air1 smelt still1 after  
some  hours1 so strongly of herring1    
that happening to to enter a company1 he
  was spoken to about it by several     
persons4 ,i mention this merely as a    
caution4 ,the taste of pure aqueous     
propylamine is pungently alkaline1  and 
hardly distinguishable from that of     
caustic ammonia4    ,the chemical       
re-actions of propylamine are well      
explained by ,winckler4  ,turmeric paper
 turns brown with it1 but being exposed 
to the air1 in  which propylamine       
quickly evaporates1 it resumes again its
 primitive  yellow color4    ,sulphate  
of propylamine 7,no4 #c17 appears in    
small splendid white  prisms1 exposed to
 the air it evolves a distinct smell of 
herring1 and  has a pungent saline      
taste1 like sulphate of ammonia2 it is  
entirely  neutral1 and when moistened   
with water1 it does not alter the color 
either of blue or red litmus-paper1 or  
of turmeric-paper4    ,we have in       
solutions of silver and iodine1 which   

are not precipitated  by ammonia1 very  
appropriate re-agents for distinguishing
 propylamine  from ammonia4             
,propylamine1 however1 treated with     
sulphate of silver1  gave me not a      
white1 but a yellowish-brown            
precipitate2 and this  result suggested 
to me the idea1 that formiate of        
propylamine might be  present4 ,this    
precipitate was easily and perfectly    
dissolved in caustic  liquid ammonia4   
,with an aqueous solution of iodine ,i  
acquired at one  time1 according to the 
quantitative proportion a brown1 and at 
another  time a beautiful yellow        
precipitate1 which dissolved in an      
excess of  iodide of potassium4 ,i      
usually employ an aqueous solution of   
iodine in  iodide of potassium #bhe     
instead of the tincture of iodine made  
with  spirit of wine4 ,the precipitate  
produced by iodide of potassium is1 as  
,i have just stated1 either brown or    
yellow1 provided that no excess of      
iodide of potassium be                  

employed4--,buchner's ,neues            
,repertorium1 ,bd4 #a4      ,,editorial4
      ,we had intended once more to call
 the attention of our readers to  the   
approaching meeting of the ,national    
,convention1 but have been  anticipated 
by one of our colleagues in the         
communication which is  subjoined1      
giving an account of both its origin and
 its objects4 ,it is  to be hoped that1 
as the convention will probably assume a
 permanent  organization1 its           
proceedings will take on a scientific   
character4  ,independent of the subjects
 which pharmacy1 every where1 presents1 
such  a body would be a fit one to      
assist in ascertaining and developing   
the resources of our indigenous materia 
medica4 ,our country is rich  in        
medicinal articles1 but the properties  
of many of them are but  imperfectly    
known1 and comparatively little         
attention has been paid  to their       
pharmaceutical preparation4 ,inquiries  
of this kind1 carried  on with the aid  

of physicians1 particularly of those    
attached to  hospitals1 could not fail  
to produce important results1 and they  
seem  peculiarly adapted to the wants of
 the community and to the position of   
the convention4    ,,the ,,national     
,,pharmaceutical ,,convention4    ,the  
second meeting of ,pharmaceutists1 the  
first as a ,national  ,convention1 to   
which the ,convention of ,delegates from
 the several  ,colleges of ,pharmacy1   
held in ,new ,york last ,october1 may be
 considered  the preliminary movement1  
will take place in ,philadelphia1 on    
,wednesday  the #fth of ,october        
ensuing4 ,the convention of last fall   
was held  chiefly for the purpose of    
considering the important subject of    
standards of quality and purity which   
imported drugs ought to possess  in     
order to regulate and render uniform the
 character required of  them by the     
government ,inspectors1 at the various  
ports of entry  in the ,united ,states4 
,unofficially and officially the duty of

  affixing standards for imported drugs 
was1 with propriety1 assigned  to the   
,colleges of ,pharmacy4 ,for this object
 they were called in  convention for    
that time only1 and permanent           
organization was not  then anticipated4 
,but on the meeting of the ,colleges1   
and their  united action upon the one   
subject of such general importance1 it  
was  a natural consequence that a       
spontaneous and general feeling should  
arise in favor of the establishment of a
 ,national ,pharmaceutical              
,organization1 with an ,annual          
,convention for the #bhf advancement  of
 science and for the promotion of       
intercourse and good will among         
pharmaceutists generally4 ,accordingly  
the preamble and resolutions  brought   
forward by the committee1 subsequent to 
their report on the  special business of
 that convention and its action upon it1
 were  received with hearty favor4 ,we  
think it would be well to recapitulate  
them3      8,,whereas1 ,the advancement 

of the true interests of the great body 
of ,pharmacutical practitioners in all  
sections of our country is a   subject  
worthy of earnest consideration2 and    
whereas ,pharmaceutists1   in their     
intercourse among themselves1 with      
physicians and the public1   should be  
governed by a code of ethics calculated 
to elevate the   standard and improve   
the practice of their art2 and whereas1 
the means   of a regular pharmaceutical 
education should be offered to the      
rising   ,pharmaceutists by the         
establishment of ,schools of ,pharmacy  
in suitable   locations2 and whereas1 it
 is greatly to be desired that the      
united   action of the profession should
 be directed to the accomplishment of   
these objects2 therefore1     ,resolved1
 ,that in the opinion of this           
,convention1 much good will   result    
from a more extended intercourse between
 the ,pharmaceutists   of the several   
sections of the ,union1 by which their  
customs and   practice may be           

assimilated2 that ,pharmaceutists would 
promote their   individual interests and
 advance their professional standing by 
forming associations for mutual         
protection1 and the education of their  
assistants1 when such associations have 
become sufficiently matured2   and that1
 in view of these important ends1 it is 
further     ,resolved1 ,that a          
,convention be called1 consisting of    
three delegates   each from incorporated
 and unincorporated ,pharmaceutical     
,societies1   to meet at ,philadelphia1 
on the first ,wednesday in ,october1    
#aheb1   when all the importent         
questions bearing on the profession may 
be   considered1 and measures adopted   
for the organization of a ,national     
,association1 to meet every year4       
,in accordance with these resolutions1  
it was resolved that the   ,president of
 the ,convention be requested to        
transmit an invitation to   the         
authorized bodies1 at least three months
 previous to the time of   meeting1     

desiring such bodies to acquaint him    
with the names of the   delegates they  
may appoint4     ,on motion1 it was     
resolved that the ,new ,york ,delegation
 be appointed   a ,committee to lay the 
proceedings of this ,convention before  
the   ,secretary of the ,treasury of the
 ,united ,states1 and afterwards have   
them published in pamphlet form4        
,dr4 ,philbrick of ,boston1 offered the 
following preamble and   resolution1    
which were adopted3     ,,whereas1 ,to  
secure the full benefits of the         
prohibition of   sophisticated drugs and
 chemicals from abroad1 it is necessary 
to   prevent home adulteration2         
therefore1     ,resolved1 ,that this    
,convention recommend to the several    
,colleges   to adopt such measures as in
 their respective states may be best    
calculated to secure that object4       
,on motion of ,mr4 ,colcord of ,boston1 
it was     ,resolved1 ,that a committee 
of three be appointed by this           
,convention   to act as a ,standing     

,committee to collect and receive such  
information   as may be valuable1 #bhg  
and memorials and suggestions from any  
,medical and ,pharmaceutical            
,associations1 to be presented at the   
next   ,convention4     ,the ,president 
appointed ,g4 ,d4 ,coggeshall of ,new   
,york1 ,s4 ,m4 ,colcord of   ,boston1   
and ,w4 ,procter1 ,jr41 of              
,philadelphia1 as the ,committee4     ,a
 vote of thanks to the officers was     
passed1 and then the ,convention        
adjourned1 to meet in ,philadelphia1 on 
the first ,wednesday in ,october1       
#aheb40    ,we hope that the            
considerations embraced in the preamble 
and  resolutions of the committee will  
engage the thoughtful and  earnest      
attention of every apothecary every     
where throughout the  ,united ,states1  
who has a just sense of the proper      
dignity of his  profession and an honest
 desire for its advancement1 and that   
all  will feel the importance of a      
general gathering at the approaching    

convention1--one that shall comprise a  
full representation of remote  as well  
as adjacent districts of our extended   
country4 ,in the words  of the          
resolution1 8three delegates1 each1 from
 incorporated and  unincorporated       
pharmaceutical societies10 are invited1 
but a feeling  has been increasingly    
manifested since the last convention1 to
 solicit  representation from all       
districts1 small as well as large1 that 
in  places where but few apothecaries   
are located--too few as they may think  
for efficient organization1--they should
 yet feel their individual              
responsibility1 and be encouraged to    
depute one or more of their number  to  
represent them4 ,all1 who come in the   
right spirit of regard for  the cause1  
may be sure of being welcome4--,a       
,national ,pharmaceutical  ,association 
will undoubtedly be organized on a      
similar plan to that  of the medical    
profession1 and in it individuals may be
 admitted to  membership that are       

acceptable as worthy practioners of     
their art4    ,the convention will have 
many subjects of general interest to    
discuss  and to arrange for future      
consideration4 ,prominent amongst these 
will be1 a ,code of ,ethics which should
 govern pharmaceutists in the           
performance of their duties1 and in     
their intercourse with each other  and  
with physicians2 the importance of      
general conformity in practice  with the
 ,united ,states ,pharmacopia2 the      
suppression of home as well  as the     
exclusion of foreign adulteration2 and  
the driving out of  quackery into its   
own mean company4 ,that all these ends  
can at once be  attained is scarcely to 
be hoped for2 but we trust the          
convention will  be composed of men who 
appreciate the distinctness of the      
honorable  practice of our profession   
from all malpractice and quackery1 and  
who  are fully disposed to mark the     
division clearly and broadly2 so that   
persons governed by such opposite       

principles may take their separate      
places1 and be esteemed accordingly4    
,we are authorized by ,dr4 ,guthrie1    
who1 since the ,convention of #ahea1    
has removed to ,memphis1 ,tennessee1 to 
request that the names of  delegates may
 be reported to ,prof4 ,william         
,procter1 ,philadelphia1--a  convenient 
arrangement1 as ,mr4 ,procter is one of 
the delegates to the  next ,convention1 
residing in the city where it is to be  
held4    ,we would also invite the      
attention of ,pharmaceutists to the     
resolution  introduced by ,mr4 ,colcord1
 of ,boston1 and hope that any          
suggestions  they may wish to offer1    
will be presented at an early day to one
 of the  committee appointed1 to rceive 
them4    #bhh      ,,poisoning ,,by     
,,adulterated ,,cider4    ,a number of  
cases of lead poisoning1 two of which   
terminated fatally1  have lately        
occurred at ,paris1 which have been     
traced to the use of  cider1 clarified  
by a mixture of acetate of lead and     

carbonate of  potassa4 ,the history of  
this matter shows the efficacy of the   
,french  law regarding the use of       
poisonous substances1 and the rigor with
 which  it is enforced3    ,several     
manufacturers1 were accused of having   
sold cider adulterated  and containing  
substances injurious to health2 others  
in addition  to this1 of having caused  
various internal injuries to different  
individuals1 and one ,m4 ,henon1 further
 of having thus caused the death  of two
 individuals4    ,one of the witnesses  
testified1 that he had purchased cider  
at the  establishment of the defendant1 
that some days after drinking it he had 
been attacked with colic1 and constant  
tremblings2 by the advice of his        
physician1 he sent a quantity of the    
suspected cider to the prefect of       
police for analysis4 ,a number of other 
witnesses who had been poisoned1  made  
statements to the same effect4    ,m4   
,chevallier deposed1 that he had        
received a letter from the prefect  of  

the police1 enclosing one from the      
physician of the plaintiff1 who  stated 
that a number of his patients had been  
rendered ill by the use  of this cider2 
that he had1 in consequence of this1    
inspected the  various establishments in
 which the manufacture of cider was     
carried  on1 and that he has ascertained
 the presence of lead in the cider      
obtained at establishments of the       
accused4    ,several physicians         
testified1 that the symptoms under which
 their  patients 7the witnesses7 had    
labored1 were due to lead poisoning4    
,m4 ,dubail1 a ,pharmacien1 testified   
that he had furnished ,m4 ,henon1  7one 
of the accused71 with a mixture of      
acetate of lead and carbonate  of       
potassa1 which ,m4 ,h4 stated1 that by  
the advice of one of his  clerks1 he    
intended to use in the clarification of 
cider4 ,that he had  cautioned ,m4 ,h4  
regarding its employment1 and had       
furnished him with  a re-agent for the  
purpose of detecting any lead which     

might not be  precipitated in the cider 
thus clarified4    ,the trial was       
commenced on the #ith of ,may1 continued
 upon the #aath1 and  judgment rendered 
on the #ahth4    ,henon1 the use of     
whose cider had caused two deaths1 was  
condemned to  #ah months imprisonment   
and to pay a fine of #hjj francs2 a     
second1 to  #h months imprisonment and a
 fine of #ejj francs2 a third1 to #f    
months  imprisonment and #ejj francs2   
while a fourth party1 accused only of   
selling adulterated cider1 but to the   
employment of which no injury had  been 
traced1 was imprisoned #c months and    
fined #ajj francs4 ,m4 ,henon was       
condemned to pay #bd1jej francs in      
addition as damages2 another of the     
accused1 the sum of #aejj francs4       
,truly1 if the ,prince ,president has   
been rather free in the employment  of  
lead in the streets of ,paris1 the      
government takes good care that  its    
citizens shall not be poisoned by it    
with impunity4      ,,erratum4--,in the 

,july ,no4 page #bbd1 article announcing
 delegates to the  ,convention for      
#aheb1 fourth line1 for ,monday read    
,wednesday4    #bhi          ,,new      
,,york    ,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4    
,,october1 #aheb4      ,,united ,,states
 ,,customs4    ,,new ,,york1 ,september 
#be1 #aheb4    ,,mr4 ,,george ,d4       
,,coggeshall4    ,dear ,sir1--,your kind
 and courteous favor of the #afth       
instant1 on  behalf of the ,publishing  
,committee of the ,new ,york ,journal of
 ,pharmacy1  asking 8information        
respecting the character of imported    
drugs and  medicines coming under my    
supervision2 and also1 information in   
reference to the general working and    
effect of the drug law of #ahdh10  has  
been before me for several days1 waiting
 such response1 in the  shape of a full 
and lengthy communication in detail1 as 
it was my wish  to furnish2 but pressing
 and increasing official duties compel  
me1  from want of time 7not material71  
to forego that pleasure and confine     

myself to a brief statement of facts and
 data1 which1 together with  some       
general observations1 ,i am in hopes    
may1 nevertheless1 be found  interesting
 to your readers4    ,as an evidence of 
the beneficial effects of the wise      
sanitary measure1  in the success of    
which1 we have all taken so much        
interest1 ,i am  pleased to say that the
 character and quality of the more      
important  articles of drugs1 medicines 
and chemical preparations1 connected    
with medicine at present presented for  
entry from abroad1 is greatly  improved1
 and of a far higher standard of        
strength and purity than  formerly2     
notwithstanding1 as will be seen1 ,i    
still have occasion to  apply the 8veto 
power0--a labor of love1 which must1 of 
necessity1  be #bij performed in order  
to arrest the unhallowed strides of     
deception and fraud which will ever be  
practised1 to a greater or less  extent1
 as long as we have those among us1     
engaged in any department  of the drug  

trade1 who1 to put money in their purse1
 would endanger1  if not sacrifice the  
lives of their fellow men4 ,the law in  
question  has now been in operation at  
this port something more than four      
years2 and1 with the exception of some  
eleven months1 the duties and           
responsibilities of its administration  
have devolved upon me4 ,on the  #bast   
day of ,april1 #ahdi1 ,i made a report  
to the ,new ,york ,academy  of          
,medicine1 on the practical operation of
 this law1 and stated  therein the more 
important articles of drugs and         
medicines1 with the  quantities annexed1
 rejected by me up to that date2 but as 
that report  is doubtless familiar to   
most of your readers1 ,i have not deemed
 it  necessary to repeat them here4 ,the
 following are the more important       
articles1 with the quantities annexed1  
that ,i have since rejected and         
condemned as not of the requisite       
strength and purity to be safely and    
properly used for medicinal purposes1   

viz3     ,senna1                        
#ca1hch lbs4   ,jalap root1             
#cg1aba lbs4   ,rhubarb root1           
#e1ghb lbs4   ,sarsaparilla1            
#fe1cgd lbs4   ,mezereon bark1          
#a1cec lbs4   ,opium1                   
#c1afd lbs4   ,kino1                    
#bcj lbs4   ,scammony1                  
#a1dhc lbs4   ,aloes1                   
#ab1cge lbs4   ,squills1                
#a1fbf lbs4   ,spurious ,peruvian bark1 
#cjd1ace lbs4   ,spanish ,saffron1      
#cfj lbs4   ,ergot1                     
#dge lbs4   ,chamomile flowers1         
#a1hif lbs4   ,assaftida1               
#c1gjj lbs4   ,worm seed1               
#bcj lbs4   ,colchicum seed1            
#b1bdf lbs4 #bia   ,valerian root1      
#fej lbs4   ,guaiacum1                  
#i1cjj lbs4   ,cream of ,tartar1        
#g1fgc lbs4   ,magnesia 7carb471        
#b1hfg lbs4   ,magnesia 7calc'd471      
#a1efj lbs4   ,althea root1             
#a1aag lbs4   ,liquorice root1          
#i1dcj lbs4   ,bistort root1            

#adj lbs4   ,gentian root1              
#g1egb lbs4   ,gentian root1 in powder1 
#dcj lbs4   ,lavender flowers1          
#c1jdb lbs4   ,poppy flowers1           
#aij lbs4   ,hellebore root 7white71    
#dfj lbs4   ,pareira ,brava root1       
#gcj lbs4   ,cantharides1               
#a1bgf lbs4   ,creosote1                
#adj ozs4   ,bromine1                   
#dcj ozs4   ,sulphate of ,quinine1      
#c1bjj ozs4   ,iodine1                  
#f1hfd ozs4   ,hydriodate of ,potass1   
#c1gbj ozs4    ,making altogether some  
five hundred and twenty thousand pounds1
 to  say nothing of various articles in 
small quantities rejected from  time to 
time1 which ,i have not considered of   
sufficient importance to  note down4    
,this1 together with the ninety thousand
 pounds previously  rejected1 as stated 
in an early report above alluded to1    
makes some  six hundred and ten thousand
 pounds of various articles of drugs and
  medicines condemned by me as unfit for
 medicinal purposes since the law  took 

effect at this port4 ,what articles and 
in what quantities1 were  rejected      
during the eleven months that ,i was    
absent from the office1  ,i am not      
advised1 neither am ,i at this time able
 to say what has been  done under the   
requirements of this act at the other   
ports of entry4 ,i  hope1 however1 that 
the special examiners can give a good   
account of  their stewardship1 and that 
they will not hesitate to do so1        
whenever  the information is desirable  
as a means of pushing on the column of  
medical and pharmaceutical reform4 #bib 
,it will be seen by the above statement1
 that by far the largest  quantity of   
any one article rejected1 is that of    
spurious ,peruvian  bark1 or as it is   
generally known in commerce1 ,carthagena
 and  ,maracaibo bark2 and that too1 as 
a general thing of the poorest and  most
 worthless quality4 ,the best of this   
bark affords on analysis  only an       
exceedingly small percentage of quinine1
 not unfrequently1  but a mere trace2   

while1 at the same time1 it yields as   
high as  two1 and occasionally with     
choice samples1 two and a half per cent 
of a peculiar alkaloid which has been   
named quinidine1 in  contra-distinction 
to quinine1 cinchonine1 and aricine1    
7the three  alkaloids heretofore        
obtained from the different varieties of
 the  cinchona tribe of plants17 from   
which it differs essentially in several 
respects4    ,what is quinidine1        
medicinally understood8 ,how does       
sulphate  of quinidine compare with     
sulphate of quinine 7from which it is   
very difficult to distinguish it by the 
naked eye17 medicinally1  as a remedial 
agent in cases where the use of the     
latter salt is  particularly indicated8 
,these are important questions1 and the 
subject  is one very properly at the    
present time calling for prompt1        
patient1  and persevering investigation 
by all those whose mission it is to     
prepare1 dispense or prescribe the most 
efficient means wherewith to  combat    

disease2 the more so for the reason1    
that ,i have detected in  most of the   
sulphate of quinine lately imported from
 abroad1 more  or less of this          
non-officinal1 and 7in my opinion7 as   
compared with  quinine1 non-efficient   
substance yclept quinidine2 a fact      
readily  accounted for1 when it is known
 that for the last year or two immense  
quantities of the bark in question1     
good1 bad1 and indifferent1 have  been  
exported from ,new ,grenada1 7as well as
 much from this port that  had been     
rejected7 and purchased by foreign      
manufacturing chemists1  for the        
purpose1 as ,i have reason to believe1  
of mixing it with the  true bark in the 
manufacture of sulphate of quinine2     
hence the hybrid  salt now too          
frequently presented to entry2 a        
practice that1 if not  speedily         
abandoned1 will ruin as far as this     
country is concerned1  the formerly well
 deserved reputation of more than one of
 the #bic  foreign manufacturers of     

sulphate of quinine ,i could name4 ,the 
argument maintained by some of them that
 the article is used in their  hospitals
 and found equal to pure quinine1 will  
not answer on this side  of the water2  
it smacks too much of the almighty      
dollar1 even as ,i must  believe 7until 
further advised7 at the expense of      
truth4    ,this comparatively inert     
substance1 quinidine1 is readily        
detected by  using the method adopted by
 ,zimmer1 and published in the ,march   
number  of the ,pharmaceutical ,journal 
7,london71 and1 as ,i was happy to see1 
transfered to the columns of the ,may   
number of your valuable ,journal4  ,it  
is a test so perfect1 so scientifically 
practical1 and so simple  withal1 that  
any one possessing only a moderate share
 of chemical and  analytical acumen can 
successfully apply it1 even though      
perchance  he may not be able to boast  
of wearing the mantle of the departed   
,berzelins1 or of having been a favorite
 pupil of ,liebig4    ,the law went into

 operation at this port on the #abth day
 of ,july1 #ahdh1  and it is worthy of  
remark1 as a cause of gratulation1 on   
the part of  the early friends of the   
measure1 that the importation of        
inferior and  worthless qualities of    
many important drugs and medicines1 has 
since  gradually and greatly decreased  
in quantity4 ,for instance1 ,i rejected 
during the first seven months of the    
working of the law #ai1ihi pounds  of   
,rhubarb root2 but ,i have since        
rejected only #e1ghb pounds1 being  but 
a fraction over one third of the        
quantity4 ,for the past eighteen        
months1 ,i have not had occasion to     
reject a single pound4 ,i rejected      
during the first nine months #c1cdg     
pounds of opium2 but have since1  during
 a period of more than two years and a  
half of my administration  of the law1  
as will be seen by the above statement1 
rejected only #c1afd  pounds4 ,for the  
past thirteen months ,i have rejected   
only nine hundred  and fifty two pounds1

 while ,i have passed during that period
 not less  than #gj1jjj pounds4 ,during 
the first two months of the operation of
  the law1 ,i rejected #a1dad pounds of 
gamboge1 but have since met with  that  
only which ,i was ready #bid to pass    
without any hesitation4  ,during the    
first nine months ,i rejected #b1igg    
pounds of gum myrrh1  but all that has  
since been presented to entry at this   
port1 ,i have  found satisfactory4 ,thus
 might ,i continue1 but time and space  
will  not permit4 ,enough ,i opine1 has 
been said and shown to satisfy even  the
 most prejudiced and sceptical opponent 
of this wise measure1  that if          
faithfully and judiciously administered1
 and seconded with  becoming zeal and   
honesty of purpose by the medical       
profession1 the  pharmaceutist and      
dispensing apothecary1 it is calculated 
and destined  to effect most beneficial 
and lasting sanitary reforms throughout 
the  length and breadth of our vast and 
glorious land4 ,in a word1 the law  has 

operated thus far remarkably well       
considering the hasty manner  in which  
it was framed and passed through        
,congress4 ,it is1 in some  respects    
imperfect1 as must ever be the case with
 all new measures  of legislation until 
their utility is tested by practical    
operation2  but these imperfections     
were1 some time since1 brought to the   
attention of the ,secretary of the      
,treasury1 who1 with his accustomed     
promptitude soon after instructed me to 
report to the ,department such          
manifestations and suggestions as my    
experience in the administration  of the
 law should dictate as most desirable1  
practicable1 and  judicious2 and1       
notwithstanding this important and      
responsible  trust has necessarily been 
made the subject of the few occasional  
leisure moments ,i could from time to   
time command1 apart from other  official
 duties1 it is nearly completed1 and1 in
 a manner too1 as ,i  have reason to    
believe1 that will render the law1 when 

amended as  proposed1 satisfactory to   
all honorable dealers1 importers1       
owners1 and  consignees1 and1 at the    
same time do away with the not          
unreasonable  objections entertained by 
our marine insurance companies2 while   
its  efficiency instead of being in any 
manner impaired by the amendments1  will
 be more perfectly guarded and          
essentially strengthened4 ,the          
particulars and details connected with  
this duty ,i must defer until  another  
time2 but ,i must be permitted before   
closing this communication  to say1 that
 to the present able and distinguished  
#bie head of the  ,treasury ,department1
 ,hon4 ,thomas ,corwin1 is due a debt of
 gratitude1  from all true friends of   
this important measure1 not easily      
cancelled4  ,soon after he was called to
 take upon himself the responsibilities 
of one of the most important1 and by far
 the most arduous offices  under the    
general government1 the downward and    
fatal tendency of a  maladministration  

of the law was brought to his notice2   
when1 rising  above all minor           
considerations1 he rescued it from      
impending danger1  and placed it upon   
what he deemed a safe basis2 and has    
since1 on  all occasions1 lent a willing
 ear to every suggestion calculated to  
render it more perfect1 to add to its   
efficiency1 or perpetuate its           
usefulness4 ,a noble example truly1 and 
one well worthy of the man4    ,to      
conclude1 ,i beg to say1 that although  
,i have not the honor of  belonging to  
any ,pharmaceutical ,association1 ,i    
nevertheless take great  interest in    
everything calculated to advance the    
good cause and noble  calling in which  
you have so long been engaged2 and1 ,i  
hope the day  is not far distant1 when  
every city and town of importance       
throughout  this wide extended country1 
will be favored with an organization of 
the kind1 radiating from a ,national    
,pharmaceutical ,association as  a      
common center4 ,it would be of vast     

benefit to the community at  large1 as  
well as eminently useful to the medical 
profession2 for as  all must admit1 it  
is of the most vital importance to the  
success of  the physician1 that his     
remedial agents are properly prepared by
 a  well-bred and perfectly educated    
chemist and pharmaceutist2 and1 ,i may  
add my conviction1 that medical and     
pharmaceutical chemistry1 a part of     
medical education that has thus far been
 most unpardonably neglected1  should be
 universally and efficiently taught in  
our ,schools of ,medicine4     ,i am1   
dear ,sir1   ,very respectfully1 your   
obd't4 serv't41   ,m4 ,j4 ,,bailey1 ,m4 
,d41    ,special ,examiner of ,drugs1   
,medicines1 ,chemical ,medicinal        
,preparations1  c4    #bif      ,,on    
,,the ,,use ,,of ,,coal ,,gas ,,as ,a   
,,source ,,of ,,heat ,,for ,,the        
,,laboratory4    ,,by ,,edward ,n4      
,,kent4    ,having recently fitted up a 
new laboratory in which ,i have         
introduced  coal gas as a source of     

heat1 ,i have thought a description of  
the  apparatus and manner of using it1  
would be interesting to chemists  and   
pharmaceutists1 as it has not been very 
generally applied to this  purpose as   
yet in this country1 although in        
,england1 where alcohol is  dear1 it has
 long been used as a substitute4    ,in 
the use of coal gas as a source of heat1
 the principal difficulty  to be        
avoided1 is its tendency to smoke2 this 
,i have accomplished in a  variety of   
ways4 ,the ordinary argand gas burner1  
fixed permanently upon  a branch pipe   
passing up through the table1 is one of 
the cheapest1  and a convenient         
arrangement for many purposes1 and to   
prevent smoke1  a tall glass chimney1 or
 a short sheet iron chimney1 with every 
other  hole in the burner plugged1 so as
 to make separate and distinct jets  for
 the air to pass through1 is all that is
 necessary4 ,a tripod or  sheet iron    
cylinder1 for supporting vessels over   
the flame1 is an  indispensable addition

 to this burner4 ,there is one objection
 to this  form of apparatus1 which is1  
that it is fixed1 and cannot be moved   
about like a lamp4 ,to avoid this       
inconvenience1 ,i have had a number  of 
burners constructed in different ways1  
and connected with flexible  tubes1 so  
as to admit of a change of position1 to 
any place within the  length of the     
tube4    ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4       
,figure #a1 is a gas burner designed as 
a substitute for the ,rose ,lamp1  and  
when connected to the gas pipe by means 
of a flexible tube1  answers every      
purpose of that excellent lamp without  
being liable  to the danger of catching 
fire1 or to the necessity of            
replenishing  during an operation1 as is
 the case with most alcohol lamps4 ,the 
above  arrangement consists of an       
ordinary argand gas burner1 with every  
other  hole plugged1 fixed to an arm    
with a socket and #big thumb screw1 by  
means of which it can be raised to any  
height on the rod attached to  a        

moveable wooden foot4 ,the lower part of
 the burner is provided with  a screw to
 which the flexible tube is attached1 by
 means of a ,hare's  gallows screw      
connector4 ,the other end of the        
flexible tube should be  provided with a
 stopcock1 at its union with the fixed  
gas pipes for  regulating the supply of 
the gas4 ,above the burner is a moveable
 ring1  with socket and thumb screw1 for
 supporting retorts1 flasks1 etc41 at   
any desired height4 ,a glass chimney is 
represented in the figure1 but  this may
 be replaced with a short sheet iron    
chimney1 when part of the  holes in the 
burner have been plugged as before      
mentioned4 ,the above  burner is well   
adapted for use with the wire gauze     
chimney1 as the  moveable ring with the 
addition of a wire tripod1 answers as a 
support  for a platina crucible4 ,to    
insure a perfect combustion of the      
mixture  of gas and air1 ,i find that   
the sheet iron cylinder should be about 
ten inches high and two inches diameter4

