LIBRARY u. JYo. Case ire e c : c g < g R v. c c c c < 5: c c 41 c I ' C c<C « < C <J ' 4 c Cg 5 <c 5 > <7C c 1 1 j < < < Ccc C. cccc CC- S <cr cc « C cc ^ c <x « cc 5 7 CC< «i 6 c c j l & ¥ n ■ <: c_ c- ^ JKc cc 5-; «C cc * C CjC 4 C. C c < C Cc «i CCC « c c : c « £ t$ C ? «c c: c C c c c c & 2c cc 5- £ f C c^S <l cc C c e c <r _c ^ £ S i £ i : V= c^ ccc, c cc^c \^-zz- c c^c c c c« > c * «<<>- c;«£<c > c c cc f ir c & <<- , /c < ^ 5f : i ^ c c j >l c C if dec: <1C C ^ c c - : '/ c<c sd c^ c c c/C - c C (C - (C - c C 4 " ccc c< cX cc cc • cc cc C<- i Pi El c c c c ^ c c c c :cr C < c CI cc C cc CCC ccc <Lc-CX C( c c <Tcc c. <ccc ccc cp 1 <s ccc cg; ^ <:c(cc . c^. de ed C^ , C<c <rc ; or cc c CC ' CC CC C' & cc c ^ cc , / <,<'. CC c^cc ; <Tf; C. Cc C C <.c /v C< cc CC ( C-cc^cc/- cccc^;^ c^c$^^ - «cc'cr ■ cc c =i cicrcicc c r; ccccc: c • C<c:crcc c : cc;cccc c c ccccc C % ^gg; c c c4<rcc c c<? c c:c < c: <rc<CC, i < cscccic < fc: csccc. - <<ci cccc. C C CCC: , occc. <r c cc<i •fC C « Cc ' ,-;C C CC. C< c: c ccc ^ c cc cc c c cc c c c cc cr <1 c cc <C ■ C" C CC CC CCCC CC1 Cccc-ccl - CCC4C Ccr <C - ^ - CC cCCC tV< : ojl cccc: ^ C c c c CC Greece ciC. <• r C C CC CC f< CCCCC cC x < C c<: CC (- i :-ccc^^c:. ^ c ^C ccCC 5^ c « ^cCC ^ * C ' < t ccjcccc::., cc ^c . <c<ccc < « C c C c m CC, .^tvC-ccC 4K^ic:C_ C^oCCcC ^ftr,<rccc. c^ccc CCCC CCC|£ c^<C. ccc cC c<^ cc. CCCC C CC ccc: c cc c C c cc CCC C CC c cc • C4«C; ccc; ccc 2 ' c «( . • « c . ^ y ' J c CCC • - cccccr c ■ c - 1 cc : • < C<CjtC:\Cf T< O'l.CC ' . cccfc^ ■ < 'CCC 1 c < C CcC.C; C <( cc « c .cC C ■ ccc ■ ccc;,. ^ V.CK.C.' c cc C ccc: c C cc? c c cr ^ c ccc ^ THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY. EDITED BY JOHN M. MAISCH. PUBLISHING COMMITTEE FOR 1876 : HENRY N. RITTENHOUSE, THOMAS S. WIEGAND, JAMES T. SHINN, CHARLES BULLOCK, AND THE EDITOR. VOLUME XLVIII. FOURTH SERIES, VOL. VI. PHILADELPHIA : MERRIHEW & SON, PRINTERS. 1876. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. JANUARY, 1876. THE ALKALOIDS OF VERATRUM VIRIDE AND ALBUM— HISTORY, PREPARATION AND RECOVERY FROM COMPLEX MIXTURES AND THE BLOOD. BY THEO. G. WORMLEY, M. D. Chemical History. — Much discrepancy has existed among observers in regard to the exact nature of the active principle or principles of Veratrum Viride. Thus, in 1838, Mr. H. Worthington announced that he had obtained from the plant uan alkaloid substance identical with veratria." And, in 1857, Mr. J* Richardson, after an elaborate examination of the subject, concluded that "not only in its physical characters, but also in its chemical actions, the alkaloid of veratrum viride is identical with veratria of the Veratrum sabadilla." (Amer. Journ. Pbar., 1857, p. 209.) In 1862, Mr. G. J. Scattergood announced that in addition to vera- trin, the plant contained another substance, similar in nature to that alkaloid, but insoluble in ether, and also a third substance, a resin to which the sedative action of the drug was chiefly due. (Ibid., 1863, P- 740 So also, in 1864, Prof. S. R. Percy extracted from the plant an alkaloid, which he concluded had all the chemical properties of veratrin, from Veratrum sabadilla. (Prize Essay.) On the other hand, in 1865, Mr. Chas. Bullock claimed (Amer. 'Journ. Pbar., 1865, p. 321,) that the alkaloid in question was not identical with veratria, as it did not respond to the sulphuric and hydro- chloric acid tests for that alkaloid; that the resin of Scattergood owed its activity to the presence of another alkaloid ; and that these two principles exhibited the same reactions with the mineral acids and with liquid reagents, the chief difference being in their fusing points and in that one was soluble while the other was insoluble in ether. Prof. Geo. B. Wood named these substances respectively veratroidia and viridia. 2 Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride and Album. {Xm'^\^rm' In 1872, Dr. Peugnet [Med. Rec, May, 1872, p. 121) also concluded that the veratroida of Bullock was distinct from veratria, as it did not respond to the sulphuric acid test for that base, although it did to Trapp's test (hydrochloric acid). And he was the first to announce that Bullock's viridia was identical with Simon's jervia of Veratrum album. So, in 1874, Mr. C. L. Mitchell (Proc. Am. Phar. Asso., 1874, p. 436,) obtained from this plant a base readily soluble in ether, which failed to fully respond both to the sulphuric and hydrochloric acid tests for veratria, and he therefore concluded that it was a distinct principle. Mr. Mitchell confirmed Dr. Peugnet's announcement of the identity of viridia and jervia. Much the same confusion has existed in regard to the principal alkaloid of Veratrum album. Thus, in 18 19, Pelletier and Caventou announced that the alkaloid of the plant was identical with veratria from sabadilla seeds ; whilst, in 1872, Dr. Peugnet claimed that the alkaloid was not veratria, but identical with veratroidia of Veratrum viride ; whilst still later, Mr. C. L. Mitchell claimed that it differed from both alkaloids, and proposed for it the name veratralbia. The question as to the identity, or otherwise, of these principles being a matter of considerable importance, especially in toxicological examinations, we have given the subject very careful study, and, as the result of repeated experiments, we find that both veratrum viride and veratrum album contain an alkaloid, which, when pure, in its behavior with the mineral acids and with liquid precipitants, fully responds to all the reactions of veratria or veratrin. Thus in the solid state, under the action of concentrated sulphuric acid, the alkaloid from both plants assumes a yellow color, and slowly dissolves to a yellow or reddish-yellow solution, which after a time becomes orange red and finally deep crimson with a purplish hue. If the mixture be gently warmed, the crimson coloration manifests itself at once. If the alkaloid is impure, at least, if it contains an apparently oily matter which adheres most tenaciously, it will strike a more or less red color with sulphuric acid and quickly dissolve to a reddish-yellow solu- tion, which after a time acquires a more or less brownish-red color, but fails to assume the crimson coloration of the pure alkaloid. The presence of pure jervia in very minute quantity does not appear to materially interfere with the normal reaction of the alkaloid with this acid. Am'ja°nUri8P76arm'} Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride and Album. 3 The claims, as we have already seen, that the alkaloid in question from the three different veratrums was not the same, has been based chiefly upon the behavior of the product obtained with concentrated sulphuric acid ; and also in part upon its behavior with hydrochloric acid. It may here be stated, that several years since we received of Dr. Percy, of New York, a small sample of the alkaloid prepared by Mr. Scattergood, of Philadelphia, from veratrum viride, which yields color reactions with sulphuric and hydrochloric acids, identical with those of pure veratria, when compared side by side with that alkaloid. It has also been claimed that " veratralbia " differed from "veratria and veratroidia," in that its solution failed to yield a precipitate with chloride of platinum. But we find that solutions of each of the so-called different principles, when of the same strength and under like conditions, if not too dilute, will yield precipitates that in no way can be distinguished. Preparation of the Alkaloids : — For the preparation of the alkaloids of veratrum viride, a fluid extract of the root, prepared by Sharp & Dohme, of Baltimore, was employed throughout our examinations. After a number of experiments the following method was adopted : The fluid extract, acidulated with acetic acid in the proportion of fifteen minims per fluidounce, is added with constant stirring, to eight volumes of pure water, — the mixture allowed to stand 24 hours, or at least until the precipitate has completely subsided, and the liquid then filtered. The clear, yellowish filtrate is concentrated on a water-bath to something less than, or even to one half, the volume of the fluid extract employed, when it is allowed to cool and again filtered. The filtrate thus obtained is treated with slight excess of carbonate of sodium, which will throw down a voluminous precipitate of the mixed alkaloids. This mixture is agitated with about its own volume of ether, which will readily take up the precipitate. After decantation of the ether, the alkaline fluid is washed with a small quantity of fresh ether, which in its turn is decanted. Although jervia in its pure state, when precipitated, is only very sparingly soluble in ether, yet under the above conditions, it is very freely soluble in this liquid, 100 fluidgrains of the liquid readily taking up between two and three grains of the mixed alkaloids. In its crystalline state, the alkaloid appears to be wholly insoluble in this menstruum. 4 Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride and Album. {Am- jZ'Ifr™' The ether employed in most of the present examinations was of sp. gr. 0.725. The ether employed for the above extractions, is allowed to evapo- rate, small portions at a time, in a rather deep, thin glass capsule, and the resulting residue dried in a water-oven. The outer or upper portion of the residue thus obtained, will con- sist chiefly of the veratria, in the form of a transparent, more or less yellowish, vitreous mass, in which, under the microscope, may be found some scattered crystals of jervia : in drying, this portion of the deposit generally separates, in part at least, from the sides of the capsule, in the form of transparent scales. The central or inner por- tion of the deposit will consist FIG. I. JERVIA, FROM ETHERIAL SOLU- ... tion. 30 diam. chiefly of the jervia, in the form of bold groupes of crystals. Fig. 1. About two grains or something more of residue will be obtained for each fluid ounce of the fluid extracts employed. For the separation of the alkaloids, the dried residue is treated with a little water strongly acidulated with hydrochloric acid (1:10), which will readily dissolve the veratria, whilst the jervia will be converted into the insoluble chloride. The quantity of acidulated water thus employed may be in the proportion of about a fluid drachm for every two grains of residue. This mixture is transferred to a small, moistened filter, and, if necessary, the filtrate returned to the capsule until the whole of the insoluble matter is transferred to the filter, which is finally washed with a little acidulated water, and reserved for the recovery of the jervia. The alkaloid in the filtrate may be further purified by washing the acid solution with ether, precipitating by sodium carbonate, and then either taking up the precipitate by ether or collecting it on a filter and washing, these operations being repeated, if necessary. On precipitating with sodium carbonate, a notable quantity of the alkaloid remains in solution, and may be recovered in a quite pure state, by extracting the Am'jrz8P76arm"} Alkaloids ofVeratrum Viride and Album. 5 filtrate with ether. In its pure state, as left by ether and pulverized,, the alkaloid forms a pure white, sparkling powder. For the recovery of the jervia, left on the filter in the form of chloride, the deposit, being first pulverized, is boiled for some time, with a solution of carbonate of sodium, the mixture transferred to a filter, and the residue washed with a little water. The washed residue is treated on the filter with a little water strongly acidulated with acetic acid, by which the liberated alkaloid will be dissolved. The filtrate thus obtained will usually be more or less turbid ; but by returning it to the filter, it may be obtained clear. The jervia is now thrown down form the filtrate by slight excess of carbonate of sodium, and the precipitate extracted by agitating the mixture with chloroform, which on evaporation will leave the alkaloid in the form of a hard, transparent, amorphous deposit. On moistening this residue with a few drops of water, containing a drop or two oi alcohol, it will quickly be converted into a white mass of groups of crystals of the pure alkaloid. A portion of both alkaloids is retained by the resinous matter separ- ated from the original aqueous mixture of the fluid extract, and may be recovered by boiling the powdered mass with water strongly acidulated with acetic acid. The alkaloids from veratrum album were obtained by extracting the powdered root with water containing acetic acid, treating the concentrated solution with carbonate of sodium, and taking up the precipitate by ether, in the manner already described. The ether extract of the mixed alkaloids left the jervia in the same crystalline form as obtained from veratrum viride. Reactions of Jervia : — Sulphuric acid causes pure jervia to assume a yellow color, and slowly dissolves it to a yellow or faintly reddish-yel- low solution, which after some minutes acquires a beautiful bright green color. A very minute quantity of the alkaloid will exhibit this coloration. After a few hours, the green color thus produced disap- pears, and a dirty white or brownish precipitate separates. This acid produces similar results with the chloride, sulphate, and acetate of the alkaloid, when in the solid state ; but it dissolves the nitrate with the production of an orange -red color, which is permanent for at least some hours. Nitric acid quickly dissolves the alkaloid to a colorless solution, which after a time acquires a more or less rose or pinkish hue. Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride and Album. {^^iw**™' Hydrochloric acid fails to produce any marked coloration or to dissolve the pure alkaloid, immediately converting it into the chloride, which is insoluble in the presence of the free acid, although somewhat soluble in pure water. The foregoing mineral acids occasion the following reactions with one grain of a i-iooth solution of the alkaloid, in the form of acetate : I. Sulphuric acid, dilute (1:5), produces an immediate turbidity, and in a few moments a dense dull-white amorphous precipitate, which soon becomes more or less granular. After a time, the de- posit consists of more or less cir- cular, nodular masses, and espe- cially along the margin of the de- posit, fine groups of long, very delicate crystalline needles. Fig. 2. These circular masses generally appear, under the microscope, of a 75 diam. brownish color. The reaction of this acid is quite peculiar to this alkaloid. 2. Nitric acid of sp. gr. 1.20, occasions an immediate, copious precipitate, which in a little time becomes converted into nodular masses, some of which are spinated. If the jervia solution contains excess of free acetic acid, espe- cially if a minute drop of this acid be added after the reagents, the precipitate soon becomes convert- ed into a mass of crvstals of the forms illustrated in Fig. 3. Nitrate of Potassium* produces J r FIG. 3. I-IOO GRAIN JERVIA -}- NITRIC with a neutral (i-iooth) solution acid. 75 diam. FIG. I. I-IOO CRAIN JERVIA -f- SULPHURIC ACID This reagent has been proposed as a valuable test for the alkaloid by Mr. Chas. Bullock, in a paper in the October number of this Journal, which came to hand about the time we had completed our examinations. Am'jan.risP76?rm"} Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride and Album. 7 of the alkaloid, an immediate turbidity, and after a little time, a quite good deposit of granules and crystalline masses. In the presence of free acetic acid, this reagent produces much the same results as free nitric acid. 3. Hydrochloric acid produces an immediate, copious, dull-white amorphous precipitate, which becomes more or less granular. 4. Bromine in bromohydric acid throws down from solutions of the alka- loid, a dense, curdy, yellow precipitate, which is readily soluble in alcohol. On spontaneous evaporation of the alcoholic liquid, the deposit is left in the granular form. 5. Platinic chloride produces a deep yellow precipitate, which becomes lighter in color, and more or less granular. 6. Auric chloride occasions a light yellow, curdy precipitate. Jervia is also precipitated by other liquid reagents, but the reaction, like the last three mentioned, are common to a large class of substances. Recovery of the Alkaloids from complex mixtures. — The following experiments were made in order to determine in how far the alkaloids could be individually recovered from complex mixtures : Exp. 1. Cat. — Two drachms of the fluid extract of veratrum viride were administered to a half-grown cat. The animal was immediately rendered prostrate, and was dead in about one minute after the adminis- tration. As a quantity of the fluid extract escaped from the mouth of the animal, we have doubts if more than one drachm reached the stomach. The Stomach. — The contents of the stomach, with the cut-up tissue of the organ, were strongly acidulated with acetic acid, the whole made into a liquid mass with water containing its own volume of alcohol, and the mixture digested at a moderate heat for half an hour. The liquid was then strained, concentrated, again strained, and finally reduced to a small volume and filtered. This filtrate was treated with slight excess of carbonate of sodium, and the mixture extracted with ether. The deposit left on evaporating the ether, contained a large number of groups of crystals of jervia, and the margin was of a resinous character, and also contained small crystals. The residue was treated with a little water containing hydrochloric acid, and the alkaloids separated in the manner already described, the chloride of jervia being collected in a small filter. 8 Alkaloids of Veratrum Viride and Album. {Km']°™^™' The second ether extract of the veratria furnished the alkaloid in a sufficiently pure state to yield very satisfactory results with the sulphuric acid test. The final residue of the jervia, consisted of a mass of crystals of the alkaloid. The Blood. — Seven drachms of blood were recovered from this animal. This fluid was treated with six drops acetic acid, its own volume of alcohol and a somewhat larger quantity of water, and the whole violently agitated for some minutes in a bottle. The mixture, transferred to a dish, was digested at a moderate heat, then strained, and the solids washed. The strained liquid was concen- trated, again strained, and these operations repeated until the liquid was reduced to about half a fluidounce, when it was filtered. The filtrate, after addition of carbonate sodium, was extracted with about an equal volume of ether, and this liquid evaporated, small portions at a time, in a small capsule. A careful examination of the residue left by the ether, failed to discover any crystals. But on treat- ing the residue with a few drops of diluted alcohol, and gently evapo- rating the liquid, a number of small crystals and crystalline groups, of the forms shown in the lower portion of Fig. I, were found in the resinous or outer portion of the deposit. The central portion of the deposit was now dissolved by treating it with a very small quantity of water acidulated with acetic acid, — care being taken not to disturb the resinous portion of the deposit. For detaching and effecting solution of the deposit in this operation, a small feather, or, better still, a small flattened pencil of rubber in a glass handle, will be found useful. The quantity of the alkaloids present under these conditions, is too minute to permit of separation in the manner previously described. But as the jervia is rather readily taken up by the acidulated water, whilst the veratria, as deposited, is but slowly acted upon by the liquid — they may in very great part be thus separated. The liquid, which now contained the greater part of any jervia present, was decanted, treated with a little carbonate sodium, and the, mixture extracted with ether, which on evaporation left an amorphous residue. On moistening this with a few drops of diluted alcohol, and evaporating the liquid, the residue, distributed over a space nearly an inch in diameter, was found to consist of a mass of small crystals of iervia, of the forms and as thickly distributed as shown in Fig. 4. Am'jja°nuri876.arm'} Alkaloids of Yeratrum Viride and Album. FIG. 4. JERVIA, FROM BLOOD OF CAT. 75 DIAM. On further purifying the resin- ous matter left in the capsule, it furnished, under the action of con- centrated sulphuric acid, very good evidence of the presence of vera- tria. Exp. 2. Dog. — Between two and three drachms of the fluid ex- tract were administered to a dog, weighing about thirty-five pounds. The animal was soon seized with violent vomiting and retching, suc- ceeded by purging and discharge of urine. Two hours after the admin- istration, there still being very active symptoms, the animal was killed by a blow upon the head. The stomach of this animal was not exa- mined. The Blood. — Three ounces of blood carefully taken from the femoral artery of this animal, were acidulated with acetic acid, violently agitated with a mixture of water and alcohol, and the mixture treated in the same manner as the blood from the cat, — the final solution being reduced to 375 fluidgrains. This solution, after addition of carbonate sodium, was extracted with 200 fluidgrains of ether, and finally washed with a little of that liquid. Ten fluidgrains of the ether first employed, when allowed to evapo- rate, left a residue containing a large number of minute crystals of jervia. On evaporation of the whole of the ether employed, another crop of crystals was obtained, and the margin of the residue was of a resinous character. On separating the different portions of the residue by acidulated water and treatment in the manner already described, perfectly satis- factory evidence of the presence of both alkaloids was obtained. The quantity of veratria recovered in this instance seemed to be greater than in the case of the cat, whilst that of the jervia seemed to be less. Of all the alkaloids, there is none, according to our experience, so readily recovered in its crystalline state from the blood, when carried io Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. {Km'jltr;^m' there by absorption, as jervia. We have elsewhere (Micro chemistry of poisons) cited some cases in which we recovered veratria from the blood of animals killed with the commercial alkaloid. Columbus, O., Oct. 20th, 1875. THE RELATIONS OF PHARMACISTS TO PHYSICANS AND NOSTRUMS. BY FREDERICK HOFFMANN, PH. D. It is with much reluctance that I have accepted an invitation to pre- pare a brief rejoinder to recent articles in some medical journals on the mutual relation of physicians and pharmacists, and on the nostrum traffic, which more or less bear the traditional stamp of disregard or misconception of the real relations existing between these two comple- mentary professions at this time, when the rapid strides in the advance, as well as in the application, of their constituent sciences are more and more shaping their true scope and sphere in the health service. On the surface of these articles there are three main points of dis- pute, namely : the sale of nostrums, the alleged prescribing by phar- macists, and " the propriety for physicians of sending prescriptions. " 1. The nostrum traffic has attained such dimensions that, according to reliable statistics,* two-thirds of the total quantity of medicines an- nually consumed in the United States, are dispensed in the form of nostrums. When we inquire for the causes of this remarkable fact, in a country which can boast of one regular practitioner of medicine to every 600 inhabitants, looking aside from those thinly-settled regions whose population is scattered widely apart, where medical aid cannot be had readily and at all seasons of the year, and where for want of recognized family medicines or generally approved formulas for house- hold remedies, the people as yet have recourse largely to nostrums ; there are three alternatives obvious : first, that a large number of the nostrums really possess so much merit and have secured so much credit, as to offer, in all ordinary cases, a satisfactory substitute for average medical skill, as it can be obtained at present ; or, secondly, that this latter is largely regarded as so far inferior or disproportionate in price to the actual or fancied benefit derived from nostrums, that experience and fact have secured for the " infallible " cure-all a greater *" Boston Medical and Surgical Journal," August, 18745 and "Amer. Journ. Pharm September, 1874, p. 445. Am j™J%;rm } Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. u confidence than is felt in the fallible doctor ; or, thirdly, that the public, who annually spend so many millions of dollars more for nos- trums than for doctors, must greatly lack in common sense and judgment. The pharmacist, as far as the nostrum traffic is concerned, is but a merchant ; he occupies a neutral ground, and cannot, if he would, regulate it. His personal inclination or preference has just as little to do with the merits or demerits of nostrums as it has with those of the doctor ; nor have pharmacists, in general, any influence upon the choice of the public between either of them, although their preferences as well as material interests are certainly in favor of the latter ; and, moreover, they suffer by the alleged degeneration of their profession into a mere trade, much more than the physicians do, or than is gener- ally known. It is not in their power, however, to change the law of demand and supply, nor can this be accomplished by statutes, forbid- ding or endeavoring to control the sale and use of nostrums, or the choice of remedies, doctors, or methods of treatment, by the people, any more than it is possible to protect the community in that way from the evidently large numbers of insufficiently educated, incompetent " and unskilled, yet regularly-graduated, physicians,"* nor restrain these from experimenting on the health and life of the afflicted, who, in many cases, have no chance to obtain an approximately correct estimate of the qualification of the physician or to discriminate between the edu- cated one and the pretender, and, still less, have any means of detect- ing incompetency and malpractice until, perhaps, it is too late, and a valuable life has been sacrificed. f So long as medicines in the form of nostrums and specialties are bought and used, it is, no doubt, safer that they should at least pass through the hands of a trade which is competent to exercise a kind of control over the character of that particular class of ready-made medi- cines. As long as pharmacy can uphold its present scope, its legitimate business should continue to embrace the dispensation to the public of all those products of nature, manufacture or art, which serve as remedies or are used for sanitary or domestic application, no matter what so-called school of medicine employs them, or in what shape or preparation they * Dr. H. C. Wood, Jr., " Medical Education in the United States/1 in " Lippin- cotfs Magazine, 11 December, 1875, P- 7°3 3 an(1 "Philadelphia Medical Times,11 January 23d, 1875. f" New York Daily Times,11 July 17th, 1875. 12 Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. {Am j{°ur^rm are called for and retailed. If pharmacists should drop the nostrum traffic, as unwisely insisted upon by some medical journals, or should deliberately deliver to other branches of trade the sale of natural or artificial mineral waters, the keeping of homoeopathic pellets or other articles which by long usage, have been associated with the drug trade as it has developed, outside of pharmacy proper, and, perhaps, against the preference and interests of the pharmacist, the result would certainly not be a decrease in the demand and use of nostrums, mineral waters, sugar pellets, fancy medicines, including elixirs, tonics, medicated candies, etc. ; — their sale would only pass into less qualified hands. The nostrums and kindred specialties would pass from the show-windows and shelves of the drug stores to those of the grocer, fancy-dealer, confectionery store, etc., and would there, but with greater eclat, bear evidence of the fact how much more confidence a large part of the American people place in their familiar cure-all nostrums than in the skill of the average physician. Unbecoming and discreditable, as is the association of the nostrum trade with pharmacy, yet, generally speaking, the choice of the smaller evil from the two alternatives forced upon the pharmacist, justifies him, in the interest of the public, in retaining, and, as far as possible, controling the trade in medicines, in whatever legitimate form they may appear in the market. The correctness of this view is sustained by the fact, that it is practically applied in countries whose sanitary regulations are very strict and are regarded as models of wise and adequate legislation. With the increase of travel, the American quack medicines have fol- lowed the large annual exodus of our substantial classes to Europe, and many of our popular nostrums, in consequence of the great demand, have been introduced on the continent of Europe and in Germany,, where medicines are not admitted to patent-rights ; but no sooner had the demand called forth their importation, than the Imperial govern- ment promptly enacted a statute, confining the exclusive trade in this kind of " Yankee notions " to the apothecaries, in order to submit them, as far as practicable, to the control of a competent and critical profession. For the present, therefore, it may be safest for pharmacy to embrace in its scope every legitimate system and mode of dispensing and reta il ing medicines, while the attainments and character of the pharmacist should ever remain a criterion and a safeguard both to the public and the physician, and should prevent him from countenancing imposture km'j™*ilt£rm'} Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. 13 or fraud. On the other hand, as already stated, it should fairly be taken into consideration that the nostrum-traffic has been forced upon him, and that he, as a rule, takes an adverse position, only supplying the demand ; as also, that the pharmacist has no right to influence the choice of the customer between the physician — allopath or homoeopath — or the familiar nostrum, unless called upon for his opinion. Moreover, every well-informed person knows that the nostrum traf- fic cannot effectually be restrained merely by the favor or disfavor of pharmacists any more than by that of physicians, and that the use of nostrums is by no means confined to the non-educated portion of the community, but that it prevails largely among the wealthy classes, both at home and abroad ; as also, that among the patrons of this class of medicine, as the prescription file of the drug stores throughout the country will testifv, may be numbered not a few physicians of good standing. But when we come to the bottom of the question, and inquire with- out bias for the primary cause of the origin and great success of the nostrums in our country, we cannot but lay a very great part of it at the door of the medical profession at large, or, perhaps, attribute it, ultimately, to the want of adequate laws for the regulation of the meth- ods and standard of medical education and the requisite qualification for admission to the practice of medicine by physicians. The fact is that nostrums, to a very large extent, have supplied an actual want, in con- sequence of lack of trustworthy medical aid and of confidence, on the part of the community, in the qualification of a large number of physi- cians. This want has opened many a door to nostrums in preference to the doctor, and has contributed much to raise this traffic to its pres- ent extent, almost exactly in proportion with the increase in numbers and the decrease in qualification and public trust in the average doctors, a large portion of whom " have attained and still acquire their training and engage in practice under the absurd notion that a medical education can be acquired in two winters, and in many cases, even without a preliminary grammar school education. "* It is therefore no wonder that in the choice between the cure-all nostrums, or the pellet and drops of the homoeopath, or a multitude of unqualified practitioners, not to speak of the pretenders and impostors, the public frequently give pref- erence or a first trial to the harmless sugar pellet or the familiar nostrum, and that two-thirds of the entire amount of drugs and medicines annually consumed in our country, are bought and used in the form of nostrums. *Dr. H. C. Wood, Jr., " Lippincott's Magazine," December, 1875, P- 7°5- 14 Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. { Am- jJa0n.r;8^6frri1' Nor is it strange that among the large class of educated, conscientious and high-minded physicians, who have more or less to suffer * by the iniquities of unworthy competitors, and who keenly feel the disgrace which these reflect upon the profession at large as well as among the public, the demand for adequate legislation f is increasing, in order " to check the unbridled license of the lower class of practitioners, and to protect the community against the disastrous activity of a multitude of untrained and reckless, yet regularly graduated, practitioners."! That the public apply to the pharmacist for their supply of medicines of their own selection, is but an evidence of the superior trust which he possesses in the general regard of the people, who are well aware of the fact that American pharmacy, by its own exertion and energy, has, of late, raised its status much nearer to the European standard. Nor is that all ; it is still advancing quietly and without any presumption, indeed, but with such success that empiricism and incompetency, so largely prevailing, and, as generally admitted, on the increase, among physicians, are more and more falling into oblivion among pharmacists. Under these circumstances, medical writers should exercise due regard and discretion in criticising pharmacists in their legitimate attempt to check and relieve an evil, whose magnitude is largely the consequence of the shortcomings of a great part of the physicians of the land. The present move on the part of pharmacists to counteract the use of nostrums, by instructing the people, by means of an annual almanac,§ in regard to their composition and danger is, perhaps, the wisest method. It has been successful in other countries, and is, at least, worth a trial here ; while in regard to the before-mentioned causes of the success which the nostrums have attained in our country, as substitutes for medical aid, it is certainly the most discreet and forbearing means within the reach of the pharmacists. They, of course, are well aware of the incompleteness of their effort, as they cannot expect a sweeping change so long as the shortcomings and disqualification of so large a portion of practitioners continue to * Dr. Wm. T. Edgar, President's Address before the Medical Editors' Association. " St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal," May, 1875, P- 23x- f Dr. Stephen Smith. " Public Health Service and Medical Education ;v an ad- dress before the American Public Health Association. " New York Daily Times," November 13th, 1874. X Dr. H. C. Wood, Jr., " Lippincott's Magazine," December, 1875, p. 711. \ The Popular Health Almanac, edited by Fred. Hoffmann. AmjJa°riiri876harm'} Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. I 5 diminish confidence in the unexceptional qualification of the medical proT fession at large, and tend to drive the public to other means of relief, and among them, especially,to nostrums. 2. The charge upon pharmacists of the alleged practice of prescrib- ing, or advising and dispensing medicines on their own account and responsibility, when called upon to do so, is one which medical men occasionally like to indulge in, and in which they draw largely on their own imagination, and put all the real or* fancied facts deliberately to one side. The fact is, that the choice of the methods or agents to be employed in the maintenance or restoration of health, and the inquiry for, as well as the imparting of advice as to remedies and their application or use, as well as the sale of unobjectionable commercial drugs and medicines, with the exception of a few whose sale is restricted for their poisonous character, by State or local laws, and the compounding of physicians' prescriptions, is entirely optional to every individual in this land, as well as, more or less so, elsewhere. This principle, right or wrong, has lately asserted its validity in regard to the practice of medicine, even in Germany,* notwithstanding its rigid statutes and thoroughly educated body of physicians it, unfortu- nately, leaves a wide and precarious range to license, which, however, under the present constitutional privileges of every individual, evidently cannot effectually be met otherwise than by the jurisdiction of the penal code in the courts, as the ultimate safeguard and recourse in cases of injury by malpractice. Beyond this alternative and the fundamental exi- gency in this country, to raise and establish by statutes, and subsequently to maintain, the standard of education and qualification in the professions, no other tribunal can be had for the present, unless that moral one which culminates in a proper and sound sense of responsibility, char- acter and honor in the individual, and which pharmacists, not less than the physicians, individually as well as a class, should possess and deserve par excellence. Far from sanctioning or countenancing imposition or licence by unqualified or unprincipled persons, inside or outside the professions, although they, to a very large extent, are admitted by. the laws and customs of the land, it may, in regard to pharmacists, be but proper to take into consideration, on the other hand, how much good they do, in the way of preventing misapplication or omission, and how many a * "American Journal of Pharmacy," July, 1874, p. 321. 16 Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. {^'jSH'HSf^ valuable life they may save, by their intelligent and conscientious action, and by wise counsel in impressing upon the minds of their customers or the afflicted the advantage or necessity of abstaining from experiments, at least with domestic remedies, sugar pellets or nostrums, and of resorting in time to medical aid. The truth is that, in this respect, no complaint on the part of the community against the Dharmacists appears to be on record ; and it may safely be said that American pharmacy, notwithstanding its many wants, especially in regard to the general culture in the individual, which it has in common with the other professions, evidently enjoys, at present, to a large extent, the public confidence, and meets all rea- sonable expectations to general satisfaction. Whenever there has been any just demand, the profession has shown the spirit and energy to redress and improve any shortcoming, while in its schools it has con- tinually been raising the standard of education and qualification, although they, perhaps, may have, in time, to face the same danger which so deplorably has lowered the status of qualification in so large a por- tion of American physicians, arising from the excessive and reckless multiplication of rival schools, many of which are said to confer the degree of M. D. indiscriminately "on the veriest boor, almost without expense, and upon an examination which is little or nothing more than a farce," and in this way " annually to let loose upon the community a multitude of doctors who are totally unfit for the momentous duties with which they, by such a diploma, are legally entrusted."