 ,over such a cylinder1 with  the upper 
end covered with wire gauze1 it is an   
easy matter to fuse  carbonate of soda1 
or other substance requiring a bright   
red heat4  ,when the combustion is      
perfect with the above cylinder1 the    
flame is  of a pale blueish white color1
 like that of a solid flame from alcohol
  but much hotter4 ,with the addition of
 a small conical chimney of sheet  iron1
 placed over the mixed gas-burner1 so as
 to bring the blue flame  to a smaller  
compass1 ,i find it a very convenient   
and powerful flame  for bending glass   
tubes1 by which tubes of any diameter1  
or the neck of  a retort1 may be easily 
softened and bent4    ,illustration3    
,fig4 #b4    ,figure #b1 is an argand   
burner1 with every other hole plugged1  
attached  to a heavy brass foot1 and    
with an arm and stopcock1 to which a    
long  flexible tube is attached1 the    
other end of which is connected to a    
pendant above the table4 ,this burner is
 well adapted for use on any  part of   

the table1 and may be used with an      
ordinary retort #bih  stand1 or with a  
sheet iron cylinder1 for supporting     
vessels over  the flame4 ,it has all the
 conveniences without the disadvantages 
of a  ,berzelius' ,lamp1 as it requires 
no wicks or replenishing1 and cannot    
take fire2 and the stopcock is not      
liable to get out of order1 as is  the  
case with the rack and pinion of the    
alcoholic lamp4    ,illustration3 ,fig4 
#c4    ,figure #c1 is a large burner1   
six inches in diameter1 with the holes  
placed far enough apart to form distinct
 jets of the burning gas1 by  which     
means smoke is entirely prevented       
without the use of any chimney4  ,this  
burner1 like the preceding1 is attached 
to a heavy brass foot1 and  with an arm 
and stopcock1 to which a long flexible  
tube is attached1 by  means of which it 
can be moved to any part of the table4  
,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4    ,this burner
 is provided with a large sheet iron    
cylinder1 7figure #d7  with air holes at

 the top and bottom1 a slit at the side1
 to go over  the arm of the burner1 and 
a door in front for convenience in      
lighting  the gas1 and thus forms a     
powerful and convenient gas furnace1 by 
means  of which a gallon of water can be
 easily boiled4 ,with this arrangement  
the confined heat is so great1 that it  
is necessary to protect the  table from 
burning1 by means of sheet iron1 or     
other suitable material4    ,in point of
 economy1 coal gas is cheaper than      
alcohol for fuel1  even in ,america     
where the latter is so cheap1 and the   
price of gas  is comparatively high2    
and1 it is to be hoped1 that the price  
of  the latter will be reduced1 so that 
coal gas may yet be used with  economy1 
as a source of heat for domestic as well
 as for chemical and  pharmaceutical    
purposes4 ,the present price should be  
no detriment  to its free use1 as it is1
 #bii undoubtedly1 the most cleanly and 
convenient fuel which can be used in the
 laboratory2 and1 as such1 ,i  would    

strongly recommend it to those1 for whom
 the above description  has been        
prepared4      ,,note ,,upon ,,cicuta   
7,,conium ,,maculatum7 ,,and ,,conicine4
    ,since ,stoerck1 who first extolled 
the virtues of ,hemlock1 this plant  has
 undergone numerous alterations of      
credit and neglect which may be         
explained by the want of certainty1 or  
rather by the irregularity1 of  its     
action4    ,an important work has just  
appeared on this subject1 executed      
conjointly by a physician and pharmacien
 of ,lyons1 ,,mm4 ,devay and            
,guillermond4 ,this work1 which         
developes and completes what has been   
said upon the medicinal virtues of      
hemlock1 furnishes a new element  which 
will fix1 we believe1 the therapeutic   
value of that substance4 ,it  is the    
substitution of the seed like fruits for
 the other parts of the  plant4 ,we will
 briefly explain the motive of that     
preference4    ,the principle to which  
cicuta owes both its toxicological and  

therapeutic powers has received the     
names of cicuta1 coneine and  conicine1 
the last of which is now generally      
adopted4 ,it is a volatile  alkaloid1 of
 a sharp penetrating1 disagreeable      
smell1 somewhat like  that of mice4 ,it 
is of an oily consistence1 and easily   
decomposed by  heat4 ,in these respects 
it resembles nicotine4 ,but1 a          
characteristic  readily recognized and  
which distinguishes it from the latter1 
when  shaken with water it again floats 
upon the surface1 while nicotine is     
immediately dissolved by that liquid4   
,the volatility of conicine1 the        
readiness with which it is #cjj         
decomposed by heat or time alone1 are   
such that the ,lyonese  experimenters do
 not hesitate to propose the abandonment
 both of  the herb itself1 and of all   
the pharmaceutic forms prepared by the  
aid of heat1 or in which the conicine is
 susceptible of undergoing              
decomposition4 ,we think this is going  
rather too far4 ,the extracts of  cicuta

 prepared with care1 and particularly   
those prepared in vacuo1  are of daily  
service4 ,we have been able to verify by
 trituration with  potassa1 the presence
 of conicine in a hydro-alcoholic       
extract1 a  number of years old4 ,but1  
notwithstanding1 recognizing the fact   
that  the preparations of cicuta of this
 kind are often inert1 we agree with    
the experimenters that it is of         
consequence to escape from such a state 
of things4    ,the tincture of cicuta   
prepared with the fresh plant1 is a very
  beautiful product1 but made from parts
 of the plant containing but a  small   
proportion of conicine1 or at all events
 containing it in very  variable        
proportions1 may be inert or irregular  
in its action4 ,what  then is to be     
done8 employ conicine itself8 ,but the  
preparation of  the alkaloid is         
difficult2 it is promptly decomposed by 
contact with  the air and light1 and the
 apportionment of its dose1 offers      
serious  inconveniences4    ,there is a 

organ of the plant in which its active  
principle is found in  larger and more  
constant proportion1 and under          
conditions in which it  is better       
preserved than in any other2 that organ 
is the fruit4 ,it is  at the moment of  
its most perfect development1 when the  
plant commences  to flower1 that it     
contains the largest proportion of      
conicine1 and  that the principle is    
most perfectly elaborated4 ,at a later  
period it  disappears and is fixed in   
the fruit1 in which it is concentrated  
in  great quantity4 ,it is in the fruit 
that we seek it when we wish to  extract
 it4 ,it is in the fruit we should seek 
it for medical use4    ,,pharmaceutical 
,,preparations4 ,,formul4--8,having     
shown by experiment as  well as by      
reasoning1 that the fruit of the cicuta 
7akne7 should  henceforth replace all   
the preparations of the plant employed  
in  medicine3 we have to make known the 
use we have made of this fact4  ,it is  
important in the first #cja place1 that 

the fruit employed  should be that of   
the great cicuta1 and that it should not
 be mingled  with seeds of the other    
umbellifer4 ,they may be known by being 
almost  globular with five crenelated   
sides4    ,when the fruit is divided1   
the sides fold in the form of a         
crescent4  ,they do not possess like    
most of the other umbellifer1 a peculiar
  aromatic odor4 ,this appears to be    
covered by that of conicine4 ,the       
fool's parsley1 7thusa cynapium17 the   
phellandrium aquaticum1 the  anise1 bear
 fruits which1 physically1 have much    
resemblance to that of  the cicuta2 but1
 when the latter is pulverized1 the     
characteristic odor  which is developed 
is sufficient to enable us readily to   
recognize it4  ,another precaution to be
 taken is in relation to the time at    
which the  fruit should be collected4   
,those which were employed in our       
experiments  and preparations had       
reached the perfection of their         
maturity4 ,it  is then it should be     

collected for medical use1 because then 
it is  isolated1 so to speak1 from the  
plant which produces it2 the active     
principle exists then in them in a true 
state of concentration and  permanence4 
#ast4 ,,formul ,,for ,,internal         
,,use4--8,the fruit of the cicuta does  
not need  any complicated pharmaceutic  
preparation4 ,it is active enough of    
itself  to be employed in its natural   
condition4 ,a very simple manipulation  
only seems necessary to facilitate its  
use4 ,it is to reduce it to  powder and 
to form it into pills1 which1 coated    
with sugar1 may be  preserved an        
indefinite time4 ,we have thought best  
to give the pills  two degrees of       
strength according to the following     
formul4    8,pills of ,cicuta1 ,no4     
#a4--,take one gramme of the fruit of   
the cicuta  recently pulverized2 make   
with a sufficient quantity of sugar and 
of  syrup a mass1 to be divided into    
#ajj pills4 ,these are to be covered    
with sugar2 each pill will weigh about  

#aj centigrammes4 ,these are  suited to 
persons who are not yet habituated to   
the use of the drug1  and who are of a  
delicate constitution4 ,we commence with
 two pills the  first day1 and the dose 
is augmented day by day to #aj1 #ae1 or 
#bj4 ,it is  then most convenient to    
employ pills ,no4 #b4 #cjb    ,pills    
,no4 #b4--,take #e grammes of the       
recently powdered fruit of the  cicuta2 
incorporate them with a sufficient      
quantity of gum and sugar2  divide as   
before into #ajj pills1 which are to be 
enveloped with sugar1  each pill will   
weigh about #be centigrammes4    8,we   
will finish the series of internal      
medicines by the formula  of a syrup of 
conicine1 which will be of the greatest 
utility to  practitioners4    8,exhaust 
#aj grammes of the fruit of the cicuta1 
with alcohol at #bh ,c4  7#hb ,f47 so as
 to obtain #fj grammes1 to which #cjjj  
grammes of syrup1  aromatised1 ad       
libitum1 are to be added4    8,thirty   
grammes of this syrup represent #a      

decigramme of the fruit or  a           
milligramme of conicine4 ,a teaspoonful 
being the equivalent of #cj  grammes of 
syrup1 the patient who takes one pill of
 ,no4 #b4 will be able  to take half a  
teaspoonful of the syrup4    ,,formula  
,,for ,,external ,,use4--,balm of       
,conicine4--,the process which  we      
employ to prepare the balm of conicine  
authorizes us to give  it that name4 ,it
 is in effect1 a true solution in lard  
freed from  the principles which retain 
it in combination1 and as pure as the   
processes we have proposed for its      
extraction will permit4 ,thus1 after    
having exhausted the fruit by alcohol1  
and after having separated as           
completely as possible the conicine by  
means of ether and caustic  potash1     
confining ourselves to the precautions  
indicated below1 we  take3 the ether of 
cicuta1 obtained by the exhaustion of   
#ajj grammes  of the fruit1 and #cjj    
grammes of recently washed lard4 ,we    
begin by  evaporating the ether in the  

open air1 that is1 by pouring it little 
by little in a plate1 and as soon as the
 greater part of it has been            
eliminated1 and the conicine commences  
to appear upon the plate in the  form of
 little yellow drops1 separating        
themselves from the vehicle1  the lard  
is to be incorporated with it by        
degrees1 the whole being  constantly    
stirred to facilitate the evaporation of
 the ether4 ,a balm  of conicine is thus
 obtained1 exceedingly active and       
convenient for  use4 #cjc    ,the       
following is the mode of preparing the  
ether of cicuta3 8,the  alcoholic       
tincture obtained by the complete       
exhaustion of #ajj grammes  of the      
fruit1 is to be evaporated to the       
consistence of a syrup1 and  the alcohol
 is to be replaced by a small quantity  
of water4 ,this leaves  undissolved a   
thick green oil1 entirely soluble in    
ether1 and of which  the quantity       
reaches the weight of #cj grammes4      
,after having separated  this green oil1

 we wash with ether the product of the  
alcoholic  evaporation and obtain a     
yellowish resinous substance1 which has 
no  action on litmus paper and which has
 a strong odor1 sui generis1  different 
from that of conicine4    ,after having 
submitted the mother waters of the      
alcoholic extract  to this preliminary  
treatment1 we have introduced them into 
a flask  having a capacity three times  
as great as their volume1 and treated   
them successively with a concentrated   
solution of caustic potash and          
rectified sulphuric ether4 ,immediately 
after the addition of the  potash1 a    
well marked odor of conicine was        
manifest in the mixture1  and the ether 
became strongly alkaline4 ,we left the  
same ether1 7about  #bj grammes7 upon   
the mixture for twelve hours1 often     
agitating it4 ,it  was then decanted and
 replaced by fresh ether1 and this was  
replaced  until the ether became nearly 
insensible to litmus paper4 ,we remarked
  that the first #bj grammes of ether   

took up nearly all the alkaloid4  ,one  
hundred grammes of well rectified ether 
was sufficient to remove  almost        
completely the alkaloid from the        
extractive and alkaline mixture  derived
 from #ajj grammes of the fruit of the  
cicuta4    ,,solution ,,of ,,conicine   
,,for ,,injections4     ,tincture of the
 fruit1      #ajj grammes4   ,lime      
water1                 #ijj grammes4    
,filter at the end of a few minutes4    
8,in this preparation we have thought   
best to employ lime water instead  of   
simple water4 ,we have remarked         
previously that the tincture of  cicuta 
possessed no smell of conicine1 but when
 lime water was added1  the odor was    
instantly developed in a high dagree4   
,the conicine is  disengaged by the lime
 #cjd from its saline combination1 and  
remains  free1 dissolved in the water40 
,,mm4 ,devay and ,guillermond1 who1 in  
their work1 have been so just  in their 
deductions1 fail here1 we think1 in     
denominating syrup1  injection1 c41 of  

conicine1 the various preparations of   
the fruits of  the cicuta4 ,it is only  
perhaps a matter of form1 but it is     
important to  avoid in materia medica a 
matter of form which may give rise to a 
false  idea of things1 which may in a   
word1 induce error4    ,we have only    
occupied ourselves with the             
pharmacological part  of the work of    
,,mm4 ,devay and ,guillermond4 ,the     
,bulletin de  ,therapeutique will soon  
offer an appreciation of its            
therapeutical                           
portion4--,dorvault4--,bulletin de      
,therapeutique4     ,the facts on which 
the preference of the seeds of conium to
 the   preparations in ordinary use are 
founded1 are by no means new4 ,they     
have been long known and frequently     
commented on4 ,from six lbs4 of the     
fresh and nine of the dried fruit1      
,geiger obtained an ounce of conia1     
or1 as the ,french chemists prefer to   
call it1 conicine2 while from #ajj      
lbs4 of the fresh herb1 he procured only

 a drachm4 ,the fresh dried   herb      
exhibited only traces of it4 ,the       
extract prepared from the herb          
partakes necessarily of its uncertainty 
and inactivity4 ,most of what   is found
 in the shop is entirely inert2 while   
the best1 that of ,tilden   or of       
,currie1 which are superior to the best 
,english extract we have   seen1 possess
 comparatively little power4 ,if conium 
is to be retained   in the materia      
media1 it is evident that we should     
employ that part of   the plant in which
 the active principle is contained in   
the greatest   quantity1 and in a       
condition least liable to alteration4   
,we are as   yet1 however1 very         
imperfectly acquainted with the         
properties1 either   medicinal or       
poisonous of conium2 and1 as the        
continuation of the   memoir of ,,mm4   
,devay and ,guillermond promises us a   
solution of the   question1 we await it 
with much interest4--,,ed4 ,,new ,,york 
,,journal ,,of   ,,pharmacy4    #cje    

,,on ,,the ,,manufacture ,,of ,,writing 
,,inks4    ,in the manufacture of good  
writing ink1 more nicety is required in 
the  choice of materials1 as well as    
greater skill in manipulation1 than is  
generally bestowed upon it4    ,the     
proportion of the various ingredients   
used is a matter of  considerable       
importance1 affecting in a great degree 
the durability of  the ink4    ,,dr4    
,,lewis',s ,,writing ,,ink4--,dr4       
,lewis1 who instituted a series of very 
careful experiments on the manufacture  
of writing ink1 found that equal  parts 
of sulphate of iron and of galls gave an
 ink1 which1 although of  a good color  
when first used1 became yellowish-brown 
when the writing  was kept for a        
moderate length of time1 and that in    
proportion to the  quantity of the      
sulphate1 the inks were less durable in 
color1 and that  those in which the     
galls were in excess1 were most durable4
    ,he1 therefore1 recommended the     
following proportions as best suited    

for the manufacture of good writing     
ink3--,powdered sulphate of iron1 #a    
oz42 powdered logwood1 #a oz42 powdered 
galls1 #c oz42 gum arabic1 #a oz42      
white wine or vinegar1 #a quart4        
,water will answer for common purposes1 
but white wine formed a blacker  ink    
than water1 and vinegar formed one still
 blacker than wine4 ,the  addition of   
spirit injured the color1 and occasioned
 a precipitation of  coloring matter--a 
decoction of logwood1 instead of water1 
improved both  the beauty and deepness  
of the black4 ,the ingredients are to be
 put  in a glass or other convenient    
vessel1 not metallic1 and the mixture   
shaken four or five times a day4 ,in ten
 or twelve days it will be fit  for use1
 and sooner if in a warm situation2 but 
it continues for a  long time to improve
 if left without decantation4 ,when it  
is separated  from the powdery residue1 
it will be kept in a good state with    
greater  certainty1 if some broken galls
 freed from the powder and some pieces  

of iron are put into it4 ,iron1 however1
 is the only metal which it is  safe to 
retain in contact with the ink4    ,dr4 
,lewis gave the preference to distilled 
or rain water in #cjf the  manufacture  
of ink1 but it seems probable that a    
water containing a  certain proportion  
of carbonate of lime is more suitable4  
,in dyeing  a black color by means of   
galls or sumach and copperas1 hard      
spring  water is preferred by some      
dyers4 ,to produce in a liquid a given  
depth  of color1 distilled water        
requires more dyestuff than common      
spring  water4 ,this is illustrated in  
the following experiment1 devised by    
,mr4  ,phillips3 into two glass jars of 
the same size1 each half-filled with    
distilled water1 introduce equal        
quantities of infusion or tincture of   
galls or sumach1 and an equal number of 
drops 7only three or four7 of  a        
solution of copperas2 a faint purplish  
color will be developed in  both jars1  
but if one is filled with spring water1 

the color in that  rapidly becomes dark 
reddish-black1 and one-half more water  
is required  to reduce it to the same   
shade of color as the other4 ,the water 
which  is found by experience to be best
 adapted for dyeing with galls and      
sulphate of iron1 differs from distilled
 water in containing sulphate  of lime1 
carbonate of lime held in solution by   
free carbonic acid1  and chloride of    
calcium4 ,the beneficial ingredient     
seems to be the  carbonate of lime1     
which possesses slight alkaline         
properties1 for if  the smallest        
quantity of ammonia or of bicarbonate of
 potash is added  to the distilled water
 in the above experiments1 the purple   
color is  struck as rapidly and as      
deeply as in the spring water2 chloride 
of  calcium and sulphate of lime1 on the
 contrary1 produce no sensible  change  
either in the depth of color or the     
tint4 ,the effect is no doubt  referable
 to the action of the alkali or lime on 
the proto-sulphate  of iron1 by which   

the sulphuric acid of the latter is     
withdrawn1 and  hydrated protoxide of   
iron set free1 for protoxide of iron is 
much  more easily peroxidized and acted 
upon by tannic and gallic acids 7the    
dyeing principles of galls7 when in the 
free and hydrated state1 than  when in  
combination with sulphuric acid4        
,neither the caustic fixed  alkalies    
7potash and soda7 nor their carbonates  
can be well introduced  in the above    
experiments1 as the slightest excess    
reacts on the purple  color1 converting 
it into a reddish-brown4 ,ammonia1      
lime-water1 and the  alkaline #cjg      
bicarbonates also produce a reddening1  
and if applied  in considerable quantity
 a brownish tinge4 ,it is very probable 
that the  above-mentioned principle is  
applicable to the preparation of writing
  ink4    ,,ribancourt',s ,,writing     
,,ink4--,m4 ,ribancourt1 who paid much  
attention to the  preparation of inks1  
stated that none of the ingredients     
should be in  excess4 8,if there be a   

want of the matter of galls1 part of the
 vitriol  will not be decomposed2 if1 on
 the contrary1 there be too much1 the   
vitriol will take as much as it can     
decompose1 and the remainder will  be   
nearly in the state of the decoction of 
galls1 subject to change  by becoming   
mouldy1 or to undergo an alteration     
after writing which  destroys its       
legibility much more completely than the
 change undergone  by ink containing too
 small a portion of the galls4    8,it  
is doubtful whether the principles of   
the galls are well extracted  by cold   
maceration1 and it is certain that inks 
made in this way flow  pale from the    
pen1 and are not of so deep a black as  
those wherein  strong boiling is        
recurred to40    ,from all the foregoing
 considertions1 ,m4 ,ribancourt gives   
the following  directions for the       
composition of good ink3    8,take #h   
oz4 of ,aleppo galls 7in coarse powder72
 #d oz4 of logwood 7in  thin chips72 #d 
oz4 of vitriol of iron2 #c oz4 of gum   

arabic 7in powder72  #a oz4 of vitriol  
of copper2 and #a oz4 of sugar-candy4   
,boil the galls  and logwood together in
 #ab lb of water for one hour1 or till  
half the  liquid has evaporated4 ,strain
 the decoction through a hair sieve or  
linen cloth1 and then add the other     
ingredients4 ,stir the mixture till  the
 whole is dissolved 7more especially the
 gum71 after which leave it  to subside 
for twenty-four hours4 ,then decant the 
ink1 and preserve it  in bottles of     
glass or stoneware well corked40 ,the   
sulphate of copper  must be omitted in  
the preparation of an ink required for  
steel pens4    ,,dr4 ,,bostock',s       
,,instructions ,,for ,,the ,,manufacture
 ,,of ,,ink4--,a few years  since1 ,dr4 
,bostock presented to the ,society of   
,arts the following1  valuable          
communication 8,on the ,properties of   
,writing ,inks10 which will  be read    
with interest4 #cjh    8,when the       
sulphate of iron and the infusion of    
galls are added  together1 for the      

purpose of forming ink1 we may presume  
that the  metallic salt or oxide enters 
into combination with at least four     
proximate vegetable principles1 viz3    
gallic acid1 tan1 mucilage1 and         
extractive matter1 all of which appear  
to enter into the composition  of the   
soluble part of the gall-nut4 ,it has   
been generally supposed  that two of    
these1 the gallic acid and the tan1 are 
more especially  necessary to the       
constitution of ink2 and hence it is    
considered1 by  our best systematic     
writers1 to be essentially a            
tannogallate of iron4  ,it has been also
 supposed that the peroxide of iron     
alone possesses the  property of forming
 the black compound which constitutes   
ink1 and that  the substance of ink is  
rather mechanically suspended in the    
fluid than  dissolved in it4    8,ink1  
as it is usually prepared1 is disposed  
to undergo certain  changes1 which      
considerably impair its value2 of these1
 the three  following are the most      

important3--,its tendency to moulding2  
the  liability of the black matter to   
separate from the fluid1 the ink  then  
becoming what is termed ropy2 and loss  
of color1 the black first  changing to  
brown1 and at length almost entirely    
disappearing4    8,besides these1 there 
are objects of minor importance to be   
attended to  in the formation of ink4   
,its consistence should be such as to   
enable  it to flow easily from the pen1 
without1 on the one hand1 its being  so 
liquid as to blur the paper1 or on the  
other1 so adhesive as to  clog the pen  
and be long in drying4 ,the shade of    
color is not to be  disregarded2 a black
 approaching to blue is more agreeable  
to the eye  than browner ink2 and a     
degree of lustre or glossiness1 if      
compatible  with due consistence of the 
fluid1 tends to render the characters   
more  legible and beautiful4    8,with  
respect to the chemical constitution of 
ink1 ,i may remark that1  although as   
usually prepared it is a combination of 

the metallic salt  or oxide with all the
 four vegetable principles mentioned    
above1 yet ,i  am induced to believe    
that the last three of them1 so far from
 being  essential1 are the principal    
#cji cause of the difficulty that we    
meet with in the formation of a perfect 
and durable ink4    8,i endeavored to   
prove this point by a series of         
experiments1 of which  the following is 
a brief extract4    8,having prepared a 
cold infusion of galls1 ,i allowed a    
portion of it  to remain exposed to the 
atmosphere1 in a shallow capsule1 ,until
 it  was covered with a thick stratum of
 mould1 the mould was removed by        
filtration1 and the proper proportion of
 sulphate of iron being added  to the   
clear fluid1 a compound was formed of a 
deep black color1 which  showed no      
further tendency to mould1 and which    
remained for a long time  without       
experiencing any further alteration4    
,another portion of the  same infusion  
of galls had solution of isinglass added

 to it1 until it  no longer produced a  
precipitate2 by employing the sulphate  
of iron1  a black compound was produced1
 which1 although paler than that formed 
from the entire fluid1 appeared to be a 
perfect and durable ink4    8,lastly1 a 
portion of the infusion of galls1 was   
kept for some time  at the boiling      
temperature1 by which means a part of   
its contents  became insoluble2 this was
 removed by filtration1 when1 by        
addition of  sulphate of iron1 a very   
perfect and durable ink was produced4   
8,in the above three processes1 ,i      
conceive that a considerable part of    
the mucilage1 of the tan1 and the       
extract1 were respectively removed  from
 the infusion1 whilst the greatest part 
of the gallic acid would be  left in    
solution4    8,the three causes of      
deterioration in ink1 the moulding1 the 
precipitation of black matter1 and loss 
of color1 as they are distinct          
operations1 so we may presume that they 
depend on the operation of  different   

proximate principles4    8,it is        
probable that the moulding more         
particularly depends n the  mucilage1   
and the precipitation on the extract1   
from the property1  which extractive    
matter possesses of forming insoluble   
compounds with  metallic oxides4    8,as
 to the operation of the tan1 from its  
affinity for metallic salt we  may      
conjecture that1 in the first instance1 
it forms a #caj triple  compound with   
the gallic acid and the iron1 and that  
in consequence of  the decomposition of 
the tan1 this compound is afterwards    
destroyed4  ,owing to the difficulty1 if
 not impossibility1 of entirely         
depriving  the infusion of galls of any 
one of its ingredients without in some  
degree affecting the others1 ,i was not 
able to obtain any results which  can be
 regarded as decisive2 but the general  
result of my experiments  favors the    
above opinion1 and leads me to conclude 
that1 in proportion  as ink consists    
merely of the gallate of iron it is less

 liable to  decomposition or to         
experience any kind of change4 ,the     
experiments to  which ,i have alluded   
above1 consisted in forming a standard  
solution  by macerating the powder of   
galls in five times its weight of water1
  and comparing this with other         
infusions1 which had either been        
suffered  to mould1 from which the tan  
had been extracted by jelly1 or which   
had  been kept for some time at the     
boiling temperature1 and by adding to   
each of these respectively both the     
recent solution of the sulphate  of     
iron1 and a solution which had been     
exposed for some time to the            
atmosphere4    8,the nature of the black
 compound produced was examined1 by     
putting  portions of it into cylindrical
 jars and observing the changes which   
they experienced with respect either to 
the formation of mould1 the  deposition 
of their contents1 or any change of     
color4 ,the fluids  were also compared  
by dropping portions of them upon white 

tissue  paper1 in which way both their  
color and their consistence might be    
minutely ascertained4 ,a third method   
was to add together the respective      
infusions1 and the solutions of the     
sulphate of iron1 in a very diluted     
state1 by which ,i was enabled to form a
 more correct comparison of the         
quantity and of the shade of the        
coloring matter1 and of the degree of   
its solubility4    8,the practical      
conclusions which ,i think myself       
warranted in drawing  from these        
experiments are as follows3--,in order  
to procure an ink which  may be little  
disposed either to mould or to deposit  
its contents1  and which at the same    
time may possess a deep black color not 
liable  to fade1 the galls should be    
#caa macerated for some hours in hot    
water1 and the fluid filtered2 it should
 then be exposed for about  fourteen    
days to a warm atmosphere1 when any     
mould which may have  been produced must
 be removed4 ,a solution of sulphate of 

iron is to  be employed which has been  
exposed for some time to the atmosphere1
  and which consequently contains a     
certain quantity of the red oxide       
diffused through it4 ,i should recommend
 the infusion of galls to be  made of   
considerably greater strength than is   
generally directed1 and ,i  believe that
 an ink formed in this manner will not  
necessarily require  the addition of any
 mucilaginous substance to render it of 
a proper  consistence4    8,i have only 
farther to add1 that one of the best    
substances for  diluting ink1 if it be  
in the first instance too thick for use1
 or  afterwards become so by            
evaporation1 is a strong decoction of   
coffee1  which appears in no respect to 
promote the decomposition of the ink1   
while it improves its color and gives it
 an additional lustre40    ,dr4 ,ure    
recommends the following formula for the
 manufacture of writing  ink4 ,to make  
twelve gallons take3 #ablb of nutgalls2 
#elb of green  sulphate of iron2 #elb of

 gum ,senegal2 #ab gallons of water4    
,the bruised  nutgalls are to be put    
into a cylindrical copper1 of a depth   
equal to  its diameter1 and boiled      
during three hours1 with three-fourths  
of the  above quantity of water1 taking 
care to add fresh water to replace what 
is lost by evaporation4 ,the decoction  
is to be emptied into a tub1  allowed to
 settle1 and the clear liquor being     
drawn off1 the lees are  to be drained4 
,the gum is to be dissolved in a small  
quantity of hot  water1 and the mucilage
 thus formed1 being filtered1 it is     
added to  the clear decoction4 ,the     
sulphate of iron must likewise be       
separately  dissolved and well mixed    
with the above4 ,the color darkens by   
degrees1  in consequence of the         
peroxidizement of the iron1 on exposing 
the ink  to the action of the air4      
,but ink affords a more durable writing 
when used in the pale state1  because   
its particles are then finer and        
penetrate the paper more  intimately4   