* Under such circumstances, where the fundamental requisites for confidence and reliance in the physician are so much and so widely wanting, in a great number even of regular practitioners throughout the land, and where evils are so openly known to exist and call for reform, evils which are of no small magnitude to the profession, but of infi- nitelv greater consequence to the community, the advancing of impu- tations, like the above-mentioned one, on the part of medical journals, is at least untimely and impolitic, as it is also uncalled for, and recalls forcibly the application of the old adage : " Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." 3. uWe might suggest the propriety of sending our prescriptions to such pharmacists as do not vend patent medicines" Although none more than *Dr. H. C. Wood, Jr., in " Lippincott's Magazine," December, 1875, pp. 707 708 and 709. Am'jJanUr'i8P76arm'} Pharmacists, Physicians and Nostrums. 17 pharmacists would hail the day when, in consequence of the restored universal trust in the physician, doctors* prescriptions and the exclusive demand for legitimate medicines would take the place of every sale of a nostrum, and the latter pass into oblivion, yet they cannot admit the logic as construed and applied in the above assertion, cited from an editorial in the New York " Medical Record :"* they share with the majority of well-informed and accomplished physicians and the intelli- gent part of the community in the opinion that the time has passed by, when reliable and competent pharmacists were at a premium, and that at present the large body of educated pharmacists to be found through- out the country, no matter if they sell nostrums or not, are both qualified and trustworthy in their business, however it may be desig- nated by some doctors "as a profession or a trade. "f If physicians cannot make this discrimination, the public can, and will more and more act on their own judgment in the choice of a pharmacist, just as in that of a doctor. People of culture cannot but feel it an impropri- ety in a physician, unless in exceptional cases, to direct or dictate to a patient where to go in order to get his prescription compounded, and such insinuation would reveal a want either of tact or of good sense in the physician, and would possibly suggest the traditional suspicion of a special interest of the latter in the profits which he confers upon a pharmacist. % In leaving this unpleasant subject, which it is unwarrantable for medical writers to advance as a menace, § and in relation to an attempt on the part of pharmacists as to the best and most efficient methods in dealing with the nostrum traffic, it is proper to state, as expressing the sentiment of the pharmaceutical profession and to a large extent that of the intelligent public too, that pharmacists are fully justified in sharply repelling any such unbecoming insinuation, from whatever side it may come, whether by caprice or by want of respect, or under the obsolete notion that physicians have the prerogative of exercising a tutelage over the practice of pharmacy, a profession which, in the United States, too, has reached its majority, and become competent to take care of its own affairs and to stand on its own merits. When we balance the present status of medicine and pharmacy in * October, 1875, P- 729- f New York " Medical Record," October, 1875, P- 682- % "American Journal of Pharmacy," September, 1874, p. 444. I New York " Medical Record," October, 1875, P- 729* 2 1 8 Researches upon Buchu. {Am' jZ'^e!m' our land, the latter need not shrink before a critical but equitable and just comparison, both in its accomplishments and its share of applica- tion and usefulness in the health service. Both professions present a wide and constantly increasing sphere for scientific acquirement and practical skill, requiring for adequate qualification, a superior prelimi- nary training of the intellect, and a large amount of proficiency and knowledge, while both have in common their measure of deficiencies and wants, and their drawbacks. When thoughtful and high-minded men are conscious of these, and keenly feel shortcomings and abuses, and call for improvement and reform, they should, when confronting so great evils, bear with real or fancied or overrated minor wants, avoid and discountenance unavailing antagonism, and gain and cherish strength by advancing friendly and auspicious mutual relations between physician and pharmacist. They certainly will meet, in their honest and well-directed efforts, with due appreciation, encouragement and support. In consideration, however, of the privileges equally secured by our national constitution to every individual, and conceding a wide scope for licence, all that can be aimed at and realized, in order to remedy and counteract the consequences, may be the legislative enactment and subsequent maintenance of an adequate standard of qualification in every individual inside of the professions. Upon the relations between medicine and pharmacy well informed men need, on this occasion, no further comment, while the personal relations between physician and pharmacist invariably rest on the level of education, culture and character in the individual. For short- comings in this respect the professions, of course, cannot be held re- sponsible. RESEARCHES UPON BUCHU. BY PROF. E. S. WAYNE. Buchu from the examinations of previous analysts has been shown to contain an ethereal oil in small quantity, and also that this oil con- tained a camphor which could be separated from it by exposure to cold. No other proximate principle peculiar to the drug has been proven to exist in it. In handling large quantities of this drug in a manufacturing way, I have noticed some facts and peculiarities not mentioned by others, and find that the essential oil above mentioned, is not always so simple a body as stated. Am. Jour. Pharm. \ Jan. 1876. j Researches upon Buchu. l9 Some time since, having occasion to distill off the remaining alcohol from a partially exhausted lot of buchu, I obtained in the last runnings of the still a quantity of oil of buchu, in all, about twelve ounces^ and, upon examining it in various ways, I found that upon treatment with strong liquor sodae, nearly one-half of the oil dissolved to a clear solu- tion ; this solution was separated from the oil unacted upon, and then neutralized by hydrochloric acid, which caused the separation of a white solid crystalline mass ; this was thrown into a beaker glass and washed with water, then dissolved in boiling water, and set aside for results. Upon examining the same some time afterwards, I found that the whole had assumed a highly crystalline state, was colorless, and resembled salicylic acid in form; and upon examining them furthur, found that they were in fact that acid, and gave all the reactions for that substance, and with ferric chloride gave the beautiful color reaction, a deep purplish red. I was very much astonished at the result of my examination, and read a paper upon the same at a college meeting some six months ago, and should have published the same then, but wished to verify the above by further experiments, and since then have made several examinations, but not with the same results. My next experiment was to distill with water 20 pounds of buchu ; (in all these experiments the short variety was used) the oil collected and treated with soda as in the former experiment. I found that the oil obtained from this lot did not dissolve, or lose the same volume that the former did, but that a part formed a clear solution, which, upon being separated and neutralized with hydrochloric acid, became milky turbid in appearance ; this was set aside over night, and in the morning the same was found almost transparent, and filled with a mass of long needle-shaped crystals — these were separated by filtration, washed with cold water, and suffered to dry on the filter — they were tested in solu- tion in water, with negative results, except with nit. silver and ferric chloride ; that of the ferric chloride was very marked and decided; upon addition of this reagent to the colorless solution it caused an intense blueish black color even in very dilute solutions, as decided as that of salicylic acid with this reagent, but of a different color. Failing in this experiment to obtain the same results as in the former, and thinking over the matter, thought that probably the alcohol might have caused some change in the former ; a quantity of fluid extract of buchu, about six pints, was distilled with the addition of water. I obtained only a small quantity of oil, which, in every respect, gave the 20 Researches upon Buchu. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. same reactions as with that obtained by distilling the buchu with water. With this experiment the investigation was left at rest, until this Fall, when it was again taken taken up, and whilst engaged in it, Mr, Wm. M. Thompson, of W. H. Merrell & Co., brought me as curios- ity a few crystals of a substance that he said was obtained in attempting to distill off the alcohol from a lot of buchu magma. I immediately recognized them as being the same substance I found in the two last experiments ; and learning from him that the whole was just about the same as the mass that I had originally distilled, and found salicylic acid in the oil, I made a request of Messrs. W. H. Merrell & Co., through him, that the same be placed at my disposal, to which they kindly con- sented. I received a barrel about three-fourths full of the magma, and distilled it with water. I obtained from it a portion or all of the alco- hol, and by continuing the distillation and cohobating the watery distillate obtained six gallons of a milky distillate, but only slight traces of oil floating upon it. This distillate was set aside over night, and upon examining the same in the morning, found there had formed nearly two inches deep upon the bottom of the vessel holding the liquid, a mass of long needle-shaped crystals, some an inch and a half long ; the supernatant liquid was syphoned off, and the crystals then collected on a filter. These were tested as the former, and with ferric chloride gave the same dark bluish-black color. The water syphoned off also gave the same, and the alcohol distilled from the magma gave the same result. I obtained no oil to test for salicylic acid, and could not detect it in any of the distillates. From this lot of buchu I have obtained nearly three ounces of this crystalline body, in long needle-shaped colorless crystals, having an odor indicative of their origin, yet different What it is, I am not yet able to say, but shall examine it more fully and report at some future time. Buchu, from what has been shown, evidently contains some sub- stance, that by its chemical change, will yield salicylic acid, and proba- bly it is the crystalline body I have found in the three last experiments. This is sparingly soluble in water at ordinary temperatures, freely at the boiling-point ; which solution upon cooling, becomes turbid from separation of oil drops, which afterwards turn to crystals soluble in alcohol and ether ; and the aqueous solution with ferric chloride forms an intense, I may say, inky blue color, so intense as to render the solution opapue even in a test tube half an inch in diameter. Nitrate of silver also occasions a precipitate of a purplish color, deeper than that of chloride silver, exposed to the action of light. Cincinnati, Dec, 1875. t Arn,jJa0nrx8P76arm*} Molybdic in Sulphuric Acid as a test. 2 1 ON SOLUTIONS OF MOLYBDIC IN SULPHURIC ACID AS A REAGENT FOR ORGANIC PRINCIPLES * BY HENRY S. WELLCOME, PH. G. Dr. Regnald Southey, Physician to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, in his report for 1874, (vol. x, p. 303), announces, as a new test for opium, a solution of molybdic acid in sulphuric acid. The following is an abstract of his statement : " A new test for opium ; a color test, at once so characteristic and intense, of such easy applica- bility and such extreme delicacy, that it needs only to be more generally known in order to be often employed ; molybdic acid dissolved in pure sulphuric acid is the testfluid ; a saturated, or, at all events, a strong solution should be made. Th,e reaction is produced by mDrphia in opium, not by the meconic acid ; the latter undergoes no change with the reagent ; the former, in minutest quantities, at once furnishes characteristic reaction. The best mode of proceeding is to place a drop of the suspected fluid side by side with a drop of the test fluid, by means of a glass rod; at once, if morphia, or any of its salts, be present, a beautiful deep maroon color will be presented, when the fluids are brought in contact ; the color changes after a while, becoming, first deep purple, and then gradually losing its red element, and becoming dark, and later, a brighter blue. In evidence of the minuteness of this test I may adduce the following facts : The re- action is distinctly obtained with a single drop of pharmacopoeial tinct. opii, as also with the compound tincture of camphor. " The presence of a good deal of impurity, and of alien organic matter, does not interfere much with it. Of this I feel confident, that the busy practitioner will hail this new discovery, which enables him to detect lauda- num or morphia in the dregs of bottles, brought to him to test, and in fluids vomited, and to swear to its presence with positive security. I was enabled to detect the grain of morphia, as presented in the morphia lozenge of our pharmacopoeia." It is an error that such tests are published, especially for determining the presence of so important a principle and so common a poison as morphia, and with the commendation of one whose position should warrant authority and reliability. We should be sorry to learn of Dr. Southey's swearing to the presence of opium or morphia, his findings based upon this test alone, in a chemico-legal poison case, where a * Read, December 7th, before the Monthly Meeting of the New York Alumni Association of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. 22 Molybdic in Sulphuric Acid as a test. {AmjI™s*lA™' person's life or liberty was depending upon his testimony. The test is not characteristic ; there are many other organic bodies which yield the same color with the reagent, and the presence of other organic matter does materially interfere with the reaction, varying according to its character. He states that he was able to produce the reaction with a single drop of tinct. opii or tinct. opii camph., he could as well pro- duce the same reaction with any other tincture, and even with pure alcohol ; but they give a bright purple color, changing to blue, and not the maroon, which is produced by pure morphia, and similar bodies. Mr. Buckingham, in " American Journal of Pharmacy," 1873, P- 150, proposed a solution of molybdate of ammonium, eight grains, in sulphuric acid, two drachms, as a test for some organic bodies, giving a table, showing the changes of color produced by the most important alkaloids, and, while his results show that his experiments were con- ducted with care, yet he overlooked the fact that those colors vary according to the condition under which the test is applied. Prescott, in his new and valuable little work on proximate organic analysis, p. 144, devotes much space to Frcehde's reagent, which is a solution of molybdate of sodium, O'Oi grain, in concentrated sulphuric acid, 10 cc, and gives a table showing the reaction with the reagent, and with pure sulphuric acid. I do not think that the indications wnich he presents there were proven with proper care ; he states that morphia is colorless with concent, sulphuric acid — it gives a wine-red color. These test solutions of molybdic acid, or molybdates in sulphuric acid, all give like reactions, (varying slightly in intensity of color). My experiments prove them to be unreliable, and therefore worthless, for determining the presence of the alkaloids ; for instance, pure quinia gives little or no color, but some of its salts at once yield a reaction ; bromide and iodide, deep blue ; ferrocyanide, red ; tannate, red-brown. The maroon color which Dr. Southey produced with morphia, and is produceable with other bodies, is caused by the red color, given with the sulphuric acid, blending with the blue hydrate of molybdenum, which is formed by the reduction of molybdic acid and the molybdates, when brought in contact with certain organic matters ; the variable green color is produced by blending with the yellow color given to many organic bodies by the action of sulphuric acid, and when these solutions produce a red, yellow or brown coloration, with an organic principle, the reaction is simply with the sulphuric acid, the molybdates taking no part in it. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. Laboratory Notes. Solution of the proto-salts of tin, zinc or copper, yield a deep blue color with the molybdates. There is no more need of molybdic acid, or molybdates, in these test solutions than for the presence of any other blue coloring matter, which will blend with the color produced by sulphuric acid, and produce tints which, while pleasing to the eye, confuse the analyst. LABORATORY NOTES. BY E. S. WAYNE. Damiana. — A quantity of this new remedy, purchased in New York, and similar to that figured as No. 3 in the November (1875) ''Journal of Pharmacy" (page 578), was made into fluid extract. The drug was exhausted with 76 per cent, alcohol. The filtered extract, upon standing for several days in a glass vessel, deposited all over that part of the vessel filled with it, a crystalline crust. The extract was poured from the bottle and crystals removed, which upon examination were found to be, not a proximate principle, as I expected, but chloride of potassium. Eucalyptus globulus. — In the preparation of the fluid extract of this substance, I have not been able to obtain a preparation that would not in a short time form a copious precipitate, supposed to be chlorophyll. The green appearance of it warranted that opinion, but when separat- ing it from the extract, and examining it, I found that chlorophyll formed only a small part of the mass. I dissolved the precipitate in alcohol, filtered it through bone black, and obtained a light-colored solution, free from the green chlorophyll. This was then treated with an alcoholic solution of plumbic acetate, which was added as long as it gave a precipitate ; this was filtered, and sulphydric acid passed into the nitrate, to remove excess of lead. After removing the sulphide of lead, the filtrate was placed in a loosely covered vessel, to evaporate spontaneously. As the alcohol evaporated, crystals began to form on the sides of the bottle, and by slow evaporation a confused crystalline mass was obtained, retaining the peculiar odor of the substance. I could not make out the crystalline form, but removed the crystals and reduced them to a powder, the color a pale ochre tint. The substance is soluble in ether and chloroform ; its alcoholic solution gives, with ferric chloride, a dark brownish-red color. The precipitate conse- quently contains, besides chlorophyll and tannic acid, a peculiar crys- tallizable acid resin, which gives a brown-red reaction with ferric chloride. 24 A loin. Am. Jour Pharm. Jan. 1876. ALOIN. BY CHARLES L. MITCHELL, PH. G. [Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, Dec- i\st, 1875.) The subject of aloin having lately been again brought to the notice of the pharmaceutical world by the experiments of Mr. Tilden, it occured to the writer to undertake some experiments on aloin, in order to ascertain if a good article could not be prepared by some reliable pro- cess, not too difficult for general adoption. The grades of aloin, as found in the market, have occasioned much distrust of its value as a medicine, on account of the unreliability and uncertainty attending their use, very often being almost inert. Aloin, when of a good character, is a very safe and efficient cathartic and purgative, acting freely in doses of from 1 to 3 grs. It affords a conve- nient and efficacious method of obtaining the remedial effects of aloes in a concentrated form. In making these experiments the process of Mr. Tilden (Am. "Jour. Pharm. 187 1.) was followed. " One pound of good Barbadoes aloes was broken up and dissolved with heat in 1 gal. water, acidulated with f^ss sulphuric acid, and after perfect solution, was set aside for twenty- tour hours to cool. The supernatant, clear liquid was poured ofF from the resin (which is comparatively inert), and evaporated by a gentle heat to about 2 pints, and then set aside for several days. On examining the liquid at the expiration of that time, a heavy crystalline deposit of a yellow color was found on the bottom and sides of the vessel. This was collected on a filter, washed with a little ice-cold water to remove coloring matter, well drained and dried. This aloin is rather impure. It can be rendered quite pure by dissolving it in warm water, decolor- ing with animal charcoal, and again evaporating and crystallizing. Aloin, thus obtained, is of a yellow color, crystalline, and of an extremely bitter, aloetic taste. It is slightly soluble in cold water, very soluble in hot water, and soluble in alcohol. The yield was about 600 grains. Some of this aloin was made up into pills, and it purged actively in doses of 2 grs. The liquid from which the crystalline deposit had been separated was evaporated to extract consistence, yielding about 10 ounces of a very good article of extractum aloes. The main point to be considered in the preparation of a reliable article of aloin, is the selection of a good grade of aloes. Barbadoes Am. Tour. Pharm. ) Jan. 1876. J Wafer Capsules. aloes is generally the best, on account of the aloin obtained from it, being much more easily separated and more active, than that obtained from the other varieties of aloes. Natal aloes, lately quite prevalent in the market, also affords an extremely handsome " looking " article of aloin, but unfortunately it, as well as the aloes itself, is very weak in its action ; 15 and 20 grs. of the aloin having been taken with the result of only a slight purgative action. The writer also examined an article of aloin prepared from a grade of aloes, called Curagoa ; but this was also quite weak in its action. The best means of detecting the nataloin is by its reaction with strong sulphuric acid, and the vapor of nitric acid, as proposed by Histed. Add a few grains of the suspected aloin to several drops of strong sulphuric acid, and then pass a glass rod, moistened with strong nitric acid, gently just over its surface. The presence of nataloin will be indicated by the blue color which immediately results. Barb- aloin can be detected by its reaction with strong nitric acid, giving a red color. WAFER CAPSULES AS A MEANS OF ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES. BY WILLIAM MciNTYRE, PH. G. [Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, December zist.) In the "American Journal of Pharmacy," 1873, Pa&e I9°-> an^ 1875, page 213, notices have appeared describing such wafer envelopes or capsules. Recently attention has been specially directed to the advantages of this method, and there have appeared in the market wafer discs and presses to enable the druggist to dispense them. The want of infor- mation as to their production and the expense attending upon the press has proven a barrier to their general introduction. The plan consists in having two small concave wafer discs to fit each other in such manner that when joined a perfectly sealed envelope or capsule is formed, thus rendering feasible the administration of such medicines as are free from moisture, in a tasteless and odorless manner, also allowing the presentation in one envelope of two substances, sep- arated by a middle leaf of wafer paper, with the intention that they unite in the stomach, and form a salt in the nascent state. It is possible to secure all these advantages bv means of apparatus 26 Wafer Capsules. /Am. Jour. Pharm. 1 Jan. 1876. and wafer discs that can be prepared by any one at a very trifling out- lay. To prepare the capsules, the mode of proceeding is as follows : Procure wafers in sheets such as are used by fancy-cakes-bakers. Cut them into circular pieces by means of a hollow punch. One of these is slightly dampened by placing it between wet muslin cloths, removed and inserted between two tin plates which have been prepared of the desired shape of the finished disc ; after pressing together the plates, the wafer will have received the desired impression and is ready to receive whatever suitable combination the physician may desire to pre- scribe. I have, however, found wafer sheets which could not be moistened and worked to advantage in this way ; but these can be managed with- out this treatment, if the tin plates are heated, the flat wafer inserted, and pressure applied as before. These latter have a highly polished surface, and can be manufactured with greater rapidity than the former. The use of the press is to seal the wafers. This is accomplished by properly moistening the internal surface of the rim of one wafer, upon which has previously been placed the medicine, and covering this with another, and submitting to pressure. This moistening is done by an apparatus formed by taking two hollow metallic cylinders, differing in diameter, enclosing one within the other and filling the intervening space with round lampwick or flannel cloth, which is allowed to slightly project. This is moistened by applying it to a piece of flannel which has been previously wetted ; or one of the discs may be pressed upon a moistened cloth until the rim is in such condition that when applied to the filled disc it will adhere. Our fellow-member, E. M. Boring, has devised a press which answers all requirements, and is yet so simple in its construction that any one can, in a short time, with comparatively no expense, make one. It consists of two pieces of one-and-a-half-inch hardwood board, Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. Vinegar Bitters. ^7 two inches wide and nine inches long, joined together at one end with a good hinge. The pressing surfaces consist of concave pieces of brass or metal, having a rim corresponding to the various sizes of wafer discs sunk to a proper level and fastened into the body of the press. For these, buttons for stair-rods answer every purpose. The medicated capsule is now ready for the patient, who will be thus enabled to take such bitter substances as quinia, aloes, &c, without perceiving the least taste whatever, and requiring very little effort to swallow, all that is requisite being to dip the wafer for a moment in cold water, place it upon the tongue, and swallow with a very small drink of water. VINEGAR BITTERS. BY OTTMAR EBERBACH. {Abstract of a paper presented to and published by request of the American Pharma- ceutical Association, Sept. 1875.) The appearance of this compound reminds one very forcibly of a mud-hole in clayey soil, for it looks as if it was taken from such a depository and bottled ; this,' probably, explains why the proprietors have their wrappers so firmly fixed over their unsightly mixture. On opening the boctle it gives a slight report, indicating the presence of some gas ; its odor is that of a mixture of oil of anise and aloes., its taste sour, very bitter, with an anise flavor. To determine the composition of this nostrum, the author subjected the contents of a bottle to distillation, passing the gas through an am- moniacal solution of barium chloride, in which a white precipitate was produced (carbonic acid). The distilled liquid was found to contain oil of anise, acetic acid and alcohol, the presence of the latter being proven by the acetic ether and iodoform tests. The balance of the contents of the bottle was neutralized with am- monia, evaporated to dryness, and the residue exhausted with absolute alcohol ; insoluble portion marked A, soluble portion, B. The latter was exhausted with cold water ; the solution, after long-continued boil- ing with dilute sulphuric acid, yielded to ether paracumaric acid, recog- nized by its solubility and the golden yellow color produced with ferric chloride ; the presence of aloes was thus proven. The portion of B, which was insoluble in cold water, was partly sol- uble in chloroform ; the remainder, dissolving in solution of carbonate of sodium, was free from the resins of colocynth and jalap, and con. 28 Gleanings from Foreign Journals, {Am-&876.rm' sisted of resin of aloes. The chloroformic solution left, on evapora- tion, a residue which was soluble in boiling solution of sodium carbon- ate, and reprecipitated by sulphuric acid as dirty yellowish flakes, which were indifferent to carbon bisulphide (absence of gamboge), but dis- solved in alcohol, and then yielded with ferric chloride, chlorine water and bichromate of potassium the characteristic green coloration of guaiac. In the residue A, the presence of sulphuric acid and soda was easily proven. A portion of it was dissolved in water and precipitated by strong alcohol. In a portion of this the presence of sugar was indi- cated by Trommer's test ; another portion of the watery solution was turned milky bv oxalic acid and gelatinized by concentrated solution of ferric chloride ; presence of gum arabic. Summing up the results, we find that this humbug is composed of the following rare native herbs of the West, as collected by such Indians and associates as Dr. J. Walker, viz., Cape aloes, Glauber's salt, gum arabic, gum guaiac, acetic acid, carbonic acid, alcohol and oil of anise. GLEANINGS FROM THE FOREIGN JOURNALS. BY THE EDITOR. Citrate of Lithium^ prepared in accordance with the British Pharma- copoeia (ioo parts of carbonate of lithium and 180 parts of citric acid), has, according to C. Umney, a distinct alkaline reaction, while that made by the United States formula ( I oo carbonate of lithium to 200 citric acid) is strongly acid, ioo parts of pure carbonate of lithium will be required to neutralize 189*2 parts of citric acid, the product of anhy- drous lithium citrate being identical with the amount of citric acid employed. If commercial carbonate of lithium of fine quality contain 98 5 per cent, of real carbonate, then the proportions would be 100 parts of carbonate and 186*5 parts of citric acid. Lithium citrate, prepared from these proportions and rendered anhydrous, was neutral to test- paper. A solution of specific gravity 1*230 when set aside produced crystalline citrate of lithium, which appears to have the formula Li3C6 Hf)07+4H20 at 1000 C. (21 2° F.) ; this salt loses three molecules of water, the fourth being given off at 1150 (2390 F.), leaving about 73 per cent, of anhydrous citrate. Ten commercial samples were exa- mined ; they left, when dried at ioo° C, residues varying in weight between 76*5 and 85*2 per cent., and at 1150 C. from 72*9 to 83*8 Am >nuri8^6.arm' } Gleanings from Foreign Journals. 29 per cent, of anhydrous citrate. Mr. Umney advocates the adoption of the crystallized salt, which is thoroughly definite and reliable and whose appearance would guarantee its uniformity. The definition of "delin- quescent," applied by the two pharmacopoeias, is inaccurate. — Pharm, Jour, and Trans., 1875, Sept. 11. Bromide of Lithium is prepared by Yvon by mixing 37 grams of car- bonate of lithium, 200 grams of distilled water and 80 grams of bro- mine, and passing a current of sulphuretted hydrogen through the mixture until the color of bromine has disappeared. A slight heat is then applied to drive off excess of sulphuretted hydrogen and to agglu- tinate the sulphur. After filtration, the liquor is concentrated and finally crystallized by desiccating it under a glass over sulphuric acid. It may also be obtained by double decomposition. Sulphate of lithium is first formed by treating 37 grams of carbonate of lithium with 49 grams of monohydrated sulphuric acid, diluted with its own volume of water. On the other hand, 119 grams of potassium bromide are dis- solved in the smallest possible quantity of water. When the two solutions are mixed, an abundant precipitate of potassium sulphate is produced and increased by the addition of a little alcohol. The whole is evaporated to dryness, finishing the operation on a water-bath, and the residue is treated with alcohol which removes only bromide of lithium and deposits it again on evaporation. The bromide may then be crystallized from water or kept in solution of known strength. — Ibid., Sept. 18. Combinations of glacial acetic acid with oils. — As a continuation of his paper on the solubility of alkaloids in oil ("Am. Jour. Pharm.," 1875, p. 540), Mr. J. B. Barnes communicates the following results of his experiments. The minimum combining proportions of the following five commer- cial samples of oil are, for one volume of glacial acetic acid, almond oil 7 vol., olive oil, 8 vol., codliver oil, 7 vol., linseed oil 7 vol., and oil of rhodium 4 vol. The maximum combining proportions of the next five are, for one volume of the acid, oil of turpentine, \ vol., oil of lemon, 2 vol., oil lemon grass, 2 vol., oil of lemon grass, 2 vol., oil of copaiba, ^ vol., oil of juniper, 1 vol. The following 41 oils will mix with glacial acetic acid in all propor- tions : castor, cloves, croton, caraway, rosemary, sandal, cajeput, 30 Gleanings from Foreign Journals. {Am,jan.ri8>76arm' orange, bergamot, anise, almonds (bitter), origanum, chamomile, euca- lyptus, sage, cinnamon, cassia, lavender, myrtle, marjoram, pennyroyal, citronella, pimento, sassafras, calamus, spearmint, wormwood, neroli cubebs, coriander, cumin, peppermint, geranium, male fern, citron, fennel, rue, savin, amber, nutmeg and essential oil of mustard. — Ibid. Preservation of Hydrocyanic Acid. — Mr. John Williams has continued his experiments on the preservative influence of glycerin upon hydro- cyanic acid (see "Am. Jour. Phar.," 1874, p. 487). Two samples, of ten fluidounces each, and containing respectively 4*5 and 2 per cent, of acid, were put in pint bottles, glass stoppered, but not tied over or inverted ; each contained 20 per cent, of Price's pure glycerin. The bottles were opened after six and twelve months, and the acids were found not to have diminished in strength or altered in appearance. German glycerin was found to assume a yellow color with hydrocyanic acid. — Ihid., Sept. 25. Syrup of Tolu. — Regarding the resin of tolu as the main or sole act- ive principle, Henrotte is in favor of retaining it in the syrup, and effects its permanent emulsion in the following manner: 10 grams of finely-powdered tragacanth are triturated with sufficient simple syrup to form a mucilage ; 40 grams of tincture of tolu are added and an emulsion made, to which enough simple syrup is added to make the whole weight 1,000 grams. — four, de Phar. d'Anvers, 1875, p. 337— 339- Administration af Raw Meat. — Dr. Lailler proposes to mix 100 grs. of grated raw meat with 40 grs. of powdered sugar, adding afterwards 20 grs. of Bagnols wine (sparkling ?) and 3 grams of tincture of cin- namon. This mixture has an agreeable taste and is easily digested. — four, de Phar. et de Chim., 1 875, Nov., p. 367. Solubility of Borax in Glycerin — According to Gandolphe, glycerin dissolves, at the ordinary temperature, its own weight of borax by tri- turating them in a mortar, or more rapidly by applying the heat of a water-bath. This solution which keeps unaltered is well adapted for mouth washes after the addition of some clarified honey or honey of roses. 100 parts of water dissolve only 8*33 parts of borax. Boracic acid is likewise more soluble in glycerin than in water, but not to the same degree as borax. — Ibid., from Union Phar. Test for Sulphocarbonates. — A. Mermet proposes for this purpose an AmjJa0nUri876harm'} Development of the Chemical Arts. 31 ammoniacal solution of sulphate or chloride of nickel, diluted with water until it appears colorless. A few drops of a solution of sulpho- carbonate will produce with the reagent a very characteristic currant color ; while liver of sulphur, which is occasionally sold as sulphocar- bonate, produces a yellow, and the alkaline monosulphides a brown or black color. — Ibid,, p. 352. Devorative Capsules. — Under this name, the chemical factory of Hel- fenberg, near Dresden, has introduced capsules which are made of a material similar to sheet wafers, but rolled out very thin like vellum paper. It is -used like ordinary powder paper, except that after the powder has been put upon it the length margin is moistened with water by means of a hair pencil ; it is then folded in the usual way, the ends being likewise fastened by the aid of moisture. The entire capsule with contents is swallowed after having been dipped in water and, if necessary, rolled up. — Phar. Centr. Halle, 1875, No. 42. REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHEMICAL ARTS DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS * BY DR. A. W. HOFMANN. (Continued from page 559 of last volume.) Hydrogen. Of the three properties to which the industrial applications of hydrogen are appli- cable two are of so striking a nature that they cannot have escaped the earliest observers. To them it appeared as the combustible principle, the "volatile sul- phur ^'f subsequently, it was regarded as the long-sought-for phlogiston, % or as the " inflammable air," of which all combustible gases were mere varieties. In modern times, this previously vague knowledge has been rendered definite, recognizing in hydrogen the greatest heat of combustion, and consequently the property of produc- ing the highest degrees of heat and light, properties which met with a practical application at an early date. The low specific gravity of hydrogen did not escape the earliest observers. Being scarcely ponderable, it excited the idea of imponderable bodies, and its specific light- ness, as well as its great heat of combustion, soon met with a striking application. A third attribute is of a less manifest nature. Occasionally destroying colors, but often obtained without any brilliant and striking phenomena, hydrogen in its nascent state is capable of entering into many combinations, of which it is incapable when pre-existing in a free state. It liberates chlorine, oxygen, and other elements from their compounds, and takes their place j or it is deposited in compounds not fully saturated, and fills up the vacancies. This attribute is most weighty for the * " Berichte fiber die Entwickelung der Chemischen Industrie Wahrend des Letzten J ahrzeheEds." f Lemery, " Memoires de l'Academie," 1700. J Cavendish, 1766. 