,when ink consists chiefly of tannate   
#cab of peroxide of  iron1 however      
black1 it is merely superficial1 and is 
easily erased or  effaced4 ,therefore1  
whenever the liquid made by the above   
prescription  has acquired a moderately 
deep tint1 it should be drawn off clear 
into  bottles and well corked up4 ,some 
ink-makers allow it to mould a little   
in the casks before bottling1 and       
suppose that it will thereby be not  so 
liable to become mouldy in the bottles4 
,a few bruised cloves or  other aromatic
 perfume1 added to ink1 is said to      
prevent the formation  of mouldiness1   
which is produced by the ova of         
infusoria animalcules4    ,the ink made 
by this prescription is much more rich  
and powerful than  many of the inks     
commonly sold4 ,to bring it to the      
common standard a  half more water may  
safely be added4 ,even twenty gallons of
 tolerable  ink may be made from the    
above weight of materials4    ,,scott',s
 ,,writing ,,ink4--,mr4 ,scott's method 

of manufacturing writing ink1  as       
patented by him in #ahdj1 is as         
follows3--,take #dhlb of logwood chips1 
and let them be saturated two days in   
soft water1 then put the same  into a   
close covered iron cauldron1 and add #hj
 gallons of soft water2  let these be   
boiled one hour and a half1 when the    
wood must be taken  out and the fluid   
left1 to which add #dhlb of the best    
picked ,aleppo  galls in coarse powder2 
boil these half an hour longer1 then    
draw  off the fire1 and let it remain in
 the cauldron twenty-four hours         
infusing1 during which it is to be very 
frequently agitated2 when the           
properties of the galls are sufficiently
 extracted1 draw off the clear  fluid   
into a vat1 and add #djlb of pulverized 
sulphate of iron2 let  these ingredients
 remain a week 7stirring daily71 after  
which add four  gallons of vinegar4     
,next take #g #a_/blb of the best picked
 gum arabic1  and dissolve it in        
sufficient water to form a good         

mucilage1 which  must be well strained1 
and then added to the fluid by degrees2 
let  these stand a few days longer1 when
 pour into the same #bj ounces of the   
concentrated nitrate of iron2 let the   
whole stand by again until it has       
arrived at its height of blackness2 next
 pour the clear fluid off from  the     
sediment1 and add to it the following   
substances1 each prepared  and ground   
separately3 #cac    ,first1 take half a 
pound of ,spanish indigo1 which grind   
very fine  between a muller and stone1  
adding by degrees portions of the ink   
until it is made into an easy soluble   
paste2 next take well-washed and        
purified ,prussian blue five pounds1    
which prepare as the former1 except     
grinding it in distilled water in lieu  
of the fluid1 until it is formed  into a
 soluble paste2 also next take four     
ounces of gas black which  results from 
the smoke of gas burners received on    
surfaces of glass1 as  is well known1   
which grind in one ounce of the nitrate 

of iron2 when  each is sufficiently     
fine1 let them remain a few hours       
unmixed1 when  the whole may be         
incorporated with the fluid1 and kept   
agitated daily  for a week4 ,the clear  
may then be poured off for use4 ,the    
above will  make eighty gallons of ink4 
,,dr4 ,,normandy',s ,,black ,,ink4--,in 
order to supersede the use of nutgalls1 
,dr4 ,normandy patented the following   
process for making black ink3    ,take  
either sumach1 elm wood1 elder1         
chestnut1 beech1 willow1 oak1  plum1    
sycamore1 cherry1 poplar wood1 catechu1 
or any other wood or  berry1 or extract 
of vegetable substances1 containing     
gallic acid and  tannin1 or either1 and 
put this1 previously reduced to powder1 
into a  copper full of common water1 and
 boil it until a sufficiently strong    
decoction be obtained4    ,the quantity 
of water must of course vary according  
to the sort of  vegetable substance     
employed2 catechu1 for example1         
requiring less  water than sumach1 on   

account of the former being almost      
totally  soluble4 ,to this add a certain
 quantity of ,campeachy wood1 of acetate
  and hydrate of deutoxide of copper1 of
 sulphate of alumina and potash1  of    
sulphate of protoxide of iron1 in       
quantities which vary also  according to
 the vegetable material first employed1 
and gum arabic1  or the best sort of gum
 ,senegal1 in the proportion of eighty  
pounds  or thereabouts for #cdj gallons 
of liquid2 also a variable quantity of  
sulphate of indigo2 the whole of these  
last ingredients1 depending on  the     
shade of the color intended to be       
produced1 it is impossible to  indicate 
absolutely the proportions in which they
 are to be used1 as  the taste and fancy
 of the operator must #cad decide4      
,supposing1  however1 a blue black to be
 the color desired1 and sumach1 for     
example1  the vegetable ingredient      
selected for the purpose1 the           
proportions  should be for #bdj gallons3
 sumach1 from #ab to #ae sacks1 of four 

bushels  each2 ,campeachy logwood1 #b   
cwt4 or thereabouts1 according as new or
 old  chip is used2 gum arabic1 #hj lb4 
to #a cwt42 sulphate of protoxide of    
iron1 #a cwt42 acetate and hydrate of   
deutoxide of copper1 #dlb2 sulphate  of 
alumina and potash1 #cglb2 sulphate of  
indigo1 #flb1 or even more1  according  
to the intensity of the blue cast       
desired4 ,if catechu were to  be used   
instead of sumach1 #a cwt4 would be     
required1 the proportions of  the other 
materials remaining the same4    ,the   
variously colored precipitates which    
salts of iron form in the  solutions of 
the above-cited vegetable astringent    
substances1 all of  which precipitates  
vary from the green to the brown 7the   
decoction  of nutgalls yeilding with    
salts of iron only a dark purple17 are  
the  obstacles which have hitherto      
prevented the use of these vegetable    
substances1 with a view to supersede    
nutgalls2 but by means of the  sulphate 
of indigo in various proportions1 from  

the above-cited  substances a liquid may
 be obtained1 of different shades of    
color1 from  dark blue to most intense  
black1 applicable to dyeing1 staining1  
or  writing1 and which may be used with 
every description of pen4    ,,dr4      
,,normandy',s ,,purple ,,ink4--,to      
produce a purple-colored ink called the 
8,king of ,purples10 ,dr4 ,normandy     
recommends the following proportions to 
be observed3--,to twelve pounds of      
,campeachy wood add as many gallons of  
boiling water2 pour the solution through
 a funnel with a strainer made  of      
coarse flannel1 on one pound of hydrate 
or acetate of deutoxide of  copper      
finely pulverized 7at the bottom of the 
funnel a piece of sponge  is placed71   
then add immediately #adlbs4 of sulphate
 of alumina and  potash1 and for every  
#cdj gallons of liquid add eighty pounds
 of gum  arabic or gum ,senegal4 ,let   
these remain for three or four days1 and
 a  beautiful purple color will be      
produced4    ,,dr4 ,,normandy',s ,,blue 

,,ink4--,dr4 ,normandy's blue ink is    
made by operating  upon ,chinese blue or
 cyanoferruret of #cae iron4 ,the       
cyanoferruret  of iron is to be ground  
in water with oxalic acid or bin-oxalate
 of  potash1 adding gum arabic in the   
following proportions3 to seven ounces  
of water add three drachms of ,chinese  
blue1 #a drachm of bin-oxalate of       
potash1 and #a drachm of gum arabic2 to 
these ingredients a solution of  tin may
 be added4    ,,girond',s ,,substitute  
,,for ,,galls4--,the substitute for     
gallnuts1 patented  by ,m4 ,girond1 of  
,lyons1 in #ahbe1 is an extract from the
 shell of the  chestnut1 and also from  
the wood and sap of the chestnut-tree4  
,the  extract is denominated ,damajavag1
 and the mode of preparing it is  by    
reducing the chestnut-shell into small  
pieces1 and boiling them in  water4     
,one hundred-weight of the shells of    
chestnuts broken into small pieces  is  
to be immersed in about #ahj or #bjj    
quarts of water1 in a vessel  of copper 

or any other material1 except iron1 and 
after having been  allowed to soak in   
this water for about #ab hours1 the     
material is then  to be boiled for about
 three hours1 in order to obtain the    
extract4 ,the  wood of the chestnut tree
 may be cut into small pieces or shaved 
thin1  and treated in the same way4     
,the extract is now to be drawn off from
 the boiler1 and filtered  through a    
fine sieve or cloth1 after which the    
water must be evaporated  from it until 
the extract is reduced to the           
consistence of paste4    ,it may now be 
cut into cakes of any convenient size1  
and dried in an  oven of low            
temperature1 and when hard1 may be      
packed for sale1 and  used for any of   
the purposes in the arts to which       
gallnuts have been  heretofore applied4 
,the quantity of damajavag obtained from
 the above  will be about #h or #aj lbs4
    ,in using this damajavag1 it is only
 necessary to pound or otherwise  reduce
 it to powder when it may be mixed with 

other ingredients as  pulverized gall   
nuts4    ,the same chemical properties  
belong to the sap of the chestnut-tree1 
which may be extracted by tapping the   
trunk1 and when so obtained1 may  be    
used for the same purpose as gallnuts4  
,,stephens' ,,blue ,,ink4--,stephens'   
blue ink is prepared as follows3--,take 
,prussian blue1 whether produced from a 
combination of prussiate of  potash and 
salts of iron1 or the ,prussian #caf    
blue of commerce1 as  commonly          
manufactured1 and put this into an      
earthen vessel1 and pour  over it a     
quantity of strong acid1 sufficient to  
cover the ,prussian  blue4 ,muriatic    
acid1 sulphuric acid1 or any other acid 
which has a  sufficient action upon iron
 will do4 ,if sulphuric acid is used it 
should be diluted a little1 that is1    
with a quantity of water equal to  about
 its bulk4 ,the ,prussian blue is       
allowed to remain in the acid from      
twenty-four to forty-eight hours or     
longer1 and then the mixture is  diluted

 with a large quantity of water1        
stirring it up at the time1 for  the    
purpose of washing from it the salts of 
iron4 ,when in this state  of dilution1 
it is allowed to stand until the color  
has subsided1 when  the supernatant     
liquor is drawn off with a syphon and   
more water added  to it4 ,this process  
is repeated until the acid1 with the    
iron1 has been  completely washed away1 
which is known by testing it with       
prussiate of  potash1 which will show if
 it yields any blue precipitate2 if not1
 it  is sufficiently washed4 ,the       
product is then placed upon a filter1   
and  suffered to remain until the liquid
 has all drained away4    ,the ,prussian
 blue1 thus prepared1 is reduced to a   
state containing less  iron than the    
,prussian blue of commerce1 in which    
state it is more  readily acted upon1   
and rendered soluble than in any other  
condition4    ,this ,prussian blue may  
then be placed in evaporating dishes1   
and  gently dried4 ,to form the         

,prussian blue1 so operated upon1 into a
  solution1 oxalic acid is added1 and   
carefully mixed with it1 after  which   
cold water is added 7cold distilled     
water is best7 a little at  a time1     
making it into a dense or dilute        
solution1 according to the  color       
required4 ,the quantity of oxalic acid  
may vary according to the  quantity of  
water used4 ,it will be found that the  
,prussian blue that  has undergone the  
process of digestion1 as described1     
requires but a  small quantity of oxalic
 acid to dissolve it3 about one part of 
oxalic  acid will dissolve six parts of 
,prussian blue1 the weight taken before 
digesting in the acid4 ,this will answer
 for a concentrated solution1  but for a
 dilute solution more acid will be      
required4    7,,to ,,be ,,continued47   
#cag      ,,varia--,,editorial4         
,,quinidine4--,sulphate of quinidine is 
advertised1 8eo nomine10 for  sale in   
the ,london ,journals4 ,what we get1 as 
yet1 occurs only as an  adulteration of 

the sulphate of quinine4 ,the same      
virtues1 and to an  equal extent1 are   
ascribed by the advertisers to the new  
article1  that are possessed by quinine4
 ,we do not know what authority there is
  for this statement1 but it is         
exceedingly desirable that careful and  
well conducted experiments should be    
made to determine the properties  and   
relative value of quinidine1 quinoidine1
 and cinchonine4 ,the  great importance 
of quinine and its immense and          
constantly increasing  consumption1 long
 ago created a well founded anxiety lest
 the sources  whence we obtain it should
 become exhausted or materially         
diminished4  ,if the allied alkaloids   
will in any degree replace it1 it is a  
fact  of the highest value4 ,quinidine1 
in particular1 is contained in some     
varieties of bark in which little or no 
quinine is found1 and if the  statements
 which have been made of the identity of
 its effects with  quinine1 probably    
without any better foundation than the  

closeness  of resemblance of the two    
substances1 should prove correct1 the   
destruction of the cinchona ,calisaya   
which is going on1 may be in some       
measure stayed4      ,,extract ,,of     
,,bark4--,a new article has appeared in 
our markets under the  name of ,extract 
of ,bark4 ,the specimen that came under 
our observation  was a dark brown       
substance1 homogenous1 and about the    
consistence  of dry opium4 ,it was very 
little soluble in water1 much more so in
  alcohol1 and completely so in diluted 
sulphuric acid4 ,from chemical          
examination it would appear to contain  
about #df per cent of quinine1  with    
perhaps traces of quinidine and         
cinchonine4 ,at the price at which  we  
hear it is offered it will be sought for
 by the manufacturers of  sulphate of   
quinine4      ,,syrup ,,of              
,,turpentine4--,m4 ,trousseau often uses
 the syrup of turpentine  in chronic    
catarrh of the bladder and the lungs1 in
 old copious  suppurations1 etc41 but as

 the standard works contain no formula1 
the  preparation intended is not always 
obtained4 #cah    ,the following is the 
formula which has been published by ,m4 
,dorvault1  according to the indications
 furnished by ,m4 ,trousseau1 as being  
at  once the most rational1 and as      
furnishing a product preferable in all  
respects to that of the two formul given
 in the officine4     ,turpentine1#bd   
#ajj grammes4   ,water1                 
#cge grammes4    ,digest during two     
days1 taking care to agitate frequently2
 afterwards  make a syrup after the     
manner of the balsam of ,tolu1 by adding
     ,white sugar1         #gej grammes4
    ,this syrup contains besides the    
resinous principles1 the nature of      
which is not well ascertained1 from     
#a-dj to #a-ajj of its weight of the    
essence of ,turpentine4    ,it is       
limpid1 of an aromatic odor--very sweet1
 and of an agreeable  taste2 it may be  
employed pure1 or used to sweeten       
appropriate drinks4    ,dose3 from one  

to a number of tablespoonsful per       
day4--,bulletin de  ,therap4    #bd ,the
 turpentine recommended by ,m4 ,dorvault
 is a variety of the  ,strasburg        
turpentine1 having an agreeable odor of 
lemon4      ,,aloine4--,our readers will
 recollect that ,dr4 ,pereira has found 
,aloine1  the chrystalline neutral      
principle recently discovered in        
,barbadoes  aloes1 by ,mr4 ,smith of    
,edinburgh1 in ,socotorine aloe juice1  
7,new  ,york ,journal of ,pharmacy1 ,no4
 #f1 p4 #agg47 ,since then ,mr4 ,smith  
has  succeeded in procuring it from     
,socotorine aloes4 ,it was much longer  
in  crystallizing than when obtained    
from ,barbadoes aloes1 but did so at    
last4 ,when the impure product is       
recrystallized from rectified spirits   
it presents the same appearance as the  
purified crystal of ,barbadoes  aloes   
7the crystals obtained by ,dr4 ,pereira 
which were spontaneously  deposited from
 the juice1 were much smaller7 and seems
 identical with  that substance4 ,it has

 not yet been obtained from ,cape aloes1
 but  undoubtedly exists in that        
substance1 though probably from its     
inferior  activity in much smaller      
quantity4    ,aloine has been introduced
 into the practice of medicine in       
,edinburgh1  and the ,messrs4 ,smith    
have already 7,june7 sold a quarter of a
 hundred  weight of it4 ,it is five     
times more active than good aloes--a    
single  grain producing all the effect  
of a large aloetic pill2 the ,edinburgh 
physicians describe it as acting 8tuto1 
cito1 et jucunde10 safely1  speedily1   
and pleasantly4 ,if this is meant       
altogether seriously1 in the  second of 
the characteristics it presents a marked
 contrast with the  crude drug4 ,from   
the convenience with which it may be    
exhibited1 it  bids fair to come into   
general and extensive use4      ,action 
of ,sulphuric ,acid on the insoluble    
residue left by ,opium1  exhausted by   
water4 ,formation of a new ,alkaloid1 by
 ,m4 ,,stanislas  ,,martin4--,the       

smallest object added to a kaleidoscope 
produces new shades  and different      
images2 so it is #cai with vegetable    
chemistry2 every  practical man knows   
that a foreign body1 an hours delay in  
executing  a work already commenced1    
changes the nature of the products4 ,two
  experiments on the inert residue of   
opium1 exhausted by water give  another 
illustration of this truth4    ,the     
residue of opium submitted to           
fermentation1 affords us a substance    
which has a great analogy to            
paramorphia2 this substance has since   
been  studied by ,m4 ,a4 ,guergy4 ,the  
account of the labor of that chemist has
  been reproduced in the review of the  
,journal de ,pharmacie1 #ahdi4    ,our  
second operation consists in treating   
the residue of opium  exhausted by      
water1 with water acidulated with       
sulphuric acid4 ,the  result is the     
formation of an alkali which has many of
 the chemical  properties of narcotine1 
but which differs from it completely by 

its  insolubility in ether4    ,this    
alkali has no relation with codeine or  
narceine2 besides we obtain  an         
extractive matter1 soluble in all       
proportions in water1 to which it       
communicates the property of frothing   
like soap4    ,the following is the     
method of proceeding4 ,the residue of   
opium1  exhausted with water1 is boiled 
in distilled water acidulated with      
sulphuric acid1 after ten minutes       
ebullition it has the appearance of a   
thick magma2 it is strained with strong 
expression2 when the colature  is cold  
it is filtered through paper4    ,the   
colature is highly colored2 its odor is 
similar to that of opium1  its taste is 
exceedingly bitter4    ,ammonia is added
 until litmus paper is no longer        
altered2 the liquid is  filtered1 the   
precipitate washed with distilled water1
 and permitted to  dry2 afterwards it is
 boiled with a sufficient quantity of   
rectified  alcohol and again filtered4  
,the alcoholic solution deposits on     

cooling1  numerous needle like crystals1
 colored by a brownish bitter resin4 ,it
  is purified in the ordinary manner4   
,what are the therapeutic properties of 
this alkaloid1 of the extractive        
saponaceous matter1 and of the brown    
bitter resin6 ,do they partake of  the  
properties of opium8 ,we know not2 the  
physician alone can determine  their    
value4--,bulletin de ,therapeutique4    
,,gelatinization ,,of ,,the ,,tincture  
,,of ,,rhatany4--,mr4 ,editor1--,some   
years  ago having occasion to prepare   
some saturated ,tincture of ,rhatany1   
about eighteen1 ounces were put aside in
 a glass stoppered bottle4  ,the        
tincture being examined but a short time
 since1 was found to be  gelatinized1 as
 is generally the case with old tincture
 of kino4 ,having  never seen such a    
change before1 ,i sought information1   
and ascertained  through the ,united    
,states ,dispensatory that a ,french    
,pharmaceutist  in ,paris has remarked  
the same phenomenon1 ,what is the cause 

of this  remarkable change1 attended as 
it is1 with the loss of astringency8    
,is it not1 perhaps1 caused by the same 
action which produces peculiar          
exudation from the bark of certain trees
 possessed of tannin1 retaining  it for 
a #cbj while and afterwards1 when cut up
 in logs1 losing their  tanning         
properties and exuding a species of     
ulmine8 ,is it not the same  process    
which takes place in the decomposition  
of the kino and rhatany8  ,but why is   
catechu exempt from such a              
decomposition8 ,if you can  enlighten   
me1 and especially can explain how to   
prevent this change1  you will much     
oblige myself and numerous readers4     
,,list ,,of ,,delegates ,,to ,,the      
,,convention4--,on the ,sixth of this   
month the  ,national ,convention will   
meet in ,philadelphia1 and we see that  
our  ,philadelphia friends1 with a      
reference to the convenience of the     
,delegates1 have fixed upon #d o'clock  
in the afternoon as the hour for        

assembling4 ,the meeting will be held in
 the ,hall of the ,college of           
,pharmacy1 in ,zane ,street1 above      
,seventh1 which has been placed at the  
disposal of the ,convention4 ,as far as 
heard from1 the following is a  list of 
,delegates3     ,philadelphia ,college  
of ,pharmacy1       ,,daniel ,b4        
,,smith1       ,,charles ,,ellis1       
,,william ,,procter1 ,,jr41             
,massachusetts ,college of ,pharmacy1   
,,joseph ,,burnett1       ,,samuel      
,,colcord1       ,,samuel ,r4           
,,philbrick1     ,richmond              
,pharmaceutical ,society1               
,,alexander ,,duval1       ,,john       
,,purcel1       ,,joseph ,,laidley1     
,maryland ,college of ,pharmacy1        
,,george ,w4 ,,andrews1       ,,david   
,,stewart1 ,m4 ,d4     ,cincinnatti     
,college of ,pharmacy1       ,,william  
,b4 ,,chapman1       ,,edward ,s4       
,,wayne1       ,,charles ,a4 ,,smith1   
,college of ,pharmacy of the ,city of   
,new ,york1       ,,george ,d4          

,,coggeshall1       ,l4 ,s4 ,,haskell1  
,,john ,,meakim4    #cba          ,,new 
,,york    ,,journal ,,of ,,pharmacy4    
,,november1 #aheb4      ,,accidental    
,,substitution ,,of ,,extract ,,of      
,,belladonna ,,for ,,extract ,,of       
,,dandelion4    ,,prosecution ,,of ,,the
 ,,manufacturer4     ,in the ,court of  
,appeals1     ,,samuel ,,thomas1 ,,jr4  
,,and ,,mary ,,ann ,,thomas1 ,,his      
,,wife1     ,against ,,hosea            
,,winchester4     ,,ruggles1 ,chief     
,judge4    ,this action was brought to  
recover damages from the defendant for  
negligently putting up1 labelling and   
selling as and for the extract  of      
dandelion1 which is a simple and        
harmless medicine1 a jar of  the extract
 of belladonna1 which is a deadly       
poison2 by means of  which the          
plaintiff1 ,mary ,ann ,thomas1 to whom1 
being sick1 a dose of  dandelion was    
prescribed by a physician1 and a portion
 of the contents  of the jar was        
administered as and for the extract of  

dandelion1 was  greatly injured1 c4     
,the facts proved were briefly these3   
,mrs4 ,thomas being in ill health1  her 
physician prescribed for her a dose of  
dandelion4 ,her husband  purchased what 
was believed to be the medicine         
prescribed1 at the store  of ,dr4       
,foord1 a physician and druggist in     
,cazenovia1 ,madison ,county1  where the
 plaintiffs reside4    ,a small quantity
 of the medicine thus purchased1 was    
administered  to ,mrs4 ,thomas1 on whom 
it produced very alarming effects2 such 
as  coldness of the surface and         
extremities1 feebleness of circulation1 
spasms of the muscles1 giddiness of the 
head1 dilation of the pupils  of the    
eyes1 and derangement of mind4 ,she     
recovered1 however1 after  some time1   
from its effects1 although1 for a short 
time1 her life was  thought to be in    
#cbb great danger4 ,the medicine        
administered was  belladonna1 and not   
dandelion4    ,the jar from which it was
 taken was labelled 8#a_/blb4           

,dandelion1  prepared by ,a4 ,gilbert1  
,no4 #ajh ,john ,street1 ,n4 ,y4 ,jar   
#h4jb40 ,it was  sold for1 and delivered
 by ,dr4 ,foord1 to be the extract of   
dandelion as  labelled4 ,dr4 ,foord     
purchased the article as the extract of 
dandelion1  from ,james ,s4 ,aspinwall1 
a druggist at ,new ,york4 ,aspinwall    
bought it of  the defendant as extract  
of dandelion1 believing it to be such4  
,the defendant was engaged at ,no4 #ajh 
,john ,street1 ,new ,york1 in the       
manufacture and sale of certain         
vegetable extracts for medicinal        
purposes1 and in the purchase and sale  
of others4 ,the extracts  manufactured  
by him were put up in jars for sale1 and
 those which he  purchased1 were put up 
by him in like manner4 ,the jars        
containing  extracts manufactured by    
himself1 and those containing extracts  
purchased by him from others1 were      
labelled alike4 ,both were labelled     
like the jar in question1 as 8prepared  
by ,a4 ,gilbert40 ,gilbert was  a person

 employed by the defendant1 at a salary1
 as an assistant in  his business4 ,the 
jars were labelled in ,gilbert's name   
because he had  been previously engaged 
in the same business1 on his own        
account1 at  ,no4 #ajh ,john ,street1   
and probably because ,gilbert's labels  
rendered  the articles more saleable4   
,the extract contained in the jar sold  
to  ,aspinwall1 and by him to ,foord1   
was not manufactured by the defendant1  
but was purchased by him from another   
manufacturer or dealer4 ,the  extract of
 dandelion and the extract of belladonna
 resemble each  other in color1         
consistence1 smell and taste1 but may1  
on careful  examination1 be             
distinguished1 the one from the other1  
by those who are  well acquainted with  
these articles4 ,gilbert's labels were  
paid for by  ,winchester1 and used in   
his business1 with his knowledge and    
assent4    ,the defendant's counsel     
moved for a nonsuit on the following    
grounds3    #a4 ,that the action could  

not be sustained1 as the defendant was  
the  remote vender of the article in    
question1 and there was #cbc no         
connexion1 transaction1 or privity      
between him and the plaintiffs1 or      
either of them4    #b4 ,that this action
 sought to charge the defendant with the
  consequences of the negligence of     
,aspinwall and ,foord4    #c4 ,that the 
plaintiffs were liable to1 and          
chargeable with the  negligence of      
,aspinwall and ,foord1 and therefore    
could not maintain  this action4    #d4 
,that according to the testimony ,foord 
was chargeable with  negligence1 and    
that the plaintiffs therefore could not 
sustain this  suit against the          
defendant2 if they could sustain a suit 
at all1 it  would be against ,foord     
only4    #e4 ,that this suit1 being     
brought for the benefit of the wife1 and
  alleging her as the meritorious cause 
of action1 cannot be sustained4    #f4  
,that there was not sufficient evidence 
of negligence in the  defendant to go to

 the jury4    ,the ,judge overruled the 
motion for a nonsuit1 and the           
defendant's  counsel excepted4    ,the  
,judge1 among other things1 charged the 
jury that if they should  find from the 
evidence that either ,aspinwall or      
,foord were guilty of  negligence in    
vending as and for dandelion the extract
 taken by ,mrs4  ,thomas1 or that the   
plaintiff ,thomas1 or those who         
administered it to  ,mrs4 ,thomas1 were 
chargeable with negligence in           
administering it1 the  plaintiffs were  
not entitled to recover2 but if they    
were free from  negligence1 and if the  
defendant ,winchester was guilty of     
negligence in  putting up and vending   
the extracts in question1 the plaintiffs
 were  entitled to recover1 provided the
 extract administered to ,mrs4 ,thomas  
was the same which was put up by the    
defendant and sold by him to            
,aspinwall1 and by ,aspinwall to ,foord4
    ,that if they should find the       
defendant liable1 the plaintiffs in     

this action were entitled to recover    
damages only for the personal  injury   
and suffering of the wife1 and not for  
loss of service1 medical  treatment1 or 
expense to the husband1 and that the    
recovery should be  confined to the     
actual damages suffered by the wife4    
#cbd    ,the action was properly brought
 in the name of the husband and wife1   
for the personal injury and suffering of
 the wife1 and the case was  left to the
 jury1 with the proper directions on    
that point4 #a ,chitty  on ,pleadings4  
#fb ed4 of #ahbh4    ,the case depends  
on the first point taken by the         
defendant on his  motion for a nonsuit2 
and the question is whether the         
defendant1  being a remote vender of the
 medicine1 and there being no privity or
  connexion between him and the         
plaintiffs1 the action can be           
maintained4    ,if in labelling a       
poisonous drug with the name of a       
harmless medicine  for public market1 no
 duty was violated by the defendant1    

excepting  that which he owed to        
,aspinwall1 his immediate vender1 in    
virtue of  his contract of sale1 this   
action cannot be maintained4 ,if ,a     
build a  wagon and sell it to ,b1 who   
sells it to ,c1 and ,c hires it to ,d1  
who1  in consequence of the gross       
negligence of ,a in building the wagon1 
is overturned and injured4 ,d cannot    
recover damages against ,a1 the         
builder4--,a's obligation to build the  
wagon faithfully1 arises solely  out of 
his contract with ,b4 ,the public have  
nothing to do with it4  ,misfortune to  
third persons1 not parties to the       
contract1 would not be  a natural and   
necessary consequence of the builder's  
negligence2 and  such negligence is not 
an act immediately dangerous to human   
life4    ,so for the same reason1 if a  
horse be defectively shod by a smith1   
and a person hiring the horse from the  
owner is thrown and injured in          
consequence of the smith's negligence in
 shoeing1 the smith is not  liable for  

the injury4 ,the smith's duty in such   
case grows exclusively  out of his      
contract with the owner of the horse2 it
 was a duty which  the smith owed him   
alone1 and to no one else4 ,and1        
although the injury  to the rider may   
have happened in consequence of the     
negligence of  the smith1 the latter was
 not bound1 either by his contract or by
 any  considerations of public policy or
 safety1 to respond for his breach of   
duty to any one except the person he    
contracted with4    ,this was the ground
 on which the case of ,winterbotham vs4 
,wright4  #aj ,mees and ,wellsby1 #aji1 
was decided4 ,a #cbe contracted with the
  ,post ,master ,general to provide a   
coach to convey the mail bags along  a  
certain line of road1 and ,b and others 
also contracted to horse the  coach     
along the same line4 ,b and his         
co-contractors hired ,c1 who was  the   
plaintiff1 to drive the coach4 ,the     
coach1 in consequence of some  latent   
defect1 broke down2 the plaintiff was   

thrown from his seat1 and  lamed4 ,it   
was held that ,c could not maintain an  
action against ,a for  the injury thus  
sustained4 ,the reason of the decision  
is best stated by  ,baron ,rolfe4 ,a's  
duty to keep the coach in good condition
 was a duty to  the ,post ,master       
,general1 with whom he made his         
contract1 and not a duty  to the driver 
employed by the owners of the horses4   
,but the case in hand stands on a       
different ground4 ,the defendant was a  
dealer in poisonous drugs4 ,gilbert was 
his agent in preparing them for  market2
 the death1 or great bodily harm of some
 person was the natural  and almost     
inevitable consequence of the sale of   
belladonna by means  of the false       
label4--,gilbert1 the defendant's agent1
 would have been  punishable for        
manslaughter if ,mrs4 ,thomas had died  
in consequence of  taking the falsely   
labelled medicine4 ,every man who1 by   
his culpable  negligence1 causes the    
death of another1 although without      

intent to  kill1 is guilty of           
manslaughter4 #b ,r4 ,s4 #ffb4  #ai4 ,a 
chemist who  negligently sells laudanum 
in a phial labelled as paregoric1 and   
thereby causes the death of a person to 
whom it is administered1 is  guilty of  
manslaughter4 ,tessymond's case1 #a     
,lewins' crown cases1  #afi4 8,so highly
 does the law value human life that it  
admits of no  justification wherever    
life has been lost1 and the carelessness
 or  negligence of one person has       
contributed to the death of another40   
,regina vs4 ,swindall1 #b ,car4 and     
,kir4 #bcb-c4 ,and this rule applies    
not only where the death of one is      
occasioned by the negligent act  of     
another1 but where it is caused by the  
negligent omission of a  duty of that   
other4 #b ,car4 and ,kir4 #cfh-cga4     
,although the defendant  ,winchester may
 not be answerable1 criminally1 for the 
negligence of  his agent1 there can be  
no doubt of his liability in a civil    
action1  in which the act of the agent  

is to be regarded #cbf as the act of    
the principal4 ,in respect to the       
wrongful and criminal character of the  
negligence complained of1 this case     
differs widely from those put by  the   
defendant's counsel4 ,no such imminent  
danger existed in those cases4    ,in   
the present case the sale of the        
poisonous article was made to a  dealer 
in drugs1 and not to a consumer4 ,the   
injury1 therefore1 was not  likely to   
fall on him1 or on his vendee who was   
also a dealer2 but much  more likely to 
be visited on a remote purchaser1 as    
actually happened4  ,the defendant's    
negligence put human life in imminent   
danger4 ,can it  be said that there was 
no duty on the part of the defendant to 
avoid  the creation of that danger by   
the exercise of greater caution4 ,or1   
that the exercise of that caution was a 
duty only to his immediate  vendee1     
whose life was not endangered8 ,the     
defendant's duty arose out  of the      
nature of his business1 and the danger  

to others incident to its               
mismanagement4 ,nothing but mischief    
like that which actually happened  could
 have been expected from sending the    
poison falsely labelled into  the       
market2 and the defendant is justly     
responsible for the propable            
consequences of the act4    ,the duty of
 exercising caution in this respect did 
not arise out of  the defendant's       
contract of sale to ,aspinwall4 ,the    
wrong done by the  defendant was in     
putting the poison mislabelled into the 
hands of  ,aspinwall1 as an article of  
merchandize to be sold and afterwards   
used as the extract of dandelion by some
 person then unknown4 ,the  owner of a  
horse and cart1 who leaves them         
unattended in the street1  is liable for
 any damage which may result from his   
negligence4 ,lynch  vs4 ,mordon1 #a ad4 
and ,ellis1 ,u4 ,s4 #bi1 #e ,car4 and   
,payne #aij4 ,illidge  vs4 ,goodwin4    
,the owner of a loaded gun1 who puts it 
into the hands  of a child by whose     

indiscretion it is discharged1 is liable
 for  the damage occasioned by the      
discharge4 #e ,maule and ,sel4 #aih4    
,the  defendant's contract of sale to   
,aspinwall does not excuse the wrong    
done to plaintiffs4 ,it was a part of   
the means by which the wrong was        
effected4 ,the plaintiffs injury and    
their remedy would have stood on  the   
same #cbg principle1 if the defendant   
had given the belladonna  to ,dr4 ,foord
 without price2 or1 if he had put it in 
his shop without  his knowledge1 under  
circumstances which would propably have 
led to its  sale1 on the faith of the   
label4    ,in ,longmead vs4 ,holliday1  
#f ,law and ,eq4 ,rep4 #efb1 the        
distinction is  recognized between an   
act of negligence imminently dangerous  
to the  lives of others1 and one that is
 not so4 ,in the former case1 the party 
guilty of the negligence is liable to   
the party injured1 whether there  be a  
contract between them or not2 in the    
latter1 the negligent party  is liable  

only to the party with whom he          
contracted1 and on the ground  that     
negligence is a breach of the contract4 
,the defendant on the trial insisted    
that ,aspinwall and ,foord were  guilty 
of negligence in selling the article in 
question for what it  was represented to
 be in the label2 and that the suit if  
it could  be sustained at all1 should   
have been brought against ,foord4 ,the  
judge charged the jury that if they or  
either of them were guilty of           
negligence in selling the belladonna for
 dandelion1 the verdict  must be for the
 defendant1 and left the question of    
their negligence to  the jury1 who found
 on that point for the plaintiff4 ,if   
the case really  depended on the point  
thus raised1 the question was properly  
left to  the jury4 ,but1 ,i think it did
 not4 ,the defendant by affixing the    
label  to the jar represented its       
contents to be dandelion1 and to have   
been 8prepared0 by his agent ,gilbert4  
,the word 8prepared0 on the label  must 

be understood to mean that the article  
was manufactured by him1  or that it had
 passed through some process under his  
hand1 which would  give him personal    
knowledge of its true name and quality4 
,whether ,foord  was justified in       
selling the article upon the faith of   
the defendant's  label1 would have been 
an open question in an action by the    
plaintiffs  against him2 and ,i wish to 
be understood as giving no opinion on   
that  point4 ,but it seems to me to be  
clear1 that the defendant cannot in     
this case set up as a defence that      
,foord sold the contents of the jar  as 
and for what the defendant represented  
it to be4 ,the label conveyed  the idea 
distinctly to ,foord that the contents  
of the #cbh jar was  the extract of     
dandelion1 and that the defendant knew  
it to be such4  ,so far as the defendant
 is concerned1 ,foord was under no      
obligation  to test the truth of the    
representation4 ,the charge of the judge
 in  submitting to the jury the question

 in relation to the negligence of       
,foord and ,aspinwall1 cannot be        
complained of by the defendant4         
,judgment ,affirmed4     ,a ,copy4      
,h4 ,r4 ,,selden1 ,state ,reporter4     
,,mem4--,the original verdict against   
,winchester was #hjj2 the costs of      
appeal1 c4 swelled the amount to near   
#a1djj1 which was paid by  ,winchester4 
,,notes ,,in ,,pharmacy1 ,no4 #e4       
,,by ,,benjamin ,,canavan4      ,,succi 
,,inspissati ,,per ,,aere ,,sicco4--,i  
take occasion again to notice these     
preparations1 for the reason1 that ,i   
perceive from a note1 by the  ,editor of
 this ,journal1 appended to an article  
on 8,cicuta10 c41 in  the last          
7,september7 number3 that he considers  
the extracts of ,messrs4  ,tilden or    
,currie1 superior to the best ,english  
extracts he has seen4 ,i  think1        
however1 that on reflection1 he will    
agree with me that those  prepared by   
means of a current of dried air--some of
 which so made have  been imported and  

used here--must particularly1 when there
 is anything  volatile about them1--be  
superior to all others2 indeed1 so      
favorably  am ,i inclined to regard this
 process1 that ,i think the profession1 
medical and pharmaceutical1 should      
demand its adoption by those  engaged in
 the business of preparing extracts2    
until which is the case1  ,i shall feel 
it incumbent upon me to use the imported
 article1 as ,i  have been in the habit 
of doing4 ,moreover1 the relative       
virosity of  the narcotic plants of the 
#cbi ,american and ,european continents 
are still in favor of the latter1       
although1 if recent researches are  to  
be depended upon1 the difference is not 
so great as was supposed4  ,mr4 ,currie1
 ,i believe1 prepares some at least1 if 
not all his extracts  with imported     
herbs1 and in vacuo1 and they are       
therefore the best made  here2 but these
 are the dried herbs1 and cannot afford 
as good an  extract1 ceteris paribus1 as
 when the fresh plant is used4 ,the     