3 2 Development of the Chemical Arts. { j4mjJa°nur;8 £6harm most recent developement of chemistry, as well as of great technological importance. Unawares, this property has been made use of for ages. Upon it depends the trans- mutation of indigo-blue in the vat into indigo-white, and, consequently, one of the oldest and most important branches of the art of dyeing. In 1842, Zinin succeeded in converting nitrobenzol into anilin by the action of nascent hydrogen, and thus opened out an industrial region of unimagined extent. The era of the artificial dyes followed. It was soon perceived that many of these substances shared with indigotin the property of being decolorised by hydrogen, and thus zinc-powder was introduced into calico-printing as a discharging agent, which, developing hydrogen in patterns where it is printed on, remove artificial coloring matters, e.g., magenta.* A series of interesting observations showed, however, that the manner in which hydrogen is evolved is not without influence on hydrogenisation. Whilst ammonium sulphide, and whilst acids under the influence of metals give up so much hydrogen to nitrobenzol as to form anilin ; if other sources of hydrogen are employed the reaction is arrested half-way, and intermediate products are generated. Herewith, therefore, nascent hydrogen escapes from our general consideration, and its technical application will be described in future parts of this report. We return, therefore, to its applications as a source of heat and light. It has been briefly described in the section on oxygen how the oxyhydrogen blast was evolved from the experiments of Saron between 1780 and 1790, and how it was introduced in the manufacture of platinum in the middle of the present century by Deville and Debray. Since 1838! Desbassains de Richemont found in hydrogen mixed with air the means for the autogenous soldering of sheets of lead, and thus supplied the sul- phuric acid manufacture with the fundamental condition of its growth, i.e., perma- nent lead chambers of any desired magnitude. If, in places where coal-gas is readily procurable, this combustible is substituted for hydrogen in soldering lead, many sulphuric acid chambers are not near gas-works, and in them hydrogen is still necessary for soldering. The same must be said on the application of hydrogen for the autogenous soldering of other metals and alloys, a process for which Winckler, in his convincing essay already quoted, predicts a great future. More recently, lead pans soldered in this manner have been introduced in the manufacture of boracic acid in Italy. Numerous conflagrations, especially that of Canterbury Cathedral in 1 871, and that of the Alexandra Palace on Muswell Hill in 1873, demonstrably due to the braziers full of fire used in soldering the leaden spouts, have led, in England, to the proposal to solder leaden roofing and spouting with hydrogen. How far hydrogen is superior to other kinds of fuel appears from the following table. According to the experiments of Favre and Silbermann, 1 grm. of the follow- ing bodies, when burnt in water, gave the appended number of calorics, f. <?., it raised, by i°, the temperature of the given number of centigrams of water.J * The transformation of the colored salts of rosanilin into the colorless salts of leucanilin by means of zinc and hydrochloric acid, was discovered by A. W. Hofmann, in i860, — Proc. Roy. See, vol. xii., p. 2. The above application is due to Durand. See Schutzenberger, " Traite des Matieres Colorantes," vol. i, p. 491. I Karmarsch, " Geschichte der Technologie," 380. J A. Witrtz, " Dictionnaire de Chimie," vol. i, pp. 825, 826. *j5K8$"m'} Development of the Chemical Arts. Hydrogen, . . . . . . 34*462 Carbonic oxide, . . , . . 2-403 Oil of turpentine, ..... 10*852 Stearic acid, . . . . . 9*7 1 6 Alcohol, ...... 7*814 Marsh-gas, ..... 13*063 Wood charcoal (burnt to carbonic acid), . . . 8*080 Ethylen, . . . . . . 11-858 Ether, . . . . . . 9*028 The temperature of the flame does not, however, depend exclusively on the heat of combustion. The density of the burning body and the specific heat of the prod- ucts of combustion must also be taken into account. Hence it comes that the tem- perature of the hydrogen flame in pure oxygen is about 68000, in air about 26000; the temperature of the flame of carbonic oxide in oxygen amounts to 70000, in air about 30000 ;* further according to calculation 1 vol. of hydrogen = 1 grin, is capable of fusing 205 grms. of platinum, whilst the same volume of carbonic oxide can fuse 238 grms, of platinum (melting-point, 20000). In practice, however, even under the most favorable conditions, as Deville and Debray determined in their researches on platinum, about half the heat is lost by conduction to the furnace and other surrounding matter, and the above authorities with 120 litres of hydrogen and 60 of oxygen succeeded in fusing only 1 kilo, of platinum instead of double the amount as calculated. Platinum can also be smelted and refined under similar cir- cumstances with coal-gas. But for the more infusible metals of the platinum group, iridium, ruthenium, and their alloys, the hydrogen flame must be retained, which, if costlier than coal-gas, is cheaper than carbonic oxide. In the use of gases as fuel, the metal itself can be brought in contact with the flame, which is impracticable in case of carbon, and thus the great loss of heat is avoided which ensues when the crucible is heated from without. Their application renders it also possible to inspect the condition of the metal at any moment. In the metallurgy of the common metals these two advantages do not come into consider- ation. Carbon, moreover, is not only the cheapest but the most productive fuel,f and the application of hydrogen as a source of heat seems therefore limited to auto- genous soldering and to the fusion of the most refractory platinum metals. The property of platinum-black to ignite hydrogen, of which Dobereiner made a well-known and widely utilized application in his hydrogen lamp in 1823, has lost its practical importance owing to the discovery of friction matches. The more intense and permanent was the interest which hydrogen created as a source of light. As the luminous power depends on the temperature at which a solid ignited body is maintained, the suggestion was near at hand to produce an intense light by means of this gas, in which an incombustible body was heated to whiteness. To this end the Scotch military engineer Drummond used in 1826 cylinders of caustic lime heated in the oxyhydrogen flame. The Drummond light has been widely employed, * Debray " Sur la Production des Temperatures Elevees et sur la Fusion de la Platine." Lecons de Chimie en 1861, 65 ; Paris, 1861. f The calculated temperature of the flame of carbon in oxygen is io,ooo°, from which has to be deducted the unknown amount of heat which at this temperature is lost by dissociation. See Debray, opus citat, 3 34 Development of the Chemical Arts. {Am' j^^m' not merely in geodetic measurements and in lighthouses, which the inventor had principally in view, but also for projections of microscopic objects and photographic images on glass, or drawings upon gelatin for demonstration in lecture-halls,* for dissolving views, and chromatropes. In the American civil war it was used in sieges to light up forts. f The English war department has tried it in barracks, in large halls and courts, in whichj it is said to have proved cheaper than coal-gas, whilst the smallest characters could be read at a distance of 90 metres from the source of light. Since lime partially loses its luminous power by continued use, platinum-wire, magnesia, and latterly zirconia, have been employed in its stead. g The above-mentioned application of the hydrogen lamps are, however, of a very limited nature. To utilize it on the large scale for street lighting, the simultaneous use of oxygen has been laid aside, and cheaper methods of preparation have been sought for. For this purpose advantage was taken of Felice Fontana's method of decomposing water by means of ignited iron and ignited carbon, as proposed in 1780.ll On the latter scheme Donovan founded his industrial preparation of hydrogen gas in Dublin, in 1830. His process has been repeatedly described with modifications, referring in part to the needful apparatus, and in part to the diminution of the proportion of carbonic oxide. The presence of this poisonous gas was at first justly urged as an argument against the use of the " water gas." Langlois found that the mixture obtained — on allowing steam to pass over iron retorts filled with red hot coke in Kirkham's apparatus — had the tolerably constant composition of 58 to 60 per cent, of hydrogen, 19 to 26 carbonic oxide, and 15 to 20 carbonic acid. It was subsequently, however, discovered^ that at higher temperatures carbonic oxide is oxidized by watery vapor to carbonic acid, so that if the steam is in excess a gas may be obtained relatively free from carbonic oxide, as shown in the reaction — C-j-2H20=4.H-|-C02. In the water-gas prepared at Narbonne, where the gas on issuing from the retorts is conducted through ignited tubes along with fresh quantities of superheated steam, Verver** found in 1858, 3*54 per cent, of carbonic oxide. According to other, observers the amount ranged from 2*5 to 5 per cent. In the water-gas at Passy, Payen found 6 per cent, of carbonic oxide, whilst in ordinary coal-gas he found an average of no less than 14 per cent. The above- mentioned objection, therefore, no longer holds good. The carbonic acid is removed by milk of lime, or, perhaps, more economically, according to the suggestion of Heurtebiseff by soda, which is thereby converted into bicarbonate, a readily saleable substance. FayesJ| constructed for lighting the town of Narbonne an apparatus which he :i; This Report, Nov., 1875, p. 509 ; also H. Vogel, " Ber. d. Chem. Gesell.," iii, 901. f Wagner, " Lehrbuch der Technologic" 9th edit , ii, p. 377. j" Journal of Gas-lighting," 1869. § See the work of Phillips, quoted above. j| Mem. Soc. Hal., xv. «j[Bromeis, Zeitsch. d. Ver. deutsch. Ing., iii. 82, and Dingier Polyt. J., clxiv. 33, 1859. ** B. Verver. " L'eclairage au gaz a" l'eau a Narbonne et l'eclairage au gaz Leprince." Leiden 1858. See Bromeis, opus citat. ft Heurtebise, Dingl. Pol. J , cxxcvi. (?), 393, 1867. tX Fayes, Genie industries 1868, 329. Dingl. Pol. J,, clix. 47. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. Varieties. 35 named gasogen, which furnished in twenty-four hours 1,000 to 1,200 cubic metres of purified gas, the cost of which, independent of labor, and of the cost and depreciation of plant, he calculates as follows : — For 100 Cubic Metres of Gas. f. c. 75 kilos of coke at 0*03 franc . . . . 2 25 55 " coal at 0*025 " . . .137 82 " lime . . . . .82 4 44 The material costs, therefore, 4J centimes per cubic metre. Instead of decomposing water by carbon, certain other processes have recently come into use, and require notice. Lenoir's process,* suggested in 1867, is of very limited applicability. He decomposed barium sulphide with water, obtaining sulphate of baryta and hydrogen — BaS-f-4H20=BaS04-f-4H2. This process is only practicable where the manufacture of barium sulphate (permanent white) is the main object, and the hydrogen a by-product, as was the case with Lenoir. — Chem. Nevus, Sept. 17 to Oct. 8. VARIETIES. Vegetable Mucilage. By W. Kirchner and B. Tollens. — The authors, after a critical review of the various investigations that have been made in connection with this subject, describe their process for the purification of the mucilage, which is very similar to Schmidt's. The mucilage, after the addition of hydrochloric acid, is precipitated by alcohol and, when the operation has been repeated six or eight times, the product is repeatedly washed with absolute alcohol, and finally with ether. By this means the ash is reduced to a minimum, and the mucilage, when dried, is obtained as a porous mass, and not in hard lumps. Quince mucilage was obtained principally from quince seeds, by digesting them in water for four hours, then rubbing them through a hair sieve, boiling, and straining through linen. After purification it is greyish-white and swells up, when soaked in water, to a gelatinous mass, forming a mucilaginous solution only on the addition of a small quantity of potassium hydrate. It still contains 4 to 5 per cent, of min- eral matter, and on analysis gives numbers corresponding with the formula C18H28Ou. When it is boiled with dilute sulphuric acid, white flocks are precipitated, and sugar and dextrin or gum are produced. From the results of numerous carefully con- ducted quantitative experiments, it would seem that the flocculent precipitate of cellulose is nearly constant after the first half-hour, however long the boiling may be continued, but the percentage of gum gradually decreases, whilst that of the sugar increases within certain limits, showing the conversion of the former into the latter. The gum polarizes laevorotary ; the sugar, which reduces cupric solution, dextro- * Lenoir, Wagn. Jahresbcr., 1867, 219, 259. 36 Varieties. J Am. Jour. Pharrn: \ Jan. 1876. rota j y. The flocculent precipitate, amounting to about 36 per cent., gives the reac- tions of cellulose with iodine, but in the analysis the carbon comes out slightly higher than that required by the formula C6H10O5. This is probably due to the presence of some impurity similar to the compound found in fir-wood by J. Erd- mann. Linseed Mucilage. — Linseed treated in a manner similar to that above described gave numbers corresponding with the formula C6H10O5, or the same as that of cellu- lose. When boiled with dilute sulphuric acid, it decomposes like quince mucilage^ but with much greater difficulty, gum and sugar being formed, and the former being gradually converted into the latter by long-continued boiling The insoluble resi- due is very much smaller than with quince mucilage, being only about 4 per cent. Fleabane Mucilage. — This has the formula C36H58029. Boiled with acid, it decom- poses like the other mucilages, yielding gum and sugar, but in this instance the gum is completely converted into dextrorotary sugar by long-continued boiling. From these results the authors infer that in quince mucilage the cellulose exists in combination with the gum, since no cellulose can be distinguished as such by micro- scopical examination, and as the two substances exist in the ratio 1 : 2, it is most probably a true chemical compound : C6H10O5 + 2C6H10O5 = C18H28014 + H20. Cellulose. Gum. Mucilage. It has yet to be determined whether the other two mucilages are distinct, or whether they are compounds of cellulose and gum in the proportion 1 : 2, mixed with excess of gum : the different behavior of the fleabane mucilage when treated with acid from that of the quince would, however, seem to preclude this view. The concluding portion of the paper is occupied with theoretical speculations as to the manner in which the carbohydrates may become transformed, the one into the other — Jour. Chem. Soc. [Lond.], Nov., 1875, from Annalen der C/iemie, clxxv, 205—226. Mutual Displacement of Acetic and Formic Acids. By H. Lescceur. — It is generally known that formic acid can expel acetic acid from its combinations, but inversely acetic acid has been found also to displace formic acid. When a mixture of acetic acid and sodium formate is distilled, a very considerable quantity of formic acid is found in the distillate, but even with a large excess of acetic acid complete decomposition of the formate was never obtained. The majority of the formates soluble in acetic acid are decomposible in like man- ner, some indeed without even the application of heat ; thus, potassium formate dis- solves in acetic acid, and if allowed to evaporate spontaneously, gives a residue con- sisting mainly of potassium acetate. There would appear, therefore, to be an equilibrium established between the quantity of formic acid set at liberty, and acetate formed in a manner similar to that which has been noticed in many other instances b*y different operators. When one part of sodium formate is dissolved with heat in five parts of mono- hydrated acetic acid, crystals are obtained on cooling, which were found to have the composition, NaC2H302.2C2H402 -+- NaCH02.2CH202.— Journ. Chem. Soc, November, 1875, fr°m Bull. Soc. Chim. [2], xxiii. 259. '■'fcsjfc } Minutes of the Pharmaceutical Meeting. 37 MINUTES OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. The third regular meeting of the session was held December 21st, 1875, Dr. W H. Pile in the chair. Number in attendance, sixty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Prof. Maisch presented to the library, on behalf of J. C. Rumph, a catalogue and price list of Materia Medica, " Catalogus et Valor Materiae Medicae, seu medicamentorum simpiicium et compositorum in officinis Molhusinis prostantium," printed in 1715. Besides much curious information, it contains the oaths, as administered to apothecaries and physicians in the beginning of last century. Charles Bullock thought the disposition to present such works ought to be encouraged ; they would be valuable for our library, as giving the antiquities of our business. Prof. Remington called attention to the suggestion that had been made by W. C. Bakes, of making a collection of pharmaceutical books and apparatus possessing historical interest. Wm. Mclntyre presented a copy of " The Popular Health Almanac," and a press for sealing wafer capsules. Prof. Remington read a paper on aloin, by Charles L. Mitchell, (see page 24). Prof. Maisch asked for further information, concerning the extract described as being made from the mother liquid after the separation of the crystals of aloin. Prof. Remington said it had the appearance of a good extract. Some members, however, thought that it should not be used for the extract of aloes, as officinal in some European pharmacopoecias. I. J. Grahame believed the results claimed for the administration of aloin, as a substitute for aloes, had not been realized. The thereapeutic effect of the various aloins is different ; it is sold at a high price, and requires to be given in comparatively large doses. On the other hand, aloes is used more frequently as a laxative than as a cathartic, and with a good article, the dose is not large. Wm. Mclntyre read a paper on wafer capsules, as a means of administration of medicines (see page 25). Prof. Maisch said wafers in sheets, had long been in use in Europe for this purpose. The introduction of the wafer capsules, by Limousin, had at first materially increased this mode of medication ; but it appeared that their use there was already on the decline, and he believed their apparent advantages would not supplant the American methods now in use. R. V. Mattison had become familiar with them two years ago, while in the West, where their use had greatly diminished j he regarded them as an elegant novelty. James Kemble related an incident, showing that sheet wafers had been used in Pennsylvania years ago, for the administration of powders, the wafer being rendered pliable by dipping it into water. Prof. Remington had used the capsules to a great extent, found them to answer a good purpose and claimed for them rapidity of action. Prof. Maisch suggested that a solution would act with still greater rapidity. Charles Bullock did not believe that a greater amount of action could be claimed by the choice of one form of administration over another. The effect of a pill is equal to that of a powder, it may require a little more time 5 but will frequently cause the medicine to be retained when the stomach would reject the same medicines when given in some other form. J. B. McElroy had used the French wafers, and considered them 38 Minutes of the Pharmaceutical Meeting. {Am7aT;8P76?rm* very neat. E. C. Jones claimed the use of a press as unneccessary, having seen the rim of two turned wood boxes used as a substitute. Prof. Remington said that two empty morphia bottles had been used by some in place of a press. On motion, the papers read were referred to the publication committee. Prof. Maisch exhibited a series of botanical models, made by Robert Brendel, of Berlin, Germany, which have been recently imported, to be used for the illustration of the lectures on botany and Materia Medica. These models are faithful representations of the flowers and other parts of plants belonging to different natural orders, magnified to such an extent that the different parts can be readily seen at sOme distance ; they are painted in the natural colors of the organs which they represent, and many of them can be taken apart so as to exhibit their internal structure. Amongst the models shown were those of Aconitum Napellus, Viola tricolor, Conium maculatum, Hypericum perforatum, Maruta cotula, Digitalis purpurea, Colchicum autumnale, Atropa belladonua, the flowers of the potato, strawberry, apple, cherry and others, the entire series comprising sixty-five numbers, of which twenty-five consist of from two to four distinct models. E. M. Boring directed the attention of the meeting to the following prescription : Jfc Quiniae sulphatis, ....... gr.xvi Tinct. ferri chloridi, ...... f5iss Acidi phosphorici diluti, " . . . . . foi Syrupi, ....... fSiss Aquae, q.s. ad. ...... fSiv A white precipitate being formed, the ingredients were mixed in various ways,, and the quinia dissolved in the necessary quantity of dilute muriatic acid, with the effect merely of delaying the appearance of the precipitate. The phosphoric acid used had been made of phosphorus, and the precipitate, having been found to be ferric phosphate, several other samples of dilute phosphoric acid were procured and tested with solution of ferric chloride containing no free acid, by adding 3 drops of the former and 2 drops of the iron solution to one drachm of water, when precipi- tates would occur. Upon reversing the proportions, using 2 drops of acid and 3 of iron, two of the samples gave precipitates, one became opalescent and two remained clear. One of the latter had been made by Prof. Markoe's process. On mixing the acid with an equal quantity of tincture of iron, diluting this with water, as directed in the prescription, one-half the quantity of the quinia was added, and the solution remained perfectly clear, while the whole quantity of quinia ordered almost imme- diately caused the appearance of a precipitate. The inference drawn from his ex- perience was, that testing with neutral chloride of iron some definite proportion should be given, because if carried to very dilute solution the resulting phosphate of iron would not remain in solution. This was not so readily observed in using the tincture of chloride of iron, which contains free hydrochloric acid. I. J. Grahame had met with the difficulty as early as 1868. He had been able to prepare an acid from the glacial acid that would mix clear with tincture of chloride of iron by prolonging the time of heating. The details of the " Pharmacopoeia " he regarded as not specific enough in this case. Dr. Pile said all the glacial phosphoric acid that had lately been examined was found to contain phosphate of sodium, and no means of getting rid of this contami- nation had been presented R. V. Mattison thought that if we are aware of this. Am'jja°nuri8^6.arm'} Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations. 39 adulteration, it would not be proper to prepare the medicinal acid from it. There is some difficulty in getting rid of the nitric acid, and too high a heat will generate pyrophosphoric acid. Prof. Remington suggested, that if an acid which would not at first mix clear with the tincture, were allowed to stand some time, a change would take place \ and said that an acid could not be made from the glacial acid that would answer for this purpose unless free nitric acid was purposely left in it. Prof. Maisch did not agree in this statement. Like Prof. Grahame, he had observed glacial phos- phoric acid containing sodium compound to be completely converted into ortho- phosphoric acid ; it is an old method, practiced in analytical laboratories, to con- vert pyrophosphates into orthophosphates, by boiling them with nitric acid. He had pointed out, three years ago, to a number of persons, the cause of the difficulty with the dilute phosphoric acid made from glacial acid. J. W. Worthington had avoided this difficulty by preparing the acid from phosphorus, procured from the manufactory on the Rancocas, which he believed was the only one of the kind in the country. Dr. Pyle had tested the acid prepared by Prof. Markoe's process for ammonia, by saturating with caustic soda, but did not perceive any odor of ammonia. A sample of an acid, prepared by the same process by A. P. Brown, was tested by Prof. Maisch, and found to contain some ammonia. Dr. A. W. Miller read the following note on " Substitution of Gentiana catesbaei C kl Mr. M. E. Hyams, of Statesville, N. C, in a recent communication to the writer, states it as his firm belief that no true root of Gentiana catesbaei is to be found in the market. Mr. Hyams states, that among the gatherers in the South the Triosteum fierfoliatum is known as American gentian, and there- fore invariably sent out as blue gentian, although there is a marked difference in the appearance of the two roots, as well as in that of the plants. "The term 'horse gentian' is given by Gray as a synonym for the triosteum. According to Mr. Hyams, none of the gatherers in his vicinity are acquainted with the true Gentiana catesbaei." Prof. Maisch had, some years ago, tried to get specimens of the two roots for his cabinet, but could find none in the market. The two have no resemblance what- ever, the subterraneous portion of Triosteum being a knotty, horizontal rhizome, with long woody roots, while the gentian has a true root, resembling that of Genti- ana lutea, but being much smaller and lighter in color. Dr. Miller suggested, that as the gatherers were bringing it in, there must be purchasers for it somewhere. A. P. Brown presented two specimens of spirit of nitrous ether ; one a commer- cial article, the other made in his store. In addition to containing the proper amount of nitrous ether, about 5 per cent., it makes a transparent mixture with copaiba, which the commercial article fails to do. Adjourned to meet on January 18, at 8 o'clock P. M. WILLIAM McINTYRE, Registrar. PHARMACEUTICAL COLLEGES AND ASSOCIATIONS. New York Alumni Association of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. — The regular monthly meeting was held in Plimpton Hall, Tuesday evening, Decem- ber 7th. 40 Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations. {Am jJaa.r"i8P76arm' Mr. Thos. D. McElhenie read the following paper : Linimentum Iodoformi. — Having frequent occasion lately to dispense iodoform for topical applica- tion, I made some experiments to ascertain the best solvent. Without detailing all the results, the follow- ing is offered. Almond oil was selected, as its blandness fits it for application to inflamed throats : Take of Iodoform Camphor aa Si 3i 01. sassafras 5i 01. amygdali dulc §iv Powder the iodoform and camphor, introduce into a dry vial, add the oils, and heat in a water-bath, shaking frequently until dissolved. The camphor has the property of increasing the solubility of iodo- form in oils, but not in alcohol, and, with the essential oil, serves to cover the odor to which some persons object. Mr. Wellcome read a paper on the action of solutions of molybdic acid and mo- lybdates in sulphuric acid, as tests for determining the presence of certain organic bodies. He demonstrated by experiments that such tests were unreliable (see page 21 ). He also presented some specimens of Grindelia squarrosa, which he had received from Dr. Bundy, of California. Another species, Grindelia robusta, has received some attention as an antidote for poisoning by Rhus toxicodendron^ and on account of the hypnotic properties ascribed to it j it formed the subject of a paper by Mr. Steele at the last meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association. Grindelia squarrosa is distinguished from that plant by the flower-head being more compact, with the scalesmore firm, and terminating in hard, slender and spreading tips. Its medicinal properties are said to be similar to those of Gr. robusta. Some discussion ensued regarding the wafer capsules (cachet de pain), which are being introduced as the model medium for administering nauseous powders. All who had used them spoke of them as a pleasing thing in theory, but practically a nuisance rather than a boon. They were first introduced into Paris about three years ago, and seem to have met with but little favor in Europe, and to deserve the same here. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain — At the pharmaceutical meet- ing held November 3d, President T. H. Hills in the chair, a paper on the analysis of cinchona bark was read by Mr. Edward L. Cleaver, in which several processes recommended for this purpose were criticized, and a new process suggested, the essential features of which are that a paste of 100 grams of powdered bark and 25 grams of slaked lime is carefully dried and then exhausted with hot methylated spirit,- the liquor is acidulated with sulphuric acid, the spirit distilled off, the remaining liquid filtered and evaporated to dryness with pure carbonate of barium, the residue being exhausted with alcohol, which, on evaporation, leaves the total amount of mixed alkaloids ; these are exhausted with ether, the solution evaporated, the alkaloids dissolved in dilute sulphuric acid, the solution heated to boiling, and rendered faintly alkaline by caustic soda, when, on cooling, sulphate of quinia crys- tallizes out ; the mother-liquor retains one part of the same salt for every 300 parts, by measure, of the liquid. In the discussion following, Dr. Paul, Messrs. Linford and Umney, Prof. Red- wood and Attfield took part, some sources of inaccuracies being pointed out. Mr. Nelson T. Carrington read a paper on the chemical formula of commercial molybdate of ammonium, which, from his analyses, he assumes to be NH4HMo04. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. Editorial. 4i Mr. Thos. Greenish read an interesting paper on Pharmacy in Portugal, in which, among other valuable information, it is stated that Portuguese physicians frequently prescribe foreign nostrums, which are largely imported from France, America and England. British Pharmaceutical Conference — At the meetings of the Executive Committee, held in November and December, £75 was granted, in sums ranging from £5 to £20, to eight gentlemen, to aid them in undertaking researches on spe- cial subjects, the results to be communicated to the next annual meeting, at Glas- gow, September 5th and 6th. The Secretaries announced that the " Year-book " for 1875 was m type, that it would extend to six huudred and fifty pages, that it would be published on or about the nlh of December, and that a copy would be sent, post-free, to every member who had paid his annual subscription. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT. The Forty-eighth Volume of this Journal begins with the present number, and fully half a century has passed by since the first number of what has subsequently been called the preliminary volume was issued, in 1825, its regular and uninter- rupted publication, however, dating from the year 1829, since which time a volume has been issued every year. From a quarterly the Journal became a bi-monthly, and, finally, a monthly publication, and its usefulness has made it a welcome visitor to many who are interested in pharmacy, here and abroad. For this we are, in a great measure, indebted to our contributors, who communicated the results of their observations or researches, and we are pleased that the present volume opens so propitiously, with a large amount of original matter from different contributors. It is true that the pharmacist, actively engaged in business, has little leisure for literary labor, but it is equally true that, " where there is a will, there is also a way." The occasions for observations are numerous, even while following the daily routine of business, and if these were noted down and published, they would add to the gen-1 eral stock of knowledge. Amongst the contributors to our last volume, we had the pleasure of welcoming several for the first time, and we take this occasion to invite our readers generally to join the list of those who, for a longer or shorter period, have contributed to these pages, and to record therein their practical observations, well as their scientific researches. Postal Matters. — Our special thanks are due to our friends in New York, who kindly informed us that the post-office in that city had demanded the payment of double letter postage on the December number, on account of the " Special notice to Subscribers " stitched into it, ruling the same to be an enclosure. The matter was at once referred, through the Postmaster of Philadelphia, to the Post-office De- partment in Washington, from which, under date of December 14th, 1875, tne following reply was received : 42 Reviews, etc. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. " Sir; — The publications and letter, submitted with your two letters of 8th Dec, are herewith re- turned, with the information that the New York office has been advissd that printed matter, stitched into the body of a magazine, and having reference to the business of its publishers, is held to be an integral part thereof, and not of the character of matter referred to in Section 142 Laws, or 91 of the Regulations. " I am, &c, (Signed) J. W. MARSHALL, 1st Asst. P. M. Genl. ' " GEO. W, FAIRMAN, Esq., Postmaster, Philadelphia, Pa." The Postmaster of New York has informed the Business Editor that the detained Journals had been delivered immediately after the above decision had been received. Lead in Muriatic Acid. — Messrs. G. Mallinckrodt & Co , of St. Louis, Mo , have submitted to us a letter from Mr. Fred. Reppert, of Muscatine, Iowa, in which it is stated that the solution of chloride of iron examined by him, and found to con- tain lead (see December number, 1875, p 575), had not been obtained from that manufacturing house. REVIEWS AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. The Popular Health Almanac for 1876. Edited by Frederick Hoffmann. New York: E. Steiger. iamo, pp. 44. Tasclxenbuch der Geheimmittellehre. Eine kritische Uebersicht aller bis jetzt unter- suchten Geheimmittel, zunachst fur Aerzte und Apotheker, dann zur Belehrung und Warnung fiir Jedermann. Herausgegeben von Dr G. C. Wittstein. Vierte sehr stark vermehrte Auflage. Nordlingen : C. H. Beck'scheBuchhandlung. 1876, 12VO, pp. 301. Compendium of Secret Medicines. A critical review of all secret medicines an- alyzed up to the present time. For physicians and pharmacists, also for the in- struction and warning of everybody. Edited by Dr. G. C. Wittstein. Fourth edition, much enlarged. The tendency of the above two works is the same in their aim, to expose the frauds and dangers connected with the manufacture or with the use of the secret or so-called patent medicines. Dr. Wittstein's work was introduced to our readers some years ago, when we published a number of formulas contained in the third edition (see "Amer. Journ. Pharm.," 1871, p. 111). That in less than ten years — the first edition appeared in 1866 — four editions have become necessary, proves the usefulness of the work, and that the labor of its editor as a compiler and analyst is well appreciated. The present volume contains the composition of about 800 or more nostrums, cosmetics, disinfectants, etc., the composition of which has been kept secret by the inventors and manufacturers. Amongst that number we find the United States well represented, considering that the volume is in the first line in- tended to find its field of usefulness on the continent of Europe. There is, how- ever, evidently much room for greater activity in the way of exposing the compo- sition of the numerous nostrums, whether patented or not, with which we are blessed on this side of the Atlantic, and which are imported from the other side to supply any possible deficiency as to variety of style and composition 5 and we would im- Am. Jour Pharm. ) Jan. 1876. j Reviews, etc. 43 press the young pharmacists, particularly those who are in quest of subjects for their thesis, not to neglect this promising and important field of original investigation and research. " The Popular Health Almanac," to which repeated allusion has been made in our last volume, pursues rather a didactic course, by giving useful information on all subjects connected with health matters. In its present garb, it is intended for gratuitous distribution by the pharmacist, whose business card is printed on the cover j but those who would desire to make a nominal charge for it, could, we suppose, have the words, " Presented by," altered to " From." As to the contents of the almanac, we find an admirably written " Introductory," four brief articles on "Applied Health Knowledge," three on " First help in Accidents and Emergen- cies," and on " Nostrums and their Composition," an enumeration of "Popular works on the subject of health," a number of " Statistical tables," and various other valuable information. Both editor and publisher are deserving of praise for the manner in which this first number has been prepared. May it be the forerunner of a long series of annual publications which, in the beginning, promise to fulfill an important missson in the distribution, among the people, of sound information on the various subjects affecting the health of the individual as well as of the public. We take great pleasure in recommending both the above works, Dr. Wittstein's. book more particularly to those who are familiar with the German language, the " Health Almanac " to everyone of our readers ; and it is our belief that the phar- macist engaged in business will be amply repaid for the small outlay incurred in procuring this publication (250 copies for $10) for the use of his customers. It certainly possesses an intrinsic value which is not foun4 in all the nostrum almanacs combined. Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association at the Twenty-third Annual Meeting, held in Boston, Mass., September, 1875. Philadelphia : Sherman & Co., printers. 1875. 8vo, pp. 899. Price, in paper covers, $7.00, bound, cloth, $7.50. This is the largest, and we believe also, the most interesting volume issued by the Association, for which it was deemed desirable to use a more calendered paper than for the previous issues. About 460 pages are occupied by the " Report on the Progress of Pharmacy," 70 pages by reports of committees, 180 pages by original papers, and the remainder by the minutes, constitution, roll of members, etc. An excellent likeness of the late Professor Edward Parrish, printed from a steel-plate engraving, and over 60 wood-cuts embellish the work. The volume is now in the hands of the binder, and will be issued to all entitled during the present month. Copies of it, or of complete sets of the proceedings, may be obtained by addressing the Permanent Secretary, Prof. J. M. Maisch, Philadelphia. A Text- Book of Human Physiology j designed for the use of Practitioners and Stu - dents of Medicine. By Austin Flint, Jr., M. D. New York : D. Appleton & Co., 1876. 8vo, pp. 978. The completion of the author's large treatise on "The Physiology of Man" has been noticed on page 494 of our volume for 1874; the work before us is a conden- sation of those five volumes into one, to render it more adapted for fhe daily wants 44 Reviews, etc. J Am. Jour. Pharm. ( Jan. 1876. of the student and practitioner. It is illustrated by three lithographic plates and 313 woodcuts, many of which are exact reproductions from the works of celebrated Investigators. The work will be found a valuable addition to the library of the medical student and practitioner. The reception of the following publications is hereby acknowledged: The Chemists and Druggists" Diary for 1876. 4to. It is presented to every annual subscriber of the " Chemist and Druggist." 4. Transactions of the i^th Anniversary Meeting of the Illinois State Medical Society, held May, 1875. Chicago, 1875. 8vo, pp. 288. Manitou, Colorado, U. S. A., its Mineral Waters and Climate. By S. Edwin Solly, M. R. C. S. 1875. St. Louis: J. McKittrick & Co. 8vo, pp. 40. Battefs Operation. By Dav. W. Yandell, M. D., and Ely McClellan, M. D, Louisville, 1875. 8vo> PP- l6- Reprinted from the "American Practitioner," for October, 1875. Untersuchungen uber den Einfluss der Temperatur auf BakterienlVegetation. Von Leonid Bucholtz, Stud. Med. Investigations on the Influence of Temperature upon the growth of Bacteria. The experiments were made in Prof. Dragen- dorfPs laboratory at Dorpat. Cactus, its History, Classification, Proving, and Therapeutical Application. By Rich. E. Kunze, M. D., of New York. Albany, 1875. 8vo, pp. 33. Read before the New York Eclectic Medical Society. OBITUARIES. Heinrich Hermann Hlasiwetz was born at Reichenberg, Bohemia, April 7th, 1825. After studying chemistry in Jena, he became assistant at the chemical labor- atory at Prague, and in 185 1 Professor of Chemistry at Insbruck. Subsequently he accepted a call to Vienna, where he labored in a like capacity until the time of his death, which occurred, suddenly, on the morning of October 8th, by apoplexy. The deceased was widely known as an earnest and careful investigator, many of his researches having been undertaken in conjunction with Rochleder. r R. P. Clayton, of Dover, Del., died, suddenly, last October, in this city, where he was learning the apothecary business. He was a promising young man, and intended to graduate here next spring. In respect to his memory, his classmates will wear a badge of mourning at the next commencement. Correction. — On page 536 of our last number, line 3 from top, read salt for solution, and on page 563, line 19 from top, reader, ct. in place of pint. Am. Jour. Pharm. < Jan. 1876. J Catalogue of the Class. CATALOGUE OF THE Class of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy FOR THE FIFTY-EIFTH SESSION, 1875-6. With a List of their Preceptors and Localities. Matriculants. Touun\or County. Ahl, William Frank. Ainsworth, Frank Kenley. Allen, John Reese. Anstett, Zachary Taylor. Appenzeller, Gustav. Armstrong, Thomas Swain. Bache, Benjamin Franklin. Baker, Walter Sheron. Ball, William Amos. Barnes, Thomas. Barr, john Rufus. Barr, Samuel Earnest. Barton, Charles Edwin. Baum, Franklin Derr. Baur, Hugo Franklin. Behlar, John. Bissell, Emery Gilbert. Bley, Alphonso Albert Willits Bobb, Edwin George. Bobb, Wallace Geary, Bodinhorn, Adam. Boeiner, Emil Louis. Boileau, Wm. Norwood K. Boisnot, Frederick Styker. Bond, Charles Mahlon. Botsford, Chipman. Bowen, Daniel Albert. Bowman, Chas. Alexander. Boyer, Edward Dayton. Boyer, Hiram. Brennecke, Robert Henry. Brenton, Willis. Brotherline, Chas. Augustus. Brown, David Howard. Brown, George Walbridge. Brown, Joseph John. Buchanan, Andrew. Bullock, John Griscom. Burge, James Oscar. Burns, Simon Snowden. Busch, Wm. Carl Assuns. Byerly, Chas. Henry. Cahoon, Charles Thomas. Carbonell, Louis Phillip. Carmany, Aaron Washington Carmichael, Henry. Case, Flavius Saunders. Chabot, Washington Jackson Chambers, John Roberts. Chardavoyne, Wm. Simpson. Childs, Walter Foss. Cook, Thomas Penrose. Corbyn, Theophilus Niblow. Cotzhausen, Louis von. Cowperthwaite, Marshall S. Cox, Harry. Cox, John Custis. Coxey, Joseph Clarence. Craighead, Thomas. York, Woodstock. Wilmington, Coopersburg, Carlsruhe, Phillipsburg, Bristol, Philadelphia, Youngstown, Philadelphia, Chester City, Mount Yernon, Mansfield, Reading, Milwaukee, Washington, Waterville, Philadelphia, Hollidaysburg, Philadelphia, Annville, Iowa City, Newportville, Franklin Park, Fort Wayne, St. John, New Brun. W. Bridgeton, Nashville, Allentown, Bethlehem, Watertown, Pittston, Lebanon, Middletown, Jamestown, Greenville, Chester, Wilmington, Bowling Green, Minersville, Davenport, Lock Haven, Philadelphia, Santiago de Cuba, Annville, Davenport. Logan, Philadelphia, Burlington, Hamburgh, Norristown, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Burlington, Philadelphia, Columbus, Camden, Philadelphia, State Pa. Vt. Del. Pa. Germany. N.J. Pa. Pa. Ohio. Pa. Pa. Ohio. Ohio. Pa. Wis. D. C, N. Y. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Iowa. Pa. N.J. Ind. Canada. N.J. Tenn. Pa. Pa. Wis. Pa. Pa. N. Y. N. Y. Ohio. Pa. Del. £y- Pa. Iowa. Pa. Pa. Cuba. Pa. Iowa. Ohio. Pa. N. J. N. J. Pa. Pa. Wis. N. J. Pa. N.J. N. J. Pa. Preceptor. Dr. David Ahl. Sturtevant Bros. James Kemble. P. J. L. Carberry, M. D. R. Opperman. James T. Shinn. Bullock & Crenshaw. James Jones, M. D. J. L. Patterson & Bro. Mackeown, Bower & Ellis John H. Kerlin. E. P. Camp. W. W. Moorhead. P. M. Zeigler. C. C. Spannagel. G, A. Bachmann, M. D. W. J. Bissell. John Bley. J. Ritz. V. H. Smith & Co. Dr. D. H. Leslie. Wm.C. Bakes. Clarence T. Smith, M, D. Willard M. Reil. C. E. Cady,M. D. Hance Bros. & White. Geo. H. Whipple. Haddox & Ford. Dr. C.K. Christman. F. G- Thoman. Samuel Campbell. Powers & Weightman. Francis Zerman, M. D. Lancaster Bros. A.C Hembold. Jos. P. Remington. M. H. Bickley. Bullock & Crenshaw. John H. Smith. Wm. Bowen. Henry Ditzen. Mortimer H. Eayer. W. S.Radcliff. J. P. Remington. M. L. Gates, M. D. Prof. G. Hendricks. E. B. Garrigues & Co . J. F. Hillary. W. L. Jasner. A.F.Stull. F. B. Poley. Powers & Weightman. Aschenbach & Miller. Henry Biroth. John A. Vandegrift. Wm. E. Lee. G. W. Ouram. H. W. Miller. Geo. S. Craighead. Catalogue of the Class. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. Matriculants. Tow 71 or County. Creighton, Benjamin Thomas Crowl, Frank Mercer. Daniel, Charles Albert. Davidson, Abraham. Davis, Isaac. Davis, Theodore Garrison. Dembinski, Louis. DePuy, Casper Edward. Dickerson, William Eunice. Dilg, Philipp Henry. Diller, Isaac Roland. Dilworth, Edwin Thatcher. Dranconrt, Samuel. Durborow, Chas. Maney C. Eisner, Moritz. Emanuel, Louis. Endicott, John Franklin. Evans, John Henry. Farwell, Charles Darius. Fisher, Henry. Fleming, Wm. Fullerton. Fraser, Robert Peden. Frishell, George. Friih, Ernest. Friih, Gustav Adolph. Fry, Wilbur Winthrop. Fulton, Joseph Miller. Funk, Christian Lawson. Gatchel, Rudolph Edmund. Geiger, Geo. Lambert. Gentsch, Daniel Conrad. Gerling, John Miller. Gingrich, Ezra Heisey. Goess, Geo. Conrad, Jr. Graber, Leon Joseph K. Graham, Geo. Harris. Gray, Geo. Washington. Griffin, Louis Franklin. Griffith, Charles. Groves, John Dowling. Guckes, Philip. Hallberg, Carl Swante X. Harris, Chas. Greene. Harris, Park. Harris, Wm. Hartzell, Alfred Kerr. Hayhurst, Henry Tower. Hendershott, Jos. Newton. Herrmann, Ernest Wm. Higgins, W. R. Hill, Edward, Holden, George Blake. Hooper, Oliver Pascall. Hooven, Wilbur Thos. Hoguet, William. Hornberger, Chas. Eugene. Hudgin, Edward Leo. Huntzinger, Jno. Franklin. Huston, Thos. Albert. Jackson, Geo. Henry. Johnson, Jno. Geo. Jones, Theodosia. Kay, Joseph Jr. Keeney, Wm. Reynolds. Keller, Alvin Henry, Keneagy, John. Kernan, Jos. Halbert. Kilbride, Jas. Jackson. Kimmel, Wm. Alexander. Kindig, Isaiah Henry S. Kinport, Philip Stein. Klopp, Eli Leinbach. Koehler, Otto Furchtegott. Koehler, Walter Newcombe. Kolp, Jacob Loudenslager. Kompel, Robert August. Kram, Geo. Washington. Kramer, Howard Samuel. Somerton, Oxford, Germantown, Helmarshausen, Philadelphia, Bridgeton, Philadelphia, Iowa Falls, Media, Milwaukee, Springfield, Wilmington, Paris, Altoona, Philadelphia, Alleghany, Philadelphia, Brandon, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Pictou, Philadelphia, Wilkesbarre, New London, Hagerstown, Virginia, New Philadelphia, Cleveland, Annville, Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Philadelphia, Houston, Johnstown, Philadelphia, Helsingborg, Davenport, West Chester, Ashland, Allentown, Burlington, Bloomsburg, Philadelphia, Glassboro, Wilkesbarre, Haverhill, East New Market, E.Mauch Chunk, Bristol, Speier, Galesburg, Fairfield, Mount Vernon, Mahanoy City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Haddonfield, Philadelphia, Rinnersburg, Bristol, Carlisle, White Deer Mills, Sommerset, Harleysville, Annville, Stoudsburg, Greitz, Germantown, Philadelphia, Bavaria, Bethlehem, Allentown, State. Ohio. Pa. Pa. Germany. Pa. N.J. Pa. Iowa. Pa. Wis. Illinois. Del. France. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Vt. Pa. Canada. Nova Scotia. Pa, Pa. Pa. Pa. Md. Md. Ohio. Ohio. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Texas. Pa. Pa. Pa. Sweden. Iowa. Pa, Pa. Pa. Iowa, Pa. Pa. N. J. Pa. Mass. Md. Pa. Pa. Germany. Illinois. Iowa, Ohio. Pa. Minn. Pa. N.J. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Germany. Pa. Pa. Germany. Pa. Pa. Preceptor. D. P Pancoast. Geo. Cook. D. Augustus Jones. G. A. Steer. G. H. Davis. Chas. F. Dare. A. Opperman. Fister & Hoag. Dr. W. T. Dickerson, Kirst & Gerhardy. R. W. Diller. L. M. England. Wyeth & Bro. B. F. Johnson. Cramer & Small. P. Walter, Jr. D. L. Stackhouse. Dr. David Harrison. C. H. Warren, W. H. Walling. Dr. J. A. Cantrell. J. D. B. Fraser & Son. Cramer & Small. Carl D. S. Friih. Dr. James Fulton. H. C. Blair's Sons, W. B. Webb. Dr. E. Worrall. Geo. F. Gentsch. Vaupel & Hoare. Asa Jones. Val Smith & Co. Hess & Snyder. Israel J. Graham. Isaac Tull. Chas. B. Evans. C. F. Frazer. Dr. M. F. Groves. S. M. Sellers. E. S. Ballard & Co. Jos. S. Evans. Robert Howarth. Henry Hartzell, M. D. D. B. Colby. N. J. Hendershott. H. Frasch. Wm. Greene, M. D. Wordle Ellis. C. H. Robinson. W. H. Wallace. Louis A. Hoguet. C. E. Haenchen, Isaac W, Smith. R. J. Mohr, M. D. Caleb R. Keeney. E. E. Hazlett. C. Smith, M. D. Howard Hospital. J. A. Braddock. Caleb R. Keeney. Caleb H. Needles. J. R. Hamilton. T. J. Husband, Jr. Geo. J, Kilbride. E. H. Marshall. D. S. Wiltberger. Clement B. Lowe. Samuel Gerhard. Chas. W. Gmelin. Chas. E. Davis. C. Henry Kolp. Weatherley. Van Buskirk & Apple. Martin & Weigner. Am. Jour. Pharm. Jan. 1876. Catalogue of the Class. Matriculants. Tot Kratz, Mahlon. Kiogman, Joseph Francis. Krupp, Louis. Kuhlman, William. Laciar, Henry Jacob Lamhofer, Edward. Landschiitz, Peter. Lardner, William Shepard. Lashell, Charles Ludwig. Latham, Jr., Daniel Henry. Layer, Philip Jacob. Laws, Edward Mortimer. Lehman, John Wesley. Lewis, Chas. Henry. Lewis, John Jones. Lewis, William Thompson. Linn, Jacob. Lins, Frank Pierce. Linthicum, Theodric. Lippincott, Charles Drum. Lits, Walter Rulp. Llewllyn, William Harry. Lock, John Herman. Logan, Harry Weaver. Loper, Lorenzo Dow. Louderbough, Frank Pierce. Loy, Edgar Turner. Lustig, pjmil. McFerren. Jeremiah Dull. McKeehan, Geo. Henry. McMullin, Albert. McMullin, Andrew. McNeil, Robert, Jr. Mackenson, Alonzo Geo. Marquardt, Carl Heinrich. Marshall, Clara. Martin, Geo. Jr. Martin, John Albert. Martin, John Chrysostom. Mebus, Fred'k Leonard. Merritt, Joseph Wayne. Miller, Sylvester Edwin. Miller, Wm. Leland. Mitsch, George Joseph. Moenkemoeller, Chas. Moore, Frank. Moore, Richard Jesse. Moser, John Hendricks. Mu'lins, Michael Martin A. Murray, Francis Marion. Myers, Edwin. Oleson, Martin Olaf. O'Neill, George. Pabst, Otto. Parker, Frederick Henry. Phillips, Jocob Franklin. Phillips, Thos. Jefferson W. Podolski, Louis Adolph. Poley, Francis Henry. Poole, William. Porter, Andrew Richard. Porter, Geo. Cooper. Pursell, Stacy Brown. Quinn, John William. Railey, Irwin. Reber, William Worrall. Reid, Charles Milnor. Rigg, Morton. Righter, William H., M. D. Risk, Clarence Henderson. Ritter, John. Robbins, William Henry. Robinson, William Duffield. Roe, Thomas Coombs. Roepper, Francis Abraham. Rogers, Joseph Collin. Rosenthal, David Abraham, Rosenwasser, Nathan. Ross, David Hamilton. Wfi or County. State. Preceptor. Perkasie, Pa. R. W. Cuthbert. Philadelphia, Pa. Benjamin Falkenberg, Bremen, Germany, H. Opperman. jAmes T. White. C. F. Goodman Bethlehem, Pa. Grand Island, Nebraska. Philadelphia, Pa, Jos. Landschiitz. Niles,_ Mich. Hansell & Bro. Catawissa. Pa; W. B. Webb. Philadelphia, Pa. Wm. C. Bakes. Mansfield, Ohio. John S. Erben. Milford, Del. A. L. Lamb. Barren Hill, Mahanoy City, Pa. Barker, Moore & Mein. Pa. Dr. B. H. Davis. Mt. Carmel, Pa. Harry C. Fernsler. Bridgeton, Philadelphia, N.J. Joseph P. Balton. C. H. Kolp. Pa. Philadelphia, Pa. John M. Thomas. Helena, Ark. J. W. Cage. Williamsport,1! Pa. Milton Huber. Frankford, Pa. E. W. Chipman. Phcenixville, Pa. E. Frank Stoner. Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. L. U. Hilderbrand. Williamsport, Pa. Ellis, Son & Co. Bridgeton, N. J. H. A. Vogelbach. Dover, Del. Jas. L. Shind. Morris, 111. I. U. Bean. Pittsburgh, Pa. J. C. Longe. F. G. Williams & Co. Chambersburg, Pa. Pa. Isaac Tull. Philadelphia, " Pa. A. M. Wilson. Pa. W. H. Pile & Sons. 4 Pa. John B. Ferguson. Middletown, Pa. Chas. M. Morell. LaCrosse, Wis. A. W. Test. Philadelphia, Pa. Israel J. Graham. Pa. A. H. Yarnall & Co. " Pa. Walter B. Abell. Alleghany City, Pa. R. M. Snodgrass, Easton, Pa. D. E. Becker. Woodbury, N.J. Bullock & Crenshaw. Lehighton, Pa. N. B. Reber, M. D. St. Louis, Mo. St. Paul, Minn. Dreir & Mitsch. Wheeling, North East, W. Va. Geo. R. Vernon, M. D. Md. Aug. Hohl. Springfield, Ohio Thos. J. Casper. Norristown, Pa. A. R. Slemmer. Gloucester, N. J. Michael Mullins. Bluffton, Ohio, Yoder & Hauenstein. Philadelphia, Pa. P. P. Fox. Fort Dodge, Iowa. Prindle & Youst. Philadelphia, Pa. Powers & Weightman. Thuringen, Germany, Guenther Pabst. Auburn, N. Y. John Butler. Ashland, Pa. M. Goldsmith. Deerfield, N.J. J. L. Bispham. Geo. C. Evans. Philadelphia, Pa. Norristown, Pa. F. B Poley, M. D. Wilmington, Del. E. Bringhurst & Co. Vevay, Indiana. J. L. Thiebaud & Son. Kennett Square, Pa. Thomas Taylor, M. D. Bristol, Pa. Howard Pursell. Hillsboro, Ohio. Charles Shivers. Versailles, Ky. J. B. Weaver. Lehighton, Conshohocken, Pa. N. B. Reber, M. D. Pa. C. H. Reid. Norristown, Pa. Powers & Weightman. Wilmington, Del. H. R. Bringhurst. Philadelphia, Pa. Van Buskirk & Apple, Philadelphia, , Chambersburg, Illinois. Thoiricis Br3,un. Pa. A. Robbins. Pa. C. H. Cressler. Camden, Del. . Bethlehem, Pa. Simon Rau & Co. Frenchtown, N. J. C. J. Nice, M. D. . Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Toboldt. Cleveland, Ohio. W. H. Spieth. Philadelphia, Pa. Bullock & Crenshaw. 48 Catalogue of the Class. Am. Jour. Pharrn. Jan. 187G. Matriculants. Town or County. Ruff, William. Ryerson, Henry Ogden. Sandt, Geo. Lewis. Schimminger, Geo. William. Scheehle, George Philip. Schlosser, Gerhard. Schools, George William. Schroeder, Henry. Schwartz, Arthur. Selinger, John Anthony. Semple, George Miller. Sheridan, James Henry. Shinn, Howard Granville. Sides, Howard Buckman. Smith, Albert Henry. ith, Clayton Kerper. Smith, Joseph Stahel. Smith, William Harrold. Sommers, Richard Miller. Sonnick, John William. Spenceley,Cornelius Ederson. Spengler, Allen. Steuben, Milton Richard. Stevenson, Richard Graham. Stewart, Frank Edward. Stewart, James Tait. Stinson, William James. Stockton, William Wood. Strickler, Jacob. Suess, Paul John. Sweitzer, Morris Kemerer. Taylor, Walter Adolphus. Taylor, Winfield Scott. Terrill, George Morton. Thorn, Albert Livingston. Tobey, Charles William. Tomlinson. Wm. H. Toulson, Milbourn Asbury. Trimble, Henry. Trout, Wm. Wesley. Trupp, Louis. Unangst, Eugene Peter. Van Gorder, Albert Hapgood. Walker, Henry Crawford. Walker, John William, Jr. Wallace, Ellerslie. Warfield, John Francis. Warrington, Charles W. Watson, Charles Henry. Watt, Harry Calvin. Webb, Morrison Wright. Webber, Joseph Leroy. Weber, Jeremiah. Weis, William. Wetser, William Puffer. Werckshagen, Otto. Wells, Eben^zer Miller. Wetherell, Wm. Henry. Wheaton, Theodore Corson. White, Andrew Allison. White, Hugh. Whiteside, William Elder. Wicker, Fred. Collins. Williams, Luther Thomas. Williams, Thomas Davis. Williams, William Chapman. Wilson, Alexander. Wilson, James Alexander. Witmcr, John Alfred. Witsil, George Edward. Wittkamp, Henry Louis von. Woolston, Wm. Norton Shinn Worley, George Melville. Wright, Frank Elisha. Wright, John Lewis. Zacharias, Isidore. Zelley, William Henry. Ziebach, Edwin Robert. Sandusky, Newton, Easton, Philadelphia, Wheeling, Baden, Lebanon, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pottstown, Easton, So. Bethlehem, Burlington, Philadelphia, Warren, Philadelphia, Camden, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Easton, Bethlehem, Camden, Homer. Philadelphia, Macomb Mount Holly, New Bloomfield, So. Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Atlanta, Camden, Salem, Boidentown, Troy, Harrodsburg, Chestertown, Chester, Carlisle, Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Warren, Wilmington, Martins burg, Philadelphia, Columbia, Morristown, Philadelphia, Indiana, Salem, Springfield, Philadelphia, Reading, York, Philadelphia, Raymond, Philadelphia, Seaville, Philadelphia, Chicago, Centreville, Minersville, Havre de Grace, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Beverly, Philadelphia, Mt. Holly, Covington, Batavia. Warrenton. Savannah, Hartford, Fremont, State. Ohio. N.J. Pa. Pa. W. Va. Germany Pa. Illinois. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. N. J. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa N.J. N. Y. Pa. Pa. Pa. N. J. N. Y. Pa. 111. N.J. Pa. Pa. Pa. Ga. N.J. Va. N. J. Ohio. Ky. Md. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Ohio. Del. W. Va. Pa. Tenn. N.J. Pa. Pa. Ohio. Mass. Pa. Pa. Pa. Pa. Miss. Pa. N. J. Pa. Pa. Pa. 111. Md. Pa. Md. Pa. Pa. Pa. N. J. Pa. N.J. Ohio. N. Y. Geo. Ga. N.J. Pa. Preceptor. Charles Shivers. Samuel Campbell." R. W. Richie, M. D. J. W. Dallam & Co. W. C. Bakes. Dr. Rizer. Jas. A. Armstrong, M.'jD. Gale & Blocke. J. J. Cumming, M. D. John Oddy, M. D. H. B. Semple. G. C Boyer. H. Hutchison. Samuel Gerhard. Herm. Vogelbach. Samuel Campbell. J. R. Stevenson, M. D. J. P. Remington. C. M. Schellenger. Rieffenstahl Bros. W. A. Musson. W. Notson, M. D. H. A. Bower. W. R. Warner & Co. H. C. Blair's Sons. Robb R. Stewart. G. D. Keefer & Bro. J. Whitelock Smith. M. B. Strickler. William Stahler. Hess A Snyder. J. A. Taylor. Bullock & Crenshaw. G. H. Landon & Co. Henry Schmidt. E. F. Rinehart. B. N. Bethel, M. D. S. M. McCollin. H. C. Blair's Sons. J. Wendell, Jr. Herman Gerhard. Wm. Hapgood. Smith & Painter. J. L. W. Bakerr. R. H. Frierson. S. M. McCollin. Wetherill & Bro. H. C. Blair's Sons. Chas. L. Cumming. J. T. Webber & Co. M. Coombs. M. J. Cumming. A. P. Brown. C. A. Werckshagen. J. M. Boyle, M. D. Wetherill & Bro. Jas. N. Marks. Bullock & Crenshaw. P. S. P. Whiteside, M. D. Geo. O. Guy. H. R. Warner & Co. J. B. Moore. K. M. Rocke. John Moffett. Powers & Weightman. S. S. Bunting. H. L. Wittkamp, M. D. Barker, Moore & Mein. C. H. Dwyer. Thos. A. Worley. J. T. Shinn. J. Lippman & Bro. C. Ellis' Son & Co. J. H. Shultz. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. FEBRUARY, 1876. RAIZ DEL INDICO. BY RUDOLHH F. G. VOELCKER, PH. G. [Abstract from an Inaugural Essay.) This name is applied by the natives of Mexico to a plant growing along the Rio Grande, the root of which they use as an astringent. The plant produces fleshy, fusiform roots, several of which grow together from a short head. They are nearly circular, one to two inches in diameter, and about two and one-half to three inches long. The corky bark is covered with a brownish, wrinkled layer, and is separated by a dark cambium line from the pithless internal substance, which is of a yellowish -brown or pinkish color. A transverse section of it shows one or sometimes two yellow concentric rings, and many dark resinous spots, arranged so as to form radiating lines. A quantity of fresh roots were procured in July, 1874, and several of them planted. In a short time they produced some leaves, which when full grown were petiolate, with a stipule at the base of the petiole, entire, twelve to thirteen inches long by two and one-half to three inches wide, oblanceolate, acute, smooth, shining, juicy and of light- green color. The plants have not flowered yet, and, as I was unable to procure any flowers from Mexico, it was impossible to classify the plant, but from its chemical composition and microscopic structure it might be inferred that it belongs to the natural order of Polygo- naceae. Treatment with Ether. — The powdered root was exhausted with ether, and the dark-red solution evaporated. Strong ether dissolved nearly all, water only a portion. The residue was of a yellow color, and had but little taste ; cold alcohol dissolved a portion of it, the resi- due consisting of wax, which was partially soluble in boiling alcohol. The solution in cold alcohol, when evaporated left moss-like crystal- 4 5° Raiz del Indico, Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. line groups, of an orange-colored principle, which by the following behavior was proven to be chrysophanlc acid : It was readily soluble in amylic alcohol, ether, benzol, glacial acetic acid and coal naphtha ; nearly insoluble in cold water ; sparingly in boiling water, imparting to it a reddish color ; soluble in sulphuric acid and reprecipitated on the addition of water % soluble in ammonia and the fixed alkalies, with a deep red color. The ammoniacal solution yielded with acetate of lead a lilac-colored and with subacetate of lead a yellow precipitate, the latter becoming carmine-red on the addition of water, and cinnabar-red when dried. The watery solution of the etherial extract was free from oxalic acid, but contained tannin, which was obtained as a brown- ish mass by precipitating with acetate of lead, exhausting the precipi- tate with acetic acid, neutralizing with ammonia, and decomposing the precipitate suspended in alcohol with sulphuretted hydrogen. It was precipitated by gelatin, black by ferric chloride, but did not yield pyro- gallic acid. Treatment with Alcohol. — The root, exhausted by ether, was treated with strong alcohol, the tincture concentrated and then treated with water, which produced a brownish precipitate, becoming black and glossy on drying. Strong alcohol dissolved it in part only, the remain- ing portion being black and friable, insoluble in water, very sparingly soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform and benzol, burning upon platinum foil without melting, yielding with alkalies a brown color, and forming oxalic acid when treated with boiling nitric acid. This behavior proves it to be aporetin. The portion soluble in strong alcohol yielded with ether a yellow solution, and a brown, insoluble substance corresponding in behavior with phaoretin : when heated it melted and gave off yellow fumes ; it is with difficulty soluble in water, coloring it yellow, yields yellow solutions with alcohol and acetic acid, and red-brown solutions with alkalies ; its solution in sulphuric acid, when diluted with water, gives a yellow pre- cipitate, and its ammoniacal solution a violet-red precipitate with lead acetate. The yellow etherial solution yielded on evaporation erythroretin, which was found to be insoluble in cold water, to become soft and sparingly soluble in boiling water, to melt on being heated, and give off yellow fumes, to yield with sulphuric acid a brown solution which is pre- cipitated by water, to be soluble in alcohol, ether, acetic acid, and with a purple-red color in alkalies from which acids precipitate yellow flocks. Am. Jour. Pharm. ) Feb. 1876. i Factitious Balsam Tolu. The aqueous solution of the alcoholic extract was treated with acetate of lead. The precipitate contained tannin, but no oxalic acid, while in the filtrate glucose was proven by Trommer's test. Treatment with Water. — The root exhausted with ether and alcohol yielded to cold water some albumen, a trace of tannin, considerable gum, but no glucose. Boiling water subsequently took up much starch. Treatment with Hydrochloric Acid. — The residuary powder from the above operations was treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, in which, by appropriate tests, the presence of oxalate of calcium and the absence of phosphoric acid was proven. The estimation of tannin was accomplished with a standard solution of gelatin, which indicated 23*16 per cent. The leaves of the plant were found to contain malic and oxalic acids in combination with lime. FACTITIOUS BALSAM TOLU. BY RICH. V. MATTISON, PH. G. [Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting.) Having recently occasion to purchase some Balsam Tolu, a small quantity was ordered of a house well known for the high standard of drugs sent out by them; the article was received in lib jars, bearing the label of the house which had placed it in the same. The sample, upon examination, was found to be of a light brown color, with a pronounced odor of the drug, but in consistence rather softer than as usually met with in the market. Upon the addition of alcohol to a portion of the mass, it was dis- covered to be but partially soluble in that menstruum, the drug, upon being washed several times successively with warm alcohol and these washings filtered and evaporated, yielding but 26 per cent, of soluble matter. To a portion of this residue oil of turpentine was added without any observable effect. To another portion water was added, and the mixture boiled ; with a like result. To another portion ether was added, the whole slightly warmed, the solution filtered and the residue washed upon the filter with ether, the filtrate, upon being evaporated, yielded 63 per cent, of " a balsam pre- 52 The Importance of Garbling Drugs. {Am^e°bur'i8P76arm' pared from the bark of Liquidambar Orientale" which, upon being treated with hot petroleum benzin, yielded a copious deposit of crys- tals of styracin upon cooling. The residue upon the filtrate was then examined, and found to consist almost entirely of bark and charred ligneous matter, amounting to nearly n per cent, of the drug. The high price of this article, at present, leads us to be careful in the selection of this drug, the sample under inspection costing $3.90 per ft), and consisting in greater part, about 75 per cent., of charcoal and a drug costing less than a tenth of the price of Balsam Tolu. The moral it points is two-fold : First, that wholesale druggists should be careful in selecting drugs, which afterward go to the retail trade or manufacturers, with their label attached. Second, that the retailer must not rely implicitly upon any house offering drugs, but examine for himself such articles as may be offered from time to time, before they are allowed to go into the preparations of the Pharma- copoeia. Indeed, a wholesome system of drug garbling is sadly needed before such drugs as are to be found generally averaging the market, are fit for the dispensing counter. In the present instance, the extreme price only makes it more aggravating to the consumer, yet, doubtless, makes this particular article more tempting to the importer. Philadelphia, First month \%th, 1876. THE IMPORTANCE OF GARBLING DRUGS. BY J. J. BROWN. (Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, Jan. i$th, 1876.) Among the multitude of little things that, in the aggregate, form our profession, none, I believe, are so generally overlooked as that of the garbling of our drugs. That this is an important duty, I think anyone who doubts will find a convincing proof in going over his own stock of goods, and carefully separating the good from the bad, for no matter what precautions we may take in the selection of drugs, sophistications and impurities are bound to creep in. As a student, I have found this kind of employment particularly interesting and instructive, as it affords a means of becoming familiar with the appearance of drugs and their adulterants that could not be obtained by any number of observations of an isolated specimen. The impression among pharmacists often is, I am sorry to say, to feel that after having made purchases from Am FJe0bu.ri876.arm' } The Importance of Garbling Drugs. . 5 3 none but reliable houses, that our whole duty has been discharged in the selection of material for our preparations and prescriptions ; but this precaution alone will not answer, for there is seemingly a constant ten- dency in drugs to become contaminated with foreign substances. Goat-skins and aloes have an almost inseparable friendship for each other. Rhubarb is sometimes associated with neatly-dusted stones, and though they grind hard, we make them up into extracts and powders, and dispense them under a printed guarantee of purity. Hydrastis and serpentaria experience a sort of endosmosis, and genuine tapioca takes out naturalization papers in New York city. Not long since, I examined a package of serpentaria (about 2 lbs.), which, to a casual observer, was of remarkably fine appearance, but on a more intimate acquaintance was found to contain not only serpen- taria, but also fruit of ground cherry, capsules of an unknown plant, stems and leaves of serpentaria, onion-husks, charcoal, snail-shells, bits of wood, glue, ginseng and gravel. I fear an infusion from such an article would scarcely be in accordance with the letter of the " Phar- macopoeia." In another instance, one pound of sarsaparilla root on being garbled, produced the following medley : nut-galls, matico stems, bay, bella- donna and digitalis leaves, paper, unknown bark, straw, ipecac and May-apple roots. Whether such a mixture would heighten the alter- ative effect of sarsaparilla is exceedingly questionable. How such an aggregation of substances so entirely different could take place, is not a question of difficult solution, when we consider how carelessly the covers of bins, barrels and boxes are adjusted in some of our whole- sale houses. A source of greater trouble than this, is in the fact that drugs are too often collected with seemingly but little regard to the medicinal portion thereof, as for instance, valerian and aconite roots are rarely found with less than 25 per cent, of stems attached, which, inasmuch as they contain no therapeutical virtue, are worse than useless. Pith of sassafras is occasionally accompanied with a goodly share of the woody structure ; in fact, one specimen which I possess is entirely composed of ligneous matter. Many of the leaves are collected with large quantities of stems and petioles, as in senna, buchu, digitalis, etc. Seeds are very generally found contaminated with stems and seed- vessels. Barks, especially our indigenous ones, are too frequently 54 A New Ink. Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. found with their inner surface coated with wood and the outer one well protected by inert, dead corky matter. Our profession is, as a general thing, our source of financial income, and here, again, comes the importance of garbling drugs. You ask, What does Mrs. A. know about dirty and sophisticated drugs, when they are dispensed to her in a handsomely-prepared prescription ? I answer, Not anything ; but it is not alone from the mysterious liquids that trickle from our retorts, or the brilliant crystals that are born in our evaporating dishes, by which we are to be judged. There is, at the present day, and we may be proud of the fact, a spirit of rivalry among pharmacists as to who shall send out the most elegant prepara- tions ; but sparkling tinctures, inviting elixirs and palatial soda-fountains will not blind the eye of our censurious, invalid customer to the dirt existing in a package of gum arabic which has been purchased as a selected article. Cachets de pain and electro-plated dragees will not hide the sand, shells and star-fish that lurk in Irish moss any more than a bottle of palatable cod-liver oil will enhance the flavor of a porridge made from animated oat-meal. A NEW INK. BY M. S. BIDWELL. The French inkstand, sold under the name of Encrier Magique, also called perpetual inkstand, in its most approved form, consists of a shallow japanned metal tray, about five inches in diameter, on which is fastened a receptacle of a flattened globular form, about i\ inches in diameter and \\ inches high. On the top is an opening closed by a screw cap, and communicating with a cavity about the size of a large thimble. To use it, a little water is poured into this cavity and the ink is at once ready for use ; it is nearly jet black, with a slight purplish tinge, flows beautifully from the pen and is said not to be injured by freezing. When the ink is exhausted, or if it becomes too thick, it is renewed by adding a few drops of water. The excellent quality of this ink, and the extreme convenience of its preparation, make it very desirable ; but the inkstands are brought from Europe and are quite expensive, so that some more economical substitute seemed desirable. The rapidity of solution and the fluidity of the ink naturally suggested an anilin compound as the probable coloring agent. Acting upon this suggestion, some of the best anilin black (trade name, Nigrosine), was Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. A New Ink. 55 procured, and a solution made in the proportion of six grains to the ounce of water, this ratio seeming the most successful after several trials. Cold water dissolves it readily, the solution being ready for use in a minute or two. The resulting fluid resembles very closely that produced in the Encrier Magique, being, perhaps, a little less intense in color ; in their other properties the two seem to be identical. At the retail price of the black, the ink would cost about 25 or 30 cents a pint. It is bleached by chlorine, but is unaffected by nitric, hydro- chloric or sulphuric acids (the dilute acids of the U. S. P. were used in the trial), and is but slightly blurred by soaking in water. Con- trary to expectation, it is found to be unaffected by alcohol, which is said to remove the ordinary colored anilin inks from the paper readily and entirely. Writing, executed with this ink, has been soaked in alcohol four days without appreciable change. These somewhat unex- pected results encourage the hope that it may prove less liable to fade, by exposure, than other inks of a similar nature ; but further trials, during much longer time, will be necessary to determine this point. The only absolutely permanent inks yet made, aside from the use of acids to carbonize the paper, seem to be those made of lamp-black, or some other form of carbon, India ink being the type of the class. These are valuable for records that are to be kept for centuries, but are undesirable for common use, because they are more or less thick, do not flow readily and clog up the pen with insoluble matter. For ordinary purposes, this nigrosine ink can be recommended as combin- ing, perhaps, more advantages than any other yet tried. It is not expensive, is very conveniently made from portable materials, has a good deep color, flows beautifully, does not corrode steel pens and is not injured by freezing. Unless some unforeseen objection should be developed by further trial, it will win the favor of all who use it. The experience of the many who, like the writer, have been first delighted and afterwards disgusted with the logwood and chromate of potassium ink of Prof. Runge, warns us not to be too sanguine in our expectations, but this nigrosine is certainly well worth a trial. One word of caution, there are many things called anilin black, and many of them are worthless ; the kind recommended is called nigrosine. Elmira, N. V., December, 1875. Note by the Editor. — The ink recommended in the above 56 New Process for Phosphorus Pills. {Am^\l%™- paper appears to be the same as the one to which reference was made on page 88, of our last volume. ON A NEW PROCESS FOR PHOSPHORUS PILLS. BY ELI LILLY. Finding serious objections to all the processes brought forward for phosphorus pills, I was induced to search for a process which should be at once safe, easily managed, protecting the phosphorus from oxidation during the operation, and insure solubility of the pill when taken into the stomach. I present the following formula, which I think covers all these points, my opinion being based on the manufacture of many thousands of these pills during the last four or five months, with favorable re- ports from many pharmacists and physicians. Take of Syrup U. S. P., 260 parts. Wh eaten flour, . . . 340 parts. Phosphorus, . . .6 parts. Weigh the syrup in a stout, sound bottle of sufficient capacity to hold one-fourth more than the amount of syrup used. Place the bottle in a water- bath, and raise the temperature to 1500 F. Drop the phos- phorus into the warm syrup, and, as soon as melted, close the bottle with a close-fitting cork ; take it from the bath, and, holding it up- right, give it a gently-whirling motion until the phosphorus is divided into small globules, when it must be violently shaken till cold. Having the flour finely sifted and placed in a mortar, pour in the mixture of syrup and phosphorus, and rapidly form the mass, which, when com- pleted, may be packed down in small, glazed earthen jars, and tin foil placed under the covers to retain the moisture and exclude the air. Pills made from this mass weighing 1 grain will contain grains phosphorus, and 2 grains -fa grain phosphorus. A portion of the flour in the above formula may be replaced with extract nux vomica, sacch. carb. iron, etc., if such combinations are to be made, of course observing to mix them in fine powder with the flour before adding the syrup. It is necessary, if small quantities are to be made, to return the bottle containing the phosphorus and syrup to the water-bath two or three times during the shaking, before finally allowing if to cool ; but with 12 troy ounces or more of syrup it is unnecessary. %eb.uri876.arm'} Formulas of so-called Elegant Preparations. 