,english  extracts of indigenous plants 
are1 strictly speaking1 inspissated     
juices1 according to the ,london        
,pharmacopia4 ,the juice of a plant     
inspissated by air alone1 and that      
quickly too1 must be tantamount in  its 
properties to the fresh plant whence    
obtained1 so far as we are at  present  
aware1 or at least to the same1 dried in
 the same equally safe  manner2         
wherefore1 ,i consider them preferable  
to all other preparations  of the family
 of ,extracts4#be    #be ,mr4 ,canavan  
mistakes--the assertion was that the    
,extract of ,conium1  prepared by       
,tilden or by ,currie1 was superior to  
the best ,english  ,extract of that     
article we have seen1 and a comparison  
of the odor of  the two articles1 under 
the influence of a little liquor        
potassae1 will  readily convince the    
observer of its correctness4 ,the       
question as to  the other ,extracts is  
one of great interest1 and we still     
believe it  awaits a satisfactory       

solution4--,,ed4                        
,,sanguinarina4--,having been called    
upon to prepare some of this article1   
,i undertook to do so by the process    
said to have been adopted by ,mr4       
,dana1 viz43 displacing the root with   
dilute acetic acid2 precipitating  by   
ammonica2 boiling with purified animal  
charcoal2 treating with  alcohol1 and   
finally evaporating the alcoholic       
solution1 by which ,i  obtained from two
 ounces of the root1 about twenty grains
 only1 having  the sensible properties  
of the article very strongly1 and being 
of a  reddish brown color1 assuming1    
when finely pulverized1 an ochreish     
hue4 ,it has been described as a 8white1
 pearly substance10 which it  might have
 become by more perfect discoloration1  
or the use of a  different acid4 ,the   
liquor from which it was precipitated1  
lost its  peculiar taste1 but not all   
its color1 showing that the color of the
  root does not depend altogether on    
this principle1 as was supposed4  ,the  

article in question has been used by one
 practitioner1 who stated  it to have   
met his expectations1 administered in   
doses of one sixth of  a grain4 ,the    
preparation in question is a very       
desirable one1 as the  objectionable    
taste of the ordinary preparations is a 
frequent bar to  their use4             
,,aloine4--,on this subject it may be   
well to mark the fact1 #ccj that  the   
officinal 8ext4 aloe purificat10        
presents the active property of  the    
aloes1 freed from its griping quality1  
7though this is doubted2 but  the same  
doubt would seem to apply to aloine47   
,it is1 however1 about  twice the       
strength of the crude extract1 and is   
generally used when the  8tuto cito et  
jucunde0 effect is desired4 ,the change 
which is supposed  to take place in the 
aloine1 from the heat used in the       
preparation of  the purified extract1   
would only--according to the ,messrs4   
,smith of  ,edinburg--prevent its       
crystallization1 and therefore the      

extract should  be equally advantageous1
 except1 perhaps1 in regard of bulk1    
which is  not a very great object4      
,,zimmer ,,test ,,for ,,quinidine4--,in 
employing this test1 some modification  
of the original directions is necessary1
 in order to success4 ,the  word drop is
 used1 but it is doubtful whether minim 
may not be  meant1 and if not1 the      
difference in density of the liquids    
used would  prevent our getting1 by     
dropping1 the correct quantities4 ,this 
,i found  to be the case1 and to save   
future trouble ,i give the minuti of the
  experiment as ,i performed it1 with   
success2 no evidence of the presence  of
 quinidine being shown1 as was expected3
       ,aquae gtt4 xxiij4      ,acid4   
,sulph4 ,c4 ,p4 gtt4 vi4      ,aether   
,sulph4 concentr4 gtt4 lx4      ,aquae  
,ammonia ,f4 ,f4 ,f4 gtt4 xx4    ,et    
agita bene4    ,in each instance1 the   
drops were allowed to fall from the lip 
of an  ordinary quart tincture bottle1  
except the sulphuric acid1 which was    

contained in a small pint tincture      
bottle1 and of which ,i used three      
times the number of drops directed2 the 
drops being about one third  the size of
 a drop of distilled water1 which was   
shown to be correct1  by the necessity  
for that quantity to effect a solution  
which took  place without the aid of    
external heat4 ,with regard to this     
matter of  drops1 it is a considerable  
eyesore4 ,i would recommend to          
apothecaries1  7perhaps it might be     
deemed worthy of the action of the      
convention71  to agree upon some        
standard size for the #cca drop1--say   
that of  a drop of distilled water1     
under definite circumstances4 ,it is    
true1  we have a measure2 but it is for 
minims not for drops1 whilst in this    
way1 by a little practice1 the eye might
 be accustomed to the proper  size of   
the drop1 so that there would be little 
or no difficulty in  obtaining an exact 
result1 by increasing or diminishing the
 number of  drops1 according to the     

proportional size of its drop1 to the   
standard  one4 ,of course1 when ,i speak
 of 8keeping the drop in the eye10 ,i do
 not  mean to imply anything            
incompatible with the ,maine ,liquor    
,law4 ,i speak  aquatically1 not        
spiritually4      ,,national            
,,pharmaceutical ,,convention4          
,according to the arrangement which had 
previously been announced1  the         
,national ,convention met in            
,philadelphia1 on ,wednesday the #fth of
  ,october1 at #d ,p4 ,m4 ,in the       
absence of ,dr4 ,guthrie1 the           
,president1 the  ,convention was        
organized by the appointment of ,mr4    
,coggeshall1 of ,new  ,york1 as         
,president pro tempore2 ,mr4 ,a4 ,b4    
,taylor1 of ,philadelphia1  as acting   
,secretary4 ,a committee was then       
appointed by the ,chair1  consisting of 
,messrs4 ,ellis1 of ,philadelphia1      
,colcord1 of ,boston1 and  ,laidley1 of 
,richmond1 to examine the credentials of
 the delegates  present2 and to report a

 resolution in regard to the admission  
of such  apothecaries as might be       
present1 who1 though not #ccb delegated 
by  any incorporated institution1       
desired to attend the ,convention4      
,the committee reported that            
satisfactory credentials had been       
presented  by the following gentlemen3  
,from the ,massachusetts ,college of    
,pharmacy--,joseph ,burnett1 ,samuel ,m4
  ,colcord1 ,dr4 ,samuel ,r4 ,philbrick4
    ,from the ,college of ,pharmacy1 of 
the ,city of ,new ,york--,george ,d4    
,coggeshall1 ,l4 ,s4 ,haskell1 ,john    
,meakim4    ,from the ,richmond         
,pharmaceutical ,society--,alexander    
,duvall1 ,john  ,purcell1 ,joseph       
,laidley4    ,from the ,cincinnatti     
,college of ,pharmacy--,william ,b4     
,chapman1 ,charles  ,augustus ,smith1   
,edward ,s4 ,wayne4    ,from the        
,philadelphia ,college of               
,pharmacy--,daniel ,b4 ,smith1 ,charles 
,ellis1 ,william ,procter1 ,jr4    ,from
 the ,maryland ,college of              

,pharmacy--,dr4 ,david ,stewart1 ,george
 ,w4  ,andrews4    ,henry ,f4 ,fish1 of 
,waterbury1 ,connecticut1 as the        
representative of  the apothecaries and 
druggists of ,hartford county1          
,connecticut4 ,the  following resolution
 was also offered by the committee3     
,resolved1 ,that those gentlemen whose  
interest in the object of the           
,convention has induced them to meet    
with us on this occasion1 be  invited to
 take seats in the ,convention1 and     
fully participate in its  proceedings4  
,the report and resolutions were        
adopted1 and the committee continued to 
act on claims of delegates1 and others  
not yet arrived4    ,after the roll had 
been called1 the following gentlemen    
were invited to  seats in the           
convention1 viz43     ,,charles ,l4     
,,bache1 of ,san ,francisco1            
,california4   ,,eugene ,,dupuy1 of ,new
 ,york4   ,,edward ,,parrish and        
,,alfred ,b4 ,,taylor1 ,of              
,philadelphia4    ,a committee1         

consisting of one from each delegation1 
was #ccc  then chosen to nominate       
officers for the ,convention1 and on    
their  nomination1 the following        
gentlemen were duly elected3            
,,daniel ,b4 ,,smith1 of ,philadelphia1 
,,president4   ,,george ,w4 ,,andrews1  
of ,baltimore1     ,,samuel ,m4         
,,colcord1 of ,boston1     ,c4          
,,augustus ,,smith1 of ,cincinnati1     
,,vice ,,presidents4   ,,george ,d4     
,,coggeshall1 of ,new ,york1 ,,recording
 ,,secretary4   ,,william ,,procter1    
,,jr41 of ,philadelphia1 ,,corresponding
 ,,secretary4    ,after the officers had
 taken their seats1 the following report
 was  presented by the committee        
appointed at the ,convention1 held the  
previous year at ,new ,york1 8,to act as
 a standing committee1 to collect  such 
information as maybe deemed valuable1   
together with memorials  and suggestions
 from ,medical and ,pharmaceutical      
,associations to be  presented to the   
next ,convention40    8,the undersigned1

 a committee appointed at the           
,convention1 held  last year in ,new    
,york1 and instructed 8,to collect and  
receive such  information as may be     
valuable1 and memorials and suggestions 
from  ,medical and ,pharmaceutical      
,associations1 to be presented to the   
next  ,convention10 respectfully report3
 ,that in the period that has elapsed   
since their appointment--notwithstanding
 the fact of their readiness  to receive
 any communications1 having been duly   
announced--they  have received no       
contributions towards the end or object 
of their  appointment1 except those     
relating to the inspection of drugs4    
,they  have1 however1 not been unmindful
 of the duty imposed upon them1 and  now
 offer the following suggestions1 as    
tending to aid the business of  the     
,convention1 in so far as they exhibit  
some of the more prominent  subjects1   
worthy of its serious deliberation and  
action4    #ast1 ,the number of         
pharmaceutists constituting the         

professional body in  the ,united       
,states is large1 comprehends all grades
 of qualifications1  and extends to     
every city and town in the country4 ,the
 professed  object of the present       
,convention being to adopt measures     
calculated to  benefit this large body  
of citizens1 in a professional point of 
view1  by showing that there exist many 
grounds of sympathy between them1       
notwithstanding the present want of     
united action2 we believe1 that the     
institution of a national association1  
whose members may come from all         
sections of the body1 is calculated to  
enlist this feeling of #ccd             
brotherhood1 and direct its power1 as a 
reforming force1 towards the  elevation 
of the average standard of qualification
 now existing4 ,in  view of this1 it is 
suggested1 whether the passage of a     
resolution by  this ,convention1        
resolving itself into a ,national       
,association1 should  not properly      
engage its attention at its             

commencement1 so that the  important    
details of forming a                    
,constitution--explaining the nature of 
its organization1 c4 c41 might receive  
the deliberate consideration  they      
merit1 before being adopted4    ,as the 
basis upon which the ,association will  
rest1 will be the  decision as to what  
shall constitute a member1 we believe   
its ultimate  usefulness will very much 
depend on the character of this         
decision1 and  we cannot refrain from   
presenting some reflections on the      
subject4    ,the inefficiency or        
inadequacy of the present basis1        
viz43--,delegates  from incorporated and
 unincorporated societies is here       
demonstrated1  by the small number who  
have been appointed in answer to the    
call2 at  least1 this must be true1 so  
long as the process of local            
organization  is so dilatory4 ,the aim  
should be1 to enlist as much as possible
 of the  talent now engaged in the      
pharmaceutical ranks4    ,we think1     

therefore1 that membership in the       
proposed association  should be of a    
representative character1 to as full an 
extent as  practicable4 ,colleges and   
societies of pharmacy should1 of course1
  send delegates4 ,then1 provision      
should be made for the apothecaries1  in
 cities and towns where no society      
exists1 whereby they may send           
representatives1 to the extent of one   
for every ten apothecaries1 in  such    
places2 each representative to bring    
with him a certificate from  his        
constituents4 ,finally1 to provide for  
the admission of isolated  individuals1 
who may not have neighbors sufficient to
 entitle them to  act as                
representatives1 but who feel an        
interest in the association4  ,power    
should be given to the committee1 on    
credentials1 under certain              
restrictions4    ,the formation of the  
constitution1 and the preparation of a  
code  of ethics applicable to the       
present condition of the profession2    

sufficiently stringent to elevate the   
members above many things now too       
prevalent1 and yet not so binding as to 
exclude a large number1 who1  though    
well disposed1 are unable to free       
themselves from participation  in acts  
contrary to the highest standard1       
without a sacrifice greater  than could 
be expected of them1 should engage the  
wisest action of the  ,convention1 to   
render them practicable in their        
working4 #cce    #bnd1 ,the subject of  
,pharmaceutical ,education is1 in the   
opinion  of this committee1 one of great
 importance1 and deserving of the       
consideration of the committee1 in      
several points of view4 ,indeed1  the   
primary object of the ,convention being 
called1 was in reference  to the        
improvement of the standard practice    
throughout the country2  and this cannot
 be effected without extending the      
present means of  education1 either by  
schools1 or by an increase of           
facilities1 offered  by proprietors to  

their apprentices and assistants4 ,in   
too many  instances the proprietors are 
illy fitted to extend to those whom they
  have engaged to teach the business of 
a ,pharmaceutist the tuition that  of   
right belongs to them4 ,as schools of   
pharmacy are of gradual growth1  and    
cannot be expected to exist1 except in  
large cities1 the ,convention  would do 
well to consider what subsidiary means  
may be enlisted to  reach those of our  
brethren who reside in small towns4 ,one
 of the  first of these collateral aids 
will be found in local organizations1   
embracing the proprietors in such towns 
where1 by a union of their  exertions   
and contributions they may encourage    
pharmaceutical  literature1 by forming  
libraries1 and uphold among themselves  
correct  practice1--the employment only 
of good drugs1 and the receipt of fair  
prices4    ,in ,france1 where but three 
pharmaceutical schools exist1 there are 
such societies in all large towns1 which
 have halls and libraries1  where their 

young men and apprentices have          
opportunities for gaining  knowledge2   
and laboratories wherein they           
occasionally perform  operations not    
easily executed with the instruments and
 utensils most  usually found in shop   
laboratories4 ,if such associations can 
be formed  by the proprietors1 they will
 soon influence the apprentices1 and    
thus  effect the object aimed at1 to a  
great extent4    ,the superior          
advantages of tuition in well conducted 
schools of  pharmacy will not be        
doubted1 especially1 when it is preceded
 by  several years shop practice4       
,access to these1 by young men at a     
distance1 can always be had1 when their 
circumstances enable them to  attend1   
and thus finish their pharmaceutical    
education4 ,the perfection  of a school 
of pharmacy is attained by attaching to 
it a practical  laboratory1 wherein the 
advanced pupils can have an opportunity 
to  become familiar with the more       
difficult manipulations of              

pharmaceutical  chemistry1 and of       
extemporaneous pharmacy4 ,as yet1       
neither of the  schools in this country 
have that addition1 which arises from   
the fact1  that the expense of          
conducting them1 renders their support  
by the fees  #ccf of the pupils almost  
impossible4 ,we think the voice of the  
,convention should be raised to         
encourage the formation of such schools1
  and also1 to advocate the practice of 
preparing chemicals in the shop         
laboratory4    #crd1 ,the apprenticeship
 system1 which obtains1 in many parts of
 the  ,united ,states1 is a subject     
worthy the consideration of the         
,convention4  ,the conditions1 conducing
 to mutual advantage1 between the       
employer  and the employed1 are not     
sufficiently attended to in general4    
,proprietors often do not consider the  
fitness of applicants1 both  as regards 
natural endowments and preliminary      
education1 with that  care and attention
 that a due regard to such applicants   

demands2 and  consequently1 a large     
number of inefficient apothecaries are  
entailed  upon the country--inefficient 
from lack of talent1 or from disgust at 
a business for which they have no       
inclination4 ,more attention to the     
claims of apprentices1 on the teaching  
of their employers1 should be  advocated
 by the ,convention as due to the       
former1 as advantageous to  the latter1 
and eventually to the profession4       
#dth1 ,the committee believe that the   
subject of secret medicines1 or         
quackery1 as applied to ,pharmacy1      
together with the course usually        
followed by quacks1 in bringing their   
nostrums into notice1 is becoming       
yearly more fraught with ill            
consequences1 both to the consumers and 
the apothecaries1 and merits the        
consideration of the ,convention1 as  to
 whether the reference of the subject to
 a committee to investigate1  would not 
result in some advantage4    #eth1 ,the 
subject of the inspection of imported   

drugs1 as regards  the actual working of
 the law1 is of deep interest to all4   
,the  possibility of bringing the       
influence of this ,convention to bear1  
in  regard to the continuance in office 
of able men1 solely on the ground  of   
fitness1 is worth consideration4 ,the   
usefulness of this law rests  absolutely
 on the ability and conscientiousness of
 the inspector1 and  if incumbents1     
perfectly satisfactory to those         
concerned1 are removed  on political    
grounds1 and replaced by inexperienced  
and unqualified  persons1 it is apparent
 that the good results of the law will  
cease4    ,whatever may be the          
efficiency of the law against the       
importation of  inferior drugs1 it will 
not reach those at home1 who are        
disposed  to resort to adulteration as a
 means of increasing their profits4 ,the
  power of the ,general ,government     
ceases with the ,custom ,house4 ,it will
  be necessary in order to reach this   
evil effectually1 as far as it can  be  

#ccg done by legislation2 to induce our 
,state ,legislatures and  ,municipal    
,authorities to authorize some form of  
inspection by which  the delinquents can
 be reached2 not the drug adulterator   
merely1 but  the medicine               
adulterator--the apothecary who scruples
 not to reduce  the strength of standard
 medicines1 that he may reduce his      
prices4  ,whatever may be the proper    
course of this ,convention1 we believe  
that  eventually the ,national          
,association should urge1 with all the  
force of  its influence1 the enactment  
of ,state laws tending to the           
reformation  of these evils4    #fth1   
,the general adoption of our ,national  
,pharmacopia as a guide  in the         
preparation of officinal medicines1 is  
much to be desired4 ,we  believe that   
this ,convention should encourage its   
adoption1 and should  request the       
publishers of that work to issue a small
 sized cheap  edition1 so that every    
physician and apothecary shall have a   

copy4 ,we  also believe that a fruitful 
source of variation in the preparations 
of the shops1 is the existence of a     
number of formul for the same           
preparation1 as found in the ,british   
,pharmacopias parallel with that  of our
 own code1 in the commentaries in       
general use4    #gth1 ,the              
indiscriminate sale of poisons by       
druggists and  apothecaries1 as at      
present conducted1 is a serious evil in 
the ,united  ,states4 ,any views which  
may originate in the ,convention1       
tending to  abate this evil1 would no   
doubt have some influence1 if circulated
 by  its authority4    #hth1 ,the       
separation of ,pharmacy from the        
practice of ,medicine1 has long  been   
effected on the continent of ,europe1 by
 the direct interference  of the        
government1 each profession being in the
 hands of a distinct  class of men4     
,inheriting1 as we do1 our medical      
institutions from  ,great ,britain1 the 
confusion of interests which has long   

prevailed  there has in some measure    
descended to us2 and many instances of  
medical practitioners conducting        
apothecary shops1 like the so-called    
apothecaries of ,england1 exist among   
us4 ,the increase of this class  in some
 localities has been marked of late     
years--a fact attributable  to the      
8undue multiplication of graduates in   
medicine1 who1 finding  the ranks of    
their profession so full as to render   
prospect of  immediate success doubtful1
 turn their attention towards ,pharmacy1
  as a subsidiary means of support4 ,as 
these mongrel apothecaries too          
frequently use their shops merely as    
stepping-stones to business1  they tend 
directly to depreciate the standard of  
practice on the one  hand1 and tempt    
#cch young apothecaries1 who are        
struggling against  the difficulties of 
an already excessive competition1 to    
turn their  attention to medical        
practice with or without a diploma1 as  
may suit  their circumstances or fancy1 

on the other1 and thus complicate the   
confusion4 ,as pharmacy never will      
advance as it should1 whilst this       
amalgamation exists in cities and towns 
to any large extent1 we  earnestly      
recommend to this ,convention1 that a   
voice may go forth at  its present      
session1 calling attention to this      
growing evil4    #ith1 ,believing1 that 
if the ,pharmaceutists of the ,united   
,states are  true to themselves1 the    
,meetings of the ,association1 of which 
the  present may be considered the      
beginning1 will annually increase in    
interest and importance1 we would       
suggest--what must have occurred to     
many present--that they should be       
partially devoted to the advancement  of
 ,pharmacy1 as well as to the sciences  
on which it is based1 by  inviting      
contributions of original papers1 and by
 committing subjects  requiring         
investigation to suitable committees1   
who should report  the results of their 
researches at the ensuing ,annual       

,meeting1  when1 if they meet the       
approbation of the ,association1 it     
might  direct their publication4        
,participation in the proceedings of    
such  a gathering of their brethren1    
would prove a powerful incentive to     
many pharmaceutists1 whose tastes lead  
them into scientific paths1 to          
cultivate their talents by the pursuit  
of investigations fraught with          
usefulness to their profession at home1 
and with honor to it abroad4    ,and    
lastly1 whatever may be the ultimate    
action of the ,convention1  in relation 
to the subjects brought forward in this 
,report1 we would  respectfully suggest 
that a full digest of its proceedings be
 directed  to be published1 and largely 
circulated among the ,pharmaceutists of 
the  ,united ,states1 as calculated to  
do much good4     7,,signed17           
,,william ,,procter1 ,,jr41             
,,samuel ,m4 ,,colcord1      ,,geo4 ,d4 
,,coggeshall4 ,,committee4    ,the      
,second ,meeting of this ,association   

was mainly occupied in reading  and     
discussing a draft of a ,constitution   
and code of ,ethics4    ,,third         
,,sitting1 ,october #gth1 #d o'clock1   
,p4 ,m4    ,president in the chair4     
,on the roll being called1 the delegates
 generally were present4 #cci    ,the   
minutes of the preceding sitting were   
read and adopted4    ,the ,president    
informed the ,convention1 that the      
,business ,committee not  being ready to
 report1 it was understood that ,dr4    
,stewart1 ,examiner of  ,drugs1 c41 at  
the port of ,baltimore1 had some        
statements to offer in  regard to the   
working of the ,drug ,law at that port1 
and the ,convention  assenting1         
requested him to proceed4    ,dr4       
,stewart stated1 that as there had been 
some difference of opinion  among the   
,drug ,examiners1 as to the intention of
 the law in certain  cases1 he desired  
the opinion of the ,convention regarding
 the inferior  class of ,cinchona ,barks
 that came from ,maracaibo1 ,carthagena1

 c41  and other articles about which    
there is difference of opinion among    
druggists4 ,in illustration of the      
difficulties of the subject1 he         
remarked that one invoice of bark1 that 
in a commercial point of view  was not  
esteemed1 and which came invoiced at ten
 cents per pound1 had  yielded1 on      
analysis1 two and a half per cent of    
cinchonine2 whilst  ,loxa bark1 invoiced
 at thirty cents per pound1 had afforded
 but a  fraction of one per cent4 ,he   
considered the admission of the barks in
  question as quite different from      
deteriorated or adulterated drugs1 in   
as much as they possessed a range of    
power which1 though inferior to  the    
best ,peruvian barks1 was yet useful1   
and capable of application in  medicine4
    ,he therefore offered the following 
resolution3    8,resolved1 that it is   
the opinion of this ,convention1 that   
all  varieties of drugs1 that are good  
of their kind1 should be admitted by    
the ,special ,examiners of drugs and    

medicines40    ,pending the             
consideration of this resolution1 ,mr4  
,coggeshall informed  the ,convention   
that ,dr4 ,bailey1 the ,special         
,examiner of ,drugs for  the port of    
,new ,york1 had furnished1 at his       
request1 a report on the  character of  
imported drugs1 coming under his        
supervision1 and on the  general working
 of the laws1 which1 by request1 was    
read4 7,published in  our last47    ,a  
similar report from ,mr4 ,edward        
,hamilton1 late ,drug ,examiner at the  
port of ,boston1 communicated to ,mr4   
,s4 ,m4 ,colcord1 at his request1 with  
a view to its being presented to #cdj   
this ,convention1 was also read4  7,to  
be published in our next47    ,dr4      
,stewart then opened the debate on the  
subject1 arguing that drugs1  of        
whatever virtue or variety1 so that they
 are good of their kind1  should be     
admitted4 ,in reference to ,barks he    
could say1 that perhaps  a larger amount
 of the varieties of that drug came to  

the port of  ,baltimore than any other4 
,that the merchants in that trade were  
so  desirous of getting the best kinds1 
that it was quite usual for them  to    
import specimens by way of the ,isthmus1
 and have them examined  before ordering
 their invoices1 to ascertain whether   
they would pass  the ,custom-house1 that
 he had1 7as ,examiner at that port17   
chemically  examined a large number of  
samples of the barks1 both ,peruvian and
  ,carthagena1 and that the latter had  
invariably contained more or less  of   
alkaloids1 and were generally of good   
quality1 of their kind4    ,he therefore
 considered the fact that a drug is1 or 
may be used as an  adulteration for     
other drugs1 should not exclude it if it
 is used to  any extent on its own      
merits4 ,in illustration1 ,dr4 ,stewart 
remarked  that the ,examiner might go on
 a vessel and observe1 side by side1 two
  casks of oil1 consigned to the same   
individual1 one invoiced 8cod liver     
oil10 and the other 8sperm oil40 ,on    

examination he finds that they are  what
 they purport to be2 the suspicion would
 arise very naturally1  that the latter 
was to be used for adulterating the     
former1 yet1  should sperm oil be       
excluded1 because certain parties use it
 for an  adulteration8 ,he thought not1 
and on the same grounds he considered   
that the inferior barks and rhubarb     
should be admitted1 although some       
persons may use them for adulteration4  
,at the request of the ,president1      
,professor ,carson1 of the ,university  
of ,pennsylvania1 addressed the         
,convention on the subject before it4   
,he coincided generally with the views  
of ,dr4 ,stewart1 as regarded the  value
 of the drugs in question4 ,he expressed
 the opinion that numerous  varieties of
 the so-called ,carthagena and          
,maracaibo barks1 were  possessed of    
decided medicinal virtue2 that several  
kinds of ,european  rhubarb #cda were of
 much value in medicine1 especially in  
times when  the officinal varieties are 

scarce1 and that these drugs should all 
be  admitted1 when not deteriorated or  
adulterated4    ,mr4 ,haskell1 of ,new  
,york1 advocated the same views1 more   
especially1  as related to ,english     
rhubarb1 bringing forward the testimony 
of ,dr4  ,pereira1 to the effect1 that  
some specimens of ,banbury rhubarb were 
almost1 if not fully equal to the       
,chinese drug1 and they were here even  
of rather higher price4 ,he also stated1
 that a large demand existed in  this   
country for the yellow ,carthagena      
barks1 that the ,house1 of which  he    
,was a member1 sold large quantities in 
powder1 and that the parties  purchasing
 it did so1 knowing its origin4 ,he was 
not aware of the use  to which it was   
put1 but presumed that it was employed  
legitimately4    ,mr4 ,fisk1 of         
,connecticut1 stated1 that through the  
part of ,new ,england  that he          
represented1 considerable quantities of 
the barks in question  were used        
legitimately1 as tonics2 and that no    

instance of their being  used as an     
adulteration of the ,peruvian barks had 
come to his knowledge4    ,mr4          
,coggeshall on the other side of the    
question1 called the attention  of the  
,convention to the item in ,dr4         
,bailey's ,report1 showing that  three  
hundred thousand pounds of these barks  
had been rejected at the  port of ,new  
,york1 in about two years and a half4   
,he argued that this  bark was not      
consumed there2 that it was not used in 
the manufacture  of the alkaloids2 that 
the allegation that it was used for     
making  tooth powders would hardly      
account for the great consumption of it1
  and the question naturally arose for  
what purpose was it imported8 ,he       
believed that it was used extensively to
 grind with the ,peruvian barks1  as an 
adulteration1 and to make an inferior   
extract1 which could be  done cheaply   
and profitably1 and it was largely sold 
as an officinal  preparation1 that many 
of the persons who came to our cities to

 buy  drugs1 were not able to judge of  
their purity1 and bought them without   
asking any questions1 save1 as regarded 
price1--and so convinced was he  of the 
application of these false barks to     
these false purposes1 #cdb  that as a   
protective measure1 in his opinion1 they
 should be excluded4  ,and also1 in     
regard to ,english and other ,european  
rhubarb1 that the  argument of          
,professor ,carson would not hold good  
while the markets were  so well supplied
 with the ,russian and ,chinese         
varieties1 to which the  ,banbury1      
regarded as the best of the ,european1  
was so very inferior4 ,it  might be used
 as a dernier resort1 but should only be
 so used4 ,entirely  independent of this
 argument1 however1 ,mr4 ,coggeshall    
considered that  ,european rhubarb      
should be excluded1 because of its      
peculiar adaptation  and general use as 
an adulteration1 owing to its fine      
color1 which  enables the adulterator to
 improve the appearance of the inferior 