57 The advantages of this process consist in the practically perfect sub division of the phosphorus at a low temperature, which insures safety with ordinary care, producing a mass easily worked, a pill rapidly dried and firm for coating, with so small an amount of oxidation throughout as to be insignificant. The pills, on being powdered in the dark, ex- hibit uniform luminosity, showing the thorough distribution of the phosphorus. Finally, let the operator who proposes to test this process for him- self, adhere to the directions I have endeavored to make plain, and I believe he will find, as I have, a simple way out of his phosphorus pill troubles. Indianapolis , Ind., January 14-th, 1876. SOME FORMULAS OF THE SO-CALLED ELEGANT PREPARA- TIONS. BY JOHN W. WATTS. It is evident to almost every careful observer that a large number of the above-mentioned preparations are not exactly what the manufac- turers would have the physicians and druggists to believe, though they may in a measure substitute those preparations which they are intended to represent. It is the opinion of the writer that it is nothing more nor less than a mere imposition to bestow upon preparations names which they are not justly entitled to. Would it not be of more in- terest to the physician, as well as to the pharmacist, to have these preparations fairly represented, and not displayed with circulars, etc., as if they were patent medicines which some manufacturers seem wont to do ? Below will be found a few formulas which are used to no little extent, viz : Syrup of the phosphates of iron, quinia and strychnia : Sulphate of iron (pure), . . . ^iv and grs. 16 Sulphate of quinia, ... ^ii and grs. 8 Strychnia, ..... grs. iv Phosphate of sodium, . . . J5viii and grs. 32 Phosphoric acid (dilute), . . . ^viii Powdered sugar, .... Hydrochloric acid, . . . . ad q. s. Dissolve the sulphate of iron and phosphate of sodium each in 4 ozs. boiling water separately, pour together, collect the precipitate and 58 Formulas of so-called Elegant Preparations. {Am-/e0br'i?7h6arm' wash ; dissolve the sulphate of quinia in the same quantity of cold water by the aid of hydrochloric acid, precipitate with ammonia water, collect and wash ; add the precipitates and the strychnia to the dilute phosphoric acid in a mortar, stirring, and dissolve any remaining pre- cipitate with hydrochloric acid, filter, then add sufficient powd. sugar to make one pint. Syrup of lacto-phosphate of lime : Phosphate of calcium, .... giv and 16 grs. Phosphoric acid (dil.) . . . ^vii Lactic acid (dil.), . . . . - 5l Hydrochloric acid, .... Sugar, powdered, . . . . . ad q. s. Dissolve the calcium phosphate in 4 ozs. of water with hydrochloric acid, precipitate with ammonia water, collect and wash the precipitate and add it to the dilute lactic and phosphoric acids in a mortar ; tritur- ate, dissolve any remaining precipitate with hydrochloric acid, filter and add sufficient powdered sugar to make one pint. The wine of lacto-phosphate of lime may be made in the same way, by using sherry wine in place of the sugar. The amount of hydrochloric acid necessary to insure permanent solutions will amount to a little less than 6 drachms in the former and 4 drachms in the latter, though one-half of this quantity would be sufficient to form a solution, but the preparations would scarcely keep longer than two or three months without precipitation, unless the whole quantity of acid be used. From this it will be seen that the amount of hydrochloric acid used will be sufficient, or nearly so, to convert all of the phosphates contained in these preparations into chlorides. Baltimore, January, 1876. Note by the Editor. — The formula given above for the syrup of the phosphates of iron, quinia and strychnia differs from Aitken's for- mula, published in uAmer. Jour. Phar.," 1867, p. 178, in containing a somewhat larger quantity of iron and less phosphoric acid. The pre- cipitate occurring in the syrup after some time is ferric phosphate (see "Amer. Jour. Phar.," 1867, p. 387), and may be prevented by using a stronger phosphoric acid, or, as suggested by the author, by the addi- tion of a sufficient amount of muriatic acid. For other formulas for syrup of lacto-phosphate of calcium, we would refer our readers to "Amer. Jour. Phar.," 1873, pp. 105, 221 and 234. AmFe°buri8P76arm'} Frcehdes Reagent a Test for Morphia. 59 NOTE ON FRCEHDE'S REAGENT AS A TEST FOR MORPHIA. BY ALBERT B. PRESCOTT. On page 21 (Jan. No.) of the present volume of this Journal, Mr. Wellcome brings to notice and refutes certain preposterous claims made, in St. Bartholomew's Hospital Reports of 1874, for a saturated solution of molybdic acid in sulphuric acid, as a test for morphia, namely : that this reagent distinguishes traces of that alkaloid, when it is directly applied to opium tinctures, lozenges and other mixtures. It certainly should not be taken as evidence of anything in particular, that there should be a lively play of colors, when a strong solution of molyb- dic acid in concentrated sulphuric acid, is brought upon aqueous, alcoholic or saccharine mixtures containing unclassified organic matter. As Mr. Wellcome well explains, a large number of deoxidizing agents reduce molybdic acid to blue compounds (molybdic molybdates). But the experiments which Mr. W. reports fail to sustain the extreme scepticism of his conclusion, that " there is no more need of molybdic acid or molybdates in these test solutions than for the presence of any other blue coloring matter, which will blend with the color produced by sulphuric acid, and produce tints which, while pleasing to the eye, confuse the analyst." In 1866, Froehde reported* the identification of morphia by the reagent which bears his name — a fresh solution of five milligrams of sodium molybdate in one cubic centimeter of pure concentrated sul- phuric acid (1 part to 368 parts) — a violet color being obtained. In 1868, Alm£n, f after investigation, stated that Froehde's test was much more certain and delicate than any of the old reactions for mor- phia, except that with iodic acid, and more characteristic than that by sulphuric with nitric acid (Erdmann's). Kauzmann, in 1869, found J that 0*05 of a milligram of morphia, if pure and solid, could be recognized by this test. Neubauer, in 1870, found § the test delicate and distinguishing for morphia in presence of strychnia. J. H. Buckingham, || in 1873, usmg a fresh solution of 8 *"Archivder Pharm.," Bd. 126, p. 54; " Zeitschr. f. anal. Chemie," v, 214 " Proc. Am. Phar. Asso.," xv, 241. f " Neues Jahrbuch f. Pharm.," Bd. 30, p. 87. " Zcitsch. f. anal. Chem.,,,j viii, 77. X "Zeitsch. f anal. Chemie," viii, 105. $ " Zeitsch. f. anal, Chemie," ix, 241. || "Amer. Jour. Phar.," xlv, (1873) H9 5 " Polytechn. Notizblatt " (1874), 77 ; " Chem. Cent." (1873), 797 > "Jour. Chem. Soc." (1874), 715 ; "Zeitsch. an. Ch.," xiii, 234. 60 Frcehdes Reagent a Test for Morphia. {Am-FJe°bur;876harm' grains ammonium molybdate in 2 drachms sulphuric acid (i part to 15), extended the results, positive and negative, by this test to over twenty alkaloids and glucosides. And, about the same time, DragendorfF, using fresh solutions of 1 milligram sodium molybdate in one cub. cent, of concentrated sulphuric acid (1 part in 1840 parts),* obtained and reported results, positive and negative, with 50 alkaloids and glu- cosides.f For morphia, Dragendorff names Frcehde's test first. J In his very valuable " Untersuchungen," ii, 233, Hager gives a table of the re- actions which Dragendorff determined, using the 1 to 1840 molybdic solution. I know of no better authority in proximate analysis than the indefatigable Dorpat professor Dragendorff. His thorough research in the separation of alkaloids gives good assurance of the purity of those with which he experiments. For my own satisfaction, I have tried the larger number of the tests he reports with Froehde's reagent, and I have found his results verified with all that I have tried. It it very true that the reduction of molybdic acid produces blue pro- ducts of various shades (hydrated molybdic molybdates), and also by further reduction a brown product (molybdic hydrate) and that numer- ous reducing agents — inorganic and especially organic — effect these reductions. Indeed, a solution of molybdic acid in sulphuric acid is deoxidized to a blue precipitate by heat alone, at the temperature of incipient vaporization of the sulphuric, that being an approved test for molybdenum. § Now a large proportion of the most certain tests for organic com- pounds are made by application of oxidizing agents which serve to reveal the reducing power of these compounds : the degree and kind of the reducing power being within certain limits characteristic of each reducing agent tested for. Trommer's test for sugars, the " fad- ing purple" test for strychnia, and the " thalleioquin test" for quinia, are examples : the old tests for morphia by nitric and iodic acids, and probably that by ferric chloride, are of the same kind. In the greater number of these tests, chemists have not ascertained what are * For " o*oi grain," at middle of page 22 this vol. of this Journal, read " o-oi gram." f " Beitrage zur gericht. Chemie einzelner organischer Gifte," St. Petersburg, 1872. X " Die chem. Werthbestimmung starkwirlcender Droguen," p. 81. § Schonn : " Zeitsch. f. analyt. Chemie," viii, (1869), 379. AmFe°buri8P76arm:} Frcehdes Reagent a Test for Morphia. 61 the organic products of the oxidation, and this has been the case with some so definite as to have a quantitative application (such as the use of the potassic cupric tartrate). No one of these tests is good for any- thing unless applied to carefully classified material. Thus, Froehde's reagent is directed to be applied to alkaloids, " absolutely free from impurities, not alkaloids." Salts of alkaloids with acids which, liberated by the sulphuric acid, will act as oxidizing, or reducing, or coloring agents, are, of course, unsuitable forms for the test. So it is not strange that Mr. Wellcome obtained the colors he names, with bromide, iodide, ferrocyanide and tannate, of quinia. The extreme dilution of the molybdic acid in DragendorfPs use of Froehde's reagent, shows the intensity of that elective reducing power possessed by some alkaloids, and renders this form of the reagent much more reliable than the form used by Buckingham (the strength first proposed by Froehde, being intermediate). Stannous chloride solution quickly colors ordinary molybdate solutions blue, but this and most other inorganic reducing agents fail to affect the solution when it is of the strength that DragendorfF uses. There yet remains to consider a statement in Mr. Wellcome's paper, concerning a point of much importance in the identification of morphia, a point having some practical relations generally overlooked. Referring to the table of reactions with Froehde's reagent given in " Outlines of Proximate Organic Analysis," and to the statement there that morphia with concentrated sulphuric acid alone is colorless, he reports that "it gives a wine-red color." If the latter statement is correct, it certainly greatly weakens the evidence of the violet color obtained when the trace of molybdate is present. And, if my reader leaves this discussion to try the test for himself, with the first materials at his hand, he may, probably, find in a few minutes the result (even in the cold) which Mr. Wellcome found. If so, and he is sure that his sulphuric acid is absolutely pure, and his morphia or its sulphate pure, so much the worse for Froehde's reagent and its authorities ; while, if he is not sure of the absolute purity of his materials, the result suggests caution in use of the test, and inquiry as to impurities and their influence. The authorities are nearly uniform in the statement that morphia is not colored by concentrated sulphuric acid (in the cold and without 62 Frcehdes Reagent a Test for Morphia. {Am'^r\^6arm' standing). In the hand-books, Fresenius,* Otto,f Wormley,J Heppe,§ and others, agree in this, — Wittstein, on the other hand, giving as result a yellowish coloration. || Hager^[ and Heppe, (as just quoted) — both as compilers — state that, by heating the sulphuric acid solution to 100° to 1500 C, a "faint violet-red" or " red " color is obtained. A trace of nitric with sulphuric acid greatly effects its reaction with morphia, — a mixture of the two acids furnishing a much more delicate test for that alkaloid than nitric acid alone. In 1861, Erdmann, dur- ing some fruitful researches in the identification of alkaloids** fixed upon a mixture containing little more than one hundredth of one per cent, of nitric acid of spec. grav. 1*25, ft referred to as Erdmann's re- agent giving with morphia a violet color. Now how minute a trace of nitric acid will enable sulphuric acid to color notable quantities of morphia reddish, I do not know. As to the purity of the " chemically pure " sulphuric acid of the market, most analysts find occasionally lots which reveal nitric acid, even by the ferrous sulphate test, and, still more often, the brucia test or the anilin sulphate test shows the im- purity, jj Query : how does the delicacy of a morphia test for nitric " Qual. Chem. Anal.," Johnson's Edition from 14th German, (1875), p. 392. t " Detection of Poisons," New York, 1862, p. 146. % " Micro-Chemistry of Poisons," (1869), " Tabular View." >/. "Die Chemischen Reactionen," Leipzig, 1875, P« 24^- || "Analyse v. Pflanzen u. Pflanzentheilen," 1868, p 156. \ " Untersuchungen," ii, 161. ** " Annal d. Chemie u. Pharm.," Bd. 120, p. 188. " Zeitsch. f. analyt. Chemie," i, 224, — (Neubauer's Report). ff Six drops of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*25 are mixed with 100 c. c. water, and ten drops of this mixture are mixed with 20 grams concentrated sulphuric acid. Ot this reagent, 8 to 20 drops are added to 1 or 2 milligrams of the solid to be tested, and after \ to \ hour the color is noted. The heat developed by a drop or two of water increases the delicacy of the reaction — a violet color. Erdmann reported color tests by this reagent with four other alkaloids, viz. : narcotina, strychnia, brucia and veratria. Shortly after the introduction of Erdmann's reagent, Husemann (" Annal. d. Chem. u. Pharm.," Bd. 128, p. 303) ascertained, that if the sulphuric acid solution of morphia (colorless, he states, in the cold) be heated above ioo° C. but not as high as 1500 C, and then treated with a few drops of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*2, a dark violet color will give evidence of morphia, the test being more delicate than Erd- mann's, revealing 0*00001 gram alkaloid. This test of Husemann is given in the recent manuals of Fresenius, Hager and Heppe. % % Bedford : " Proc. Am. Phar. Asso.," 1874, 429. Dickinson: (Contribu- tions Chem. Lab. Univ. Mich.) "Am. Chemist," 1875, Aug., p. 43. Am-Fe°bur;8^6arm'} Frcehdes Reagent a Test for Morphia. 63 acid in sulphuric acid compare with the delicacy of tests in use for that purpose ? I have not made any investigations toward the answer of this query, and therefore am not prepared to report as to the effect of absolutely pure sulphuric acid upon morphia. I have found that the best obtainable sulphuric acid of the chemical market, with the purest morphia easily obtained (purified, as presently to explain), give in the cold but a barely perceptible shade of dull reddish color, — the tint being too faint to clearly define. But all of these samples (taken dry, of course), when heated on the water-bath, promptly turn perceptibly violet or purple — and after standing, become brown. With some samples of sulphuric acid the shade is some lighter than it is with others, but the color of the faintest shades obtained can be defined well enough. On the other hand, some of the samples of morphia which I have tried give (after the heating) a little different color from others, vary- ing from light violet (or rose) toward the purple, though the shade is of nearly the same depth with all the morphia samples. But the samples of morphia sulphate as found in the market, gave a little more color with the sulphuric acid in the cold than is reported above. Before those results were obtained, the samples of sulphate were dissolved in a little water, the solution washed in a test tube, once, with the best chloroform, and the water solution evaporated to dryness, when the cold residue was tested. I have not investigated the chloroform extract : to do which doubtless larger quantities should be used. Several laboratory preparations of the base morphia, and a P. & sample of " morphia, pure," taken without purification, gave with sulphuric acid in the cold the nearly negative result above stated. It will be recollected that a number of the opium alkaloids are reported to give bright colors with sulphuric acid. Papaverina is colored deep violet, according to Merck ; only after heating, according to Hesse*. Narcotina, according to Dragendorff, is colored yellow after a few moments' contact, later turning reddish yellow ; according to Huse- mann, after warming, purple. Thebaina, (Dragendorff, Hager's Unter- such.) gives a blood-red color ; (according to Couerbe, a blood-red color when the sulphuric acid contains a trace of nitric). Narceina was given in my Prox. Org. Anl. as presenting with sulphuric acid a brown to yellow color, after Dragendorff and Wormley ; in Hager's Untersuchungen, p. 172, the statement is given that the deep-red * " Heppe's Chemische Reactionen, p. 267. 64 Gleanings from the Foreign Journals. {Am'FJe°buri8^6.arm' color, to blue color, usually obtained, is due to impurity. Cryptopia gives a blue color. Now from water solution of sulphates, chloroform dissolves and extracts papaverina, narcotina and thebaina, (narceina ?), — leaving the morphia in the water solution. In connection with the inquiry as to the effect of concentrated sulphuric acid upon morphia, it is interesting to note the remarkable power which cane sugar has, as a third body, in this reaction. Schneider's test* gives a purple-violet color of such intensity that it is not exceeded in delicacy by any other test, (others being probably more characteristic). As to the organic products of these reactions, having stated that chemists were generally unacquainted with the products of oxidation of organic compounds as they occur in the " color tests," I ought to refer to at least one research upon morphia, doubtless in the direction of the light desired. C. R. A. Wright has not labored so patiently among the alkaloids, in the service of synthesis, without some benefit to analysis, as well. Thus, he gives the formula (not fully confirmed) of the blood red liquid formed by action of nitric acid and silver nitrate upon morphia, as C2iH20N3O13.t University of Michigan^ January \ 1876. GLEANINGS FROM THE FOREIGN JOURNALS. BY THE EDITOR. Examination of Olive Oil. — E. Kopp calls attention again to the following simple method, which depends upon the conversion of the oil into solid elaidin by means of nitrous acid. Ten volumes of the oil and one volume of ordinary nitric acid are poured into a test-glass, and a few pieces of copper wire are added, whereby nitric oxide is evolved, which, with the nitric acid, yields nitrous acid. As soon as the gas bubbles passing through the oil become numerous, the acid and oil are intimately mixed by stirring with a glass rod. After about five minutes, the mixture is again made by continuous stirring, and then set aside in a cool place of 120 to 150 C. (540 to 590 F.) The oil sepa- rates again from the acid, with a blue color from the presence of cop- per nitrate, but soon begins to congeal, the more rapid in proportion to the purity of the olive oil, the elaidin being not only solid, but like- * "Am. Journ. Phar.," xlv, (1873), 545 5 xlvi, (1874), 558. " Zeitsch. f. analyt. Chemie," xii, (1873), 2l8- f "Jour. Chem. Soc," 1873, p. 1088. Am' ja0n.ri8P76.arm' } Gleanings from the Foreign Journals. 65 wise quite white. If mixtures with other oils are thus tested, solidifi- cation will take place much slower, and the elaidin will be usually soft, and of a more or less yellowish or brownish color. — Chem. Centralbl., 1875, No. 47, from Musterzeitung. Removal of Silver Stains from Clothes. — The following method is particularly successful with clothes that had been previously washed. The soiled piece is for a few minutes immersed in a concentrated solu- tion of chloride of copper, and the stain is then rubbed with a crystal of sodium hyposulphite, previously dipped into ammonia which has been diluted with an equal bulk of water. If the copper chloride has been quite neutral, the color of the fabric will not be affected. This process may, if necessary, be repeated several times. — Ibid., No. 48, from Phot. Arch. Quercitrin and Quercetin. — Jul. Loewe has experimented with quer- citrin prepared by himself from quercitron bark, and found it not to be a glucoside, as usually assumed. He found the formula of quercitrin dried over sulphuric acid to be C15H1609 ; when fused at 1300 C. (2660 F.), it was C15H14Os ; the yellow lead compound had the formula C15H14OsPbO ; the orange-colored lead compound, the formula C15H12072PbO, and the formula of quercetin was found to be C15H12Or The latter is therefore quercitrin from which the elements of water have been removed, and robinin and rutinin are probably quercitrin combined with water ; the analyses of the last-named compound, by various authors, agree well with the formula C15H18O10. — Zeitschr. f. Analyt. Chem., 1875, 233-241. To Detect Free Hydrochloric Acid in the Presence of a Chloride. — J. Lb- wenthal boils the liquid with peroxide of lead, which becomes lighter in color, chlorine being liberated, and the reaction completed in five minutes. Peroxide of lead does not act upon the chlorides having the formula MCI, nor upon pure aluminic chloride ; but ferric chloride is strongly acted upon and stannic chloride is completely decomposed by boiling with lead peroxide. — Ibid., p. 306. Detection of Resin in Wax. — Recently several apothecaries and drug- gists of Berlin were cheated with beeswax which had been adulterated with 20 per cent, of resin. The specific gravity of pure wax being between -960 and '963, it will float in officinal ammonia water (spec, gr. -960,) while a sample adulterated with resin will sink in the same 66 Gleanings from the Foreign Journals, \Am 'Y°^r\^rm' liquid, the resin having a higher specific gravity. — Phar, Zeitung, 1875, No. 102. Salicylate of ammonium is recommended by^ Martenson for internal use. It is readily prepared by neutralizing salicylic acid diffused in water, with ammonia or carbonate of ammonium, whereby a solution of any desirable strength may be obtained. Evaporated upon a water- bath, some ammonia escapes, and the liquid becomes acid ; if suffi- ciently concentrated, and, if necessary, again neutralized, the salt will crystallize, on cooling, in shining needles, which are readily soluble in water and alcohol. The aqueous solution keeps unaltered for a long time, has a sweetish, insipid taste, and, when mixed with mineral or organic acids, deposits salicylic acid. The salt is given dissolved in aromatized water, or in the form of syrup ; combination with fruit- syrups must be avoided. — Ibid. Detection of Carbolic Acid in Oil of Cloves. — Jacquemin recommends to add to the oil the fraction of a drop of anilin, and then to shake it with 5 to 6 times its quantity of water, to which subsequently a few drops of chlorinated soda solution are added. Pure oil of cloves will produce a purplish-violet color, which gradually becomes fainter ; in the presence of carbolic acid a bright-blue coloration is produced in a few minutes, if agitation is avoided after the last addition. One per cent, of phenol may thus be detected in one drop of the oil. — Ibid., from four, de Phar. et de Chim. Preparation of E?nulsions of Gum Resins. — The difficulty of preparing emulsions of ammoniac and other gum resins during the summer time, is overcome, according to E. Gasser, by manipulating as follows : 2 or 4 grams of ammoniac are triturated in a mortar as well as possible ; then 2 grams of water are added, and afterwards 2 grams of alcohol. The latter is ignited, and when the flame is extinguished 2 grams of powdered gum arabic are added to the warm mixture, and the whole rapidly agitated, after which the emulsion is finished by the gradual addition of the excipient. The above is a modification of the process proposed by Oppermann in his " Cours de Pharmacies — Ibid., No. 103, from four, de Phar. d? Als.-Lorr. Glycerol of Tar. — Ch. Peyronnet obtains a perfectly homogeneous preparation, of the consistence of an ointment, by operating as follows : 5 grams of starch are well mixed with the same quantity of water j Am' fer-x876!rm-} Pharmacy of Salicylic Acid. 67 30 grams of glycerin are added, and the mixture is heated, with con- stant agitation, until it has acquired the proper consistence, when 10 grams of purified tar are added and well mixed. — D Union Pharm., l$75, p. 324- Cauterizing Pencils of Sulphate of Copper. — Schoull reduces the crys- tals of copper sulphate to a coarse powder, which is heated in a porce- lain capsule to about 1500 C. (3020 F.). When it has lost nearly all its water of crystallization, the heat is discontinued and the mass allowed to cool somewhat ; it is powdered finely and the water again added in small quantities, and well incorporated with the aid of a pestle. On combining again with its water of crystallization, the salt becomes hot, and finally acquires a pilular consistence, when it is rolled out into cylinders of suitable thickness, which gradually become quite hard. Should the water have been added somewhat in excess, the addition of a little finely powdered effloresced copper sulphate will impart the necessary consistence. — Ibid., p. 326. (See, also, Amer. four. Phar., I^7S-> P- 267 and 504.) Collodion for Freckles [Collodion antephtlique). — In place of mercuric chloride and cyanide, which are usually recommended for the removal of freckles, the " Phar. Zeitschr. f. Russl." recommends the following preparation, as being effectual without possessing the dangers of the former : One gram of sulphocarbolate of zinc is reduced to a very fine powder, and then incorporated by trituration with one gram of essence of lemon (or other flavor) ; 5 grams alcohol and 45 grams of collodion. — Ibid. THE PHARMACY OF SALICYLIC ACID. BY M. MAURY. The author, who is a pharmacien residing at Lyons, has made a compilation of different formulae for the administration of salicylic acid, which he read before the Pharmaceutical Association of that city at its October meeting. The paper is published in the " Repertoire de Pharmacie" (Oct. 25, p. 609), and we are indebted to it for the fol- lowing extracts : External use. — Dr. Wagner recommends that a thin layer of finely powdered salicylic acid should be spread upon calico and applied by means of a bandage to wounds. 68 Pharmacy of Salicylic Acid. Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. Pommade. — Dr. Wagner gives the following formula : Salicylic Acid . . . . . 15 parts. Alcohol . . . . . . 30 " Lard . . . . . $ • • 150 " * It is important to use the alcohol as a solvent, the direct mixture of the acid with the lard does not give the same good effects. Dentifrices. — M. Paulcke, a pharmacien at Leipzig, prepares as a dentifrice a powder in which salicylic acid is incorporated ; also an u elixir dentifrice" from a solution of the acid aromatized with oil of wintergreen. Foot Powder. — It is stated that salicylic acid removes the odor of sweat from feet, without preventing the sweating, its action being to prevent the formation of butyric, valerianic and other acids of the same family, which injure the feet. M. Paulcke therefore prepared with salicylic acid, soap, talc and starch, a powder for the feet, which, whilst rendering them firm, is said to induce an agreeable softness and to re- move all unpleasant smell. Mixture. — The following formula is attributed to Professor Wunder- lich: - • Salicylic Acid ...... 1 gram. Oil of Sweet Almonds . . . . 20 " Gum Arabic . . . . . . 10 " Syrup of Almonds . . . . 25 " Orange Flower Water . . . . . 45 " A teaspoonful to be taken every hour when children are sufficiently old to use a gargle. Dr. Fontheim says it may be so administered every hour. Solution in Glycerin and Water. — M. Muller, a pharmacist at Breslau, gives the following : Salicylic Acid ...... 1 gram. Glycerin . . . . . . 20 " Distilled Water . . . . . 80 « First treat the acid with the glycerin, and then add the water. In Switzerland, salicylic acid has been used in typhoid and paludian fevers, etc. It has been noticed that it has a very remarkable cumula- tive action ; for, after having obtained the desired remission by a first dose of 4 to 8 grams, it has been found that a dose of one-half, or one- fourth that quantity on the following days is sufficient to keep the temperature within good limits. Dr. De Cerenville recommends that these doses should be administered in water, flavored with liquorice juice. Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. Pill Coating. 69 The following formulae are due to M. Maury. Antiseptic Mouth Paste. Rectified Salicylic Acid ..... 2 grams. Honey . . . . . . 34 " Compound Powder for Extemporaneous Antiseptic Mouth Paste. Rectified Salicylic Acid .... 2 grams. Powdered Sugar, or some other inert powder . 20 " Mix. To be applied to the sore parts of the mouth by means of a brush previously moistened with water. Lozenges. — Salicylic acid, with sufficient gum and sugar for each lozenge to contain 25 milligrams of the acid. • Salicylic Syrup. — Pure salicylic acid, with sufficient syrup of orange flowers for 20 grams to contain 5 centigrams of the acid. Mixture. Pure Salicylic Acid .... 1*50 grams. Powdered Gum Arabic .... io-oo " Sugar . . - . . . . icoo " Orange Flower Water .... 20*00 " Distilled Water . . . . 100*00 " F. s. a. — Shake the bottle before each dose. A teaspoonful every two hours for children. Salicylic Wine. Pure Salicylic Acid ..... 2 grams Muscat Wine ...... 100 " F. s. a. Wine of Cinchona and Salicylate of ~>uinia. Calisaya Bark . . . . . 30 grams. Salicylate of Quinia . . . . . 1 " Madeira Wine . . . . . 1000 " F. s. a Injection. — A solution of 1 part of salicylic acid in 300 parts of water has been used as an injection in fluor albus. — The Pharm. Journ. and Tram., November 13, 1875. PILL COATING. BY F. M. GOODMAN. We all dislike the modern method of keeping a full line of ready- made pills on hand, comprising from 200 to 250 different formulae ; not only this, but we must be able to dispense pills of A, B and C's manufacture, according to the notions of the physician, necessitating the carrying of an immense stock, some of which remains on our shelves a long time before being called for a second time. Apparently, the 7o Pill Coating. f ^m. Jour. Pharm 1 Feb. 1876. only way of avoiding and abating this nuisance, is to be able to coat the pills ourselves, and do it as nicely as the manufacturers. Having tried a great many experiments in coating pills with sugar and French chalk, my experience may be of interest and benefit to the readers of " The Pharmacist." In coating with sugar, I find it advantageous, though not necessary, to coat the pills first with a resinous substance ; for this purpose I prefer mastic, as it is not sticky when drying. Pills, when thus pro- tected, may be washed if necessary, to remove a subsequent coating not successfully applied. To apply this resinous coat, take a patch box, or earthen jar of con- venient size, moisten the inside of box and cover with glycerin, in- troduce the pills, and for every hundred of pills add ten drops of a saturated solution of mastic in ether, adjust the cover, and rotate very rapidly for a few moments, then scatter the pills thinly over a plate of glass that has been previously rubbed with glycerin ; when dry, if not thoroughly coated, return to the box and proceed as before ; if satis- factory, moisten with mucilage of gum arabic — 1 part gum to 5 of water — care being taken not to use too much mucilage, yet the pills must be thoroughly moistened ; this can be quickly done by placing the pills in the box used for coating, dropping the mucilage upon them, and rolling them around till moistened ; then transfer to another jar or box containing dusted sugar (known as confectioners' sugar), here the pills are rolled around with the fingers, using a gentle pressure ; when covered, roll them around in a fine sieve to remove the superfluous sugar, then transfer to a clean damp box or jar, rotate rapidly, avoiding a throwing motion ; if the coating does not become smooth, again dampen the box or jar, and rotate as before, observing not to let the coating become dry till smooth. It will probably take some practice to be able to obtain an even, white coating. French chalk, as a coating, was suggested fully fifteen years ago. In the "Am. Journ. Pharm.," 1874, Mr. Cope calls attention to it again, and gives very simple instructions for its application, as follows : " Moisten the pills with mucilage and transfer to a gallipot contain- ing the powdered chalk ; when thoroughly coated, turn into a pill-tray and let them remain a short time ; they are then put into another galli- pot to polish and shake off the loose powder." For coating pills extemporaneously, I generally make them very moist with mucilage, so that they will absorb a thick coat of chalk j Am,Febri8P76arm"} Extemporaneous Coating of Pills. 71 when well covered they are gently rotated in a clean 4 ounce patch box. As the quantity of mucilage used was sufficient to keep this coating quite soft and moist, a quantity of dusted sugar is added, and the agitation continued. This gives a sugar-coated pill, very white and smooth, and is easily done. In coating pills with French chalk, in order to have a good coating, care should be used in selecting the chalk ; only fine, white pieces should be taken. These can be readily powdered by rubbing on fine sand-paper tacked to a smooth board. It should be sifted through a very fine sieve. The commercial powder is dark-colored and gritty, thus rendered unfit for coating. In making and coating our own pills, there is not only the satisfac- tion of knowing that they are correctly made and contain what the label calls for, but the difference in cost will amply repay one for the time he may spend upon them. Thus, pills of iodoform and iron, of 1 grain, quoted at one dollar per hundred, net, can be made for thirty- five cents ; compound pills of quinia, quoted at ninety-three cents per hundred, can be made for sixty cents ; 5 grain blue mass pills, quoted at twenty-five cents, can be made for eight cents, etc. This difference in cost alone ought to induce dispensing pharmacists to prepare their own pills, then the wholesale pill makers might go on making their elongated, compressed or any other pill that pleases them. — The Phar- macist, January, 1876. EXTEMPORANEOUS COATING OF PILLS. BY A. F W. NEYNABER, NEW YORK. Why can pills, as they are made in the retail prescription department, not be coated there also with sugar, gelatin or some such-like suhstance ? They can easily be coated with gelatin, according to the directions given in the old edition of " Griffith's Formulary," (also third edition, p. 643), or in " Wood and Bache's U. S. Dispensatory," 12th or 13th edition, with a little expeience of the pharmaceutist. Pills can also be coated in the retail prescription department with sugar. The success in coating pills rests chiefly with the first process in mixing the mass. The state of dryness of the pills has the most influ- ence on the operation of coating with sugar as well as with gelatin, and pills can be thoroughly dried only if they have been prepared with the j 2 Extemporaneous Coating of Pills. {Am^eburi^6.ara' proper excipients. Here we come to the most important part in making pills, the excipients used. The success of the "manufacturer" of pills is mainly due to the employment of the proper excipients, enabling him to dry the pills thoroughly. A pill may be soft and yet be not as soluble as a hard pill. If we have gum-resins or resinous extracts, and add a little spirit we will pro- duce a pill of softness and plasticity, but when we take such a pill between our fingers and try to mix it with water, we will find that it may adhere to the skin, and cannot be well washed off without using alcohol or some other solvent of resin. On the other hand, if we take compound cathartic pills, prepared strictly as the " United States Phar- macopoeia " directs, by using the different substances in the form of powders, and having beaten them into mass with water, we shall have a pill which will fall into powder again when put into water. The excipient should be such as will not combine much with the resinous or other ingredients, but form rather a layer between the powders employed. A layer of soluble substances between powders less soluble in water (such as gum-resins or resinous extracts), will produce a pill that can be dried to become perfectly hard, and yet that will fall into powder when put into water, the water washing out the layer. Soft pills are apt to lose shape \ and pills containing moisture cannot be kept in well- closed bottles, lest they become mouldy. The success in making pills is based on the excipient used. Pills which have been thoroughly dried can be coated with sugar, as follows: Boil 32 ounces of best white sugar, with 12J ounces of distilled water, to a syrup, and use enough of this syrup (temp. 1200 to 1500) to moisten the pills, in a small copper kettle or pan, exposing it to a heat sufficient to dry the pills while kept in motion and worked with the hand. After this first coat is dry, the operation is repeated until the pill is covered with sugar sufficiently. A very soluble coating for pills is the following composition : 1 ounce of flaxseed, \ ounce of Irish moss ; boil with 8 fluidounces of water, strain, add 4 ounces of sugar, boil and use in the same manner as a solution of gelatin is used for coating pills. If pills in very small quantities are to be made and coated with sugar or gelatin, in a retail prescription department, the mass should be made as hard as it possibly can be made, and allow cutting ; after being cut it should be exposed to a draft of dry air so long as time will allow. Thus pills can be made and coated in small quantities within an hour or less time. — Druggists' Circular, January, 1876. AmFJe0bur'J7h6?rm'} Determination of Mixed Oils. 73 DETERMINATION OF MIXED OILS. The testing of mixed oils is far from being a certain operation. The following, however, are the principal means of determining the pres- ence of mixtures : ist. The determination of its specific g ravity at 150 C. and its parison, with the following table : Density. Degrees 011 alcoholometer. Weight of 1 h< Tallow oil (olein) 900*3 73*0 88-40 Colza (winter strained) 915-0 59*8 91*50 Colza (summer strained) qi6'o \y j cq-8 J 7 91*67 Rape-seed (winter strained) QI f '1 CO* C J y J y j t Rape-seed (summer strained) 91 5*7 59*2 91*57 Groundnut (Arachis oil) .917-0 58*5 91*70 Olive 917-0 58'5 91*70 Almond 918*0 58*0 91*80 Beechnut 920*7 57'5 92*07 Sesame 923"5 56 O 92'35 Whale 924*0 55-0 92*40 Poppy 9^5*3 54'5 92*53 Hemp-seed 927*0 53'5 92*70 Cod-liver 927*0 53*5 92*70 Cotton-seed 9306 52*0 93*06 Linseed 935'° 50*0 •93-5o 2d. Chlorine turns animal oils brown and vegetable oils white. The former are soluble, and the latter insoluble in ether. 