,chinese variety1 to mix it with the    
,russian article in powder1 without     
depreciating its appearance2 or1 as it  
is notoriously done1 to a great  extent1
 substitute it entirely for the true    
article4    ,mr4 ,colcord1 of ,boston1  
advocated the latter view1 and hoped    
that the  ,resolution would not pass4   
,other members of the ,convention joined
 in the debate1 after which1 the        
question was taken on the ,resolution of
 ,dr4 ,stewart1 and it was lost4    ,as 
the importance of the subject introduced
 by ,dr4 ,stewart1 was fully            
appreciated by the ,convention1 at the  
same time that no direct course  of     
action seemed proper for it to pursue1  
the following ,resolution was  offered  
by ,mr4 ,smith1 of ,cincinnati1 viz43   
8,resolved1 that the whole subject of   
the ,inspection of ,drugs shall be      
referred to a ,committee1 who shall be  
instructed to confer with the           
,examiners1 and endeavor to arrive at   
some practicable means of fixing        

standards for imported drugs40    ,the  
resolution was unanimously adopted1 and 
,mr4 ,taylor1 of  ,philadelphia1 ,mr4   
,meakim1 of ,new ,york1 and ,mr4        
,burnett1 of ,boston1 were  appointed by
 the ,president1 to carry it into       
effect4    ,on motion of ,mr4 ,procter1 
,dr4 ,stewart1 of ,baltimore1 was added 
to the  ,committee4    ,this ,report is 
made up from the ,report of the         
,executive ,committee1  published in    
,philadelphia4 ,the conclusion of the   
proceedings will be  given in our next4 
#cdc      ,,observations ,,upon ,a      
,,general ,,method ,,for ,,detecting    
,,the ,,organic ,,alkaloids  ,,in       
,,cases ,,of ,,poisoning4    ,,by       
,,professor ,,stas1 ,,of ,,brussels4    
,whatever certain authors may have said 
on the subject1 it is possible  to      
discover in a suspected liquid all the  
alkaloids1 in whatever state  they may  
be4 ,i am quite convinced that every    
,chemist who has kept  up his knowledge 
as to analysis1 will not only succeed in

 detecting  their presence1 but even in 
determining the nature of that which he 
has discovered1 provided that the       
alkaloid in question is one of  that    
class of bodies1 the properties of which
 have been suitably  studied4 ,thus he  
will be able to discover conia1         
nicotine1 aniline1  picoline1 petinine1 
morphine1 codeine1 narcotine1           
strychnine1 brucine1  veratrine1        
colchicine1 delphine1 emetine1 solanine1
 aconitine1  atropine1 hyoscyamine4 ,i  
do not pretend to say that the chemical 
study  of all these alkaloids has been  
sufficiently well made to enable the    
experimenter who detects one of them to 
know it immediately1 and affirm  that it
 is such an alkaloid1 and not such      
another4 ,nevertheless1 in  those even  
which he cannot positively determine or 
specify1 he may  be able to say that it 
belongs to such a family of             
vegetables--the  ,solanace1 for example4
 ,in a case of poisoning by such agents1
 even  this will be of much importance4 

,the method which ,i now propose for    
detecting the alkaloids in suspected    
matters1 is nearly the same as  that    
employed for extracting those bodies    
from the vegetables which  contain them4
 ,the only difference consists in the   
manner of setting  them free1 and of    
presenting them to the action of        
solvents4 ,we know  that the alkaloids  
form acid salts1 which are equally      
soluble in water  and alcohol2 we know  
also that a solution of these acid salts
 can be  decomposed so that the base set
 at liberty remains either momentarily  
or permanently in solution in the       
liquid4 ,i have observed that all  the  
solid and fixed alkaloids above         
enumerated1 when maintained in a  free  
state #cdd and in solution in a liquid1 
can be taken up by  ether when this     
solvent is in sufficient quantity4      
,thus1 to extract  an alkaloid from a   
suspected substance1 the only problem to
 resolve  consists in separating1 by the
 aid of simple means1 the foreign       

matters1 and then to find a base which1 
in rendering the alkaloid free1  retains
 it in solution1 in order that the ether
 may extract it from  the liquid4       
,successive treatment by water and      
alcohol of different  degrees of        
concentration1 suffices for separating  
the foreign matters1  and obtaining in a
 small bulk a solution in which the     
alkaloid can  be found4 ,the            
bicarbonates of potash or soda1 or these
 alkalies in  a caustic state1 are      
convenient bases for setting the        
alkaloids at  liberty1 at the same time 
keeping them wholly in solution1        
especially  if the alkaloids have been  
combined with an excess of tartaric or  
of  oxalic acid4    ,to separate foreign
 substances1 animal or otherwise1 from  
the suspected  matters1 recourse is     
commonly had to the tribasic acetate of 
lead1  and precipitating the lead       
afterwards by a current of sulphuretted 
hydrogen4 ,as ,i have several times     
witnessed1 this procedure has many  and 

very serious inconveniences4 ,in the    
first place1 the tribasic  acetate of   
lead1 even when used in large excess1   
comes far short of  precipitating all   
the foreign matters2 secondly1 the      
sulphuretted  hydrogen1 which is used to
 precipitate the lead1 remains in       
combination  with certain organic       
matters which undergo great changes by  
the action  of the air and of even a    
moderate heat2 so that animal liquids   
which  have been precipitated by the    
tribasic acetate of lead1 and from which
  the lead has been separated afterwards
 by hydrosulphuric acid1 color  rapidly 
on exposure to the air1 and exhale at   
the same time a putrid  odor1 which     
adheres firmly to the matters which we  
extract afterwards  from these liquids4 
,the use of a salt of lead presents     
another  inconvenience1 viz43 the       
introduction of foreign metals into the 
suspected matters1 so that that portion 
of the suspected substance is  rendered 
unfit for testing for mineral           

substances4 ,the successive and         
combined use of water and alcohol at    
different states of concentration1  #cde
 permits us to search for mineral       
substances1 whatever be their  nature1  
so that in this way nothing is          
compromised1 which is of immense        
advantage when the analyst does not know
 what poison he is to look for4    ,it  
is hardly necessary to say1 that in     
medico-legal researches for the         
alkaloids1 we ought never to use animal 
charcoal for decolorizing the  liquids1 
because we may lose all the alkaloid in 
the suspected matters4  ,it is generally
 known that animal charcoal absorbs     
these substances at  the same time that 
it fixes the coloring and odoriferous   
matters4    ,this is no doubt true2 we  
must not use animal charcoal to         
decolorize1  and then look for the      
alkaloid in the liquid1 but we may use  
it1 at  least in the case of strychnia  
and some of the non-volatile alkaloids1 
to separate them1 and then we look for  

them in the charcoal4 ,see  notice of   
,graham and ,hofmann's ,process for     
,detecting ,strychnia3  ,monthly        
,journal1 ,aug41 #aheb1 p4 #adj2        
,pharmaceutical ,journal1 vol4  xi41 p4 
#ejd1 ,may1 #aheb4    ,the above        
observations do not proceed from        
speculative ideas only1 but  are the    
result of a pretty long series of       
experiments which ,i have  several times
 employed for discovering these organic 
alkaloids4 ,to put  in practice the     
principles which ,i have thus explained1
 the following  is the method in which  
,i propose to set about such an         
analysis3--,i  suppose that we wish to  
look for an alkaloid in the contents of 
the  stomach or intestines2 we commence 
by adding to these matters twice  their 
weight of pure and very strong          
alcohol2#bf we add afterwards1          
according to the quantity and nature of 
the suspected matter1 from ten  to      
thirty grains of tartaric or oxalic     
acid--in preference tartaric2  we       

introduce the mixture into a flask1 and 
heat it to #afj or #agj  ,fahrenheit4   
,after it has completely cooled it is to
 be filtered1 the  insoluble residue    
washed with strong alcohol1 and the #cdf
 filtered  liquid evaporated in vacuo4  
,if the operator has not an air-pump1   
the  liquid is to be exposed to a strong
 current of air at a temperature  of not
 more than #ij ,fahrenheit4 ,if1 after  
the volatilization of the  alcohol1 the 
residue contains fatty or other         
insoluble matters1 the  liquid is to be 
filtered a second time1 and then the    
filtrate and  washings of the filter    
evaporated in the air-pump till nearly  
dry4  ,if we have no air pump1 it is to 
be placed under a bell-jar over a       
vessel containing concentrated sulphuric
 acid4 ,we are then to treat  the       
residue with cold anhydrous alcohol1    
taking care to exhaust the  substance   
thoroughly2 we evaporate the alcohol in 
the open air at the  ordinary           
temperature1 or still better1 in vacuo2 

we now dissolve the  acid residue in the
 smallest possible quantity of water1   
and introduce  the solution into a small
 test-tube1 and add little by little    
pure  powdered bicarbonate of soda or   
potash1 till a fresh quantity produces  
no further effervescence of carbonic    
acid4 ,we then agitate the whole  with  
four or five times its bulk of pure     
ether1 and leave it to settle4  ,when   
the ether swimming on the top is        
perfectly clear1 then decant some  of it
 into a capsule1 and leave it in a very 
dry place to spontaneous  evaporation4  
#bf ,when we wish to look for an        
alkaloid in the tissue of an organ1  as 
the liver1 heart1 or lungs1 we must     
first divide the organ into  very small 
fragments1 moisten the mass with pure   
strong alcohol1 then  express strongly1 
and by further treatment with alcohol   
exhaust the  tissue of everything       
soluble4 ,the liquid so obtained1 is to 
be treated  in the same way as a mixture
 of suspected matter and alcohol4       

,now1 two orders of things may present  
themselves2 either the alkaloid         
contained in the suspected matter is    
liquid and volatile1 or solid and       
fixed4 ,i shall now consider these two  
hypotheses4      ,,examination ,,for ,a 
,,liquid ,,and ,,volatile ,,alkali4     
,we suppose there exists a liquid and   
volatile alkaloid4 ,in such a  case1 by 
the evaporation of the ether1 there     
remains in the inside of  the capsule   
some small liquid stri which fall to the
 bottom of the  vessel4 ,in this case1  
under the influence of the heat of the  
hand1  the contents of the capsule      
exhale an odor more or less             
disagreeable1  which becomes1 according 
to the nature of the alkaloid1 more or  
less  pungent1 suffocating1 irritant2 it
 presents1 in short1 a smell like  that 
of a volatile alkali masked by an animal
 odor4 ,if we discover  any traces of   
the presence of a volatile alkaloid1 we 
add then to the  contents #cdg of the   
vessel1 from which we have decanted a   

small  quantity of ether1 one or two    
fluid drachms of a strong solution of   
caustic potash or soda1 and agitate the 
mixture4 ,after a sufficient  time1 we  
draw off the ether into a test-tube2 we 
exhaust the mixture by  two or three    
treatments with ether1 and unite all the
 ethereal fluids4  ,we pour afterwards  
into this ether1 holding the alkaloid in
 solution1  one or two drachms of water1
 acidulated with a fifth part of its    
weight  of pure sulphuric acid1 agitate 
it for some time1 leave it to settle1   
pour off the ether swimming on the top1 
and wash the acid liquid at  the bottom 
with a new quantity of ether4 ,as the   
sulphates of ammonia1  of nicotine1     
aniline1 quinoleine1 picoline1 and      
petinine1 are entirely  insoluble in    
ether1 the water acidulated with        
sulphuric acid contains  the alkaloid in
 a small bulk1 and in the state of a    
pure sulphate2  but as the sulphate of  
conia is soluble in ether1 the ether may
  contain a small quantity of this      

alkali1 but the greater part remains  in
 the acidulated watery solution4 ,the   
ether1 on the other hand1  retains all  
the animal matters which it has taken   
from the alkaline  solutions4 ,if it on 
spontaneous evaporation leaves a small  
quantity of  a feebly-colored yellowish 
residue1 of a repulsive animal odor1    
mixed  with a certain quantity of       
sulphate of conine1 this alkaloid exists
  in the suspected matter under         
analysis4 ,to extract the alkaloid from 
the solution of the acid sulphate1 we   
add to the latter an aqueous  and       
concentrated solution of potash or      
caustic soda1 we agitate and  exhaust   
the mixture with pure ether2 the ether  
dissolves ammonia1 and  the alkaloid is 
now free4 ,we expose the ethereal       
solution at the lowest  possible        
temperature to spontaneous evaporation2 
almost all the ammonia  volatilizes with
 the ether1 whilst the alkaloid remains 
as residue4 ,to  eliminate the last     
traces of ammonia1 we place for a few   

minutes the  vessel containing the      
alkaloid in a vacuum over sulphuric     
acid1 and  obtain the organic alkaloid  
with the chemical and physical          
characters  which belong to it1 and     
which it is now the ,chemist's duty to  
determine  positively4    ,i applied1 on
 the #c;d ,march1 #ahea1 the process    
which ,i have #cdh  described1 to the   
detection of nicotine in the blood from 
the heart  of a dog poisoned by two     
cubic centimetres #j4gh ,c4,i4 of       
nicotine  introduced into the sophagus1 
and ,i was able in a most positive      
manner  to determine the presence of    
nicotine in the blood4 ,i was able to   
determine its physical characters1 its  
odor1 taste1 and alkalinity4  ,i        
succeeded in obtaining the              
chloroplatinate of the base perfectly   
crystallized in quadrilateral rhomboidal
 prisms of a rather dark yellow  color1 
and to ascertain their insolubility in  
alcohol and ether4    ,i have applied   
the same process for the detection of   

conia in a very  old tincture of        
hemlock1 which my friend and colleague  
,m4 de ,hemptinne  was so kind as to put
 at my disposal2 and ,i was equally     
successful in  extracting from the      
liquid colorless conia1 presenting all  
the physical  and chemical properties of
 this alkali4 ,i was also able to prove 
that  the ether which holds conia in    
solution1 carries off a notable portion 
of this alkaloid when the solvent is    
exposed to spontaneous evaporation4     
,,examination ,,for ,a ,,solid ,,and    
,,fixed ,,alkaloid4    ,let us now      
suppose that the alkali is solid and    
fixed2 in that  case1 according to the  
nature of the alkali1 it may happen that
 the  evaporation of the ether resulting
 from the treatment of the acid  matter1
 to which we have added bicarbonate of  
soda1 may leave or not  a residue1      
containing an alkaloid4 ,if it does1 we 
add a solution of  caustic potash or    
soda to the liquid1 and agitate it      
briskly with  ether4 ,this dissolves the

 vegetable alkaloid1 now free and       
remaining  in the solution of potash or 
soda4 ,in either case1 we exhaust the   
matter with ether4 ,whatever be the     
agent which has set the alkaloid  free1 
whether it be the bicarbonate of soda or
 potash1 or caustic soda  or potash1 it 
remains1 by the evaporation of the      
ether1 on the side  of the capsule as a 
solid body1 but more commonly a         
colorless milky  liquid1 holding solid  
matters in suspension4 ,the odor of the 
substance  is animal1 disagreeable1 but 
not pungent4 ,it turns litmus paper     
permanently blue4    ,when we thus      
discover a solid alkaloid1 the first    
thing to do is  to try and obtain it in 
a crystalline state1 so as to be able to
  #cdi determine its form4 ,put some    
drops of alcohol in the capsule  which  
contains the alkaloid1 and leave the    
solution to spontaneous  evaporation4   
,it is1 however1 very rare that the     
alkaloid obtained by  the above process 
is pure enough to crystallize4 ,almost  

always it is  soiled by foreign matters4
 ,to isolate these substances1 some     
drops  of water1 feebly acidulated with 
sulphuric acid1 are poured into the     
capsule1 and then moved over its        
surface1 so as to bring it in contact   
with the matter in the capsule4         
,generally we observe that the acid     
water does not moisten the sides of the 
vessel4 ,the matter which is  contained 
in it separates into two parts1 one     
formed of greasy matter1  which remains 
adherent to the sides--the other        
alkaline1 which dissolves  and forms an 
acid sulphate4 ,we cautiously decant the
 acid liquid1  which ought to be limpid 
and colorless1 if the process has been  
well  executed2 the capsule is well     
washed with some drops of acidulated    
water1 added to the first liquid1 and   
the whole is evaporated to              
three-fourths in vacuo1 or under a      
bell-jar over sulphuric acid4 ,we  put  
into the residue a very concentrated    
solution of pure carbonate  of potash1  

and treat the whole liquid with absolute
 alcohol4 ,this  dissolves the alkaloid1
 while it leaves untouched the sulphate 
of  potash and excess of carbonate of   
potash4 ,the evaporation of the         
alcoholic solution gives us the alkaloid
 in crystals4    ,it is now the         
,chemist's business to determine its    
properties1 to be  able to prove its    
individuality4 ,i have applied the      
principles which ,i  have just expounded
 to the detection of morphine1 iodine1  
strychnine1  brucine1 veratrine1        
emetine1 colchicine1 aconitine1         
atropine1  hyoscyamine--and ,i have     
succeeded in isolating1 without the     
least  difficulty1 these different      
alkalies1 previously mixed with foreign 
matters4    ,i have thus been able to   
extract1 by this process1 morphine from 
opium1  strychnine and brucine from nux 
vomica1 veratrine from extract of       
veratram1 emetine from extract of       
ipecacuanha1 colchicine from tincture   
of colchicum1 aconitine from an aqueous 

extract of aconite1 hyoscyamine  from a 
very old extract of henbane1 and        
atropine from an equally old  tincture  
of #cej belladonna4 ,thus it is in all  
confidence that ,i  submit this process 
to the consideration of ,chemists who   
undertake  medico-legal                 
researches4--,bulletin de l' ,acadmie   
,royale de ,mdecine de  ,belgique1 tom4 
vi41 ,no4 #b2 and ,edinburgh ,monthly   
,journal of ,medical  ,science4         
,,varia--,,editorial4      ,,ointment   
,,of ,,stavesacre ,,in ,,itch4--,it has 
long been known that the itch is  caused
 by the attack of a minute insect1 the  
acarus scabiei1 the male  of which has  
only been lately detected1 by the       
microscope4 ,the ordinary  sulphur      
ointment1 though successful after       
repeated applications1 in  destroying   
the insect1 often causes a good deal of 
irritation of the  skin1 and leaves the 
patient with an eruption as troublesome 
if not  as permanent as the itch itself4
 ,m4 ,bourguignon1 a ,french physician1 

finds that the infusion of the seeds of 
the stavesacre1 7,delphinium            
,staphisagria7 or a solution of the     
extract1 not only speedily kills  the   
insects and destroys their eggs1 but    
that it has no irritating  influence    
whatever upon the skin itself4 ,he      
afterwards adopted an  ointment1        
prepared by digesting over a vapor bath1
 for twenty-four  hours1 three parts of 
stavesacre seeds in five parts of lard1 
and  straining the product while still  
liquid4 ,he found that friction with    
this ointment cured the patient in four 
days1 while seven days were  required   
when sulphur ointment was used4         
,,poisonous ,,honey4--,the family of one
 of our most respectable wholesale      
druggists has lately suffered severely  
from symptoms of poisoning1  caused by  
some honey which they had eaten4 ,the   
family of one of  his neighbors         
likewise1 to whom1 induced by its       
particularly fine  appearance1 he had   
sent some of the honey1 were affected in

 a similar  manner4 ,the number of those
 who partook of the suspected article1  
all of whom were affected1 though not to
 the same degree1 renders it  certain   
that the symptoms were not caused by any
 idiosyncracy1 but  were produced by    
some poisonous principle1 probably      
derived from some  narcotico-acrid plant
 on which the bees had fed4    ,on      
eating it there was an unpleasant sense 
of pricking and burning  in the throat1 
nausea1 and a burning sensation         
throughout the whole  system1 together  
with an immediate effect upon vision1   
approaching  to blindness4 ,several of  
those who #cea ate of the honey vomited 
violently and were in great distress4   
,one was rendered entirely blind  and   
insensible1 and it was feared for some  
time might not recover4 ,in  the other  
cases the effect passed off in some ten 
or twelve hours4 ,in  one case a single 
drop of the honey1 taken on the end of  
the finger  from the box where it had   
leaked through a crevice1 had such an   

effect  on the sight that the person    
could not see to read a newspaper1 but  
it  passed off within an hour4    8,we  
are not aware10 continues our informant1
 8of any poisonous plants  in the       
vicinity where the honey was made1      
except what is called  kill-calf1       
7,andromeda ,mariana7 which is found in 
abundance on ,hempstead  ,plains1 at a  
distance of about a mile40    ,if1 as is
 supposed1 the poison was derived from  
some plant in which  the bees had fed1  
it must have been elaborated or         
concentrated in the  economy of the     
insect1 or been the product of some     
reaction of the  honey itself upon the  
poisonous principle1 since no poisonous 
vegetable  is known which would produce 
such effects1 in such minute quantity4  
,,new ,,remedies4--,dr4 ,j4 ,y4         
,simpson1 of ,edinburg1 the discoverer  
of the  anaesthetic properties of       
,chloroform1 has lately been            
experimenting  on the physiological and 
therapeutical properties of a varitey of

  substances which have not previously  
been used in medicine4 ,he finds  that  
the alkaloid furfurine in poisonous     
doses1 produces upon animals  many of   
the symptoms of poisoning by quinine1   
and that in smaller doses  on the human 
subject it acts as a tonic1 if not an   
anti-periodic4 ,he  has likewise used   
nickel1 generally in the form of        
sulphate1 and finds  that it is         
exceedingly analagous in its therapeutic
 effects to the  salts of iron4 ,in one 
instance1 however1 a case of severe     
periodic  headache1 it proved completely
 successful1 after iron with quinine1   
and  a great many other remedies had    
been tried in vain4      ,,the          
,,convention4--,the event for           
,pharmaceutists in the past month1 was  
the ,meeting of the ,convention at      
,philadelphia4 ,the number present was  
smaller than could have been wished1 yet
 great as could reasonably have  been   
anticipated4 ,eight states were         
represented1 including ,mr4 ,bache1  of 

,san ,francisco1 ,california1 and there 
were delegates present from  five       
,colleges4 ,we have devoted1 perhaps1 an
 undue portion of our space  to a       
partial record of its proceedings4      
,though on particular points  there were
 differences of opinion1 yet on the     
whole the meetings were  characterized  
by great unanimity of sentiment1 as well
 as cordiality  of feeling4 ,our great  
hope for the ,convention is1 that it    
will form a  bond of union among the    
scattered and divided members of the    
profession  in the ,united ,states2 that
 it will tend to bring them into one    
great  body1 united by common interests 
and common pursuits1 that it will  tend 
to soften commercial jealousies between 
individuals1 as well as  between states 
and cities2 that it will enable the     
profession when  united1 to exercise its
 rightful and legitimate influence upon 
#ceb  public opinion2 that in the       
profession itself it will promote a     
more extended course of education1 a    

higher standard of attainment  and      
nobler principles of conduct4 ,these are
 great aims and worthy of  strenuous    
efforts1 and it is to be hoped that no  
personal or sectional  jealousies may be
 permitted to stand in the way of their 
attainment4  ,the ,convention has made a
 good beginning1 8,esto perpetua40      
,,college ,,of ,,pharmacy ,,of ,,the    
,,city ,,of ,,new ,,york4    ,the       
regular ,winter ,course of ,lectures in 
this ,institution1 will  commence on    
,monday1 #ast instant1 at #g o'clock1   
,p4 ,m41 and be continued  four months1 
on ,monday1 ,wednesday and ,friday      
evenings of each week1 at  the ,college 
,rooms4     ,on ,materia ,medica and    
,pharmacy1 from #g to #h o'clock1 by    
,prof4 ,b4,w4   ,,mccready1 ,m4,d4      
,on ,chemistry1 from #h to #i o'clock1  
by ,professor ,r4 ,o4 ,,doremus1 ,m4,d4 
,on ,botany1 by ,professor ,i4 ,f4      
,,holton1 of which further notice will  
be   given4    ,the ,chemical ,lectures 
will comprise instruction in the        

,science as  extensively connected with 
many of the useful and ornamental arts1 
rendering them of great advantage to the
 community at large as well as  to the  
,apothecary4    ,in calling public      
attention to the present ,course1 the   
,trustees would  more especially call   
upon the ,medical ,profession and       
,druggists and  ,apothecaries generally1
 to encourage them in carrying out1 in  
the most  effectual manner1 the         
important design of providing1 at a     
nominal  expense1 for a knowledge of    
,chemistry1 ,pharmacy1 and the          
collateral  ,sciences1 to our future    
,apothecaries1 and to all others who    
will avail  themselves of the facilities
 offered4    ,in urging these1 the      
,trustees have no selfish ends to attain
 beyond  the gratification of           
ministering to the public good in the   
elevation  of their profession2 they    
desire to see their efforts appreciated 
and  sustained by full classes1 and     
would earnestly ask of their brethren   

to make sufficient sacrifice of time and
 convenience to enable their            
,assistants and ,pupils to profit by the
 opportunity offered for their          
instruction4 ,the advantages will recur 
directly to the employer in the         
improved capacity and usefulness of his 
,assistants4    ,the ,trustees solicit  
the influence of the ,medical           
,profession to aid  them in cultivating 
a desire to improve this important      
,auxilliary  ,department of the         
,profession1 as the successful treatment
 of disease is  greatly dependent on the
 integrity and intelligence of the      
apothecary4    ,tickets for the ,course 
on ,chemistry1 at #g1 and on ,materia   
,medica and  ,pharmacy1 at #g1 may be   
procured from     ,,mr4 ,,george ,d4    
,,coggeshall1      ,no4 #hji ,,broadway4
   ,,mr4 ,j4 ,s4 ,,aspinwall1           
,no4 #hf ,,william ,,street4   ,,dr4 ,w4
 ,j4 ,,olliffe1             ,no4 #f     
,,bowery4     ,,and ,,at ,,the ,,college
 ,,rooms1 ,no4 #eaa ,,broadway4         

,october1 #aheb4      ,,erratum4--,in   
the ,october ,no4 on page #bid1         
twentieth line from the top1  for       
manifestations1 read modifications4     
#cec          ,,new ,,york    ,,journal 
,,of ,,pharmacy4    ,,december1 #aheb4  
,,on ,,the ,,preservation ,,of ,,iodide 
,,of ,,iron4    ,,by ,,henry ,,wurtz4   
,there can be no doubt that             
imperfections exist in many of the      
methods  at present in use for the      
preservation of various articles of the 
materia medica4 ,wherever the fault may 
be in these cases1 the evil  is         
generally shared between the physicians 
and the patients1 much  the larger share
 of course1 falling to the latter4 ,the 
iodide of  iron is one of these         
articles1 and it will appear probable   
from the  sequel that1 in a multitude of
 cases1 this remedy is administered to  
the patient in quantities which are     
inconstant and much too small to        
produce the effect contemplated by the  
physician in his prescription4    ,one  

method1 extensively employed1 of        
preserving iodide of iron1 for  use in  
medicine1 is in the form of an aqueous  
solution in which a coil  of iron wire  
is kept immersed4 ,this method is given 
by ,pereira1#bg as  proposed by         
,hemingway4 ,pereira also remarks in    
another place that 8it  is important to 
know1 that by keeping a coil of iron    
wire in a solution  of the protiodide1  
as suggested by ,mr4 ,squire1 no free   
iodine or  sesquiodide of iron is formed
 although the liquid may be fully       
exposed  to air and light2 sesquioxide  
of iron is formed1 but if the solution  
be  filtered it is found to contain     
protiodide only40    #bg ,materia       
,medica1 #crd ,am4 ,ed4 #a1 #gde4    ,in
 a paper previously published in this   
journal1 ,i have remarked with          
reference to this matter1 that ,i should
 strongly #ced suspect in this  case a  
formation of a subiodide of iron and    
consequent abstraction of  iodine from  
the solution4#bh ,since that time ,i    

have been enabled to  confirm this      
supposition by experiment4 ,pieces of   
iron wire placed in  contact with a     
colorless solution of iodide of iron    
caused1 in the  course of a few hours1  
the deposition of a precipitate1 which  
had a  dark orange color quite distinct 
from the dark brown color of hydrated   
sesquioxide of iron precipitated from a 
solution of the protochloride  of iron  
by metallic iron4 ,this precipitate1    
being washed with distilled  water until
 the washings gave no indication of the 
presence of iron1  was still found to   
contain much iodine4 ,no quantitative   
analysis of  the precipitate1 however1  
was attempted1 for it was found that the
  washings which no longer contained a  
trace of iron still gave with  nitric   
acid and starch1 a strong iodine        
reaction1 thus indicating that  the     
subiodide of iron upon the filter1      
whatever its composition1 was           
decomposed by the action of water and   
oxygen as soon as the neutral  iodide of

 iron was washed out4 ,this is probably 
the reason why previous  observers have 
mistaken this precipitate for pure      
sesquioxide of iron1  having continued  
washing the precipitate until the       
washing no longer  gave an iodine       
reaction1 instead of an iron reaction as
 in the plan  adopted by me1 and        
consequently until all the subiodide of 
iron was  decomposed and nothing but    
sesquioxide of iron was actually left   
upon  the filter4    #bh ,new-,york     
,journal of ,pharmacy1 ,august1 #aheb4  
,the washings1 however1 after the       
removal of the iodide of iron1 gave  no 
iodine reaction with starch until after 
the addition of nitric  acid2 iodine1   
therefore1 could only have been present 
in the form of  hydriodic acid and the  
reaction by which the unknown subiodide 
of  iron was decomposed may be          
represented as follows3--#b ,fe ,i#ax   
#ax,h ,o  7#cax7,o  ,fe #b,o#c  #ax,,hi4
    ,since the above experiments were   
made1 ,i have found that ,i have1  after

 all1 merely been in a measure          
confirming an observation of  the       
illustrious ,berzelius4 ,gmelin's       
,handbuch under the head of             
,einfachiodeisen1 has the following1    
8,nach ,berzelius ist das braune        
,pulver welches sich beim ,aussetzen des
 #cee wssrigen ,einfachiodeisens  an die
 ,luft absetzt1 nicht reines ,eisenoxyd1
 sondern ein basisches  salz40#bi    ,it
 appears1 therefore1 that the method of 
preserving iodide of iron in  solution1 
in contact with metallic iron is        
perfectly fallacious4 ,this  remedy1 if 
preserved in solution at all1 should be 
kept in bottles  hermetically closed4   
#bi ,according to ,berzelius1 the brown 
powder1 which is deposited  upon        
exposure of aqueous protiodide of iron  
to the air1 is not pure  sesquioxide of 
iron1 but a basic salt4                 
,,observations ,,on ,,the ,,volatility  
,,and ,,solubility ,,of ,,canthardin    
,,in ,,view ,,of  ,,the ,,most          
,,elegible ,,pharmaceutical ,,treatment 

,,of ,,spanish ,,flies4    ,,by         
,,william ,,procter1 ,,jr4              
,cantharides have been used in ,pharmacy
 since the days of ,hippocrates4  ,it   
was not till #ahaj1 however1 that the   
principle giving them  activity was     
isolated by ,robiquet 7,annal4 de       
,chimie lxxvi4 #cjb17 and  subsequently 
named ,cantharidin by ,dr4 ,thomas      
,thompson4 ,since then  various         
experimenters have been engaged in the  
chemical investigation  of these flies1 
and in the more recent treatises they   
are stated to  consist of cantharidin1  
yellow fixed oil1 green fixed oil1  a   
yellow viscous substance1 a black       
matter1 ozmazome1 uric  acid1 acetic    
acid1 phosphoric acid1 and the phosphate
 of lime  and magnesia4 ,it is          
proverbial among apothecaries and       
physicians1  that the pharmaceutical    
preparations designed to produce        
vesication1  vary very much in their    
power as prepared by different          
individuals1  and from different samples

 of cantharides by the same recipes4 ,is
  this variableness of power due to the 
inequality of strength of the           
commercial drug8 or1 are we to attribute
 it to the treatment employed  by the   
apothecary8 ,the real importance of     
these queries demands an  answer4 ,to   
proceed #cef properly1 the investigator 
should examine  cantharidin in a pure   
state1 ascertain how far the statements 
of  writers are correct1 then by a      
series of analyses1 quantitative as     
regards that principle1 determine       
whether its proportion varies1 and to   
what extent1 in different specimens of  
cantharides of fair quality2 and        
finally to test the preparations derived
 from the same samples and see  how far 
they correspond with the inferences     
drawn from the ascertained  properties  
and proportion of the active principle4 
,i have at present  undertaken to       
resolve but a part of these queries--yet
 by far the most  important ones--as    
will be seen4    ,cantharidin is a      

white1 neutral substance1 of which the  
formula  according to ,regnault is      
,c#aj;,h ,o#d4 ,gmelin considers it of  
the  nature of a solid volatile oil4 ,as
 usually seen it has the form of  minute
 flatted four-sided prisms 7c17 much    
broken up1 so as to appear  like scales4
 ,when deposited from an ethereal       
solution of cantharides by  slow        
evaporation1 or from its solution in hot
 acetic acid by cooling1  it assumes the
 form of flattened oblique four-sided   
prisms with  dihedral summits1 derived  
from the rectangular prism by the       
bevelment  of its edges 7see fig4 a and 
b from c47 ,the crystals by slow        
sublimation are four-sided rectangular  
prisms of great brilliance and          
sometimes iridescent1 c and d4          
,illustration    ,,solubility4--,pure   
cantharidin is insoluble in water1 hot  
or cold4 ,it is  slightly soluble in    
cold alcohol1 readily so when hot4      
,ether dissolves  it to a greater       
extent1 yet much more easily hot than   

cold4 ,chloroform  is its best solvent1 
cold or hot1 as shown in a former essay 
7,am4 ,jour4  ,pharm4 vol4 xxiii4 #abd17
 and will remove it from the aqueous    
infusion  of the flies4 ,acetic ether   
dissolves cantharidin1 especially when  
hot1  but does not retain much on       
cooling4 ,when one part of cantharides  
is mixed with #bj parts of olive oil and
 heated to #bej ,fahr4 it is  completely
 dissolved4 ,as the solution cools1 the 
cantharidin rapidly  separates in       
shining needles in such quantity as #ceg
 at first to  give the oil a pulpy      
consistence4 ,the clear cold oil retains
 sufficient  to act as an efficient     
rubefacient but not as an epispastic4   
,one part  of cantharidin requires #gj  
parts of oil of turpentine to dissolve  
it at  the boiling temperature1 the     
greater part separating1 as the solution
  cools1 in long asbestos-like needles4 
,a piece of paper saturated with  the   
cold solution and applied to the skin   
under adhesive plaster did  not         

vesicate4 ,acetone 7from the            
distillation of acetate of lime7        
dissolves cantharidin with great        
readiness and ranks next to chloroform  
in this regard4 ,the solution deposits  
the substance in crystals by            
evaporation4 ,the commercial methylic   
alcohol or wood naphtha also  dissolves 
cantharidin1 but to a much less extent  
than acetone4 ,when  acetic acid sp4 gr4
 #a4da 7,u4 ,s4 ,p47 is added to        
cantharidin1 it but  slightly acts on it
 in the cold2 heat much increases its   
solvent power1  which is lost on cooling
 and the substance deposited by         
standing1  though not immediately4 ,one 
part of cantharidin was mixed with #dj  
parts of crystallizable acetic acid and 
agitated together during  five hours1   
but a small percentage was dissolved2   
but on applying heat  the crystals were 
dissolved quickly4 ,on standing1 nearly 
all of the  cantharidin was slowly      
deposited in regular crystals4 ,to      
ascertain  whether1 as has been         

asserted1#cj a combination was effected1
 and an  acetate of cantharidin         
produced1 an acetic solution of         
cantharidin  was evaporated to dryness  
and the crystals mixed with strong      
sulphuric  acid and heated till         
dissolved1 while the nose was held near1
 without  the slightest evidence of     
acetic odor2 one twentieth of a grain of
  acetate of potassa was then added1    
which instantly evolved the well  marked
 smell of acetic acid4 ,formic acid     
dissolves but a trace of  cantharidin1  
cold or hot2 and muriatic acid sp4 gr4  
#a4ah hardly can be  said to act on it  
in the cold1 but when boiling a minute  
portion is  taken up4 ,the same is true 
of phosphoric acid dissolved in five    
parts  water4 ,sulphuric acid sp4 gr4   
#a4hdj1 when heated readily dissolves   
pure cantharidin without being          
discolored1 #ceh and deposits it in     
crystals unchanged by cooling4 ,hot     
nitric acid sp4 gr4 #a4ch1 dissolves    
cantharidin readily1 and deposits the   

greater part of it on cooling  in       
brilliant crystals1 unchanged4 ,a       
concentrated solution of ammonia  slowly
 dissolves cantharidin to a small       
extent1 and yields it up  on evaporation
 in crystals4 ,solutions of pottassa and
 of soda also  dissolve this principle4 
#cj ,new ,york ,jour4 ,pharm4 vol4 #a4  
p4 #gb4    ,,its ,,volatility4--,about  
ten grains of pure and perfectly dry    
cantharidin  was spread on the pan of an
 ,oertling's balance1 7sensitive to     
#a-aejth  of a grain17 and the          
equilibrium carefully adjusted with     
platina  weights4 ,after exposure for a 
week to the action of the air1 a vessel 
of lime being present to keep the air   
dry1 no change in the adjustment  had   
occurred4 ,to further test the          
volatility of cantharidin1 a portion  of
 it was put at the bottom of a dry test 
tube1 through a paper funnel  so as not 
to soil the sides1 which was then fixed 
so as to dip half an  inch in a         
mercurial bath having a thermometer     

suspended in it4 ,it lost  nothing      
appreciable after being kept at #bab ,f4
 for half an hour1 no  sublimate being  
visible with a lens4 ,at #bbj ,f4 no    
visible effect was  produced4 ,kept at  
#bej ,f4 for twenty minutes1 a very slow
 sublimation  commenced4 ,at #cjj ,f4   
the vaporization was but slightly       
increased4  ,the heat was then raised to
 #cfj ,f41 when the sublimation became  
more decided1 yet still slow4 ,between  
#djb ,f4 and #daj ,f4 it fused1  and    
rapidly sublimed at a few degrees       
higher4 ,cantharidin at this            
temperature volatilizes with great ease 
and condenses in beautiful well  defined
 crystals like salicylic acid4    ,the  
specific gravity of cantharidin is      
considerable1 as it sinks in  nitric    
acid sp4 gr4 #a4ch2 it is exceedingly   
acrid2 its powder applied  to the skin  
with a little oil1 produces speedy      
vesication1 and taken  internally it is 
an irritant poison of the most virulent 
kind4    ,such are some of the more     

prominent characters of this remarkable 
substance1 which exhibits a permanence  
and want of affinity  extraordinary in  
an animal principle4 ,let us now see how
 far  experiments with cantharidin as it
 exists in the flies in substance1      
correspond with its behaviour in an     
isolated state4 #cei    #ast4 ,is       
cantharidin1 as it exists in ,spanish   
flies1 volatile at common  temperatures1
 or at the temperature usually employed 
in making the  cerate2 and if so to what
 extent8    a4 ,six hundred grains of   
powdered cantharides were put into a    
quart  flask1 a pint of water poured on1
 and macerated two hours4 ,the flask    
was then adapted to a glass tubulated   
receiver by means of a long glass  tube1
 the joints made tight1 and the tube    
refrigerated throughout its  length by a
 current of cool water1 the receiver    
itself being surrounded  by water4 ,a   
sand-bath heat was then applied and the 
materials in the  flask kept boiling    
during several hours1 until half a pint 

liquid had  distilled4 ,the product in  
the receiver was opalescent1 with white 
particles floating through it1 and had a
 strong odor of spanish flies4  ,it was 
decanted into a bottle1 and agitated    
repeatedly with half  an ounce of       
chloroform1 which dissolved the         
particles and removed  the opalescence4 
,the chloroform1 when separated with a  
funnel1 and  evaporated spontaneously1  
yielded a colorless semi-crystalline    
residue1  having a waxy consistence and 
a strong odor different from that of the
  flies4 ,it fused at #abj ,fahr41 was  
volatile per se1 but was partially      
decomposed and condensed in drops which 
subsequently solidified4 ,this          
substance is soluble in alcohol1 ether  
and chloroform1 is decomposed  and      
dissolved by sulphuric acid1 produces no
 signs of vesication after  forty-eight 
hours' contact with the skin under      
adhesive plaster1 and  is most probably 
the same volatile principle that has    
been noticed by  ,orfila4    ,the long  

glass tube was then examined for a      
sublimate1 by rinsing it  thoroughly    
with chloroform1 which1 on evaporation1 
afforded more of the  same substance    
obtained from the distilled water1 and  
like it did not  produce vesication4    
,this experiment shows conclusively that
 cantharidin does not  volatilize to an 
appreciable extent with water           
evaporating from  cantharides4    b4    
,more water was added to the residue in 
the flask1 again boiled for  fifteen    
minutes and thrown on a displacing      
filter1 and water added to  the solid   
residue1 after the decoction had #cfj   
ceased to pass1 until  the absorbed     
liquid was displaced4 ,the decoction was
 much less odorous  than the distilled  
water1 and had a deep reddish-brown     
color4 ,half of  this was agitated      
repeatedly with chloroform4 ,the latter 
decanted and  evaporated yielded a crop 
of crystals intermixed with some        
coloring  matter4 ,a part of these      
heated in a tube over a lamp1 gave      

immediately  the brilliant crystaline   
sublimate of cantharidin well marked2   
another  portion applied to the skin    
produced vesication in a few hours4     
,the other half of the decoction was    
evaporated to a soft extract by  direct 
heat4 ,this produced speedy and deep    
vesication1 more effectual  than that of
 pure cantharidin1 as in the extract    
that principle was in  a soluble state  
by virtue of the yellow matter of the   
flies4    c4 ,the residual flies were   
then dried carefully and exhausted with 
ether1 which assumed a deep green color4
 ,a green semi-fluid fatty oil  was     
obtained by evaporation1 from which a   
fluid yellow oil separated by  standing1
 which produced a tardy vesication1 not 
comparable with the  aqueous extract4   
d4 ,one hundred grains of flies in      
powder were introduced into a test  tube
 so as not to soil the sides4 ,this was 
then kept at the temperature  of #bab   
,f4 during six hours1 by causing it to  
dip into a vessel of  boiling water     

through a tin plate4 ,the hygrometric   
water was removed as  it condensed      
above4 ,at the end of the experiment a  
minute deposit of  microscopic crystals 
less than one thirtieth of a grain1 was 
observed  above the flies on the side of
 the tube4    e4 ,two hundred grains of 
flies were introduced into a two ounce  
retort1 which they half filled1 adapted 
to a two ounce receiver1 and  this again
 connected with a third vessel4 ,the    
retort heated by a  mercurial bath1 was 
kept at #bbe ,f41 for two hours1 without
 any product  except a little odorous   
hygrometric water4 ,the heat was then   
raised to  #dab ,f41 when a colorless   
oily matter flowed slowly into the      
receiver1  mixed with water1 whilst a   
crystalline matter mixed with oil       
collected  in the neck4 ,this           
crystalline matter mixed with the oil   
produced  #cfa vesication when applied  
to the skin4 ,the heat was now rapidly  
increased so as to produce brown vapors1
 from which was condensed a  dark       

colored empyreumatic oil1 abundant      
crystals of an ammonical salt  collected
 in the tubes and on the sides of the   
receiver1 whilst the  aqueous liquor in 
the receiver was strongly ammonical4    
,neither the dark  oil nor the crystals 
produced vesication1 the high           
temperature having  probably decomposed 
the cantharidin4    ,from these         
experiments it must be admitted that    
cantharidin is less  volatile than has  
been asserted4 ,the effect produced on  
the eye of the  pupil of ,robiquet who  
was watching the crystallization of     
cantharidin  during the evaporation of  
an ethereal solution1 may be accounted  
for  by the mechanical action of the    
dense ethereal vapor escaping near his  
eye1 as he watched the process with a   
lens1 carrying off some particles  of   
cantharidin2 and the readiness with     
which this principle may be  brought    
mechanically in contact with the skin of
 the face1 during a  series of          
experiments1 by want of care1 will      

easily account for the  occasional      
testimony of writers in favor of its    
volatility at low  temperatures based on
 that kind of evidence4 ,during the     
whole of the  experiments detailed in   
this paper1 the author has not          
experienced any  inconvenience to his   
eyes or face except in two instances1   
once when  decomposing cantharides by   
destructive distillation1 during which  
some  of the vapors escaped near his    
person1 and again where a small capsule 
containing aqueous extract of           
cantharides was accidentally exposed  to
 high temperature over a lamp so as to  
partially decompose it2 he  suffered    
slight pain for a few hours in the      
conjunctiva of both eyes4    ,it must   
also be admitted that the heat          
ordinarily employed in making  the      
blistering cerate of the ,united ,states
 ,pharmacopia1 does not  injure the     
preparation by volatilizing the         
cantharidin1 and that the               
recommendation to digest the flies in   

the melted vehicle on a water  bath is  
not only not injurious1 but decidedly   
advantageous1 as it  increases1 many    
fold1 the solvent power of the fatty    
matter4 #cfb    #b;d4 ,having           
ascertained the solvent powers of olive 
oil1 oil of  turpentine and acetic acid1
 on pure cantharidin1 the following     
experiments were made with those        
menstrua1 and with water1 on the flies  
in substance3    a4 ,one hundred grains 
of powdered cantharides were mixed with 
two  hundred grains of olive oil in a   
large test tube1 which was corked1  and 
the mixture heated in a boiling water   
bath during four hours1 with  occasional
 agitation4 ,the contents of the tube   
were then poured into a  small glass    
displacement apparatus1 surrounded with 
water kept hot by  a lamp1 and the      
saturated oil gradually displaced1      
without cooling1 by  the addition of    
fresh portions of oil4 ,the oily liquid 
thus obtained  had a deep green color1  
smelled strongly of the flies1 and when 

applied  to the skin produced full      
vesication in about twelve hours        
contact4  ,after standing twenty-four   
hours shining needles of cantharidin    
gradually separated1 but not in         
quantity4    b4 ,one hundred grains of  
powdered flies were mixed with two      
hundred  grains of pure oil of          
turpentine in a closed tube1 heated in a
 boiling  water bath four hours1 and    
displaced while hot as in the preceding 
experiment4 ,the terebinthinate solution
 had a dull yellow color1 and  was      
perfectly transparent as it passed1 but 
in a short time numerous  minute        
stellated crystals commenced forming1   
which increased in  quantity by         
standing4 ,the saturated cold solution1 
separated from the  crystals after      
standing twenty-four hours1 did not     
blister when applied  to the skin4    c4
 ,one hundred grains of powdered flies  
were digested in a close  vessel1 at the
 temperature of boiling water1 in three 
hundred grains  of acetic acid sp4 gr4  

#a4jda1 for six hours1 and then         
subjected to  displacement in the hot   
filter above noticed4 ,a dark           
reddish-brown  transparent liquid       
passed1 which had very little odor of   
flies1 even  when a portion was exposed 
until the acetic acid had nearly all    
evaporated4 ,a portion of this liquid   
applied to the skin produced  complete  
vesication in about ten hours4 ,after   
standing a few hours1  numerous minute  
#cfc granular crystals were deposited1  
which  gradually increased in amount and
 size4    ,these three experiments prove
 that hot fatty matter is a good solvent
  for cantharidin as it exists in the   
flies1 and that it retains more  on     
cooling than either turpentine or acetic
 acid4 ,that hot oil of  turpentine is a
 good solvent for extracting            
cantharidin1 although it  does not      
retain much on cooling1 and that        
officinal acetic acid at the            
temperature of #bab ,f4 will remove     
cantharidin readily from ,spanish       

flies1 but retains but a part on        
cooling4    d4 ,five hundred grains of  
recently powdered flies1 contained in a 
flask1 were boiled in a pint of water1  
for an hour1 and the clear  decoction   
decanted1 the residue again treated with
 half a pint  of water1 so as to remove 
all matter soluble in that liquid4 ,the 
decoctions were mixed1 filtered1 and    
evaporated carefully to dryness4  ,the  
extract was exhausted by repeated       
treatment with boiling alcohol1  which  
left a dark colored pulpy matter1 very  
soluble in water1 from  which it is     
precipitated by subacetate of lead4 ,the
 alcoholic solution  was now evaporated 
to a syrup1 and on cooling yielded a    
yellow extract  like mass1 interspersed 
with numerous minute four-sided prisms4 
,by washing a portion with water1 the   
yellow matter was removed1  leaving the 
crystals white and pure4 ,the aqueous   
washings yielded  by evaporation a      
residue of crystals1 and does not       
vesicate4 ,when  the alcoholic extract  

was treated with chloroform the crystals
 were  dissolved1 and the yellow matter 
left4 ,on evaporating the chloroform    
solution the crystals were re-obtained  
with all the characters of  cantharidin4
 ,the matter left by chloroform was now 
treated with water1  in which it        
dissolved1 except a trace of dark       
substance1 and was  again evaporated    
carefully4 ,it afforded a yellow        
honey-like residue1  thickly            
interspersed with crystals and strongly 
acid to litmus1 without  vesicating     
power4    ,a portion of the yellow      
matter separated from the alcoholic     
extract by  water was boiled with some  
cantharidin1 filtered and evaporated4   
,the  residue treated with chloroform   
afforded no #cfd cantharidin2 hence  it 
would appear that although the yellow   
matter enables the cantharidin  to      
dissolve in water and cold alcohol1 when
 once separated its solvent  power      
ceases4    ,having now studied the      
effects of the ordinary solvents on     

cantharidin  in a free state1 and in the
 condition in which it exists in the    
insect1  we are prepared to consider    
with some clearness1 the pharmaceutical 
preparations of the ,spanish fly1 and   
their action as vesicants4    a4 ,if    
#a-cjth of a grain of pure cantharidin1 
in fine powder1 be  placed on the skin  
of the arm and covered with a piece of  
warmed  adhesive plaster1 active        
vesication occurs in eight hours1 with  
pain4  ,if the same quantity of         
cantharidin be put on the other arm1 a  
small  piece of paper be laid over it1  
and then a piece of adhesive plaster    
with a circular hole in it be applied1  
so as to hold on the paper1  no         
vesication occurs in sixteen hours1 the 
powder remaining dry4 ,if  then a large 
piece of plaster be put over the whole1 
at the end of  eight hours more no      
blistering action will have taken place4
 ,if now a  trace of olive oil be       
applied to the back of the paper        
covering the  cantharidin1 and the      

plaster replaced1 speedy vesication will
 occur4  ,these experiments prove that  
cantharidin must be in solution to have 
its vesicating action1 and that oily    
matter is a proper medium4    b4 ,when  
powdered flies are stirred into the     
ordinary vehicle of  resin1 wax1 and    
lard1 so as to chill it almost          
immediately as was  formerly directed1  
but little of the cantharidin is        
dissolved by the  fatty matter1 and when
 applied to the skin the process of     
vesication is  retarded4 ,if1 however1  
the cerate be kept fluid for a length of
 time1  say for half an hour1 by a      
water-bath or other regular heat1 no    
loss  of cantharidin occurs by the heat1
 the active principle is in a great     
measure dissolved by the fat1 and every 
part is impregnated and active4  ,in the
 foregoing experiments it has been shown
 that twenty parts of  olive oil will   
dissolve one of cantharidin when hot4   
,if we admit with  ,thierry that        
cantharides contain but four thousandths

 of their weight  of cantharidin1 the   
quantity contained in a #cfe pound of   
cerate is  about eight grains1 whilst   
the lard in the same weight of cerate is
  #afjj grains1 or two hundred times the
 weight of that principle1 not to  speak
 of the influence of the wax and resin1 
which1 in union1 with the  melted lard1 
act as solvents4 ,hence the whole of the
 cantharidin may be  dissolved by the   
vehicle4 ,another advantage of employing
 a continued  heat in digestion is the  
removal of the hygrometric water from   
the  flies1 which is the source of the  
mouldiness to which the cerate is  prone
 in certain conditions4    ,in a former 
essay 7,amer4 ,journ4 ,pharm41 vol4     
xiii1 p4 #cjb17 ,i have  advocated      
digestion in making this cerate1 7a     
recommendation also made  by ,mr4       
,donovan1 of ,dublin1 about the same    
time17 and also the use of  a portion of
 the oil of turpentine to facilitate the
 solution of the  cantharidin1 but the  
foregoing experiments prove that fatty  

matter is  quite as good1 if not a      
better solvent alone than with          
turpentine4    c4 ,it has been asserted 
long ago by ,beaupoil1 ,robiquet and    
others1  that water will perfectly      
extract the active matter from ,spanish 
flies1  which these experiments         
corroborate4 ,hence it is easy to       
understand  how the condensed           
perspiration may facilitate the action  
of a blister1  especially when1 as was  
formerly much the case1 its surface is  
coated  with the dust of the flies1 and 
the skin moistened4    ,it is also clear
 why the ,unguentum ,cantharidis of the 
,united ,states  ,pharmacopia is active 
although made with a decoction of flies1
 yet1  in this preparation1 care should 
be observed not to evaporate all the    
water1 as on the existence of the       
aqueous extract in a soft state  depends
 much of the efficiency of the          
preparation as an irritant  dressing4   
d4 ,in the ,linimentum ,cantharidis1    
,united ,states ,pharm41 in which an    

ounce of flies is digested in eight     
fluid ounces of oil of turpentine1  the 
cantharidin is to be the menstruum as #a
 to #aejj1 a proportion  probably quite 
sufficient to retain it in solution4    
,the importance of  the officinal       
direction to digest is evident4 ,it is  
quite doubtful  whether this liniment1  
as made by the process of ,dr4 ,joseph  
,hartshorne1  one part of flies to #cff 
three parts of oil1 will retain all the 
cantharidin after standing awhile4    e4
 ,the ,acetum ,cantharidis1 7,lond4     
,ph47 made by macerating an ounce of    
flies in ten fluid ounces of acetic     
acid1 #a4dh1 has been criticised by     
,mr4 ,redwood1 7,pharm4 ,journal1 ,oct4 
#ahda17 who arrived at the conclusion   
that it owed its vesicating power almost
 solely to the acid1 he not  being able 
to discover cantharidin in it4 ,the     
inefficiency of cold  acetic acid as a  
solvent for pure cantharidin has been   
proven by the  above experiments1 and   
its efficiency when hot equally shown4  

,there can  be little doubt that the    
,london preparation would be much       
improved by  digesting the flies in the 
acid for an hour in a close glass vessel
  at the temperature of boiling water4  
f4 ,the cantharidal collodion of ,m4    
,ilisch has been considerably  used as a
 vesicant in this country4 ,ether being 
a good solvent for  cantharidin readily 
keeps that principle in solution4 ,when 
applied to  the skin1 the escape of the 
ether leaves a coating of ethereal      
extract  of cantharides1 admixed with   
collodion4 ,this preparation sometimes  
fails from a deficiency of cantharidin1 
at other times from want of  a          
sufficient body in the collodion        
excipient1 and it has been found  more  
advantageous to treat the cantharides   
with ether till exhausted1  distill off 
the ether1 and add the oily residue to  
collodion of the  proper consistence4   
,the addition of a little olive oil1 and
 of ,venice  turpentine1 as recommended 
by ,mr4 ,rand1 will give more activity  

to the  preparation1 especially if a    
piece of oiled silk or adhesive plaster 
be  applied over the part4    g4        
,besides these1 many other epispastic   
preparations are made in  ,france and   
other countries4 ,the acetic alcoholic  
extract of cantharides  of ,ferrari is  
made by digesting four parts of         
cantharides in sixteen  parts of alcohol
 #cf ,b4 mixed with one part of acetic  
acid #aj ,b4  ,in the opinion of the    
author1 the acetic acid tends to prevent
 the  crystallization of the            
cantharidin1 a statement rendered       
doubtful by  the above experiments1 as  
that principle separates in crystals    
from an  acetic solution of cantharides4
 ,the alcohol dissolves the green oil   
#cfg which gives to the extract a       
butyraceous consistence4 ,this is       
undoubtedly an efficient preparation1   
and is used by spreading it on  paper   
with a brush1 and applying to the skin4 
,nearly all the ,french  preparations   
direct digestion of from #b to #f hours1

 showing evidently  that the experience 
of pharmaceutists is opposed to the     
opinion that  cantharides is 8a very    
volatile substance1 even at common      
temperatures40    ,the vesicating tafeta
 of the ,codex1 is that proposed by     
,messrs4 ,henry   ,guibourt1 and is made
 by fusing together one part of the     
ethereal  extract of cantharides and two
 of wax1 and spreading it on waxed paper
  or linen in the manner of adhesive    
plaster4 ,this preparation is said  to  
lose its efficiency by exposure to the  
air4 ,how can this occur in  view of the
 results which have been detailed above8
 admitting the fact1  it is not probable
 that the change lies in the strong     
tendency of the  cantharidin to separate
 in crystals8 a change easily observable
 in  the ethereal extract4 ,this is the 
chief objection to some otherwise       
excellent preparations of cantharides   
for vesication1 and it is far  more     
probably the true explanation1 than1    
that volatility should be the  cause4   

,the recently prepared and soft aqueous 
extract of cantharides has  been shown  
to be a powerful epispastic4 ,will this 
extract of the  consistence of honey1   
associated with sufficient acetic acid1 
alcohol1  or acetone1 to preserve it1   
keep without the gradual separation of  
the cantharidin8 ,if so1 it will        
undoubtedly prove one of the very  best 
blistering agents1 as by simply applying
 a covering of it over  the surface of  
waxed paper1 or adhesive plaster1 with a
 camel's-hair  brush1 a perfect         
blistering plaster can be made quickly  
and neatly1  and all tendency to change 
of aggregation by the action of the air 
on  the menstruum avoided4 ,this is a   
question now under trial1 and should  it
 result favorably1 a formula will be    
published4 ,the extraordinary  tendency 
of cantharidin to crystallize1 even     
under the most adverse  circumstances1  
taken in connection with its            
insolubility1 per se1  has hardly       
received sufficient attention from      

pharmaceutists as a  cause of the       
deterioration of #cfh cantharidal       
preparations1 and the  discovery of a   
menstruum1 that will retain that        
principle in solution  for an indefinite
 period1 is a problem yet to be solved1 
and worthy the  attention of            
pharmaceutical investigators4           
,philadelphia1 ,september1 #aheb4       
,,on ,,gelseminum ,,sempervirens ,,or   
,,yellow ,,jassamin4    ,,by ,,william  
,,procter1 ,,jr4    ,considerable       
attention has recently been turned to   
the ,yellow ,jassamin  of our ,southern 
,states1 from the accidental discovery  
of certain  remarkable effects produced 
by it when taken internally4 ,a planter 
of ,mississippi having suffered much    
from a tedious attack of bilious  fever1
 which resisted the usual medicines     
employed in such cases1  requested one  
of his servants to obtain from the      
garden a certain root1  from which he   
intended to prepare an infusion for     
drinking4 ,by mistake1  the person sent 

collected a different root1 and         
administered the tea  to his master1    
who1 soon after taking it1 was seized   
with a complete  loss of muscular power1
 being1 in fact1 so completely          
prostrated as  to be unable to move a   
limb or to raise the eyelids1 yet he    
could  hear1 and could appreciate what  
was occurring around him4 ,after some   
hours1 during which his friends were    
watching him with much anxiety  and     
little hope1 he gradually recovered his 
muscular control1 and was  astonished to
 find that the fever had left him4      
,having ascertained from  his servant   
what plant he had collected1 he         
subsequently employed it  successfully  
on his own plantation as well as among  
his neighbors4 ,the  history becoming   
known to a quackish physician1 he       
prepared from it  a nostrum called the  
8,electrical ,febrifuge10 in #cfi which1
 it was  disguised by oil of            
winter-green1 7,eclectic ,dispensatory1 
page #ahf47    ,the ,gelseminum is not  

noticed by ,dr4 ,griffith in his        
,medical ,botany1  nor in the recent    
edition of the ,united ,states          
,dispensatory1 and so  far appears to   
have been used chiefly by the           
8,eclectic0 practitioners  of           
,cincinnati and other parts of the      
,western ,states4 ,the accompanying     
description of the plant is taken partly
 from a specimen sent  from ,memphis1   
,tennessee1 where1 in common with other 
parts of the  south-western ,states1 it 
is cultivated as an ornamental garden   
plant4    ,the ,gelseminum belongs to   
the natural order ,apocyne1 so          
remarkable for  the great activity of   
many of its genera1 and the name of the 
genus1  given by ,jussieu1 is one of the
 ancient names of the jessamine1 and    
that of the species arises from its     
evergreen foliage4    ,,gelseminum      
belongs to ,pentandria ,digynia of      
,linnus1 and to the natural  order      
,apocyne of ,jussieu4    ,generic       
characters4--,regular1 calyx five       

parted1 7the sepals of  this species    
being furnished with bract-like         
appendages7 carolla  funnel-form1 border
 spreading1 five lobed1 nearly equal1   
capsule  compressed1 flat1 two partible1
 two-celled1 seeds flat and attached to 
the margins of the valves1 7,eaton47    
,specific characters4--,the ,g4         
sempervirens is known at the ,south     
under  the names yellow jasmine1 wild   
jasmine1 and woodbine4 ,in ,florida it  
flowers in ,march1 and in ,mississippi  
and ,tennessee in ,may and ,june4  ,its 
stem is twining1 smooth and glabrous2   
its leaves are opposite1  perennial1    
lanceolate1 entire1 dark green above1   
paler beneath2 with  short petioles4    
,the flowers1 which are esteemed        
poisonous1 are yellow1  about an inch   
long and half an inch wide at the top1  
of a fine yellow  color1 and have an    
agreeable odor1 which perfumes the air  
when they  bloom4 ,it grows luxuriantly1
 climbing from tree to tree1 forming a  
delightful shade4 ,according to ,eaton1 

from whose botany we glean part  of the 
above botanical notice1 there is a      
variety called inodorum which  has      
scentless flowers4    ,the ,gelseminum  
is indigenous to the ,southern ,states1 
and its beauty has  caused its          
introduction into the gardens4 #cgj     
,medical properties and uses4--,the root
 is the part used1 and the  tincture is 
the preparation most usually employed1  
and1 as made1 must  be a saturated      
tincture4 ,the roots1 in a green state1 
well bruised1  are introduced into a    
suitable vessel1 and covered with       
whiskey1 or  diluted alcohol4 ,after    
standing two weeks1 the tincture is     
separated by  expression and filtered4  
,it has a dark red color1 and a pleasant
 bitter  taste4 ,the dose is from ten to
 fifty drops4 ,the following account  of
 its medical properties and effects is  
taken from a paper in the  8,eclectic   
,medical ,journal10 ,august1 #aheb1 page
 #cec1 by ,f4 ,d4 ,hill of  ,cincinnati3
     8,gelseminum is stimulant1 tonic1  