3d. To discover an adulteration by oil of sesame, shake five grams of sulphuric acid with five grams of nitric, and ten grams of the suspected oil ; if mixed, a grass-green color is immediately developed. 4th. To find if olive oil is mixed with any unknown oil, mix fifty centimetres of the oil with ten centimetres of sulphuric acid. If the olive oil is pure, there will be a rise of 420 ; if mixed, the temperature will be 580 for oil of colza, 650 for beechnut, 68° for sesame, 980 for hemp-seed, 130 for linseed. 5th. The production of a black hue in the lower part of the test- tube, after agitating twenty drops of an alcoholic solution of nitrate of silver with ten grams of oil and twenty grams of ether, the flask being kept in the dark, shows the presence of rape-seed oil. 6th. The most difficult adulteration to be detected is that of olive and groundnut oil. These oils have the same density, congeal at the same temperature, and are acted on by sulphuric acid in a similar man- ner. They can, however, be distinguished as follows : 74 Growth and Uses of Benzoin. {A%fcP7£arm* Dissolve, cold, twelve grams of mercury in fifteen grams of nitric acid of 380. Mix this with ninety grams of the suspected oil, and agitate often during two hours. If the olive oil is pure, the mixture will become homogeneous ; if not, and especially if the mixture be- comes filled with carboniferous streaks, the presence of the groundnut oil may be reported. — Moniteur des Produits Ghimiques, from four. Ap. Science, 1875, December. THE GROWTH AND USES OF BENZOIN. The benzoin, or frankincense, in commercial parlance called " Ben- jamin," is a more common article of commerce than camphor. Al- though in general request for the ceremonies of the Romish, Ma- homedan, Hindu and Chinese worship, there is no evidence that the Greeks or Romans, or even the early Arabian physicians, had any acquaintance with benzoin ; nor is the drug to be recognized among the commodities which were conveyed to China by the Arab and Persian traders between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, although the camphor of Sumatra is expressly named. The first mention of benzoin occurs in the " Travels of Ibn Batuta," who, having visited Sumatra during his journey through the East, A.D. 1325-49, notes that the island produces Java Frankincense and camphor. There is no further information about the drug until the latter half of the fol- lowing century, when it is recorded that in 146 1 the Sultan of Egypt sent to Pasquale Malipiero, Doge of Venice, amongst other articles, a present of 30 rotoli of Benzoi. Agostino Barberigo, another Doge of Venice, was presented in similar manner, by the Sultan of Egypt, with 35 rotoli of aloes wood, the same quantity of benzin, and 100 loaves of sugar. The occurrence of benzoin in Siam is noted in the journal of the voyage of Vasco de Gama, and the Portuguese traveler Barbosa, who visited Calicut, on the Malabar coast, in 151 1, mentions benzin among the more valuable items of export. In the early part of the seventeenth century there was direct commercial intercourse between England and both Siam and Sumatra. An English factory existed at Siam until 1623, and benzoin was doubtless one of the commodities exported. The tree which produces this so-called gum does not attain to any considerable size. It is an inhabitant of the hot plains, and nourishes best in the rich, moist lands fitted for the cultivation of marsh rice. Am. Tour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. Growth and Uses of Benzoin. IS The plants are propagated from a seed, which resembles a small, brown nut, and but little care is required except to keep the shrubs clear from weeds. Before the sixth or seventh year the gum is obtained by mak- ing incisions in the bark, when the substance exudes, and is scraped off in like manner as the opium poppy. The first juice is the purest and most fragrant, and hardens on exposure to the air, when it becomes brittle and transparent. The resin is white and transparent, and about three pounds are given by each tree. The white Benjamin is termed cowrie luban in India, and is a superior kind. Afterwards a browner description is extracted, and finally, when the tree has become ex- hausted and has been cut down, an inferior kind is obtained from the scraping of the wood. The three different varieties ascordingly bear relative values in commerce. The resin which exudes during the first three years is said to be fuller of white tears, and therefore of finer quality than that which issues subsequently, and it is termed by the Malays Head benzoin. That which flows during the next 7 or 8 years is browner in color and less valuable, and is known as Belly benzoin ; while the third sort, obtaided by splitting the tree and scraping the wood, is called Foot ; this last is mixed much with bark and refuse. Benzoin is brought for sale to the ports of Sumatra in large cakes, called Tampangs, wrapped in matting. These have to be broken, and softened either by the heat of the sun or by that of boiling water, and then packed into square cases, which the resin is made to fill. A variety of the Sumatra benzoin is distinguished by the London drug- gists as Penang Benjamin, or Storax-smelling Benjamin. The quality is very fine, full of white tears, some of them two inches long, the inter- vening resin being greyish. The odor is very agreeable and perceptibly different from the Siam, or the usual Sumatra sort. The only account of the collection of Siam benzoin is that given by Sir R. N. Schomburgk, for some years British Consul at Bangkok. He represents that the bark is gashed all over, and that the resin which exudes collects and hardens between it and the wood, the former of which is then stripped off. This account is confirmed by the aspect ot some of the Siam benzoin of commerce, as well as by that of pieces ot bark ; but it is also evident that all the Siam drug is not thus ob- tained. Schomburgk adds that the resin is much injured and broken during its conveyance in small baskets on bullocks' backs to the navi- gable parts of the Lenam, whence it is brought down to Bangkok. The most esteemed sort is that which consists entirely of flattened y6 Growth and Uses of Benzoin. {Am'&?#w' tears or drops, an inch or two long, of an opaque, milk-like white resin, loosely agglomerated into a mass. More frequently the mass is quite compact, consisting of a certain proportion of white tears of the size of an almond downwards, imbedded in a deep, rich, amber-brown trans- lucent resin. Occasionally the translucent resin preponderates, and the white tears are almost wanting. In some packages the tears of white resin are very small, and the whole mass has the aspect of a reddish-brown granite. There is always a certain admixture of bits of wood, bark and other accidental impurities. The white tears, when broken, display a structure with layers of greater or less translucency. By keeping, the white, milky resin becomes brown and transparent on the surface. It is very brittle, the opaque tears showing a slightly waxy, the transparent a glassy fracture. It easily softens in the mouth, and may be kneaded into the teeth like mastic. It has a delicate balsamic, vanilla-like fragrance, but little taste. When heated, it evolves a more powerful fragrance, together with the irritating fumes of benzoic acid ; its fusing point is 750 C. The presence of benzoic acid may be shown by the microscopical examination of splinters of the resin under oil of turpentine. Siam benzoin is imported in cubic blocks, which take their form frrm the wooden cases in which they are packed while the resin is still soft. The Sumatra kind is imported in cubic blocks, exactly like the Siam, from which it differs in its gener- ally greyer tint. The mass, however, when the drug is of good quality, contains numerous opaque tears, set in a translucent, greyish-brown resin, mixed with bits of wood and bark. When less good, the white tears are wanting, and the proportion of impurities is greater. In odor, it is both weaker and less agreeable than the Siam drug, and generally falls short of it in purity and handsome appearance, and hence commands a much lower price. The medicinal properties of benzoin are very slight, but it is em- ployed for many different purposes. The Java chiefs are fond of smoking it with tobacco, and the worst kind is more esteemed by the Arabs than their own best olibanum or frankincense. In perfumery, it enters into a large number of preparations, such as fumigatory pas- tilles, Poudre a la Marechale, etc. ; the alcoholic tincture, mixed with 20 parts of rose-water, forms the cosmetic virginal milk. In certain varnishes on snuffboxes and walking sticks, when heated in the hand, the agreeable odor of benzoin is emitted, and it is added to the spir- ituous solution of isinglass, with which court-plaster is made. The Am'£T J76arm } Alkaloids of the Aconite Roots. 77 use of benzoin for religious observances amongst nations in various stages of civilization, and the steady demand for it in all ages, declare that it is one of those commodities the taste for which is inherent in our nature, and not the result of a particular caprice with any individual people, as in the case of Malay camphor with the Chinese. — The Chemist and Druggist, December 15, 1875. THE ALKALOIDS OF THE ACONITE ROOTS. BY G. H. BECKETT AND C. R. ALDER WRIGHT. The authors have analyzed various alkaloids and their salts prepared from aconite roots by Mr. J. B. Groves (Weymouth) in the following way : The ground roots were treated with alcohol acidulated with hydrochloric acid, and the extract thus obtained was boiled down to a small bulk ; by precipitation with ammonia and agitation with ether, a mixture of bases was then obtained from this liquor. Roots of Aconitum ferox (Nepaul aconite) thus treated yielded an etherial extract from which a base crystallized by spontaneous evapo- ration ; this base yielded salts so difficultly crrystallizable, that hitherto they have been obtained only as varnishes ; it has been termed by Mr. Groves "pseudaconitina," which name the authors provisionally retain, hoping hereafter to be able to elucidate its true relationship to other bodies, but abstaining from renaming it till this is done. After several purifications by crystallization from ether and alcohol, this base gave numbers agreeing best with the formula C36H49NOn, the free base and the gold salt being examined ; the platinum salt is somewhat readily soluble in water and alcohol, and does not crystallize readily. By converting this substance into iodomercurate (by precipitation with mercuric iodide dissolved in potassium iodide), and regeneration by means of sulphuretted hydrogen (to remove mercury) and plumbic acetate (to eliminate iodine) in alcoholic solution, more or less change seems to be produced. One specimen prepared thus by Mr. Groves crystallized in well-defined rhombohedrons, which showed a diminished percentage of carbon as compared with the original "pseudaconitina " ; the quantity of these crystals, however, was insufficient for the com- plete determination of the formula. Other specimens prepared in this way from " pseudaconitina " by the authors exhibited the same kind of action, the percentage of gold in the gold salt being somewhat raised, and hence apparently the molecular weight of the base being lowered ; 7 8 Alkaloids of the Aconite Roots. { Am'fcl^m these specimens, however, did not crystallize in the well-defined rhombohedrons exhibited by the other substance. All these specimens appeared to be eminently toxic : besides " pseudaconitia," amorphous or difficultly crystallizable alkaloids were obtained from the alcoholic extract ; but as yet these have not been fully examined. Roots of Aconitum Napellus^ when treated in the same way, yielded a mixture of at least two alkaloids, forming readily crystallizable salts, besides other amorphous bases. Of these two bases, one partially separated as a hydrochloride at a certain stage during the working up of the etherial solution ; this hydrochloride, when purified by succes- sive crystallizations, yielded numbers agreeing best with the formula C31H45NO10.HCl.iiH2O, the formula of the free base being C31H45NO10, and that of the gold salt C31H45NO10. HC1. AuCl3. The platinum salt of this base is also somewhat readily soluble. Although the salts (e. g., the nitrate and hydrochloride) of this base crystallize with great facility, it was not found practicable to obtain the free base in a crystalline form ; from all solvents tried, it separated only as a varnish. Com- paratively speaking, this base is inert ; its salts do not produce the tongue-prickling characteristics of aconite roots, but have a pure bitter taste ; Mr. Groves found that half grain doses taken by himself pro- duced no noticeable effects. The liquor from which this hydrochloride separated contained, besides a large quantity of this non crystallizable base, a second alkaloid separating from the etherial solution of the mixed bases by spontaneous evaporation in anhydrous crystals ; after several crystalli- zations from ether, numbers were obtained leading to the formula C33H45NOn, the air-dry hydrochloride being C33H45NOn,HCl,3H20. This substance agrees in physiological and physical characters with the " aconitia " of Duquesnel and others ; Duquesnel, however, attributed to crystallized "aconitia" from A. Napellus the formula C27H40NOl0 (" Compt. rend.," Ixxiii, 207), which requires very different numbers from those found by the authors ; his mode of preparation, however, was somewhat different from that adopted by Mr. Groves, alcoholic tartaric acid being employed instead of alcoholic hydrochloric acid, and the extract being evaporated at a temperature not exceeding 6o°. Putting the alkaloid through the mercuric iodide process seems to lower its molecular weight. It seems highly probable, on comparing the above results with those of others who have worked on the subject, that the aconite roots con AmFe0bur-x8P76arm-} Development of the Chemical Arts. 79 tain various alkaloids, or else that the alkaloid present is extremely alterable. Duquesnel has suggested that " aconitia " is probably a glucoside ; this view is quite in harmony with the results obtained, different specimens being not improbably mixtures of the glucoside and the product of its deglucosation. " Pseudaconitina," when left in con- tact with water and emulsin, emits an unpleasant fermentative odor, and partially dissolves, the solution containing a salt giving ajeddish colora- tion with ferric chloride, presumably an acetate ; no glucose, however, could be detected in the liquid at any stage of the action. — Journ. Chem. Soc. [Lond.], Dec, 1875, from Tear-book of Pharmacy and Pharm. Con/. Trans., 1875. REPORT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHEMICAL ARTS DUR- ING THE LAST TEN YEARS.* BY DR. A. VV. HOFMANN. (Continued from p. 35.) Tessie du Motay and Marechalf have introduced a valuable modification into practice, as they require no steam-boiler for the manufacture of the water-gas, and thus economise fuel, whilst the wear of the simplified apparatus is considerably re- duced. They heat coal with soda, hydrate of lime or of baryta in iron retorts, and thus decompose the combined water of these bases, which is then freed from car- bonic acid in the ordinary manner This procedure has been adopted by the New York Oxygen Company, who, in the manner described above, sell water-gas at the enormous price of 2 cents per cubic foot, or 1 cubic metre for 3s. 6&.% The mix- ture of lime and anthracite is heated in retorts, such as those described above under Tessie du Motay 's method of preparing oxygen. The decomposition takes place at a red-heat, according to the equation — C-r-Ca0-f2H20=CaC03-r-2H2, and lasts about fifteen minutes. Thereupon hydrate of lime is reformed by passing steam over the heated mass. The carbon is not exhausted until after three weeks, and is then replaced by a fresh supply of anthracite. That coal-gas contains large quantities (30 to 50 per cent.) of free hydrogen, and that the proportion of this ingredient rises, the higher the temperature of the retorts in preparing the gas, has long been known. Tessie du Motay and Marechal, whilst introducing the above-described procedure, have taken advantage of this circum- stance, and have passed coal-gas over lime in order to resolve it into carbon, hydro- carbons boiling at high temperatures, and large quantities of hydrogen. At the same time E. Vial$ adopted the same method, and has doubled, and even trebled, the yield of gas by " decarburation." Schinz|| doubts the industrial value of this process, on account of the outlay for fuel, and calculates that the decompostion of * " Berichte uber die Entwickelung der Chemischen Industrie Wfihrend des Letzten Jahrzehends." f "Bull Soc Chim.," 1868, i., 334. % H. Vogel, " Ber. Chem. Ges.," iii., 901. § Vial, "Genie Industrie!," 1869. " Ding!. Pol. J.," cm'., 382. || Schinz, " Dingl. Pol. J.," cii., 388. 80 Development of the Chemical Arts. {Am-FJe0bur;8P76arm- water by means of coal yields a luminous gas for half the cost of coal-gas. Here, however, as we shall presently see, the depreciation of the plant has not been taken into account. If we now inquire in what manner the hydrogen, however obtained, is rendered luminous, we find two essentially different methods. The one depends on mixing the water-gas with hydrocarbons. As early as 18 34* Selligue employed, at Prais, the oils obtained by distilling the marl-shales of Autun in order to saturate the water-gas with gaseous hydrocarbons. White subsequently passed the water-gas through retorts in which rosin or coal was converted into luminous gas, and his pro- cess was carefully examined in 1851 by Frankland,f who concludes a laudatory report with certain propositions, of which the following are the most important: 1. The production of gas from given weights of common coal or of cannel is increased by 46 to 290 per cent., according to the quality of the material employed. 2. The luminous power is increased by 12 to 108 per cent., the more when coals are employed which produce gas of a highly luminous power. 3. The quality of the residual tar is lowered, a part of it being converted into gas of a strong luminous power. It must be remarked that tar had not at that time the value which it has subse- quently reached. White's process recurs, with trifling modifications, under a variety of names. As the " systeme Leprince/' or "gas mixte Leprince," it was introduced into in- dustrial concerns at Liege, adopted by the town of Mastricht, and by some depart- ments of the Vieille Montagne at Verviers, and was critically described by Verver in 1848 in his work above quoted. Four years afterwards a similar procedure was elaborated by Baldanus and Griine,J for which Schaffer and Walcker obtained a patent in Prussia. Their process consisted in passing steam through retorts in which coal-shales, turf, and other combustibles were heated to redness. It differs, there- fore, from White's process herein that the production of hydrogen and its carbura- tion are effected in the same retort. An ordinary gas retort 8 \ feet in length, is said to yield, in twenty-four hours 8,000 to 9,000 cubic feet of this gas j and in * Wagemann's manufactory at Benel, near Bonn, where this process has been intro- duced, 1 cwt. of coal-shale was consumed per 1,000 cubic feet of gas. Essentially different is the second method of employing hydrogen for lighting, as carried out in 1846 by Gillard, at Passy, near Paris. He fixed on the burners,^ from which the water-gas issued, baskets of platinum wire, which, on the ignition of the gas, were heated to brilliant whiteness. Hence it was called platinum gas (gaz platine). The immobility of the light, even in a strong wind, the dispensing with lamp-glasses, which, according to Verver, absorb 22 per cent of the light, and the brilliance obtained on this principle, must be considered as advantages, although the intensity is not free from objections. Its use was not continued at Passy, but it was introduced by the celebrated firm of Christofle & Co., into their electro-plating works at Paris, || and was employed to light the streets of Narbonne. The hourly * Dumas, " Handbuch der Chemie," vii. f Frankland, " Ann. Chem. Pharm.," lxxxii., 48. % "Journal fur Gasbeleuchtung," 1862, p. 63. g Report by O. Henry, " Journ. Pharmacie " [3], xvii., 105; Dingler's Journal, cxvi., 222; and the Reports of Bromeis and Ververs. U Wagner, " Handbuch der Technologie," 1873, ii., 371. Am FJe°burx8P7h6arm } Development of the Chemical Arts. 81 consumption of gas being 3*234 cubic feet (=o-i cubic metre), the light was equal to that of 5-22 normal candles, and, though the lamps at Narbonne were placed at intervals of 50 metres, Verver pronounced the lighting of the streets as perfect. Latterly, since the preparation of hydrogen has been improved by Tessie du Motay and Marechal, new attempts have been made in Paris to light up large squares and streets with " platinum gas." Spectators, however, may find justifica- tion for the caricatures in the Parisian comic journals of that time, which represent the passengers in the streets, and even infants in arms, and the very dogs in the gutters, equipped with eye-shades to preserve their sight. Technical literature has the peculiarity that it records the introduction of novel- ties, but leaves us in the dark concerning their practical verification. It keeps a tolerably exact register of the births of inventions, but gives a very imperfect account of their career in life and of their deaths. Thus, with a single exception, we are left in the dark as to the permanent results of lighting with hydrogen. The experiments made with water-gas at the town Elizabeth, in New Jersey, yielded unsatisfactory results, as made known in 1865* Great depreciation of plant, heavy working expenses, and disproportionate consumption of fuel were the causes of failure. It was, therefore, the more desirable to ascertain in how far the process had proved successful in Europe, and, thanks to the kindness of several correspondents, we have succeeded in obtaining information. The fate of the method in Belgium appears from an extract from a letter which M. L. de Koninck, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Liege, kindly forwarded to the present writer : The systlme Leprince, which consists in the introduction of small quantities of water into the retorts in which coal is distilled, had for a short time a certain success [une certaine vogue), depending mainly on numerous reclamations by which it was helped out. Its chief advantage was supposed to lie in the fact that it drove the gas out of the retort, a purpose for which an exhauster or aspirator is now preferred. The system has never been employed for public purposes in Belgium, but merely in certain manufactories. Since the death of the inventor, which took place some years ago, it is no longer spoken of, and has been generally, if not universally, abandoned. This has been the case at Vieille-Montagne. In a letter dated March 18, 1874, M Landolt, Professor of Chemistry at the Polytechnic School of Aachen, confirms these statements. The use of water-gas is continued only in CockeriU's works at Seraing. At Simoni's cloth-works at Ver- viers, the process never advanced beyond the stage of unsatisfactory experiments, although certain technological papers have asserted to the contrary. In Maestricht, where the water-gas was used for some time for public purposes, it has, as Professor Landolt has been informed, failed to give lasting satisfaction, and has been replaced by coal gas two years ago (1872). Direct inquiries addressed to the municipal authorities have remained unanswered. The above statement of the introduction of the Drummond light in English mili- tary establishments led to an inquiry being addressed to the Chemist to the War Department, Mr. Abel, of Woolwich, from whom the following courteous reply was received, under date April 20, 1874: "As regards your inquiry concerning * Wagner, " Jahresberichte," 1865, 758. 6 8 2 Development of the Chemical Arts. { Am' fc^1"' the introduction of the lime-light in military premises, I have to communicate that at the period you mention, experiments were made for a short time in two of our establishments, but that the question of its formal introduction has never been seriously entertained." The illumination of the galvano-plastic works of Christofle with water-gas was likewise of brief duration, and the process has been long ago abandoned. We are indebted to this firm for the following communication under date April 21, 1874: "In reply to your letter of the 17th, we have to state that the use of hydrogen in our works came to an end in 1853 on account of certain difficulties. {inconevmietiti) which presented themselves, and that we have no longer preserved the documents- bearing upon the matter." It only remained to ascertain the fate of the so-called platinum gas at Narbonne. To do this with certainty, there appeared no other method than to appeal to the courtesy of the municipal authorities. The Mayor of Narbonne had the kindness to comply fully with our request, and to sign the following instructive and character- istic letter, dated March 16: "The relations of Prussia and France since the war impose upon me the greatest caution as regards inquiries. As the question, how- ever, is one of a purely scientific nature, I have handed over your letter to the Abbe Prax, chemist to the Agricultural Society of Narbonne, who has for a long time occupied himself with the subject. I have the honor to enclose a copy of the memoir which he placed in my hands." Account of the Water-gas in Narbonne from 1855 to 1865. "In May, 1855, I was sent to Paris by the municipality to test the water-gas of Passy. My report was dated June 8, 1855. The town adopted this method of lighting and heating, and came to an agreement with the company called the 1 Nar- bonnaise/ "From 1856 the Passy system was in use in Narbonne. We modified the burners in several respects, as those of Passy were not sufficiently lasting. The high tempera- ture of the retorts occasioned from time to time the loss of a furnace, and after many losses the system of retorts was abandoned in favor of another apparatus, the ' Cubilot' (Faye's apparatus). Towards the end of 1858 it was heated with wood charcoal, which soon gave place to coke on account of its costliness. At the same time we made important changes in the burners and platinum baskets, the latter of which were suspended instead of resting upon the former. " The illumination with hydrogen is brilliant but sensitive [delicat). The lamps in the streets must be well closed, as a gust of wind distorts the ignited platinum wick. The dust introduces sand, which forms a silicide of platinum, and this metal ultimately assumes an injurious crystalline structure, and is even partially volatilized. "In Narbonne all care was wanting towards the end of the career of the com- pany Narbonnaise. The manager, M. Crouzet, became a wine merchant in Paris. All superintendence was withheld, and the lighting became at last intolerable. In June, 1865, therefore, coal gas was introduced. As far as heating is concerned, nothing can, in my opinion, compete with water-gas in convenience and cheapness." Prax, Chemist to the Agricultural Society. Narbonne, March 15, 1874. On the evidence of these documents, the procedures for illumination with hy- AmF™-J7h6*rm \ Development of the Chemical Arts. 83 drogen, hitherto employed, must be condemned if anything further is desired than the display of objects and transparencies for the lecture-room or the stage. Hydrogen lighting was not represented at the Vienna Exhibition — a further in- direct evidence that it had not found any wider application. An objection, long known, depends on the high coefficient of diffusion of hy- drogen, and its consequent ready escape through the pores and fine chinks of the mains, a circumstance the more dangerous, as hydrogen is not, like coal-gas, at once detected by its odor. The diffusion-coefficients of gases, according to Graham's ex- periments, are inversely as the square roots of their specific gravities. But if lightness is a disadvantage for the delivery of hydrogen through pipes, we have now to consider the advantages springing from the same attribute. In Novem- ber, 1782, a dream long cherished seemed on the point of fulfilment. The Brothers Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier sent up the first balloon at Avignon by means of hot air.* With natural enthusiasm the populace of Annonay applauded them when, on June 4, they repeated the experiment of the previous year on a larger scale, and' king, court and capital congratulated the inventors when they repeated it soon after- wards at Versailles. The dominion of the air seemed won for mankind, to whom* space had now no limits. To day we look back upon the invention with a cooler glance, as, in spite of the lapse of ninety years, it has remained in its infancy. Wc are still unable to speak of aerial navigation, since the balloon, incapable of being steered, has remained the plaything of the air instead of becoming its ruler. One step, indeed, towards the desired end was taken when Charles, Professor of Physics at the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers, at Paris, substituted hydrogen for the heated air in the balloon. On August 27, 1783, Charles, in concert with the Brothers Robert, skillful mechanicians, accomplished the ascent of the first hydrogen balloon in the Champs-Elysees, his invention being known as the Charliere in con- tradistinction to the Montgolfiere. Both systems were used for the first aerial voy- age, the one in November and the other in December of the same year. Previously the balloons had been sent up empty, or only tenanted by some animal. The first aerial navigator, Pilatre de Rozieres, conceived the idea of combining both systems, which was the occasion of his death. The fire in the Mongolfiere was communi- cated to the hydrogen in the Charliere, and on June 15, 1785, balloon and aeronaut fell shattered on the limestone rocks of the coast, near Boulogne. The motive for this unfortunate combination was the wish to raise or lower the balloon by stirring up or extinguishing the fire — a plan which makes ballast super- fluous, and which has been revived in a recent essayf by Captain Gaede (of the Military School at Hanover), and with due precautions would be doubtless practica- ble. Since the time of Pilatre de Rozieres 3,700 balloon ascents have been under- taken, and only sixteen fatal accidents have been heard of, J due chiefly to montgol- fieres, though the sea has been repeatedly crossed by aeronauts. Not long after the discovery of balloons they were used both for practical and for scientific purposes. * The historical details concerning aeronautics, where no other authorities are given, are taken from the excellent summary of Louis Figuier in " Merveilles de la Science," ii., 426-626. See also Marion, " Les Ballons," Paris, 1867; and Fonvielle, " La Science en Ballon," Paris, 1869. t Gaede, :' Ueber den Bau Gefesselter und Lenkbarer Luftschiffe." Berlin : Mittler, 1873. % Stephan, " Weltpost und LuftschifTahrt." Berlin : 1874. ♦ S4 Development of the Chemical Arts {Am-fc8P76frm- Coutelle used them for military reconnoitering, and, according to Carnot's testimony, contributed essentially to the result of the battle of Fleurus. On the other hand, Captain Gaede considers the results attained by means of balloons, especially in reconnoitering fortified places, both in earlier campaigns and in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, as insignificant. Napoleon I. regarded the military efficiency of the balloons of his time not more favorably. After his return from Egypt — where the attempt to convince the natives of the superiority of Europeans by means of a balloon ascent had failed, owing to their fatalistic indolence — he closed the military- aerostatic school which had been founded at Meudon under the management of Coutelle and Conti, evidently holding its military results as unimportant. Ballooning has been made subservient to the purposes of meteorology and physics before it was enlisted in the service of the war-spirit. Charles utilized his expedition for scientific purposes. On July 18, 1803, he was imitated by Robert- son, who ascended from Hamburg to the height of 7,400 metres, and who imagined that he perceived at this altitude a decrease in the intensity not merely of terrestrial magnetism, but also of fractional electricity. These statements induced the great physicists, Biot and Gay-Lussac, to undertake two ascents the next year. They refuted the above-mentioned views of Robertson, remarked the decrease of atmos- pheric moisture with increasing altitude, and made numerous and valuable meteor- ological observations. From the greatest height which they attained, 6,500 metres, Oay-Lussac brought back a specimen of air, and found that it had the same composition as the air of lower regions — a result, at that time, of capital importance. The last-mentioned ascents were all made with hydrogen gas. As the use of gas- lighting became more and more general the greater power which the lightest of all known bodies offers was sacrificed to the convenience which coal-gas afforded. In France, Barral and Bixio made their scientific ascent, in 1850, with the aid of coal- gas. In England, Glaisher adopted the same plan in 1864, and the numerous balloon voyages which have been made for the amusement of the public, from the love of adventure or for some especial purpose, have been undertaken with the same material. With coal-gas Green traveled in sixteen hours from London to Weilburg, in Nassau, in 18365 Flammarion and Godard, in 1867, from Paris to Solingen, performing 70 German miles in twelve and a half hours. Nader, who hoped to take photographic maps whilst floating in the air, had filled his balloon, " Le Geant," with 6,000 cubic metres of coal-gas, on his somewhat dangerous journey from Paris to Hanover, October 18, 1863. More recently aeronauts have returned to the use of hydrogen. But even in those four months of the greatest siege of a metropolis of which history bears record, when Paris depended exclu- sively, for its intercourse with the outer world, upon carrier pigeons and balloons, which had never before been called to so important a service, even then necessity compelled the use of coal-gas, because it was procurable with the least difficulty.* 65 balloons went up from Paris between September 28 and January 22, carrying 91 passengers, 363 pigeons and 2^ million letters, and for the most part with success. Only five balloons fell into the hands of the German armies : one descended in Munich ; another at Wetzlar ; one disappeared entirely, perhaps in the sea,- whilst the fragments of another were found, in the autumn of 1873, clinging to a tree at * Saint-Edme, " La Science pendant le Siege de Paris," 1871, 62. Am^Kr;sP76"rm'} 'Development of the Chemical Arts. 85 Port Natal, in South-eastern Africa. All the others descended safely beyond the radius of the besieging army in France, or upon neutral territory : one in Belgium ; three in Holland ; and one upon a snowfield in Norway, 60 (German) miles to the north of Christiana, and 180 from Paris, which had been traversed in fifteen hours. * At that time, the power of steering balloons was more than ever felt to be necessary. Many of Montgolfier's contemporaries, including well-known physicists and mathematicians, such as Meusnier, Monge, Lelande, Sec, had pronounced this problem to be practicable. Fruitless and partially absurd attempts at its solution were not wanting. The celebrated inventor of the injector, Henry Giffard, was not deterred from carrying out new experiments in this direction in the year 1852, and the most recent attempts are based upon his ideas and those of Meusnier. Instead of the ordinary form, Giffard gave his balloon the fish-like shape of a ship, for the convenience of steering. A steam engine, with its chimney turned down- wards to obviate the risk of fire, and whose steam was simultaneously employed to maintain the draught, turned a screw sufficient to turn the balloon, but certainly too weak to overcome the strong wind which, on September 25th, drove Giffard's aerial ship before it. Public opinion then turned in favor of a project of aerial navigation opposed to all previous methods. Ponton d'Amecourt, De la Landell and Nader wished to attempt by mere mechanical force, without the aid of light gases, to navigate the air in all directions. The authority of Babinet supported this scheme, which, however, according to Helmholtz,f had no sound physical basis, and which, when carried into execution, proved a failure. When the Paris Exhibition of 1867 drew general attention to every industrial advance, Giffard received a commission to make aeronautics available for the " million " by means of a hydrogen balloon. He constructed a balloon of 5,000 cubic metres capacity, the inflation of which, with hydrogen, generated by iron and sulphuric acid in wooden casks, cost 5,000 francs. The gas was subsequently prepared by him for a twentieth part of the cost of conducting steam over ignited charcoal, a method of which Coutelle had made use in 1794. The balloon was attached to a wire rope 300 metres in length, and was very skillfully secured. A steam engine of 50 horse power uncoiled the rope, and drew down the balloon with its passengers when the permitted height had been reached. This height was not great enough to occasion any danger from the expansion of the gas, hence Giffard was able to close the balloon with valves instead of leaving it open below. Thus, the loss of gas by diffusion did not exceed 15 cubic metres daily, and was easily replaced at intervals of three days. The next impulse to aeronautics was given, not by festivity, but by the terrors of war and the siege of Paris. The Academie des Sciences commissioned one of its members, Dupuy de Lome, to make experiments on steering balloons, and the government furnished the requisite means. Dupuy gave his balloon the fish shape,;!: and, in order to render its shape stable in the wind, he fitted it with an internal secondary balloon {ballonet), containing more or less air, and equal in bulk to one- tenth part of the main balloon. The air could be let out of this inner balloon by valves, or driven in again by means of a bellows in the car, according to a plan *Stephan, " Weltpost und Luftschiffahrt." Berlin, 1874. fHelmholtz, "Berl. Akad. Ber. u. Verhand. d. Ver. fiir Gewerbfleiss in Preussen," 1873, 326. % Dupuy de Lome, " Note sur 1' Aerostat." Paris: Gautier-Villars. 1872. 