and anti-spasmodic4 ,by its relaxing    
effect it produces gentle diaphoresis1  
and is said to be narcotic4   ,its      
effect in large doses1 or doses too     
frequently repeated1 is   extreme       
relaxation1 and general prostration of  
the whole muscular   and nervous system4
 ,it will suspend and hold in check     
muscular   irritability and nervous     
excitement with more force and power    
than   any known remedy4 ,it is of a    
pleasant bitter taste1 and performs its 
wonder-working cures1 in all febrile    
diseases1 without exciting either       
nausea1 vomiting1 or purging4 ,when     
enough has been given to produce   its  
specific effect1 the eye is dimmed1 the 
vision clouded and double1   the head   
light and dizzy4 ,when these effects    
follow the administration   of this     
remedy1 no more should be given until   
the patient has entirely   recovered    
from its influence4 #8,it maybe used in 
all species of   fevers1 nervous and    
bilious headache1 colds1 pneumonia1     

hemorrhages1   leucorrhea1 chorea1      
ague-cake1 asthma1 and many other       
diseases3 but   its efficacy has been   
most admired in all forms and grades of 
fevers4'   ,it should always be used    
with great care and caution4 ,the root  
is   said to possess a resinous         
principle1 which1 when extracted by pure
   alcohol1 will produce death in very  
small doses4 ,but no such effect   need 
be expected from the proper dose of the 
common tincture4 ,there   is danger of  
carrying it to such an extent as to     
suspend involuntary   muscular action1  
and when this is the case1 death must   
ensue4 #8,it is   incompatible with no  
known substance1 and may follow any     
preceeding   treatment with perfect     
safety4' ,the dose is forty drops for an
   adult1 and children in proportion to 
age and temperament4 ,it is given       
either with or without quinine4 ,it has 
been used alone for chronic             
rheumatism1 in doses of forty drops1    
three times a day1 with marked          

effects4 ,three or four doses1 with a   
mild cathartic1 will remove the         
redness and swelling attending inflamed 
sore eyes4 ,special attention   should  
be directed to the general health and   
constitution of the   patient before    
giving gelseminum4 ,if the bowels be    
constipated they   should be moved by a 
gentle aperient1 and kept in a relaxed  
condition4   ,it requires double the    
quantity to produce the effect on some  
that it   does on others2 and should the
 practitioner ever produce too great a  
degree of relaxation1 he should lose no 
time in stimulating and toning   up his 
patient40 #cga    ,the alleged effects  
of this plant on the human system1 taken
 in  connection with its                
medico-botanical relations1 mark it out 
as being  probably one of the most      
valuable of our indigenous remedial     
agents1  and render it well worthy of   
the investigation of regular physicians4
      ,,on ,,the ,,manufacture ,,of     
,,writing ,,inks4    7,concluded from   

page #caf47    ,prussian blue1 that has 
not undergone digestion in acid in the  
way  above pointed out1 will require a  
much larger proportion of oxalic  acid1 
from twice to three times its weight2   
and even then it will be  greatly liable
 to precipitation after standing2 but   
when treated in the  way described1 it  
is not liable to precipitate1 but       
remains a permanent  solution4          
,,stephens' ,,red ,,ink4--,stephens' red
 ink is prepared as follows3--,take a   
quantity of common soda1 potash or      
carbonate of ammonia1 to which is to  be
 added1 at intervals1 twice its weight  
of crude argol in powder4    ,when the  
effervescence1 arising from this        
combination1 has ceased1 pour  off the  
solution1 or filter it from the         
insoluble matter2 to this1 add  by      
measure half the quantity of oxalate of 
alumina1 or oxalo-phosphate  of alumina1
 prepared by adding to precipitated     
alumina or phosphate  of alumina1 in a  
damp state1 as much oxalic acid as will 

dissolve4  ,into this mixture1 put1 when
 cold1 as much cochineal1 first bruised 
or powdered1 as will give it a fine red 
color1 varying the quantity  according  
to the shade of color required2 and     
after letting it stand  for the space of
 forty eight hours1 strain it off for   
use4      ,,professor ,,runge',s        
,,writing ,,fluid4--,one of the least   
expensive formulas  for the manufacture 
of a writing ink1 is that given by      
,professor ,runge1  who says3 8,i have  
for some time #cgb endeavored to find a 
black fluid  possessing the properties  
of forming no deposit1 of adhering      
strongly  to the paper1 of being        
unaffected by acids1 and lastly1 what is
 of  great importance1 not acted upon by
 steel pens4    8,after many            
experiments1 ,i have succeeded in       
obtaining a composition of  the kind    
required1 very simple in its            
preparation1 containing nothing  but    
logwood1 chromate of potash1 and water1 
and free from vinegar1  gum1 copperas1  

blue vitriol1 and even nutgalls4 ,the   
low price of this  writing fluid is also
 in its favor4 ,it is prepared by simply
 adding  one part of chromate of potash 
to #ajjj parts of decoction of logwood1 
made by boiling twenty-two pounds of    
logwood in a sufficient quantity  of    
water to give fourteen gallons of       
decoction2 to this decoction1  when     
cold1 the chromic salt is gradually     
added1 and the mixture well  stirred4   
,the addition of gum is injurious4 ,in  
the preparation of  this ink1 it must be
 remembered that the yellow chromate and
 not the  bi-carbonate of potash is     
employed1 and great care is required to 
ensure due adjustment of the relative   
proportions of the ingredients  used4   
,the best way is to make a decoction of 
logwood1 and gradually  add to it1 well 
stirring the mixture1 as much solution  
of chromate as  will give the shade     
required4    8,it appears astonishing   
what a small quantity of the chrome salt
 is  required to convert a large        

quantity of decoction of logwood into a 
black writing fluid2 the fact is however
 certain1 and care must be  taken not to
 allow the proportion of chrome salt to 
exceed half a  part for each #ejj parts 
of decoction of logwood1 as a larger    
quantity  exercises a prejudicial effect
 in destroying the coloring matter of   
the  liquid1 whilst in the proportion   
above mentioned1 a deep blue black      
writing ink is formed1 which1 unlike the
 ink made with tannogallate  of iron1 is
 perfectly fluid1 forming no deposit4   
,this writing fluid  possesses another  
advantage2 the paper which has been     
written upon with  it may be washed with
 a sponge1 or be left twenty-four hours 
under  water1 without the writing being 
effaced4 ,weak acids do not destroy  the
 writing1 nor do they even change the   
#cgc shade1 whilst that  made with      
gallnuts is effaced1 and the ink        
prepared with logwood and  copperas is  
turned red4    8,new steel pens are     
coated with a greasy substance1 which   

prevents the  ready flow of the ink2    
this should1 therefore1 be removed      
previous to  use by moistening the pens 
with saliva1 and then washing them in   
water4  ,the application of an alkaline 
solution is still preferable to remove  
this greasy matter4 ,the cleansing of   
the steel pens is absolutely  essential 
in the case of using the ink above      
mentioned4 ,i have used  this ink       
upwards of two years1 and my steel pens 
are not in the least  degree affected4  
,no rust is formed on the pens1 so that 
after years  of service the only wear   
experienced is that from constant use on
 the  paper1 thus rendering unnecessary 
the use of pens tipped with iridium  and
 other hard substances40      ,,on ,,the
 ,,growth ,,of ,,various ,,kinds ,,of   
,,mould ,,in ,,syrup4    ,professor     
,balfour1 the ,professor of ,botany in  
the ,university of  ,edinburgh1 has read
 a valuable paper on this subject1 at   
the ,botanical  ,society in that city1  
in which he states that mould of various

 kinds1  when placed in syrup1 has a    
tendency to spread out and form a flat1 
gelatinous1 and leathery expansion4     
,this he shows by experiments1 as       
follows3--,mould that had grown upon an 
apple was put into syrup2 and in  the   
course of two months there was formed   
upon the syrup a cellular1  flat1       
expanded mass1 while the syrup was      
converted into vinegar4    ,mould that  
had grown upon a pear was also put into 
syrup1 and the  same result was         
produced4 ,he also experimented in the  
same manner  with various moulds that   
were growing upon bread1 tea1 and some  
other  vegetable substances2 the effect 
#cgd produced1 in most cases1 was  to   
cause a fermentation1 resulting in the  
production of vinegar4 ,in  another     
experiment1 a quantity of raw sugar1    
treacle1 and water1 were  put into a    
jar1 without any mould being introduced4
 ,when examined1  after a lapse of four 
or five months1 a growth like that of   
the vinegar  plant was visible1 and     

vinegar was formed4 ,this plant was     
removed1 and  put into fresh syrup1     
which was followed again by the         
production of  vinegar4 ,it appears     
that1 when purified white sugar only is 
used to  make syrup1 the plant1 when    
placed in it1 does not produce vinegar  
so  speedily2 the length of time        
required for the changes varying from   
four  to six months4 ,dr4 ,balfour      
thinks this may possibly be owing1 to   
the  presence of some ingredient in the 
raw sugar and treacle1 which may  tend  
to promote the production of vinegar4   
,in connection with this subject1 ,i may
 refer to the ,vinegar ,plant1  which is
 considered by some eminent botanists to
 be an unnatural and  peculiar form of  
some fungus4 ,this plant1 which has a   
tough gelatinous  consistence1 when put 
into a mixture of treacle1 sugar and    
water1  gives rise to an acetous        
fermentation4 ,the vinegar1 which is the
  result of this acetous fermentation1  
is of a syrupy nature2 and when         

evaporated to dryness1 a large quantity 
of saccharine matter is left4  ,various 
conjectures have been hazarded as to the
 origin of this vinegar  plant2 some    
stating that it came from ,south        
,america1 or other distant  regions2 and
 others that it is a spontaneous        
production4 ,dr4 ,lindley  is of opinion
 that it is a peculiar form of          
penicillum glaucum1 or  common          
blue-mould4 ,the general opinion appears
 to be1 that it is in an  anomalous     
state of mould1 or of some fungus3 and  
the peculiar form and  consistence it   
assumes on different occasions1 seems to
 depend upon the  nature of the material
 in1 or upon which1 it makes its        
appearance4    #cge      ,,constitution 
,,of ,,the ,,american ,,pharmaceutical  
,,association4    ,whereas1 ,the        
advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge 
and the  elevation of the professional  
character of apothecaries and druggists 
throughout the ,united ,states are      
objects that are dear to us in common   

with all well disposed pharmaceutists2  
and1 whereas1 a large portion  of those 
in whose hands the practice of pharmacy 
now exists1 are not  properly qualified 
for the responsible offices it involves1
 chiefly  by reason of the many         
difficulties that impede the acquirement
 of a  correct knowledge of their       
business2    ,therefore1 ,we1 the       
members of a ,convention now met at     
,philadelphia1  composed of apothecaries
 and druggists from different sections  
of the  ,union1 and from all the        
,colleges and ,societies therein        
existing1 with  the object of           
deliberating on the condition of our    
profession1 do  hereby resolve and      
constitute ourselves into a permanent   
asociation1 to  meet annually at such   
times and places as may hereafter be    
determined1  for more effectually       
accomplishing the objects for which we  
are now  assembled2 and do now adopt the
 following ,,constitution3    ,,section 
#a4    ,this association shall be called

 8,the ,american ,pharmaceutical        
,association40    ,,section #b4 ,of the 
,members4    ,article ,i4 ,all          
pharmaceutists and druggists who shall  
have  attained the age of twenty-one    
years1 whose character1 morally  and    
professionally1 is fair1 and who1 after 
duly considering the  obligations of the
 ,constitution and ,code of ,ethics of  
this ,association  are willing to       
subscribe to them1 shall be eligible for
 membership4    ,article ,,ii4 ,the     
members shall consist of delegates from 
regularly  constituted ,colleges of     
,pharmacy1 and ,pharmaceutical          
,societies1 who  shall present properly 
authorized credentials1 and of other    
reputable  ,pharmaceutists feeling an   
interest in the objects of the          
,association1  who may not be so        
delegated1 the latter being required to 
present a  certificate signed by a      
majority of the delegates from the      
places  whence they come4 ,if no such   
delegates are present at the            

,association1  they may1 on obtaining   
the certificates of any three members of
 the  #cgf ,association1 be admitted1   
provided they be introduced by the      
committee on credentials4    ,article   
,,iii4 ,all persons who become members  
of this ,association shall  be          
considered as permanent members1 but may
 be expelled for improper  conduct by a 
vote of two thirds of the members       
present at any annual  meeting4         
,article ,,iv4 ,every member in         
attendance at the annual meetings shall 
pay into the hands of the ,treasurer the
 sum of two dollars as his  yearly      
contribution4    ,article ,v4 ,every    
local ,pharmaceutical ,association shall
 be entitled  to five delegates4        
,,section ,,iii4 ,of the ,officers4     
,the officers of this association shall 
be a ,president1 three ,vice            
,presidents1 a ,recording ,secretary1 a 
,corresponding ,secretary1 a            
,treasurer1 and an ,executive ,committee
 of three1 which may include any  of the

 members except the ,president1 all of  
whom shall be elected  annually4        
,article ,i4 ,the ,president shall      
preside at the meetings and preserve    
order4 ,he shall nominate all           
committees1 except a majority of the    
members present direct a resort to      
balloting or other means4 ,he  shall    
sign all certificates of membership1    
approve of all foreign  correspondence1 
and countersign all orders on the       
,treasurer drawn by  the ,executive     
,committee4 ,and he shall1 at least     
three months previously  to the annual  
meeting publish a call in all the       
pharmaceutical and in  such medical and 
other ,journals as he may select1       
stating therein the  objects of the     
,association1 and the conditions of     
membership4    ,article ,,ii4 ,in case  
of the temporary absence1 or inability  
of the  ,president1 his duties shall    
devolve on one of the ,vice ,presidents4
    ,article ,,iii4 ,the ,recording     
,secretary shall keep fair and correct  

minutes of the proceedings of the       
,association4 ,he shall keep a roll     
book of the members1 and see that it is 
corrected annually1 and he  shall       
furnish to the ,executive ,committee a  
correct transcript of the  minutes of   
the meeting for publication in the      
,transactions of the  ,association4     
,article ,,iv4 ,the ,corresponding      
,secretary shall attend to the official 
correspondence directed by the          
association with other bodies1 or with  
its members1 all of which correspondence
 shall be approved by the  ,president4  
#cgg    ,article ,v4 ,the ,treasurer    
shall receive and take care of the funds
  of the ,association2 shall pay its    
money only on the order of the          
,executive ,committee1 countersigned by 
the ,president2 and shall present  a    
statement of his accounts annually that 
they may be audited4    ,article ,,vi4  
,the ,executive ,committee shall take   
charge of the  publication of the       
proceedings of the ,association1        

including such  papers on scientific    
subjects as it may direct to be         
published2 attend  to their             
distribution2 pay the expenses incurred 
on behalf of the  ,association at its   
meetings or in the interim1 and report a
 statement  of their transactions to the
 next meeting4    ,,section ,,iv4 ,of   
the ,meetings4    ,article ,i4 ,the     
meetings shall be held annually1 at such
 time and  place as shall be determined 
at the adjournment of the previous      
meeting1 observing that no two meetings 
shall be held consecutively at  the same
 place4    ,article ,,ii4 ,the meetings 
shall be organized by the ,president of 
the  previous year1 or1 in his absence1 
by either of the ,vice ,presidents in   
the order of their election1 or1 in     
their absence1 by the ,recording        
,secretary1 who shall act pro tempore   
until the nomination and  election of   
officers for the session4    ,article   
,,iii4 ,immediately after the temporary 
organization of the  ,association the   

roll shall be called1 when a committee  
on credentials  shall be appointed from 
the members present1 to whom the        
certificates  of delegates shall be     
submitted1 and who shall examine the    
claims of  all other applicants for     
membership before they are submitted to 
the  ,association4    ,,section ,v4     
,this ,constitution may be altered or   
amended by a vote of three-fourths  of  
the members present at any regular      
meeting1 and notice to alter  or amend  
the same shall be given at least one    
sitting before a vote  thereupon4       
#cgh      ,,code ,,of ,,ethics ,,of     
,,the ,,american ,,pharmaceutical       
,,association4    ,the ,american        
,pharmaceutical ,association1 composed  
of ,pharmaceutists and  ,druggists      
throughout the ,united ,states1 feeling 
a strong interest in  the success and   
advancement of their profession in its  
practical and  scientific relations1 and
 also impressed with the belief that no 
amount  of knowledge and skill will     

protect themselves and the public from  
the  ill effects of an undue            
competition1 and the temptations to gain
 at the  expense of quality1 unless they
 are upheld by high moral obligations in
  the path of duty1 have subscribed to  
the following ,code of ,ethics for  the 
government of their professional        
conduct4    ,,art4 ,i4 ,as the practice 
of pharmacy can only become uniform by  
an open  and candid intercourse being   
kept up between apothecaries and        
druggists  among themselves and each    
other1 by the adoption of the ,national 
,pharmacopia as a guide in the          
preparation of officinal medicines1 by  
the discontinuance of secret formul and 
the practices arising from  a quackish  
spirit1 and by an encouragement of that 
esprit du corps  which will prevent a   
resort to those disreputable practices  
arising out  of an injurious and wicked 
competition2--,therefore1 the members of
  this ,association agree to uphold the 
use of the ,pharmacopia in their        

practice2 to cultivate brotherly feeling
 among the members1 and to              
discountenance quackery and dishonorable
 competition in their business4         
,,art4 ,,ii4 ,as labor should have its  
just reward1 and as the skill1          
knowledge and responsibility required in
 the practice of pharmacy are  great1   
the remuneration of the pharmaceutist's 
services should be  proportioned to     
these1 rather than to the market value  
of preparations  vended4 ,the rate of   
charges will necessarily vary with      
geographical  position1 municipal       
location1 and other circumstances of a  
permanent  character1 but a resort to   
intentional and unnecessary reduction in
  the rate of charges among             
apothecaries1 with a view to gaining at 
the expense of their brethren1 is       
strongly discountenanced by this        
,association as productive of evil      
results4    ,,art4 ,,iii4 ,the first    
duty of the apothecary1 after duly      
preparing  himself for his profession1  

being to procure good drugs and         
prepartions1 7for without these his     
skill and knowledge are of small        
avail17 he frequently has to rely on the
 good faith of the druggists  for their 
selection4 #cgi ,those druggists whose  
knowledge1 skill and  integrity enable  
them to conduct their business          
faithfully1 should  be encouraged1      
rather than those who base their claims 
to patronage  on the cheapness of their 
articles solely4 ,when accidentally or  
otherwise1 a deteriorated1 or           
adulterated drug or medicine is sent to 
the apothecary1 he should invariably    
return it to the druggist1 with a       
statement of its defects4 ,what is too  
frequently considered as a mere  error  
of trade on the part of the druggist    
becomes a highly culpable  act when     
countenanced by the apothecary2 hence1  
when repetitions of  such frauds occur1 
they should be exposed for the benefit  
of the  profession4 ,a careful but firm 
pursuit of this course would render     

well-disposed druggists more careful1   
and deter the fraudulently  inclined    
from a resort to their disreputable     
practices4    ,,art4 ,,iv4 ,as the      
practice of pharmacy is quite distinct  
from the  practice of medicine1 and has 
been found to flourish in proportion as 
its practitioners have confined their   
attention to its requirements2  and as  
the conducting of the business of both  
professions by the  same individual     
involves pecuniary temptations which are
 often not  compatible with a           
conscientious discharge of duty2 we     
consider that  the members of this      
,association should discountenance all  
such  professional amalgamation2 and in 
conducting business at the counter1     
should avoid prescribing for diseases   
when practicable1 referring  applicants 
for medical advice to the physician4 ,we
 hold it as  unprofessional and highly  
reprehensible for apothecaries to allow 
any  per centage or commission to       
physicians on their prescriptions1 as   

unjust to the public1 and hurtful to the
 independence and self-respect  of both 
parties concerned4 ,we also consider    
that the practice of  some physicians1  
7in places where good apothecaries are  
numerous7 of  obtaining medicines at low
 prices from the latter1 and selling    
them to  their patients1 is not only    
unjust and unprofessional1 but deserving
  the censure of all high-minded medical
 men4    ,,art4 ,v4 ,the important      
influence exerted on the practice of    
pharmacy  by the large proportion of    
physicians who have resigned its duties 
and emoluments to the apothecary1 are   
reasons why he should seek  their       
favorable opinion and cultivate their   
friendship1 by earnest  endeavors to    
furnish their patients with pure and    
well-prepared  medicines4 ,as physicians
 are liable to commit errors in writing 
their  prescriptions1 involving serious 
consequences to health and reputation   
if #chj permitted to leave the shop1 the
 apothecary should always1  when he     

deems an error has been made1 consult   
the physician before  proceeding2 yet in
 the delay which must necessarily occur1
 it is his  duty1 when possible1 to     
accomplish the interview without        
compromising  the reputation of the     
physician4 ,on the other hand1 when     
apothecaries  commit errors involving   
ill consequences1 the physician1 knowing
 the  constant liability to error1      
should feel bound to screen them from   
undue censure1 unless the result of a   
culpable negligence4    ,,art4 ,,vi4 ,as
 we owe a debt of gratitude to our      
predecessors for the  researches and    
observations which have so far advanced 
our scientific  art1 we hold that every 
apothecary and druggist is bound to     
contribute  his mite towards the same   
fund1 by noting the new ideas and       
phenomena  which may occur in the course
 of his business1 and publishing them1  
when of sufficient consequence1 for the 
benefit of the profession4              
,,varia--,,editorial4    ,,the          

,,journal4--,with the present number1   
the first volume of the ,journal  is    
completed4 ,in a pecuniary point of view
 its success has fully  equalled the    
expectations of its originators2 it is  
no longer an  experiment1 but is        
established on a firm basis1 and will be
 continued  with increased energy and a 
larger experience in the art of         
journalism4  ,we have tried to keep     
faithfully in view the objects with     
which the  ,journal was commenced2 while
 we have endeavored to present to our   
readers whatever of general interest or 
importance has been published  abroad1  
we have the gratification to believe    
that some contributions  to the general 
stock have first appeared in our pages  
which would  otherwise never have seen  
the light4 ,but those who confine the   
benefit  of a journal solely to the     
information it imparts have but a       
limited  view of its usefulness2 an     
account of what is done abroad excites  
but little emulation compared with far  

humbler efforts made by our  own        
friends1 and in our own neighborhood1   
and the encouragement and  promotion of 
such efforts is a large good1 quite     
independent of the  results that may be 
attained4 ,the mere attempt to write on 
a subject  like scientific pharmacy     
leads to a close scanning of the        
foundation of  our opinions1 to renewed 
experiments to ascertain their justness1
 to  more enlightened views of the      
connection and bearing of our science4  
,in this way we hope to see the good    
done by the #cha ,journal greatly       
increased4 ,the contributors to its     
pages have hitherto been but few  in    
number1 but its columns are open to all4
 ,they are controlled by no  clique1 are
 subservient to no views of merely      
personal advancement1 and  we will      
gladly1 welcome communications from all 
quarters1 judging of  them only by their
 merit and usefulness4      ,,the ,,drug
 ,,inspection ,,law4    ,we had intended
 to have made some remarks on the debate

 which took  place in the ,convention   
regarding the admission of certain      
articles1  under the law for the        
inspection of imported drugs1 which1    
though  possessing medicinal properties 
are1 we believe1 merely used for the    
purpose of adulterating other and better
 articles1 but willingly  give place to 
the subjoined communication from ,dr4   
,guthrie1 which1  on the whole1         
advocates views similar to our own4     
,with regard to the  ,carthagena barks1 
as they are termed1 we confess to a     
desire for  further information4 ,those 
barks vary very much from each other4   
,though not rich in quinia1 some of them
 contain a large per centage of         
alkaloids1 which are closely allied to  
it4 ,we hope that the committee  to whom
 the subject was referred by the        
,convention will not only cause  proper 
analyses to be made of the commercial   
varieties of these barks1  but will have
 experiments instituted regarding their 
comparative  therapeutic value4 ,the    

,hospitals of our country afford        
abundant cases  of malarious disease1   
and1 we have no doubt1 the physicians   
attached  to them would be ready to     
institute trials which would afford a   
satisfactory solution to this important 
question4     ,,geo4 ,d4 ,,goggeshall1  
,my ,dear ,sir1--,the proceedings of the
 ,national ,pharmaceutical   ,convention
 have just come to hand1 and been       
perused by me1 with no   ordinary degree
 of interest4     ,you have known       
somewhat of my anxiety concerning these 
preliminary and   forming stages of an  
,association of this character1 and will
 readily   believe that ,i have awaited 
the results of the late ,convention1    
from   which1 most unfortunately for    
myself1 ,i was compelled to be absent1  
with great solicitude4 ,that solicitude 
has been relieved1 and in   its stead ,i
 have the assurance that a good         
foundation to a ,national   structure   
has been laid1 towards which hope points
 and expectation   looks with joyous    

anticipations of future good4     ,i may
 be permitted to congratulate you upon  
the successful labors   of the          
convention1 and more especially upon the
 fact that you have   avoided any       
untenable false ground both in the      
convention and   organization of the    
,association4     ,that old stumbling   
block of 8all drugs good of their kind10
 in   reference to our ,drug ,law1 ,i   
see made its appearance again1 but      
this time from a quarter ,i #chb little 
expected4 ,but it had1   notwithstanding
 its new paternity and eminent          
godfathership1 only1 so   far as ,i can 
see1 the same lame1 diffuse and weak    
conclusions to back   it4     ,i was the
 more surprised at seeing the resolution
 in the form offered   as coming from my
 friend ,dr4 ,stewart1 of ,baltimore1   
because ,i had   considered him as one  
who held entirely opposite opinions1 and
 from   this fact1 that in a            
communication made to me in ,january    
last1 as   special agent of the         

,treasury ,department1 charged with the 
examination   of the practical workings 
of the ,drug ,law1 he says1 8,i have    
inspected   several hundred thousand    
dollars worth of one drug which requires
 some   particular notice1 as ,i        
understand your views and mine          
correspond with   regard to it1 and you 
have succeeded in arranging a uniform   
system of   examination at the different
 ports4     ,the prominent principles   
upon which its value is based vary from 
about one to four per cent4 ,the        
commercial article of the best          
varieties is graduated by the quantity  
of valuable element above   referred to1
 but with regard to the inferior kinds  
this is not the   case1 as ,i have found
 upon repeated analyses that what are   
called   bastard varieties 7which are   
not used for extracting the valuable    
principles above referred to7 sell at   
higher prices in proportion   to their  
resemblance to the officinal kinds4     
,even in cases where   they contain no  

valuable medicinal constituents they are
 invoiced at #c   to #d times the price 
of the other varieties on board the same
 vessel   containing #c per cent4 ,now  
if our object in this law is to         
discourage   the introduction of those  
articles that are used for the purpose  
of   adulterating medicines1 it is      
manifest that the true interest of   all
 will be served by admitting those only 
of the bastard varieties   that are     
equal to the inferior officinal         
varieties1 particularly   as they happen
 to be at a lower cost and are very     
abundant40 ,this   is ,dr4 ,stewart1    
,jan4 #i1 #aheb4 ,the whole of his      
report to me1 a very   interesting and  
able document1 ,i intend publishing1 and
 have delayed   it for the purpose of   
accompanying it with some other matter  
of the   same nature1 not yet in hand4  
,if ,i understand him correctly1 he took
 entirely opposite ground in the        
,convention1 and ,i certainly shall look
 with no ordinary interest for   some   

explanation of a change so entire1 in   
one whose position and well   earned    
reputation give him importance and great
 influence in the final   settlement of 
this matter4 ,what new light has shone  
upon his path8   ,what new facts has he 
to offer8 ,i say final settlement1      
because ,i   see by the appointment of a
 committee to whom the matter was       
referred1   that the whole subject is   
but laid over4 ,although the convention 
negatived the resolution1 as it did a   
similar one a year ago in ,new   ,york1 
they seem disposed to endow the question
 with as many lives as   are fabled of  
the cat4     ,notwithstanding all the   
reasoning of the author of the          
resolution1   backed by the eminent     
professor1 and aided by other reasons1  
thick   no doubt as blackberries1 you   
practical men who buy and sell these    
articles1 were not convinced and never  
will be4 ,they may cry out for   8tooth 
powder10 until the demand for dentrifice
 shall quadruple1 and   tell us of the  

legitimate use of ,carthagena or        
,maracaibo barks2 7what   is its        
legitimate use87 all in vain1 for it is 
too well #chc known   that the main use 
of the article is to adulterate the     
genuine barks4   ,why does the ,drug    
examiner at ,baltimore1 ,dr4 ,stewart1  
say that the   8bastard varieties sell  
at higher prices in proportion to their 
resemblance to the officinal kinds80    
,why this demand for such as   resemble 
the genuine1 but to supply it to the    
buyers of ,peruvian bark   for the      
genuine and officinal4 ,there can be no 
other conclusion4   ,if more proof is   
wanting ,i take the remark of the       
gentleman from   ,new-,york1 that the   
8house he was connected with sold large 
quantities   in powder1 and the parties 
purchasing did so knowing its origin40  
,no   one could doubt this statement1 at
 least as to the quantity annually      
purchased1 who will go through          
half-a-dozen drug stores in any of the  
country villages or small towns any     

where in our country from ,maine to     
,louisiana4     ,he will have offered   
prime1 best quality cinchona bark for   
#dj to #ajj   cents almost any where1   
and in one half the cases the venders   
believe   they are selling what they    
offer1 for they bought it for that4 ,is 
this   not so1 or is it all bought for  
8tooth powder80 ,one half the druggists 
who go to our large cities1 buy 8pale   
yellow0 and red bark1 and never   think 
to enquire for the inferior barks1 and  
once drive these last   from our        
seaboard cities1 and we shall have done 
with them4     ,you are aware that ,i   
have had some opportunity of becoming   
acquainted   with the drug trade of our 
country1 and ,i assure you that         
throughout   its length and breadth     
there is more worthless ,peruvian bark  
sold and   consumed by far than of the  
genuine1 mostly1 ,i hope through        
ignorance1   but many times knowingly on
 the part of the dealer4     ,the same  
that has been said of these false barks1

 may be said of   ,english rhubarb2 when
 it is not sold for and in the place of 
,turkey1   it is used to make powdered  
,turkey out of4 ,but the resolution does
 not   stop short at these two articles1
 as the discussion seemed to4 ,there    
is 8false jalap0 undoubtedly good of its
 kind1 but unfortunately for   the buyer
 the kind is good for nothing1 although 
it makes extract of   jalap1 that in    
looks cannot be told from the genuine4  
,there is also ,egyptian opium1 and a   
false ,sarsaparilla and many other      
important drugs1 that should have       
received the attention of the   friends 
of this resolution1 all of which1 ,i beg
 to assure them1 are   undoubtedly good 
of their kind4     ,but ,i have written 
more than ,i designed by far1 as the    
subject grows   upon my hands1 though ,i
 regard it a very important one1 and    
vitally so   to the drug law which lies 
at the very foundation of all beneficial
   results to grow out of this          
association1 and the position of the    

association as to the whole subject is  
equally important1 for if we            
unfortunately commit ourselves to a     
wrong principle in the start1 and       
especially upon this standard of purity 
as applicable to our ,drug   examiners1 
which is now regarded as a test question
 by the community   at large1 we lose   
all hold upon their confidence1 and with
 it all hope   of effecting any good    
either to ourselves as a profession or  
to the   community in general4     ,my  
chief object in addressing you this     
communication 7intended for   the ,new  
,york ,journal of ,pharmacy1 if you     
choose so to use it7 is to   record my  
experience as differing in toto from    
those of ,dr4 ,stewart   and ,prof4     
,carson1 and to elicit a full discussion
 of the whole matter4   ,let us have    
light6 light6 light enough to #chd      
settle this question1   especially about
 the barks1 for they are the source of  
this whole   contention after all4      
,there must be data enough to be had1   

upon which   to form an opinion1 and a  
correct one as to the medicinal virtues 
of   ,maracaibo1 and ,carthagena barks1 
as well as of ,english rhubarb1 false   
jalap1 ,egyptian opium etc41 etc4     ,i
 shall be perfectly satisfied if the    
labors of this committee result   in    
fixing a definite standard of strength1 
or amount of alkaloids   required to be 
found in barks before consumed for      
medicine1 and   therefore admissible    
under the act1 but satisfied at nothing 
short   of this1 for till that is done  
there will never be any uniformity in   
the action of the law4 ,i had designed  
to make some remarks upon the           
requirements of the law and its needed  
emendation which ,i must defer   to more
 leisure4     ,yours1 etc41 ,c4 ,b4     
,,guthrie4     ,memphis1 ,tenn41        
,november #b1 #aheb4      ,a ,,discourse
 ,,on ,,the ,,times1 ,,character ,,and  
,,writings ,,of ,,hippocrates1  ,,read  
,,before ,,the ,,trustees1 ,,faculty    
,,and ,,medical ,,class ,,of ,,the      

,,college  ,,of ,,physicians ,,and      
,,surgeons1 ,,at ,,the ,,opening ,,of   
,,the ,,term1 #aheb1 ,,by  ,,elisha     
,,bartlett1 ,m4 ,d41 ,,professor ,,of   
,,materia ,,medica1 ,,and ,,medical     
,,jurisprudence4 ,published by the      
,class4    ,introductory lectures are   
generally very common-place affairs4    
,custom  has prescribed that every year 
the different medical schools shall be  
opened with them2 and custom1 too1 has  
prescribed for them a certain  limited  
range of topics4 ,year after year1 in a 
hundred places1 the  same round is gone 
over1 and the same good advice is       
listened to1 and  neglected4 ,dr4       
,bartlett has broken through all this4  
,he has chosen for  the subject of his  
discourse the ,character and ,writings  
of the ,father  of ,medicine1 and he has
 illustrated them well and thoroughly4  
,this is  not the place for a detailed  
notice of the lecture4 ,yet we cannot   
but  call attention to the playful      
humour1 the kindly and genial spirit    

which set off and enliven its details1  
and which1 breathing from the  whole air
 and features of the man1 render him one
 of the most agreeable  lecturers to    
whom we have ever listened4             
,,exchanges4--,hitherto the exchanges of
 this journal have not been  conducted  
with proper regularity4 ,it has neither 
been transmitted  punctually to other   
journals1 nor have they been received   
regularly  in return4 ,for the future   
this will be corrected2 the journal     
will be forwarded immediately on its    
publication2 and we hope our            
contemporaries will observe a like      
regularity with us4    #che             
,,contents4       ,accidents caused by a
 very small dose of ,santonine given to 
a child1   4 4 4 #af     ,act relative  
to the sale of drugs1 4 4 4 #fb         
,action of ,sulphuric ,acid on the      
insoluble residue left by opium1        
exhausted by water4 ,formation of a new 
alkaloid1 4 4 4 #cah     ,adulteration  
of certain drugs1 and the methods of    

detecting said   adulteration1 4 4 4 #gc
     ,adulteration of sulphate of       
quinine1 4 4 4 #adb     ,aleppo         
,scammony1 results of the examination of
 several parcels of1   4 4 4 #afe       
,alcohol in essential oils1 a test for1 
4 4 4 #aed     ,aloe ,juice1 ,socotrine1
 4 4 4 #bce     ,aloine1 the crystalline
 cathartic principle of ,barbadoes      
aloes1 4 4 4   #agg     ,aloine1 4 4 4  
#cah     ,american ,journal of          
,pharmacy1 4 4 4 #beb     ,amount of    
loss in powdering drugs1 4 4 4 #bbe     
,anodyne liquor1 ,hoffman's1 4 4 4 #bji 
,application of ,organic ,chemistry to  
perfumery1 4 4 4 #adh     ,barbadoes    
,aloes1 ,aloine1 the cathartic principle
 of1 4 4 4 #agg     ,barium ,compounds1 
4 4 4 #afa     ,bark1 extract of1 4 4 4 
#cag     ,belladonna1 accidental        
substitution of1 for extract of         
dandelion1   4 4 4 #cba                 
,bestucheff's tincture1 4 4 4 #bcc      
,blistering cerate1 4 4 4 #gb           
,broom1 ,chemical examination of1 4 4 4 

#ahi     ,butter of ,cacao1 4 4 4 #bbd  
,camphor1 as a stimulant1 4 4 4 #fc     
,carbonate of potash1 preparation of    
pure1 4 4 4 #cc     ,carbonate of ,soda1
 preparation of pure1 4 4 4 #cf         
,cavendish ,society1 4 4 4 #fd          
,cerate1 blistering1 4 4 4 #gb          
,cicuta1 4 4 4 #bii     ,cider1         
poisoning by adulterated1 4 4 4 #bhg    
,chemical technology1 4 4 4 #abh        
,cherry laurel water1 strength of1 4 4 4
 #bf     ,chloric ether1 4 4 4 #dh      
,chloroform1 as a solvent1 4 4 4 #aig   
,chloroform1 remarkable specimen of     
decomposed1 4 4 4 #aaf     ,chloroform1 
prepared from essences of lemon1        
copaiba1 peppermint and   bergamotte1 4 
4 4 #aeg     ,chromic acid1 an          
escharotic1 4 4 4 #abg     ,chronic     
diseases1 cure of by movement1 4 4 4    
#bba     ,coal gas1 used as a source of 
heat in laboratories1 4 4 4 #bif        
,cod liver oil1 chemical composition of1
 4 4 4 #bdj     #chf     ,code of ethics
 of the ,american ,pharmaceutical       

,association1 4 4 4 #cgh     ,coffinism1
 4 4 4 #fc     ,colchicum ,autumnale1 4 
4 4 #ie     ,college of ,pharmacy1 4 4 4
 #abh1 #ceb     ,colored fires for      
pyrotechnical purposes1 4 4 4 #bdh      
,committee of ,college of ,pharmacy1 4 4
 4 #c     ,comments on comments1 4 4 4  
#beb     ,constitution of the ,american 
,pharmaceutical ,association1 4 4 4 #cge
     ,convention of the ,american       
,pharmaceutical ,association1 4 4 4     
#aei1 #beb1   #bhe1 #cca1 #ceb          
,convention delegates to1 4 4 4 #bbd    
,croton oil1 ,chemical examination of1 4
 4 4 #agb     ,dandelion1 compound fluid
 extract of ,senna and1 4 4 4 #ae       
,delegates to the ,convention1 4 4 4    
#bbd     ,delegates to the ,national    
,pharmaceutical ,convention1 4 4 4 #cbj 
,division of gum resins in potions and  
in diachylon plaster1 4 4 4 #eh         
,drugs1 adulteration of1 4 4 4 #gc      
,drugs1 law1 report on1 4 4 4 #bfd      
,drugs1 amount of loss in powdering1 4 4
 4 #bbe     ,dry ,extracts1 4 4 4 #aeh  

,envelopment of pills1 4 4 4 #adf       
,emplastrum epispasticum1 4 4 4 #bee    
,ergotine1 preparation of propylamine   
from1 4 4 4 #bhj     ,escharotic1       
chromic acid as an1 4 4 4 #abg          
,essential oil of bitter almonds1 4 4 4 
#bje     ,essential oils1 test for      
alcohol in1 4 4 4 #aed     ,essence of  
jargonelle pear1 4 4 4 #fj     ,essence 
of pine apple1 4 4 4 #aad               
,estimation of strength of ,medicinal   
,hydrocianic acid1 of bitter almond     
water1 and of cherry laurel water1 4 4 4
 #bf     ,ether1 chloric1 4 4 4 #aig    
,extract of bark1 4 4 4 #cag            
,extract of belladonna1 accidental      
substitution of1 for extract of         
dandelion1 4 4 4 #cba     ,extract of   
,senna and dandelion1 4 4 4 #ae         
,extractum lobeli fluidum1 4 4 4 #bdi   
,extracts1 dry1 4 4 4 #aeh     ,facts   
and discoveries in science1 4 4 4 #cgc  
,false jalap1 4 4 4 #d     ,fires1      
colored for pyrotechnical purposes1 4 4 
4 #bdh     ,fluid extract of senna and  

dandelion1 4 4 4 #ae     ,fusel oil1 4 4
 4 #beg     ,galbanum plant1 4 4 4 #bbj 
,gambir1 4 4 4 #bai     ,gas1 coal1 use 
of as a means of heat in the laboratory1
 4 4 4 #bif     ,general method for     
detecting alkaloids in cases of         
poisoning1 4 4 4 #cdc     ,general      
report on the drug law1 4 4 4 #bfd      
#chg     ,gelatinization of tincture of 
rhatany1 4 4 4 #cai     ,gelseminum     
sempervirens1 4 4 4 #cfh     ,growth of 
plants in various gases1 4 4 4 #fa      
,guarana1 4 4 4 #bdc     ,gum resins1   
division of in potions and in diachylon 
plaster1 4 4 4 #eh     ,gutta ,taban1 4 
4 4 #baf     ,heavy oil of wine1 4 4 4  
#fa     ,heat1 coal gas used as a means 
of1 in the laboratory1 4 4 4 #bif       
,henry's magnesia1 4 4 4 #abg           
,hints1 practical1 4 4 4 #fi1 #acc      
,hoffman's anodyne liquor1 4 4 4 #ahd   
,honey1 poisonous1 4 4 4 #cej           
,hydrate of potash1 preparation of pure1
 4 4 4 #cc     ,hydrate of soda1 4 4 4  
#cf     ,hydrocyanic acid and bitter    

almond water1 strength of1 4 4 4 #bf    
,hygeine1 public1 4 4 4 #abg            
,hyposulphite of soda1 easy method to   
make1 4 4 4 #bei     ,impurities1 test  
for1 in acetic acid1 4 4 4 #aeb         
,indelible ink1 4 4 4 #ajf     ,inks1   
writing1 4 4 4 #cje1 #cga               
,inspection of the drug law1 4 4 4 #cha 
,internal use of ,atropine1 4 4 4 #abe  
,ioduretted oil1 artificial1 a          
substitute for cod liver oil1 4 4 4 #aba
     ,ipecacuanha1 tincture of1 4 4 4   
#bja     ,iron1 used in ,medicine1 notes
 on the preparations of1 4 4 4 #bbi     
,iron1 protiodide of1 new method of     
preparing and exhibiting1 4 4 4 #bej    
,iron1 soda1 pyrophosphate of1 4 4 4 #ib
     ,itch1 ointment of stavesacre in1 4
 4 4 #cej     ,jalap1 two varieties of  
false1 4 4 4 #d     ,jalap1 resin of1 4 
4 4 #aee     ,jargonelle pear1 essence  
of1 4 4 4 #fj     ,lemon1 essence of1   
preparation of chloroform from1 4 4 4   
#aeg     ,liquid socotrine aloes1 4 4 4 
#bce     ,liquor magnesi citratis1 4 4 4

 #acb     ,lobeli extractum fluidum1 4 4
 4 #bdi     ,loss in powdering drugs1 4 
4 4 #bbe     ,magnesi citratis1 liquor1 
4 4 4 #acb     ,magnesia1 preparation of
 pure1 4 4 4 #aii     ,magnesia1        
,henry's1 4 4 4 #ahd     ,manganese1 4 4
 4 #aib     ,manufacture of nitrate of  
potash1 7saltpetre71 4 4 4 #bgc         
,manufacture of writing inks1 4 4 4     
#cje1 #cga     ,matico1 pharmacology of1
 4 4 4 #afi     ,means of detecting     
adulterations in sulphate of quinine1 4 
4 4 #adb     ,measures1 weights and1 4 4
 4 #ace     #chh     ,medicine and      
pharmacy in ,brazil1 4 4 4 #ahf         
,medicines1 act relating to1 4 4 4 #fb  
,medicine1 preparations of iron used in1
 4 4 4 #bbi     ,medical hydrocyanic    
acid1 estimation of strength of1 4 4 4  
#bf     ,method of preparing and        
exhibiting protiodide of iron1 4 4 4    
#bej     ,method of detecting organic   
alkaloids in cases of poisoning1 4 4 4  
#cdc     ,method of easy to make        
hyposulphite of soda1 4 4 4 #bei        

,mode of ascertaining the purity of     
essential oil of bitter almonds1   4 4 4
 #bje     ,monesia1 what is1 4 4 4 #afg 
,movements as a cure in chronic         
diseases1 4 4 4 #bba     ,national      
,pharmaceutical ,convention1 4 4 4 #bhe1
 #cca     ,national ,pharmaceutical     
,convention1 delegates to1 4 4 4 #cbj   
,new alkaloid1 discovery of1 4 4 4 #cah 
,new remedies1 4 4 4 #cea     ,new      
method of preparing protiodide of iron1 
4 4 4 #bej     ,nicotine1 poisoning by1 
4 4 4 #ag     ,nitrogen of the air1     
other gases substituted for1 4 4 4 #fa  
,nitrate of potash1 manufacture of1 4 4 
4 #bgc     ,notes in pharmacy1 4 4 4    
#ajc1 #abi1 #aic1 #bfj1 #cbh     ,notes 
on the division of gum resins in        
potions1 4 4 4 #eh     ,notice of some  
vegetable and animal substances1        
products of ,new   ,granada1 4 4 4 #hi  
,observations on a method of detecting  
organic alkaloids in cases of           
poisoning1 4 4 4 #cdc     ,observations 
on the volatility and solubility of     

cantharidin1 4 4 4 #cee     ,officers of
 the ,college of ,pharmacy1 4 4 4 #abh  
,oil1 cod liver1 4 4 4 #bdj     ,oil1   
,croton1 4 4 4 #agb     ,oil1 fusel1 4 4
 4 #beg     ,oil1 ioduretted1 4 4 4 #aba
     ,oil1 of bitter almonds1 4 4 4 #bje
     ,oil1 heavy wine1 4 4 4 #fe        
,oil1 test for alcohol in essential1 4 4
 4 #aed     ,ointment1 stavesacre1 4 4 4
 #cej     ,ointment1 stramonium1 4 4 4  
#ac     ,opium1 cultivation of1 4 4 4   
#abg     ,opium1 residue left by1 4 4 4 
#cah     ,opium1 letter on1 4 4 4 #de   
,opium1 observations on strength of     
tincture of1 4 4 4 #he     ,opium1      
tincture of1 4 4 4 #bgi     ,pear1      
essence of jargonelle1 4 4 4 #fj        
,perfumery1 application of organic      
chemistry to1 4 4 4 #adh                
,pharmacopia of the ,united ,states1 4 4
 4 #bg     ,pharmaceutical ,convention1 
4 4 4 #cj1 #aeg1 #aic1 #cca             
,pharmacy1 4 4 4 #aai1 #cbh             
,pharmacy1 ,college of1 4 4 4 #ceb      
,pharmacy1 ,journal of1 4 4 4 #c1 #beb  

#chi     ,pharmacology of ,matico1 4 4 4
 #afi     ,pharmacy in ,brazil1 4 4 4   
#ahf     ,pharmacy in ,richmond1 4 4 4  
#bbc     ,pills1 on the envelopment of1 
4 4 4 #adf     ,pine apple1 essence of1 
4 4 4 #aad     ,poisoning by drinking   
adulterated cider1 4 4 4 #bhg           
,poisoning1 by tincture of aconite1 4 4 
4 #aij     ,poisoning1 ,nicotine1 4 4 4 
#ag     ,potash1 nitrate of1 4 4 4 #bgc 
,potions1 division of gum resins in1 4 4
 4 #eh     ,poisonous honey1 4 4 4 #cej 
,powdering drugs1 loss in1 4 4 4 #bbe   
,preparations of iron used in medicine1 
4 4 4 #bbi     ,preparations of the     
pharmacopia of the ,united ,states1 4 4 
4 #ch     ,preservation of iodide of    
iron1 4 4 4 #cee     ,practical hints1 4
 4 4 #fi     ,propylamine1 prepared from
 ergotine1 4 4 4 #bhj     ,protiodide of
 iron1 new method of preparing1 4 4 4   
#bej     ,prosecution of a manufacturer 
of extract of dandelion1 4 4 4 #cba     
,pure magnesia1 4 4 4 #aii     ,pure    
,hydrate of potash1 4 4 4 #cc     ,pure 

,hydrate of ,soda1 4 4 4 #cf            
,quinine1 spurious sulphate of1 4 4 4   
#aib     ,quinidine1 4 4 4 #ada1 #cag   
,santonine1 4 4 4 #af     ,scammony     
resin1 4 4 4 #g     ,scammony1 ,aleppo1 
4 4 4 #afe     ,senna and dandelion1    
compound fluid extract of1 4 4 4 #ae    
,simaba ,cedron1 4 4 4 #ic              
,socotorine aloes juice1 4 4 4 #bce     
,stavesacre ointment1 4 4 4 #cej        
,stramonium ointment1 4 4 4 #ac         
,sulphate of quinine1 spurious1 4 4 4   
#aib     ,sulphate of quinine1          
adulteration of1 4 4 4 #adb             
,sulphuric acid1 action of on the       
residue left by opium1 4 4 4 #cah       
,suppositories of butter of cacao1 4 4 4
 #bbd     ,tannate of zinc1 4 4 4 #bea  
,technology1 ,chemical1 4 4 4 #cag      
,test for alcohol in essential oils1 4 4
 4 #aed     ,tincture of aconite1       
poisoning by1 4 4 4 #aij     ,tincture1 
,bestucheff's1 4 4 4 #bcc     ,tincture1
 ,ipecacuanha1 4 4 4 #bja     ,tincture1
 opium1 4 4 4 #bgi     ,tincture of     

rhatany1 4 4 4 #cai     ,united ,states 
,customs1 4 4 4 #bhi     #cij     ,use  
of coal gas as a means of heat in       
laboratories1 4 4 4 #bif     ,valerianic
 acid1 4 4 4 #ajh     ,virgin ,scammony1
 4 4 4 #g     ,weights and ,measures1 4 
4 4 #ace     ,woorara1 4 4 4 #gg        
,writing inks1 4 4 4 #cje1 #cga         
,yatamansi1 4 4 4 #hb     ,yellow       
jessamine1 4 4 4 #cfh     ,zinc1 tannate
 of1 4 4 4 #bea          ,,index ,,of   
,,authors4       ,,bailey1 ,,dr4 ,m4 ,j4
       ,united ,states ,customs1 4 4 4  
#bhi     ,,barnes1 ,,mr4 ,j4 ,b4        
,valerianic ,acid1 and its salts1 4 4 4 
#ajh     ,,bernard1 ,m4 ,u4       ,on   
,woorara1 4 4 4 #gg     ,,bernouilli1   
,j4 ,j4       ,a test for alcohol in    
essential oils1 4 4 4 #aed              
,,bounwyn1 ,m4 ,h4       ,new method of 
preparing and exhibiting protiodide of  
iron1 4 4 4 #bej     ,,bull1 ,b4 ,w4    
,virgin scammony1 with some remarks upon
 the characteristics of     scammony    
resin1 4 4 4 #g       ,results of the   

examination of several parcels of       
,aleppo scammony1     4 4 4 #afe        
,,bushe1 ,t4 ,a4       ,on the ,galbanum
 plant1 4 4 4 #bbj     ,,canavan1       
,,benj4       ,notes in ,pharmacy1 ,no4 
#a1 4 4 4 #ajc       ,notes in          
,pharmacy1 ,no4 #b1 4 4 4 #abi          
,notes in ,pharmacy1 ,no4 #c1 4 4 4 #aih
       ,notes in ,pharmacy1 ,no4 #d1 4 4
 4 #bfj       ,notes in ,pharmacy1 ,no4 
#e1 4 4 4 #cbh     ,,chantard1 ,m4      
,on the preparation of chloroform from  
the essences of lemon1 copaiba1         
peppermint1 and bergamotte1 4 4 4 #aeg  
,,coggeshall1 ,,george ,d4              
,remarks upon some of the preparations  
of the ,united ,states     ,pharmacopia1
 #ahea1 4 4 4 #ch       ,the same       
continued1 4 4 4 #ig     ,,currie1      
,,john ,h4       ,on two varieties of   
false jalap1 4 4 4 #d     ,,dorvault1   
,remarks on the envelopment of pills1 4 
4 4 #adf       ,pharmacology of ,matico1
 with formul for its preparation1 4 4 4 
#afi     ,,dublane1 ,m4       ,chemical 

research on croton oil1 4 4 4 #agb      
,,dupuy1 ,,eugene       ,on the         
preparation of stramonium ointment1 4 4 
4 #ac       ,compound fluid extract of  
senna and dandelion1 4 4 4 #ae       ,on
 blistering cerate1 4 4 4 #gb           
,what is ,monesia8 4 4 4 #afg     #cia  
,,garrod1 ,,dr4 ,a4 ,b4                 
,observations on the strength of        
tincture of opium1 4 4 4 #he            
,,gibert1 ,m4       ,report presented to
 the ,academy of ,medicine of ,paris1 on
 the     substitution of an artificial  
ioduretted oil for cod liver oil1 4 4 4 
#aba     ,,gladstones1 ,,messrs4        
,on the growth of plants in various     
gases1 especially substituting          
carbonic oxide1 hydrogen and light      
carburetted hydrogen1 for the           
nitrogen of the air1 4 4 4 #fa          
,,guiller1 ,m4       ,indelible ink1 4 4
 4 #ajf     ,,guthrie1 ,,dr4 ,c4 ,b4    
,general report upon the results and    
effects of the drug law1 4 4 4 #bfd     
,,harris1 ,c4 ,t4       ,on the         

adulteration of certain drugs and the   
methods of detecting said               
adulterations1 4 4 4 #gc     ,,hoffman1 
,,dr4 ,a4 ,w4       ,on the application 
of organic chemistry to perfumery1 4 4 4
 #adh     ,,holton1 ,i4 ,f4             
,chloric ether1 4 4 4 #aig     ,,howard1
 ,,mr4 ,,robt4       ,quinidine1 4 4 4  
#ada     ,,kent1 ,,edwd4 ,h4       ,on  
the heavy oil of wine1 4 4 4 #fe        
,on the oil of grain spirit1 or fusel   
oil1 4 4 4 #beg       ,on the use of    
coal gas as a source of heat for the    
laboratory1 4 4 4 #bif     ,,lepage1 ,m4
 ,p4 ,h4       ,on chloroform as a      
solvent1 4 4 4 #dh     ,,leroy1 ,g4 ,f4 
,on tincture of ,ipecacuanha1 4 4 4 #bja
     ,,liebig1 ,j4       ,on the        
estimation of the strength of medicinal 
hydrocianic acid of     bitter almond   
water1 and of cherry laurel water1 4 4 4
 #bf     ,,mayer1 ,,fr4       ,note on  
the preparation of ,bestucheff's        
tincture1 4 4 4 #bcc     ,,mohr1 ,,dr4  
,on dry extracts1 4 4 4 #aeh       ,on  

,henry's ,magnesia1 4 4 4 #ahd          
,,monzon1 ,,dr4 ,m4 ,j4 ,,raf4          
,notice of some vegetable and animal    
substances natural products of ,new     
,granada1 4 4 4 #hi     ,,orfila1 ,m4   
,on poisoning by nicotine1 4 4 4 #ag    
,,pereira1 ,,jonathan       ,on a       
remarkable specimen of decomposed       
chloroform1 4 4 4 #aaf       ,on        
socotrine aloe juice1 4 4 4 #bce        
,,procter1 ,w4 ,,jr4       ,on          
,hoffman's anodyne liquor1 4 4 4 #bji   
,extractum ,lobeli ,fluidum1 4 4 4 #bdi 
,on the volatility and solubility of    
cantharidin1 4 4 4 #cee       ,on       
,gelseminum ,sempervirens1 4 4 4 #cfh   
,,ritchie1 ,d4       ,guarana1 4 4 4    
#bdc     ,,sandrock1 ,b4       ,chemical
 examination of resin of jalap1 4 4 4   
#aee     ,,seeman1 ,m4 ,b4       ,on the
 simaba cedron1 4 4 4 #ic       ,on     
,gutta ,taban1 4 4 4 #baf       ,on     
gambir1 4 4 4 #bai     ,,stas1 ,prof4   
,observations upon a general method for 
detecting the organic alkaloids     in  

cases of poisoning1 4 4 4 #cdc       ,on
 aloine1 4 4 4 #agg     ,,stenhoube1    
,,dr4 ,j4       ,chemical examination of
 ,broom1 4 4 4 #ahi     ,,tallon1 ,,john
 ,c4       ,easy method to make         
hyposulphite of soda1 4 4 4 #bei        
,,ure1 ,,alex4       ,on the soda       
pyrophosphate of iron1 4 4 4 #ib        
,,wiegand1 ,,thos4 ,s4       ,liquor    
,magnesi citratis1 4 4 4 #acb     #cib  
,,winckler1 ,,dr4 ,h4 ,s4               
,chemical composition of cod liver oil1 
4 4 4 #bdj       ,preparation of        
propylamine from ergotine1 4 4 4 #bhj   
,,wurtz1 ,h4       ,on the preparation  
of pure hydrate of potash and carbonate 
of potash1     4 4 4 #cc       ,on the  
preparation of chemically pure hydrate  
and carbonate of soda1     4 4 4 #cf    
,preparation of barium compounds1 4 4 4 
#afa       ,preparation of pure         
magnesia1 4 4 4 #aii       ,on the      
preparations of iron used in medicine1 4
 4 4 #bbi       ,on the preservation of 
iodide of iron1 4 4 4 #cec     ,,zimmer1

 ,,mr4       ,on the adulteration of    
sulphate of quinine1 and the means of   
its     detection1 4 4 4 #adb           
,,transcriber',s ,,note    ,original    
spelling and grammar have been generally
 retained1 with  some exceptions noted  
below4 ,errata mentioned in the         
endmatter of  monthly issues have been  
ignored--left unchanged4 ,original      
printed  page numbers are shown like    
this3 8#eb04 ,original small caps are   
now  uppercase4 ,italics look like this4
 ,footnotes have been relabeled  #a-cj4 
,the commas used to end several         
paragraphs by mistake1 e4g4  on page    
#agf1 were changed to full stops4       
,superscript x looks like  this3 8x0 or 
8x04 ,subscript x looks like 8x04 ,the  
transcriber  produced the cover image   
and hereby assigns it to the public     
domain4  ,original page images are      
available from archive4org--search for  
8newyorkjournalof#aahebnewy04    ,ditto 
marks1 including 8,do0 or 8do01 have    
been eliminated1 replaced  by repeated  

text4 ,in a table on page #acj1 white   
space was employed as  a ditto mark4 ,in
 this table1 the white space ditto and  
8,nitrici0 have  been replaced with     
8,acidi hydro nitrici04    ,page #cf4   
,the formula for ordinary monohydrated  
bicarbonate of soda is  retained4 ,the  
phrase 8lost by ignition2 ,o4 #hde grn40
 was changed to  8lost by ignition2     
#j4hde grn40    ,page #dd4 ,large curly 
brackets 80 employed as graphic devices 
to  indicate combination of information 
over two or more lines of text were     
eliminated4 ,there were examples of this
 on pages #dd and #eh4 ,the text  was   
restructured as necessary to retain the 
evident meaning of the  original        
brackets4    ,page #fc2 8sufficient t   
supply0 to 8sufficient to supply04      
,page #gj2 added a full stop after 8the 
doctor knows but little more04    ,page 
#ha2 8#cnd0 to 8#bnd04    ,page #hf2    
8constitutents0 to 8constituents04      
,page #ij2 8exeoriating0 to             
8excoriating04    ,page #ajj2 8with fonr

 ounces0 to 8with four ounces04    ,page
 #aaj4 ,the formula for valerianic acid 
is retained4    ,page #abb2             
8phrosphorus0 to 8phosphorus04    ,page 
#abd2 8a renecessary0 to 8are           
necessary04    ,page #abf2 8,anaethesia0
 to 8,anaesthesia04    ,page #abg2      
8engagaged0 to 8engaged04    ,page #adb2
 8#hjj gains0 to 8#hjj grains04    ,page
 #afg2 8,chrysophi lum20 to 8,chrysophi 
lum4204    ,page #afi2 8foss01 retained1
 possibly should be 8foss04    ,page    
#agj2 8over their property0 is retained1
 but maybe should be 8owe  their        
property04    ,page #aga2 8represents   
#a-aj of its weight of matico0 is       
retained4    ,page #bji2 8gavity0 to    
8gravity04    ,page #bbe4 ,in the table 
row 8,potass ,nitrat401 8#c #ih0 was    
changed to  8#c4ih04    ,page #bbh4 ,in 
table row 8------ ,bi-tartrat401 8 #de0 
was changed to 84#de04  ,in row         
8,buchu01 8 #if0 was changed to 84#if04 
,page #bdc2 8hyrate0 to 8hydrate04 ,the 
words 8guarana0 and 8guaran01  in       

various states of capitalization1 have  
been retained as printed  throughout the
 book4    ,page #bdd2 8imformation0 was 
changed to 8information01 and 8knowlege0
 to  8knowledge04 ,the word 8angnlato0  
is retained1 but possibly should be     
8angulato04    ,page #bdi2 8,salpetre0  
to 8,saltpetre04    ,page #bej2         
8incoveniences0 to 8inconveniences04    
,page #bed2 8evarated0 to 8evaporated04 
,page #bei2 8preciptate0 to             
8precipitate04    ,page #bfa2 8qnantity0
 to 8quantity04    ,page #bgh2          
8mannfacture0 to 8manufacture04    ,page
 #bhj2 unmatched right parenthesis was  
removed from 8part i41 p4  #bb704       
,page #bhg2 8rceive0 to 8receive04      
,page #big2 8atttched0 to 8attached04   
,page #cjb4 ,the original quotation     
punctuation is retained1 although it    
appears wrong4 ,the first paragraph has 
no left quotation mark1 and the  fourth 
paragraph has no end quotation mark4    
,similarly1 the original  quotation     
marks are retained on page #cjc4        

,page #cbf1 #cbg2 8propable0 and        
8propably0 retained4    ,page #ccj4 ,a  
right parenthesis is added after        
87perhaps it might be  deemed worthy of 
the action of the convention0 to close  
the left  parenthesis4    ,page #ceg2   
8catharidin0 to 8cantharidin04    ,page 
#cfi2 8commom0 to 8common04    ,page    
#cha2 8satisfacfactory0 to              
8satisfactory04 ,also1 there is a letter
  to 8,geo4 ,d4 ,goggeshall04 ,the name 
has been retained on page #cha1         
although the only other reference to    
8,goggeshall0 was on page #cij--see     
below--where it was evidently wrong1 and
 refers to 8,coggeshall04    ,page #chc4
 ,a matching right quotation mark was   
added to #8say that the  8bastard       
varieties sell at higher prices in      
proportion to their  resemblance to the 
officinal kinds8'4    ,page #cij4 ,the  
name 8,goggeshall0 has been changed to  
8,coggeshall0  on page #cij 7,index of  
,authors7 to conform with its position  
in the  alphabetical list1 and to agree 

with the names found on the referenced  
pages #ch and #ig4