86 Development of the Chemical Arts. {Am-FJe°buri8P76arm- which Meusnier had devised as early as 1783 to supercede the use of ballast. Dupuy's balloon was further distinguished by a very firm method of suspending the car, and by the use of a varnish impermeable to gases, and made of gelatin and tannin dissolved in pyroligneous acid. The propelling screw was not turned by a steam engine, but by eight men in the car. The balloon, containing 3,450 cubic metres, was filled with hydrogen obtained from iron and sulphuric acid, and went up at Vincennes on February 1st, 1872, carrying fourteen persons. After a flight of two hours it was let down at Noyon, a distance of 106 kilometres. By means of an anemometer, Dupuy was able to determine the independent speed of the balloon at 2*82 metres per second, whilst that of the wind was 16 to 17 metres, and the course of the balloon made an angle of 120 with the direction of the wind. The problem of steering had, therefore, been solved, though only to a very slight degree — suffi- cient for a calm, but insufficient for overcoming even moderate winds. The speed attained was slight. Both conditions of success depend on the employment of stronger sources of mechanical power, and this, again, requires an increase of its power of ascent, i. e., of its relative levity with an enlarged volume. The calculations which Helmholtz * has lately put forward concerning the re- spective ratio of bulk to resistance and to speed in ships and balloons are therefore of great value. According to him the speed of Dupuy's balloon nearly attained the maximum possible for its size. In order to proceed slowly against a fresh breeze, with the sources of mechanical power at present available, the volume of the balloon must be three and a-half times larger than that of the largest ship of the line. This demands of the tissue with which the balloon is to be constructed a degree of strength scarcely possible. In fajt, the expectations of the inventors did not go be- yond the hope of steering the balloon when the air is tranquil. If the screws or paddle-wheels are enlarged they must also be made thicker and stronger, in order to preserve the necessary firmness. " We can only work sparingly with slowly-moving propellers of large surface, and to produce these of the requisite size without burden- ing the balloon too much, will constitute one of the greatest practical difficulties." With this sentence Helmholtz concludes his memoir, and the prospects to which he points fall very far short of the enthusiastic prophecies of such as are guided by their wishes rather than by sober scientific considerations. The problem of steering balloons turns on three conditions : the production of balloons of the lowest specific gravity 5 the construction of propellers, light, but capable of resistance, and of sources of power at once light and capable of perform- ing a high duty. In how far chemistry has prepared the way towards the fulfilment of the last condition, e. g., by means of aluminium, the future must decide. The first condition she has accomplished ninety years ago, by means of hydrogen, as is now fully recognized. Upon the consideration of hydrogen and oxygen should follow an account of the industrial applications of water. These, however, are so many-sided, not to say omnipresent, that they escape our reach. The most important will be considered in especial chapters. The elements oxygen and hydrogen form, however, as is well known, a second compound, peroxide of hydrogen, H202, which has latterly begun to acquire a cer- tain industrial importance. — Chem. News, Oct. 15-Dec. 3. To be continued. -* Helmholtz, "Berl. Akad. Ber.," 1873. 501. Am-fc!7h6arm-} Varieties. 87 VARIETIES. The Constitution of Phosphorous Acid. By A. Michaelis. — The author defends his formula for phosphorous acid, HPO.(HO)2, and he considers that Zim- mermanns trisodium phosphite contains one atom of sodium united with the phos- phorus ; hence its unstability. When phosphorous trichloride is dropped into boiling water, no phosphorus separates, but, if cold water is employed, a clear liquid is obtained, which soon be- comes milky from separation of phosphorus. This is explained by assuming that In the case of cold water, an acid containing P(OH)3 is first formed, and that the bulk of this soon changes into its isomeride, phosphorous acid, HPO(HO)2, but at the same time a portion splits up into phosphoric acid and free phosphorus. — Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., viii, 504-506. A new metal. — M. Lecocq de Boisbaudran has announced the discovery, by means of the spectroscope, of a new chemical element, which he calls " gallium," and which he affirms to be allied to zinc. The spectroscope character of gallium is two violet lines, one corresponding to wave length 417, and the other to 404, but fainter. A commission of the French Academy has been appointed to report on the discovery. Gallium is said to be found in a special blende from Pierrefite mining works, in the Argeles Valley. — The Amer. Gas-Light Jour., Jan. 3, 1876. Preservation of Fruit. — Fruit is kept in Russia by being packed in creosot- ized lime. The lime is slaked in water in which a little creosote has been dissolved, and is allowed to fall to powder. The latter is spread over the bottom of a deal box, to about one inch in thickness. A sheet of paper is laid above, and then the fruit. Over the fruit is another sheet of paper, then more lime, and so on until the box is full, when a little finely powdered charcoal is packed in the corners, and the lid tightly closed. Fruit thus enclosed will, it is said, remain good for a year. — The Amer. Gas-Light Jour., Nov. 2, 1875. Cucurbitaceous Anthelmintics — Some investigations have recently been made by M. Heckel into the active part of pumpkin seeds. These seeds have been much used of late for the expulsion of the tapeworm, for which purpose they were employed in the early part of the last century. The mode of their administration has hitherto been to give the bruised seeds in large quantities suspended in water, the outer envelope only having been removed. About two ounces of the seed was the ordinary dose. It is probable that so large a quantity contains much inert matter. Some recent observations apparently indicate that the active principle is contained only in the embryo. To ascertain whether this is the case was the chief object of M. Heckel's observations. He first administered, in two cases of taenia, about six ounces of the perisperm, tegumentum and testa, a purgative of castor oil having first been administered. The tapeworm was not expelled in any case. In two other cases the membrane surrounding the embryo was given — about an ounce — preceded and followed by a dose of castor oil. In each case the tapeworm was 88 Minutes of the College. ( Am. Jour. Pharm. \ Feb. 1876 expelled entire. Subsequent experiments yielded the same result. This membrane was then carefully examined, and found to consist of two membranes separable by maceration in water. The outer membrane contained a resin in small quantities (one in seventeen), which M. Heckel believes to be the active agent. He believes that the castor oil acts not only by its purgative effect, but by dissolving the resin and rendering it active. The second membrane contained more chlorophyll than resin. It must not be forgotten that these seeds contain a fixed oil, to which their qualities have been ascribed, and which may be obtained by cold expression from the seeds in the proportion of half an ounce to a pound. This oil has been used with success, in repeated half-ounce doses, in cases of taenia. — Lancet, Sept. 25^ 1875, from Mon. Abst. of. Med. Science, Nov. 1875. Pharmacopceia of the Philadelphia Hospital. — R Charta Arsenicalis Composita. ■r. xcvi Belladonnae foliae, Hyoscyami foliae, Stramonii folia?, Extracti opii, Tabaci foliae, Aquae, Fiat infusum, et adde — Potassii nitratis, Potassii arsenitis, Fiat solutio. Saturate bibulous paper, and dry for ad gr. xlviii gr iv gr. lxxx Oi gr clx gr. cccxx Glycerita 01 ei Ricini. Olei cinnamomi, Olei ricini, Glycerina3, Misce. gtt. XXIV da f^iv R Infusum Senna Compositum. ;vm Ovi Sennae foliae, Pulveris jalapse, Potassii bitartratis, Aquae bullientis, Macera per horas duas, cola, et adde — Tincturae sennae compositae, Oii Misce. Signa — Dose, a tablespoonful. Linimentum Chloroformi Compositum. R Chloroformi, f3jii Tincturae aconiti radicis, Aquae ammoniae, da f^ss Olei olivae, f^v Fiat linimentum. R Linimentum Saponis Viridis. Saponis viridis, £1 Alcoholis, q. s. ut fiat solutio. Liquefac cum leni calore. Misce et filtra. (To be continued.) MINUTES OF THE COLLEGE. Philadelphia, December 27th, 1875. A stated meeting of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy was held this after- noon at the College Hall. Dillwyn Parrish, President, occupied the chair, and fifteen members registered their names. The minutes of the meeting held in September were read and approved. The minutes of the Board of Trustees, since September, were read by Wm. C Bakes, Secretary of the Board, and on motion adopted Mr. Bullock, on behalf of the Committee on the Centennial, reported progress. He and Mr. Shinn urged upon all the members the importance of assisting the Com- AmVJe0buri8P76arm'} Minutes of the Pharmaceutical Meeting. 89 mittee in their labors, as it was desirable to have the Hall put in order in time to be ready for the entertainment of such persons as may visit us in the Spring. Prof. Remington, on behalf of the Committee on the Cabinet, reported the cases about one-half filled, with many other specimens promised. Prof. Maisch alluded to the cases which had been prepared for the Herbarium, lately presented to the College by Daniel B. Smith, as being in readiness to receive the books of specimens; their arrangement will soon be completed. There being no further business, on motion, adjourned. William J. Jenks, Secretary. MINUTES OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. The fourth regular meeting of the session was held January 18, 1876, Charles A. Heinitsh in the chair. Number in attendance, thirty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read. Dr. Pile inquired if the examination for Ammonia in Phos- phoric acid, prepared by Prof. Markoe's process, was performed at the meeting. Prof. Maisch explained that it was commenced there with the understanding, if com- pleted in time, it should be incorporated in the minutes, which were then approved. The Registrar presented to the library, from the National College of Pharmacy, a copy of "Formulas of non-officinal Preparations, District of Columbia, 1875" they being the result of a joint committee of the medical society and that college. Prof. Maisch presented, on behalf of the Executive Committee of the American Pharmaceutical Association, " Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Associa- tion, 1875, volume 23»" This is the largest volume yet issued, containing 899 pages of interesting matter. The Professor also read a letter from Mr. Prats Grau, Barcelona, and presented from him the first part of a work, entitled " Tradato Pharmacia Opera- toria," written by Dr. Fors Cornet, this second edition being edited by Mr. Grau. He also presented to the cabinet a specimen of Grindelia squarrosa, from Dr. J. H- Bundy, of Calusa, California, who is investigating its medical properties. J. W. Worthington exhibited Phosphorus of very handsome appearance, made at the RancOcas works, N. J. R. V. Mattison read a paper on " Factitious Balsam Tolu," (see page 51). Storax being the adulterant, Prof. Maisch said that styracin could be readily obtained in white crystals, from its solution in hot petroleum benzin ; it is slightly, but cinnamic acid freely, soluble in cold alcohol. J. J. Brown read a paper on "the importance of Garbling Drugs," (see page 52). Prof. Maisch was glad to see the young men active in calling attention to these matters, and from personal observation, confirmed many of the statements, but said that most of these admixtures could not be regarded as adulterations, but were the result of careless handling. Dr. Pile and others had met with instances in which packages had been sent out incorrectly labeled, and while we should have charity for the wholesale dealer who had difficulty in obtaining garbled crude diugs, it was no excuse for the retailer, who aimed to purchase at low figures, and whose duty it was to examine every article. Prof. Maisch observed that the bad articles were not all found in America. 9° Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations, {Am-FJeburI87h6arm On motion, thanks were returned for the donations, and the papers read were re- ferred to the publication committee. A. P. Keller desired to know if the sale of alcohol on Sunday was a violation of the "Sunday Liquor Law." While difficult to answer this question legally, it is quite readily done when a desire to satisfy a clear conscience is the selling motive. J. W. Worthington exhibited so-called Magnetic Fountain Water from Slater- ville, New York. It is claimed to have the property of rendering steel magnetic. The sample present did not substantiate this. E. M. Boring exhibited Gluten pearls containing liquids and solids, and wished to know as to how they are filled. Also, Syrupus Scillse Compositus, in good con- dition, although made two years ago. (See " Am. Jr. Ph.," 1871, p. 101). J. W. Worthington exhibited a dropper for counter use, invented by Chas. A. Bowman, of Nashville, Tenn. It consists of an ^ ounce of sulphate of morphia vial, having a hole drilled in its shoulder through which a bent tube is passed ; over the neck is slipped a finger cot, having its end indented, and the cavity filled with a cork. Dr. Pile exhibited " The Pharmacopoeia of the Dispensary of the University of Pennsylvania." Many of the formulas have been prescribed out of the hospital, and a desire was expressed that they be published in the Journal. J.- T. Shinn had found Basham's mixture prescribed, and there was a difference in the recipe as obtained from different sources. Twenty minims of Tincture of Chloride of Iron and one fluidounce of solution of Acetate of Ammonium are the proper proportions. Adjourned, to meet on February 15th, 1876, at 8 o'clock P. M. William McIntyre, Registrar. PHARMACEUTICAL COLLEGES AND ASSOCIATIONS, Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Association. — At the annual meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Albert L. Calder, of Providence ; Vice-President, James H. Taylor, of Newport ; Secretary, Francis J. Phillips, of Providence ; Treasurer, William H. Blanding, of Providence ; Stand- ing Committee, Norman N. Mason, of Providence ; Ferdinand Smith, of Providence} Charles H. Congdon, of East Greenwich. The Treasurer, Mr. Wm. B Blanding, presented his annual report of receipts and expenditures for the year, showing a generous balance in the treasury. A committee was appointed, with instructions to inquire into the reported in- fractions of the pharmacy law, and report what action, if any, is advisable or neces- sary for the Association to take to secure a better enforcement of the law. Several matters of interest to the profession were introduced and appropriately discussed by the members generally. Mr. N. N. Mason read a very interesting extract from Tomlinson's translation of Renoda's " Dispensatory of Pharmacy," published 1657, giving a quaint descrip- tion of " what an apothecary should be." Adjourned to second Monday in April. Am/db.ri8^rrm'} Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations 91 The New York Alumni Association of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy met at Plimpton Hall, January 4th. Mr. Plummer presented a paper on " Chloro-phosphide of arsenic," and exhibited a specimen. He stated that this compound had recently appeared in this market, claiming to be prepared after the formula of Dr. Rauth, which consists in bringing phosphorus and arsenic, in a finely-divided state, together in the presence of hydro- chloric acid, the operation to be conducted with great care, and the presence of iron to be avoided, the liquid to be diluted with water so that 1 fluidounce of the solu- tion represents 1 grain of arsenic and one-sixth grain of phosphorus. The specimen presented was colorless, of a very slight phosphatic odor, and of a rather pleasant taste. He stated that he was unable to produce a like preparation by the process which, perhaps, is not correctly given, and thought that a combination of phos- phorus and arsenic, in a stable and soluble form, would result in a valuable neurotic compound, citing the reports of Dr. Hammond regarding the more definite action of phosphorus when combined with metallic bases, and which has been corroborated in the experience of other prominent physicians. Arsenic is known to exhibit an action upon the human economy somewhat similar to that of phosphorus j it seems an important subject for the attention of chemists. Mr. Wellcome read a paper on " Eriodyction Californicum^ a drug which has long been in use by the Spaniards and Indians of Mexico and California as a specific for chronic lung diseases, and as a certain cure for consumption. He exhibited some very handsome specimens of the plant. Prof. Maisch had received a specimen, which he presented at the College meeting last May.* Other matters of minor interest were discussed. Next meeting will be held Tues- day evening, February 1st. Cincinnati Collece of Pharmacy. — At the regular meeting, held January 1 2th, the following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year: President, F. L. Eaton 5 Recording Secretary, A. W. Bain ; Corresponding Secretary, Louis Schwab; Treasurer, W. H. Negley ; Board of Trustees — Chas. Faust, H. H. Koehnken, John Weyer, Chas. Schmidt. The reports of the retiring officers gratifyingly indicated the progressive condition of the College. The retiring President, Prof. E. S. Wayne, in a neat and appropriate speech, thanked the members for their attention and the kind assistance they had tendered him in the conduct of the duties that he had attempted judiciously to discharge in the past year, and earnestly hoped a continuance of the same for his successor. The newly elected President, Mr. Eaton, on being conducted to the chair by Messrs. Negley and Schmidt, spoke feelingly of the honor thus suddenly conferred upon him 5 promising, to the best of his ability, to serve his term in such a manner that no regret on the part of the members should ever be suffered for having elected him. Louis Sghwab, Cor. Sec. *The statement on page 279,, "Amer. Jour. Pharm.," 1875, that the leaves of Eriodyction glutinosum, Benth., have an intensely bitter taste, is an error, which we omitted to correct before. — Editor. 92 Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations. The British Pharmaceutical Society held a pharmaceutical meeting Dec. ist, the President, Mr. T. H. Hills, in the chair. Mr. Louis Siebold read a paper on " The Preparation of Pure Chemicals," in which the autnor treated on the diffi- culty of obtaining absolutely pure chemicals, such as might be supposed were intended by the "British Pharmacopoeia" by the tests given in certain cases. In others, the " Pharmacopoeia " allowed some impurities, without giving their quan- tity or the limits of the reactions indicating the impurities. The paper treated of oxalic acid, sodium and potassium carbonates and nitrates, potassium permanganate, sodium chloride and the subnitrate, subcarbonate and oxide of bismuth. In the discussion following, it was stated that the "Pharmacopoeia" rarely con- templated the absolute purity of the chemicals, which was really unnecessary; that different impurities often depended upon the kinds of vessels or the water used in manufacturing, and that manufacturers were often greatly obliged for having the nature of impurities in chemicals pointed out to them 5 the fact was dwelt upon that the quality of many commercial chemicals was now much better than for- merly. Mr. Ince read a paper written by the late Daniel Hanbury, on "The Spices, Groceries and Wax of a Mediaeval Household, A. D. 1303-10." The paper relates to a portion of the accounts of the executors of Bishops Richard, of London (1303), and Thomas, of Exeter (1310). The articles enumerated in the paper, together with their price, are: Cere, wax; ammigdaU, almonds; ris, rice; zinsiber, ginger ; sucare, sugar ; canele, cinnamon cassia ; galonge, galangal ; nigrum piper, black pepper ; granum paradisi, grains of paradise ; crocus, saffron, or, as Mr. E. M.Holmes thought, probably safflower, the price being £5 9/. yd. for 38 J lbs.; gariofoli, cloves ; quibibus, cubebs ; macis, mace ; feniculum, fennel ; anisum, anise ; liquiricia, liquorice ; cyminum, cumin ; pyon, the kernels of Pinus pinea ; pyonad, a confection of the kernels with white of egg and sugar; gyngebrad, gingibretum or zinzibratum, preserved or candied ginger ; nux muscata, nutmegs ; zedevand, zedoary and others. Mr. Louis Siebold read a paper on " Senna Extracted with Alcohol," a prepara- tion which is extensively used on the continent of Europe. The author draws from his experiments the following conclusions : 1. Strong spirit does not remove any of the active principle (cathartic acid) from senna leaves. 2. The therapeutic action of cathartic acid is assisted by one or more of the con- stituents yielded by senna to strong spirit, though the latter produce no purgative effect when taken alone. 3. Senna exhausted by alcohol is a reliable and pleasant purgative, but somewhat weaker in its action than the unexhausted leaves. Mr. Groves said that he had prepared pure cathartate of calcium, and found it to be of a very griping character. The mixed cathartates may be obtained by digest- ing senna leaves in diluted alcohol, and precipitating them by strong alcohol. Senna leaves exhausted by alcohol are devoid of the essential oil, and have, therefore, less taste. Adjourned to February 2d. Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. Editorial. 93 Pharmaceutical Society of Paris. — The pharmaceutical meeting, held November 3, was mainly occupied by the report by M. Ferd. Vigier on the theses presented in competition for the prize, which was awarded to M Giraud for his " Com- parative studies on the gums and mucilages," the " Researches and extraction of the alkaloids, and Discovery of pterocarpina," of Mr. Cazeneuve, heing honor- ably mentioned. At the session held December 1st, a letter by M. George was read, asking, in the name of the pharmacists of Airne, to have the composition of certain preparations determined, which have been introduced into medical use since the publication of the Codex. The subject was referred to a committee of six. A paper by Messrs. Bretet and Cornillon on " The action of alkalies upon the formation of urinary sugar " was read. The authors are led to the following con- clusions : 1. Alkaline medicines act upon the production of glucose in urine, by diminish- ing the saccharifying power of the diastatic liquids, and consequently by preventing the introduction of an excess of sugar into the blood. 2. Bicarbonate of sodium acts not only upon the salivary diastase, but also upon the pancreatic liquor. 3. Its action is much more observable upon the pancreas of the omnivora than upon that of herbivorous animals. Mr. Magnes-Lahens read an essay on " Tar," in which he stated that water would take up a larger amount of soluble matter from tar, which had been rendered pul- verulent by mixing it intimately with twice its weight of saw-dust. From 9 grams of such pulverulent tar (equal to 3 grams of tar) 1 litre of water takes up, at the ordinary temperature, 1 gram of extract in four hours; at 6o° C. (140 F), 2 grams will be taken up in five minutes, and from 27 grams of pulverulent tar it will re- tain 6 grams of extract, which is a saturated solution. He also exhibited a new inhaler, constructed by himself. M. Guichard spoke of pharmaceutical labels, and exhibited an apparatus for printing them. After hearing reports on the transactions of the Academy of Sciences, the So- ciety adjourned. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT. Medical Statistics of Prussia. — A very interesting report on this subject is before us, and we propose to give in the following a very brief resume of the same : At the close of 1873, there were in the kingdom of Prussia 7,923 licensed physi- cians, 319 surgeons, 245 dental surgeons, 2,344 apothecaries (proprietors), and 16,- 673 midwives. Calculated for the entire population, there was one physician for every 3,105 inhabitants, one surgeon or dentist for 43,623, one apothecary for 10,- 496 inhabitants, and one midwife for 373 females born between the years 1857 and 1824. However, neither these figures, nor the figures indicating the number of each class of persons residing in each province give a correct idea of their distribution This may be arrived at by ascertaining the geometrical mean, which is obtained by 94 Editorial. Am. Jour. Pharm. Feb. 1876. dividing them, in each province, first to the geographical square mile and likewise to each 1,000 of inhabitants, and then calculating the square root from the product thus ascertained, when the following figures will be obtained : PROVINCE. APOTHECARIES. PHYSICIANS. Upon 1 geog. square mile. For 1,000 inhabitants. Geometrical mean. Upon 1 geog. square mile. For 1,000 inhabitants. Geometrical mean. Prussia, •19 •07 '"5 '49 •18 •297 Brandenburg, '32 Oo I OO I'7° '43 *55 Pomerania, •19 •07 •115 69 •24 •407 Posen, *2 1 •07 *I 21 •48 •16 •277 Silesia, '32 06 '!39 I '22 •25 •552 Saxonia, '44 •10 •210 r56 '34 708 Schleswig-Holstein, •20 •10 •170 1-25 •40 707 Hanover, •42 ,J5 •251 113 •40 •672 Westphalia, •61 •13 •282 j'Ss •33 724 Hesse-Nassau, •70 •14 •313 2-17 '44 '977 Rhenish Province, 74 •10 •272 2*43 •33 •896 Hohenzollern, •47 •J5 •269 i'37 '44 776 For the State, •36 •09 •180 122 •31 •615 It will be seen that the supply of pharmaceutical and medical aid varies very con- siderably in the different provinces. The discrepancies are still greater if the smaller districts are compared with each other. Looking only at the extreme figures, we find that the geometrical mean of apothecaries in Berlin is 1*692, in Dusseldorf -503, but in Gumbinnen only '098, which figure is still lower in Coeslin, being *o88. The difference in the number of physicians is still greater, the figures being for Berlin 25*311, Cologne 1*373, Dusseldorf 1*203, but only *n8 for Koenigsberg, *i6i for Gumbinnen and -208 for Coeslin. Changes in Pharmaceutical Journals. — Mr. A. E. Ebert has retired from the editorial chair of the " Pharmacist," his business connections requiring his whole attention. The " Pharmacist " will, as heretofore, be published by authority of the Chicago College of Pharmacy, the editorial labors having been entrusted to a com- mittee appointed by the College. The " Deutsch-Amerikanische Pharmaceutische Zeitung " has been discontinued, but its publication will be resumed if a sufficient number of subscriptions should be obtained. The Tennessee " Pharmacal Gazette " published its last number in November, 1,875. AmVr;8P76.arm-} Reviews, etc. 9 5 REVIEWS AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. Tear-Book of Pharmacy, comprising Abstracts of* Papers relating to Pharmacy, Ma- teria Medica and Chemistry contributed to British and Foreign Journals from July 1 j 1874, to June 30, 1875 5 with the Transactions of the British Pharmaceu- tical Conference at the Twelfth Annual Meeting, held in Bristol, August, 1875. London: J. & A. Churchill, 1875. 8vo, pp. 652. This annual publication contains in its first part abstracts of papers of interest to pharmacists which have appeared during the preceding year, and are grouped under the three headings mentioned in the title, a fourth part, Notes and Formula?, being added, but no systematic arrangement being followed, which, however, is in a mea- sure compensated for by the copious index. The " Year- Book " embraces the first 404 pages. The remainder of the volume is occupied by the usual lists of mem- bers, associations, the programme for the meeting, the minutes, papers, &c. Of the meeting we have given an account in our last volume, published abstracts of several of the interesting papers read, and expect to bring the others to the notice of our readers in a similar manner. The volume is creditable to the Association from which it emanates, and which, though little more than half the age of the American Pharmaceutical Association, has upon its roll a much larger number of members, a circumstance which speaks well for the pharmacists of Great Britain. Will American pharmacists profit by this good example, and unite themselves with the National Association at its twenty- fourth annual meeting in September next ? The Identification and Microscopical Examination of Crude Drugs and other Vegetable Products. By Mark W. Harrington, M. A , Assistant Professor in charge of Botany in the University of Michigan. Ann Arbor: John Moore, 1876. pp. 34. We have been much pleased with the examination of this pamphlet. There has, as yet, been proposed no systematic course for the study of Materia Medica against which weighty objections might not be raised; but a system based upon the organ- ological, physical and structural qualities of the drugs appears to us much more rational than their- arrangement according to botanical origin, although the latter has some advantages which the former can never attain. After the labors of Schlei- den, Berg, Fliickiger (" Pharmakognosie," 1867), and others, the ground has been well broken, and, as a contribution in the same direction, we welcome the pamphlet before us and regret only that it is so very brief, a mere skeleton only, which, how- ever, is the precursor of a more extended work by the same author. Hermapbrodism, from a Medico- Legal Point of Vienv. By Basile Poppesco. Chi- cago: W. B. Keen, Cooke & Co., 1875. 8vo, pp. 45. Price, 50 cents. A translation, by Dr. E. W. Sawyer, Lecturer on Obstetrics in the Rush Medi- cal College, Chicago, of the author's interesting thesis, presented to the Faculty of Medicine, Paris. 96 Obituaries. { Am- XT"' OBITUARIES. Proffessor Dr. Joaquin DoNDe Ibarra died of consumption, in the city of Merida, Yucatan, November i, 1875. The deceased was born in Campeche, July 6, 1827, where he received his education, until he removed to Puebla in 1844, where he studied pharmacy under Prof. Mariano Cal, and graduated with honors in 1846. In 1847 he went to the capital of the republic to place himself under the instruction of Dr. Jose M. Vargas, and passed another examination in 1849, and subsequently at the university, which conferred upon him the title of Associate. In 1850 he opened a School of Pharmacy in Campeche, and in 1853 one in Merida, laboring in the latter until a few months before his demise. During this time he lectured, for a number of years, on botany in the Catholic Institute, and since 1870 acted as Director of the class in Industrial Chemistry, founded by the Society "Jesus Maria." In the same year the State School of Medicine and Pharmacy was established, he being one of the founders, and elected honorary professor in 1875. He was likewise active in founding, in 1871, the only Medical Society in the State, and contributed much towards its usefulness. The Academy recognized his sterling qualities by making him an honorary member. At the exposition held in Yucatan, in 1 871, he exhibited chemical products and was awarded a first-class medal, and received another award for his red phosphorus. In the manufacture of ordinary soap he introduced various improvements, and worked out new processes for the tanning of hides, in which he instructed many artizans, having the public good constantly in view rather than his private interests. The manufacture of the safety phosphorus matches, in Yucatan, was introduced by him in 1869. For many years he was associated, in the pharmaceutical business, with Mr. Font, laboring principally in the laboratory. His literary labors comprise a number of articles originally published in the " American Journal of Pharmacy, 1871 — 73," in "L'Union Pharmaceutique," of Paris, " La Emulacion " and " La Revista de Merida." Dr. Donde was a man of sterling qualities, earnest in his labors, but modest and genial as a companion ; his loss was deeply felt by the community in which he labored for so many years as a teacher, pharmacist and public benefactor. Edward H. Andrew died in New York, January 5th, in his 45th year, of rheumatism of the heart. He was the son of Rev. Sam. R. Andrew, and was born in Woodbury, Conn., October 14, 183 1. He began his apprenticeship with C. B. Whittlesey, New Haven, in 1847. But his health failing in 1852, he traveled for two years, and was then engaged with G. W. De la Vergne, New York, until the war, when he joined the 9th New York regiment. Subsequently, he engaged with Caswell, Hazard & Co., and occupied, for thirteen years, an important position, in which he secured the friendship and confidence not only of his employers, but of the medical profession and the public, and enjoyed the reputation of being a most correct and reliable dispenser. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. MARCH, 1876. ON AN IMPROVED PILL PRESS. BY JOSEPH P. REMINGTON. Since the publication of the paper, by the writer, on the " Ready- made Pills of our day," in the Proceedings of the American Pharm- aceutical Association for 1875, in which a pill press is described and figured, various improvements have been suggested, and have been introduced, which materially assist in facilitating the operation of compression. The accompanying sketch will illustrate : The cut represents a double machine, and with it two or more sizes may be made, two and three grain pills on one, and four and five grain pills on the other, one base of cast steel an- swering for both, j .3 By turning a conical de- repression in the top of the jgcylinder, a sort of funnel is ^ made, which is a conveni- ence in introducing the powder. The countersunk depressions in the base, which take the cylinders, prevent them from slipping away in case a side blow is struck. Some of the machines have been made with the lower mould stationary, and no depressions for the cylinders to fit into ; this form has some advan- tages, but is not believed to be as useful as that described above, for an unlucky side blow may break ofF the stationary lower mould, as it is made of hard steel, and this, of course, would be a fatal accident. The middle depression in the base has an aperture which pierces it all the way through, and, after the blow is struck and the pill still 7 98 An Improved Pill Press, Am. Jour. Pharm. Mar. 1876. remains in the cylinder, the whole is transferred to this middle depres- sion, when one blow drives the pill through. In making a quantity of the pills, the base might rest on two upright posts, three or four inches high, and a box might be placed between the posts to receive the pills as they are finished. The writer still adheres to the opinion expressed in the former paper alluded to, that compression should not be resorted to as a mode of making pills, when the powder used is not readily soluble in the diges- tive fluids, and hence the machine has but a limited use. For acid or bisulphate of quinia pills, the machine answers very well, and as many as two hundred may be made in one hour, by having one operative to weigh the powder, and another to fill into the cylinder and strike the blow. Like everything else of this kind, a little practice is necessary before success is assured in every instance j some difficulty is experienced in compressing the pills if the powder used be very dry, as in the case of effloresced sulphate of quinia, subnitrate of bismuth, &c, &c. The effect of using a powder too dry is to cause the pill to split transversely, a minute quantity is apt to be blown out of the top of the cylinder when the blow is struck, and it is almost sure to clog the piston and render it necessary to clean it frequently, which is an annoy- ance, to say the least. If the precaution is taken to slightly moisten, with water or other suitable liquid, such a powder (and the amount necessary to add to accomplish the result is soon learned), the difficulties usually vanish. The pills may be set aside to dry by spontaneous evaporation of the moisture, or they can be dried artificially, by heated air, in much less time. When the piston does adhere, from becoming clogged as above mentioned, it may be readily released by pouring a few drops of water into the aperture on to it, which will soften or dissolve the powder. The machine may then be washed, and the cylinder dried quickly by passing through it a thick, soft piece of twine. In conclusion, the writer takes this opportunity to state, in answer to correspondence and inquiries in relation to this contrivance, that no patent has been procured for it, no one has the exclusive right to manufacture, and any who care to, are at liberty to use it, have one made by their own mechanic, or buy of either of the makers in this city. Philadelphia, Second mo. Sthj 1876. Am. Jour. Pharm. ) Mar. 1876. / Glycerin Dropper. 99 ;lycerin dropper. BY C. A. BOWMAN. The arrangement for this purpose, noticed on page 89 of the February number of the "American Journal of Pharmacy " as an invention of my own, is only claimed as a slight improvement on the original idea of C. W. Wharton, of Nashville, Tennessee, a member of the firm of Wharton & Co., of that place. The little apparatus consists of a small morphia or other wide-mouth bottle, having an aperture bored through the curved portion of the neck, at an acute angle with the out- side edge, by means of a small, rat-tail file, after a notch has been made in the shoulder, by means of a sharp-edged file, sufficiently large for the round file to take hold, the ope- ration being facilitated by the use of turpen- tine from time to time. Care should be taken to have the bent glass tube extend into the bottle, as shown in the figure, and fit tightly, as otherwise the contrivance will work imperfectly on account of escape of air from the bottle. This precaution taken, the bottle is filled with the fluid excipient, and a small finger stall drawn tightly over the mouth, which completes this simple but useful arrangement, making a convenient and proper medium for the adjustment of liquid excipients in making pill masses, and where it is necessary to get them of a proper consistency in order to turn out a good lot of pills. It is free from the inconvenience of the old mode of adjustment, and has besides the advantage of neatness, its size making it little in the way on the prescription counter. By very light pressure on the top of the rubber shield, the liquid is forced out through the glass tube in single drops, as shown in the figure, and a continuous stream can be obtained by continued and harder pressure. The flow ceases instantly on removing the finger, and air enters through the tube equal to the bulk of liquid removed. IOO Cachets de Pain. | Am. Jour. Pharm. '[ Mar. 1876. CACHETS DE PAIN. BY HARRY P. LECHLER, PH. G. For some time past, the attention of physicians and pharmacists has been directed to the wafer discs found in the market under the name of " Cachets de Pain," as a method by which the most nauseous medicines may be administered in a pleasant form. Quinia, aloes^ bromide of potassium and many other remedies are often very objec- tionable to the patient, on account of the disagreeable taste they possess, and to cover this without impairing their therapeutical value has long been a source of trouble and anxiety to the physician. This,, the inventor of " Cachets de Pain " claims to have accomplished. By his theory, the patient has neither taste nor smell of any medicine prescribed, whether unpleasant to the palate or injurious to the teeth> and the medicinal properties of the compound are not in the least impaired by the enclosure. To prepare the " Cachet " for administration, the compound pre- scribed is first placed in one of the concave discs, the internal surface of the rim is then moistened with water, another wafer disc is moist- ened in a similar manner and placed carefully over the first, the mar- gins are then made to adhere by means of a small lever press. The medicated " Cachet " is now ready for the patient, who, by first dip- ping in cold water, placing upon the tongue, and with a draught of water, is enabled to swallow with ease. Thus, in theory, the " Cachets de Pain " are all that could be desired, but the question arises, How will this theory hold in practice ? In the first place, the time required to prepare twelve " Cachets " is, at the least calculation, five times longer than that required to dis- pense an equal number of pills or powders, and often, when the discs are moistened and pressed, we find them adhering to the press ; this may be the result of an excess of moisture, or of more pressure than is actually required \ but they are then to be removed with care, other- wise they will break where the line of moisture extends, thus entailing the necessity of preparing another ; and after removing from the press the " Cachets" require careful drying, otherwise when placed in a box they will adhere to each other. You make answer, They were not properly prepared. Manipulate with all the skill at your command,, you will often have an excess of moisture ; and this, combined with the pressure exerted upon the thin coating, has a tendency to cause a rup- ture. Am [our. Pharm. Mar. 1876. Cachets de Pain. 101 Then, in the administration of medicines in this form, we are met with a very serious objection. When the physician, not being aware that it is necessary (according to the theory) to dip the " Cachet " in cold water before placing upon the tongue, fails to convey this fact to the patient, and often, by want of thought, when in possession of this fact, does not give directions how to administer, or, of proper manage- ment on the part of the patient, it is found that, instead of disguising the compound within, the " Cachet " materially assists in the develop- ment of the unpleasantness the physician endeavors to conceal \ for, when administered, the patient discovers that in place of descending the oesophagus, as expected, it has adhered to the roof of the mouth, and in his efforts to detach it therefrom, invariably succeeds in break- ing the thin coating, and then enjoys the felicity of that delectable experience he would avoid. This is not only my personal experience, but that of several physicians of this city, who, having submitted this method to a fair trial, have arrived at the conclusion that ct Cachets de Pain" are a failure. Then, again, is it reasonable to suppose for an instant that two sol- uble salts would retain their separate and distinct characteristics when in contact with waters ? And yet the inventor of " Cachets de Pain " states that they allow the presentation of two separate and distinct salts in one envelope, which, when dissolved in the stomach, will unite and form a salt in the nascent state. For the benefit of those who favor this theory, I state the result of two experiments. The first " Cachet " was prepared with carbonate of potassium and powdered citric acid, in a perfectly dry state ; upon dipping for an instant in water, an effervescence ensued. The other was prepared in precisely the same manner, with tartaric acid and bicarbonate of sodium. The result of this experiment was a violent elimination of carbonic acid, with force sufficient to rupture the coating. If this be the result of simply dipping in water for an instant, how can the salts unite to form one in the nascent state in the stomach ? It is impossible, simply because they have united before entering the stomach. With the jujube paste capsules of M. Planten, this can be accom- plished, for the reason that they require some time to dissolve before the liquid comes in contact with the contents. These capsules are recommended by physicians for the administra- 102 Tinctura Capsici. Am. Jour. Pharrt.. Mar. 1876. tion of concentrated or nauseous medicinal substances, as being far superior to any method ever invented. It is to be hoped the day is not far distant when " Cachets de Pain " will be referred to only as a thing of the past, which, through want of merit and practicability, fell into disuse. Note by the Editor. — We can scarcely regard excessive moist- ening of the rim of the discs, or the omission of moistening the wafer capsules before swallowing, as sufficient arguments against the use of the cachets de pain; just as little as the excessive addition of an excip- ient or the mastication of pills by some patients can be advanced as. arguments against the administration of medicines in the form of gen- eral pills. Regarding the premature effervescence which is apt to take place, if a mixture of an acid and a carbonate is enclosed in the same wafer capsule, this may be obviated by keeping the two articles separate in two distinct cells, by inserting between them a flat wafer disc, which will prevent their coming in contact until the wafer has been com- pletely disintegrated in the stomach. TINCTURA CAPSICI. BY GEORGE W. KENNEDY, PH. G. Within the last few years many changes have been recommended in the manufacture of the various pharmaceutical preparations" of the pharmacopoeia, some writers recommending a change in the men- struum, others a change in the quantity of solid material to be used, while others advocate a more expeditious mode of preparation. Of the first I might allude to the Tincture of Rhubarb, for which glycerin has been highly commended as an excellent solvent, and it seems to me that it would make a very desirable addition, as a more permanent preparation can be obtained, — the glycerin preventing to a great extent the precipitation of the chrysophanic acid, the cathartic principle of the drug. On the second point, as to the quantity of solid material to be used, much has been written in favor of making each pint of fluid extract represent eight troy ounces of the drugs instead of sixteen, as at present directed. On the third point, recommending a quicker method of making certain preparations, I simply desire to mention a few without discussing the advantages or disadvantages, which is not my object at this time. In the preparation of tinct. opii camph. it has- AmMarr;8P76arm:} Tinctura Capsici. 103 been recommended to use spiritus camphorae and tinct. opii in such quantities as to equal the powdered opium and camphor, as directed by the pharmacopoeia; and it has also been proposed to make some tinctures, syrups and infusions from fluid extracts. Some of the changes recommended are good, and it might be well for the various committees on the preliminary revision of the pharmacopoeia to pay attention to this matter and experiment with the new formulas recom- mended, and, if they prove better than those now in use, to advise a change, otherwise let them pass by. Up to the present time, the writer has not noticed in any of the pharmaceutical journals a recommendation to change the menstruum used in the making of tincture of capsicum. The present menstruum is not only pharmaceutically objectionable, but is more especially so in a medicinal point of view. The object that every pharmacist has, or should have, in view, is to put forth preparations that fully represent the active constituents of the drug. To arrive at a definite conclusion as to what should be the best menstruum and best process of prepara- tion, requires a large amount of labor and experimenting, and involves also a loss pecuniarily. My object here is to advise a change in the menstruum, used in mak- ing tincture of capsicum, from diluted alcohol to alcohol. I have two reasons for doing so: 1st, that diluted alcohol does not thoroughly exhaust the drug, — the authenticity of which can be proven by treat- ing the dregs left after making the tincture, as now prescribed by the pharmacopaeia, with alcohol, which will dissolve the hot and stimulating principle of the drug quite perceptibly ; 2d, that the preparation, when made of diluted alcohol, as now directed, is rather unsightly, and does not present that elegant appearance as when made with alcohol ; and in these days of pharmaceutical elegance, it is requisite to make hand- some pharmaceutical preparations, so long as it can be done without sacrificing the medicinal qualities of the drug. It is just as necessary to make tincture of capsicum with alcohol as tincture of ginger. I doubt whether there is a pharmacist to be found that would think of using diluted alcohol for the latter ; and since the active consti- tuents of both ginger and capsicum are oleo-resins, and, as they are insoluble in water, we should object to the menstruum of the pharma- copoeia for tincture of capsicum, and should use only alcohol, which dissolves the oleo-resin quite freely. I would therefore submit the 104 Bismuth and Iron. {AmA™ S^™' following for obtaining a more permanent tincture, and one which fully represents the active constituents of the drug : Take of capsicum, in fine powder, one troy ounce ; alcohol a sufficient quantity, moisten the powder with alcohol, pack firmly in a cylin- drical percolator, and gradually pour alcohol upon it until 2 pints of tincture are obtained. Pottsville, Pa., January 20, 1876. Note by the Editor. — The German Pharmacopoeia directs to prepare tinctura capsici by macerating for eight days one part of finely cut capsicum with ten parts of alcohol spec. grav. 0*830 to 0*834. BISMUTH AND IRON. BY R. ROTHER. The normal bismuthous salts are very definite chemicals, and most of them can be quite easily prepared. There are, though, a number of bismuthous oxysalts, which in general present great difficulty of pre- paration, owing to the variable nature of their composition. As several of these basic compounds are used in medicine, a certain regularity is aimed at in their constitution. But none of the various methods in use always yield exactly the same product by the same course of procedure. Of the normal salts, the citrate has been the most troublesome to produce in a desirable shape and of constant composition. The writer believes to have made the first advance towards a satisfactory method of preparing it. The process was published in the Pharmacist for Sep- tember, 1872, and consisted in crystallizing the citrate from a moder- ately dilute and not too strongly acidulated solution of the ammonio- citrate. Since then, the writer has adopted an entirely new method, which, for simplicity, rapidity and precision, ranks the process as abso- lutely perfect. The astonishing simplicity is so remarkable that one is surprised the process was not discovered long before this, since it is nature almost directly synthetic. If the ordinary bismuthous oxynitrate is heated for a few moments with a concentrated solution of an equivalent of citric acid, the normal citrate is generated as a heavy crystalline powder, and the nitric acid entirely freed and easily washed away by decantation. 10 parts of bis- muthous oxynitrate, 7 parts of crystallized citric acid, and 30 to 40 parts of water are heated together for a few minutes, until a drop of / AmMJarUr;8P76rim' } Bismuth and It on. i o 5 the mixture forms a clear solution with ammonia water, the crystalline mass is then diluted with 8 to 10 times its volume of water, set away for a short time to let the citrate subside, and the clear liquid then de- canted. The crystalline sediment is now washed 3 or 4 times in a similar manner, drained from superfluous water, and either dried on a water-bath or by exposure in the open air. The yield is about 13 2-3 parts, showing that the salt is anhydrous, and therefore its formula is Bi"'C,H„07. The bismuthous citrate, as such, is not much prescribed, but it is un- doubtedly superior to either the oxynitrate or oxycarbonate, both of which are medicinally much employed. The ammonio-citrate is con- siderably used, and as no method thus far proposed for this salt has been particularly applicable, the writer's new process for preparing the citrate in a perfectly pure and definite state will make it possible of producing an ammonio-citrate with great ease and dispatch, and also of perfect purity. Dry bismuthous citrate, treated with the ordinary ammonia water, dis solves to a syrupy liquid, but a part agglutinates to a hard white mass unaffected by excess of ammonia ; if gentle heat is applied this dissolves and on cooling, the whole forms a crystalline mass, soluble in water These crystals, dried over a water-bath, are again soluble in water The yield from 8 parts of the citrate is nearly 10 parts. This product shows that there are several modifications of the ammonio-citrate, which may differ in chemical constitution as well as in physical proper- ties. The chemical composition of the ammonio-citrate has not been cor- rectly given. The writer found that the same quantity of ammonia was required to form a neutral ammonio-citrate, as was separately re- quired to form normal triammonium citrate, with the equivalent of citric acid in combination as bismuth salt, and the decomposition may be written thus: BiC6H507+3(NH4OH)=(NH4)3C6H507Bi(OH)3. The compound represented by the second number is assumed to be a combination of normal triammonium citrate with normal bismuthous hydrate, and this compound must therefore be looked upon as the true ammonio-bismuthous citrate, as all other formulae are based upon an analysis of the scaled salt, which must of necessity be an indefinite sub- stance. The writer has also found that normal ferric citrate when treated with ammonia, absorbs an amount corresponding as normal triammo- 1 06 Bismuth and Iron. {Am ]&!7^ nium citrate, with the equivalent of citric acid contained in the iron citrate, and hence the true or normal ammonio-feroxycitrate is also produced as follows : Fe///C6H5074-3(NH4OH)=(NH4)3C6H5OrFe(OH)3, that is tri- ammonium citrate combined with normal ferric hydrate. It is, there- fore, the iron analogue of ammonio-bismuthous citrate. The writer has also ascertained that besides the normal green ammo- nio-ferric citrate, two other ammonio-ferric citrates exist, correspond- ing to the di and mon-ammonium citrates. The formulae for the 3 green double salts are, for triammonio-ferric citrate Fe'"(NH4)32(C6H5 07), for diammonio-ferric citrate Fe"'(NHJ2C6H607.C6H607or Fe"'(N H4)2H2(C6H507), and for monammonio-ferric citrate Fe//r(NH4)2(C6H& 07) or F///(NH4)H22(C6H507). The first one only is neutral, the other two are acid salts. If either of these salts is treated with ammonia in excess, the solution becomes brown, and in some cases, as for instance with the potassium double citrates, which do not hold the iron as firmly as the corresponding ammonium salts, ferric hydrate is precipitated. The reaction, therefore, indicates that a monado-fer-oxy-citrate was pro- duced. It is, however, remarkable that the addition of citric acid or an acid monad citrate does not immediately restore the green color> but in some instances proceeds very slowly, the transition from brown to green is not simultaneous throughout the solution, but progresses from the bottom upwards, even if the solution is occasionally shaken, it resumes this order of progressive action. The most surprising relationship, is however, evinced when ammonio- bismuthous citrate and triammonio-ferric citrate are brought together, and the change of color is the same as when triammonium citrate is added to the iron salt. The light green solution is further remarkable for the very important fact that moderate or strong acidulation with citric or nitric acid fails to separate the bismuthous citrate. This prop- erty, therefore, renders it possible of holding bismuthous citrate in acid- ulated solution, providing ammonio-ferric citrate is also present. The same amount of citric acid in combination as ammonio-bismuth- ous citrate, is required to change an equal equivalent of the acid com- bined as ferric citrate into the green ammonio-ferric citrate, as would be required in the condition of triammonium citrate. Therefore the result is expressed as follows : Fe^^C6H507+(NH4)3C6H5OrBi(OH)3=Fe^(NH4)32(C6H507).Bi(OH)3. That is, one equivalent of triammonio-ferric citrate combined Am. Jour. Pharm. Mar. 1876. Citrate of Iron and Quinia. 107 with one equivalent of normal bismuthous hydrate. This is a most peculiar compound, and possibly indicates that the normal bismuthous hydrate (Bi(OH)3) differs in its affinities from the basic or oxyhydrate (Bi(OH)O) as the normal salts differ from the oxysalts. The com- pound treated with ammonia in excess becomes brown, but addition of citric acid again restores the green color, however, similar as in case of the ammonio-ferric citrate alone, but slowly. The new compound will doubtless become of pharmacal value, since the property of retaining the bismuth in an acidulated solution must strongly recommend it. NOTE ON CITRATE OF IRON AND QUINIA. BY J. U. LLOYD. " Triturate the sulphate of quinia with six fluidounces of distilled water, and, having added sufficient diluted sulphuric acid to dissolve it, cautiously pour into the solution water of ammonia, with constant stirring, until in slight excess. Wash the precipitated quinia on a filter, and, having added it to the solution of citrate of iron, maintained at the temperature of 120° by means of a water-bath, stir constantly until it is dissolved." — U. S. P. My experience is that the process is objectionable in consequence of too great a temperatue being employed. Precipitated quinia melts when added to a solution of the above temperature, and forms a gummy, sticky mass, which adheres tenaciously to the stirring spatula and sides of the containing vessel. When in this form, quinia dissolves very slowly in the solution of citrate of iron. To obviate this difficulty, reduce the solution of sulphate of quinia to the temperature of 500 before precipitating with ammonia. Wash the precipitate quickly with water of the same temperature. The result will be a light, friable, porous mass, which, when added to the solution of citrate of iron, also at the temperature of 500, will break into small particles when stirred, and quickly dissolve. When precipitating quinia for other purposes, if cold water is used, the process will be facilitated, for the precipitate can be easily washed without forming a mass and sticking to the filter. Cincinnati, Ohio. io8 An Experiment on Antiseptics. {Am'jfc!5rm' AN EXPERIMENT ON ANTISEPTICS. BY M. S. BIDWELL. November 15th, 1875, a number of wide mouth 8 oz. bottles were pre- pared, each containing 4 ozs. of water and \ oz. raw, lean beef. One of these was left without any addition, 20 of them were arranged in sets of four, and to each bottle was added 1, 2, 3 and 4 grs., respectively, of each of the antiseptics under trial, which were carbolic acid (or phenol), salicylic acid, chloral hydrate and benzoic acid. Four sets of bottles were thus occupied. The recent statement, that the alkaline salicyl- ates have no antiseptic power, coupled with the well-known fact, that putrefaction is usually accompanied by an alkaline reaction, suggested the fifth series, containing the same quantities of salicylic acid as in the other series, with the addition of half a drachm of dilute hydrochloric acid to each bottle. Finally, to the twenty-second bottle was added the same amount of hydrochloric acid alone, for comparison. The whole were loosely covered to exclude dust, and set away at the usual temperature of the store, varying from perhaps 550 to 700. From pressure of business, but little attention was paid to them, and no record was kept of their progressive changes ; but, seven weeks later (Jan. 3d, 1876), they were all examined. The following were found more or less putrid, with an offensive ammoniacal odor, much like that of stale urine, viz : The phenol, 1, 2 and 3 grs., salicylic acid the same, benzoic acid 1 gr. and all those containing chloral. In the three contain- ing salicylic acid, the liquid was covered with a thick coating of mould, which was not the case with any of the others, illustrating the fact, which had been previously noticed, that a very small amount of this acid not only does not prevent, but even seems to favor the growth of mould. The bottle containing no antiseptic was, of course, quite of- fensive, but was not mouldy. The following were free from odor, and apparently unchanged, viz : All that contained salicylic and hydro- chloric acids combined, the 2, 3 and 4 grain benzoic acid, the 4 grain phenol, which still preserved, as at first, its slightly carbolic or tarry smell. In all these the water remained clear, or nearly so, the meat having a whitish color and a soaked look. In the sample to which hydrochloric acid alone had been added, the water was clear and inodor- ous, but had a white, translucent substance, something like coagulated albumen, floating in it. No microscopic examination was made. From the results of this experiment may be fairly deduced the fol- AmMa°ruri876arm- { Basicity of the Phosphorus Acids. 1 09 lowing conclusions, su.bject, of course, to correction by further ob- servations : 1. Of the four antiseptics mentioned, benzoic acid is effective in the smallest quantity, phenol and salicylic acids coming next, and be- ing about equal, while chloralhydrate, at least in the ratio of one part in 500, has little or no permanent value. 2. Salicylic and hydrochloric acids combined are more effective than either of the four mentioned. How much of this effect may be due to each, and how much to the combination, could only be determined by further trial, as also how small a quantity of hydrochloric acid would be required. In this experiment, it will be noticed that this was used in about four times the largest quantity of the other agents, as it was not expected to act as an antiseptic, but only to aid the salicylic acid, preventing its extinction by the alkaline products of putrefaction. Yet> if so small a proportion (less than 1 per cent.) of this acid could so ef- fectively retard decomposition, the fact might sometimes be used with advantage, as it would in many cases be convenient and unobjection- able. One such experiment, of course, settles nothing ; but these results are given for what they are worth, with the hope that others may ex- tend and verify or correct them. The effect of the hydrochloric acid in this case was certainly unexpected by the experimenter, and would seem to suggest further investigation. It will be noticed that the fail- ure of the chloral in this experiment does not at all conflict with the results reported by T. Roberts Baker to the American Pharmaceut- ical Association at the last meeting, as the weakest solution that he found efficient was 5 grs. to the fluidounce, or 25 times the strength of any used in this case, while he found that a 2 gr. solution only re- tarded decomposition without permanently preventing it. Elmira, N. T.9 Feb., 1876, THE BASICITY OF THE PHOSPHORUS ACIDS. BY R. ROTHER. Phosphorus, sulphur, arsenic and antimony are possessed of certain common characteristics which indicate a very close relationship between them, and, although various anomalies spring from each particular member of the series, it is nevertheless plain that they virtually effect the transition from metals to metalloids, and from metalloids to the 1 1 o Basicity of the Phosphorus Acids. { A%Ja7;8p76arm' limitless sphere of the nitrogen and carbon compounds. Phosphorus joins hands, as it were, with the organic and protorganic worlds, con- stituting a sort of connecting link, forming them into a continuous series. The acids of phosphorus mark the transition from the mineral to the carbon acids. Their basicity, for this reason, is peculiar, showing the properties of both, and being entirely like neither. Organic or carbon acids are compounds of oxygenated hydrocarbon radicals with hydroxyl. The phosphorus acids are, to a certain extent, analogous to these, hence they may be described as compounds of oxygenated hydrophosphorus radicals with hydroxyl. The definition, however, is not capable of general application, by virtue of the fact that the com- bined hydrogen is wholly and completely typic in one member of the group, namely, metaphosphoric acid. This acid, however, is the link adjacent to the mineral acids, in which proximity the hydrogen has become wholly typic, and hence the definition is not appropriately applicable in this case. Assuming that the acids of phosphorus are formed from trihydric phosphide (PH3) by the interpolation of oxygen, and we have : Hypophosphorous acid, P02H3=P02H2,H=POH2(OH). Phosphorous acid, P03H3=P03H,H2==POH(OH)2. Orthophosphoric acid, P04H3=P04,H3==PO(OH)3. But comprehending all the acids, and we have, more fully, thus : Hypophosphorous acid, P204H6=P204H4,H2=(PO)2H4(OH)2. Phosphorous acid, P206H6=P206H2,H4^PO)2H2(OH)4. Orthophosphoric acid, P208H6^P208,H6=(P204)H2(OH)4. Pyrophosphoric acid, P207H4=P207,H4=(P204)H(OH)3. Metaphosphoric acid, P206H2=P206,H2=(P204)(OH)2. This arrangement reveals a number of very important facts. It shows the regular gradation and development of the series in a most lucid and comprehensive manner, and the gradual evolution from the hydrophosphorus, PH3, becomes evident in every member. The rela- tion to the carbon acids is most apparent in the two lowest derivatives, in which the accumulation of oxygen has not entirely overcome the direct contact of phosphorus and hydrogen. In the hypophosphorous acid, only one-third of the combined hydrogen is typic, and in the phosphorous acid two-thirds. The evolution of phosphorus hydrides from either of these two acids by means of heat shows that the whole AmMa"r'x8P76?rm'} Basicity of the Phosphorus Acids. 1 1 1 of their hydrogen is not replaceable, and that only that portion is typic which is liberated, by means of heat, in combination with oxygen. In the orthophosphoric acid, the accretion of oxygen has so far progressed that the direct contact between phosphorus and hydrogen is no longer maintained, since the balance of affinity now leans strongly towards the oxygen. Heat now expels hydrogen only in combination with oxygen, but no amount of heat can expel more than two-thirds of all the hydrogen combined. The remaining third, constituting the typic hydrogen of metaphosphoric acid is absolutely beyond the direct influ- ence of phosphorus, and the powerful affinity of phosphorus for oxy- gen, on the one side, and oxygen for hydrogen on the other, retains the compactness of the union beyond the ordinary effects of molecular vibration. By this arrangement we also discover the appalling inconsistency of the new notation in its treatment of the phosphoric acids. The misconception of the tetrabasicity of pyrophosphoric acid, and the erro- neous theory of the trivalent radical phosphoryl, (PO)r//, together with the entire new notation of the phosphoric acids, are thereby wholly refuted. Trivalent phosphoryl is utterly inapplicable in case of pyro- phosphoric and metaphosphoric acids, as no satisfactory expression can be obtained by its use. It is also plain that a trivalent radical cannot be common to a monobasic, a tribasic and a tetrabasic acid. Further- more, the inconsistency of the notation must refute itself which rep- resents the three acids thus : Metaphosphoric acid, P03H=P02(OH). Orthophosphoric acid, P04H3=P0(0H)3. Pyrophosphoric acid, P207H4=P203(OH)4. Which indicates that there are as many independent radicals as acids, and that while (P02)' is univalent, (PO)'" is trivalent and (P2Os)iv quad- rivalent. There is neither sense or reason in such an assumption in view of the fact that the three acids differ from one another by two equivalents of hydroxyl less for every equivalent of oxygen in excess of the radical, P202, as is shown by the following : Metaphosphoric acid, P204(OH)2=P202(OH)202. Pyrophosphoric acid, P203(OH)4=P202(OH)40. Orthophosphoric acid, P202(OH)6=P202(OH)6. According to the new notation of the phosphoric acids, metaphos- phoric acid, (P03H), is first, orthophosphoric acid, (P04H3), second, 1 1 2 Basicity of the Phosphorus Acids. {Am'ifc87h6ann' and pyrophosphoric acid, (P207H4), third in the series. But, as the first and second members differ by one equivalent of hydroxyl, (OH), the second and third would vary by the same difference, and hence pyrophosphoric acid under this law should be written P05H4. This does not, however, agree with facts, as was exhibited by the com- parison just preceding. By the new arrangement as above proposed, which in reality is the natural and true system of notation for the phosphorus acids, being in perfect consonance with the typal theory, all the phosphoric acids con- tain the bivalent radical phosphoryl, (P204)", in two cases in combina- tion with partially affected or typoid hydrogen and hydroxyl, and in one wholly in union with hydroxyl. The affected or typoid hydrogen, being yet distantly influenced by the phosphorus of the radical, does not assume the function of hydroxyl, and therefore, particularly in the case of orthophosphoric acid, it ordinarily possesses no salifying power \ consequently this affected hydrogen does not virtually represent basisity. It is, however, replaceable by bases, under extraordinary conditions •> but in such instances the highly basic character of the compound barely admits of classification as a true salt. Ignoring the indifferent hydrogen, it will then be seen that meta- phosphoric acid is dibasic, pyrophosphoric acid tribasic and orthophos- phoric acid tetrabasic. But, admitting the full value of the hydrogen, then metaphosphoric acid remains dibasic, pyrophosphoric acid be- comes tetrabasic, and orthophosphoric hexabasic. For convenience sake, they may be represented as monobasic, di- basic and tribasic. It is, however, atomically correct that they be designated as bibasic, tetrabasic and hexabasic, in which case the tetra- basisity of pyrophosphoric acid, as at present held, would be correct, but in every other instance it would be, typically considered, utterly wrong. But absolute typic value is the perfect index of basicity, therefore typoid hydrogen is not admissible in a determination of that quality, and as various indications point favorably that way, it appears that the correct basic value of the phosphoric acids is shown by the new ar- rangement, in which they are respectively dibasic, tribasic and tetra- basic, regardless of typoid hydrogen. Although fused sodium pyrophosphate is correctly represented by Na4 (P207), it appears highly probable that the aqueous solution con- tains it as Na3H (P207) (NaOH.) This expression, in a measure, ex- Am,ia?.r'i87h6arm'} Ammonium in Diluted Phosphoric Acid. 1 13 plains the fact why the sodio-ferric pyrophosphate precipitated by alco- hol should yield only 2(Na4P207) (Fe43(P207), instead of 3(Na4P207) (Fe43(P207)), as which it exists in solution. For if we represent the sodium salt in solution by 3(Na3H(P207)NaOH) the first effect of the alcohol will be a tearing away of the exposed alkali ; the immediate result of this is the formation of a corresponding amount of acid salt, which also dissolves, while in the mean time the remnant precipitates in the anhydrous condition. The decomposition is clearly illustrated by the following : 3(Na5P2Or)+3(OH2=3(Na3H(P207)NaOH). Na9H3(P207)3(NaOH)3-2(Na4P207)+NaH4(P207)+3(NaOH). NaH3(P207)+3(NaOH)=Na4P207-r-3(OH2), or, Na3H(P207)(NaOH)+2(OH2). AMMONIUM IN DILUTED PHOSPHORIC ACID. BY HENRY TRIMBLE. {Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, February 15 ) The process, recently offered by Prof. Markoe, for making diluted phosphoric acid, has been a fruitful source of controversy among pharmacists during the past few months, and many objections have been advanced, and advantages claimed, with the addition of but few facts to sustain them. I have endeavored, under the direction of Prof. Maisch, to fully investigate one of these objections, namely, that in reference to the amount of ammonium generated during the process. Two lots of the acid were prepared, one in the proportion of 12 ounces of nitric acid, 4 cubic centimetres of bromine and 2 ounces of phosphorus. The bromine was dissolved in the nitric acid and the phosphorus afterward added. The reaction commenced at 650 F., and was allowed to continue until the temperature reached 950, when the flask was placed in water of 6o°, where it remained for 24 hours. The phosphorus not then being entirely dissolved, heat was applied and very gradually increased until it reached 1400, at which degree it was maintained for 2 hours before the solution was completed. The usual process was then employed of heating in a capsule until free from nitric acid, and diluting with water to bring it to the officinal strength. In the second experiment, the same proportions were adopted with the addition of 12 ounces of water. Little or no reaction occurred, unless 8 1 14 Ammonium in Diluted Phosphoric Acid. {^JgaJIP*' the temperature was maintained at from ioo° to 1300, and the mixture was finally boiled to dissolve the last portions of phosphorus. A third sample was obtained from Dr. Pile, who employed no heat in the process, but on the contrary, kept the mixture in cool water until complete solution of the phosphorus was effected. A fourth sample was procured from a fellow-student, C. S. Hallberg, who placed the mixture in cool water for 24 hours, during which time about two-thirds of the phosphorus was dissolved, and then resorted to boil- ing for completing the solution. Owing to the impossibility of estimating phosphoric acid by direct saturation, on account of the very gradual change from an acid to an alkaline condition, a seemingly intricate, but practically very simple process was adopted. Half a fluidounce of the diluted acid was super- saturated with caustic soda, and the mixture placed in a small flask, to which was adapted, by means of a tightly fitting cork, a bent glass tube, the end of which was allowed to dip slightly into 10 cubic centimetres of a decinormal solution of oxalic acid. The apparatus was so con- structed as to prevent the possibility of any of the alkali passing me- chanically into the distillate, and, as a further precaution, preference was given to caustic soda for saturating the acid, so that in case the smallest quantity passed over, it might be detected by the flame test, which, however, in every experiment failed to reveal a trace. Heat was then applied by means of a sand bath, until one-half or more of the liquid had distilled over. To the mixture of the distillate and oxalic acid solution, previously reddened with litmus, was added a decinormal solution of ammonia, the deficiency required for neutralization gave the cubic centimetres of a decinormal solution of ammonia equal to that contained in the diluted phosphoric acid, and, from this, the re- sults in the subjoined table were calculated. With one exception, two experiments were made with each sample, and when there were any differences, which, however, were very slight, an average was taken upon which the calculations were based. From the proportion of phosphorus directed by the Pharmacopoeia, there are found to be but 56*90 grains of actual phosphoric acid (H3P04) in each fluidounce. Therefore, the foundation was comparatively small to build the estima- tion on. The following schedule gives the results, which, small as they may appear, were, nevertheless, readily obtained by the method above described. ' } Hydrargyrum Iodidum Rubrum , etc. 115 • Cubic centimetres ofdecinormal solu- tion of NH4 found in fl. gi of Dil. Phos. Acid. Amount of NH4in fl. of Dil. Phos. Acid. *%> >P tj ■s-s < Percentage of H3 P04 combined with NHr sfS • 2 s « 0 Percentage of (N H4),HP04 in Dil. Phos. Acid. 1 1 1 No. 1 0.70 .0194 grs. .0529 grs. .0926 .0711 grs. .0147 No. 2 0.20 .0055 " .0149 44 .0261 .0201 " .0042 No. 3 i-55 0430 " .1170 " .2056 .1576 « .0327 No. 4 °'35 .0097 " .0264 " .0463 .0355 " .0073 No. 3 yielded a much larger amount of ammonium than any of the others, which is accounted for by the fact of its having been prepared at a comparatively low temperature. A moderate heat was employed in the preparation of No. 1, which, therefore, gave a smaller amount, while in the case of Nos. 2 and 4, the boiling temperature was applied, consequently a much smaller yield was obtained. It is evident that these results are entirely too insignificant to be of any practical importance, yet, after all, as has been frequently stated by others, it is difficult to improve on the first process offered by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, against which the principal objection offered is the re- quisition of constant attention to prevent explosion or breakage j this, however, is not substantiated by the experience, either of myself or those of whom inquiry has been made. HYDRARGYRUM IODIDUM RUBRUM AND OXIDUM FLAVUM. BY CHARLES L. MITCHELL. [Read at the Pharmaceutical Meeting, February i$th.) The disadvantages arising from the use of mercuric chloride in the preparation of the above-named mercurials have long been known to pharmaceutists. Owing to its comparative insolubility in water, a large bulk of liquid is required in order to obtain any appreciable quan- tity of product, thus necessitating the use of large vessels when manu- facturing in any quantity. Heat is also required, in order that the water shall take up as much of the mercuric chloride as possible, and thus lessen the disadvantage of bulky utensils. This, however, only partially removes the difficulty, and runs the additional risk of breakage of vessels, etc. It seems, therefore, that the corrosive sublimate used in the officinal processes for making the red iodide and yellow n6 Hydrargyrum Iodidum Ruhrum, etc, {Km'^;^Xm' oxide of mercury of the U. S. P., could be replaced with con- siderable advantage by some mercurial salt or preparation pos- sessing the advantages of ready solubility, and concentration in small bulk of a considerable quantity of mercury. For this purpose, I would suggest the mercuric nitrate. It can readily be prepared by dissolving mercury in a slight excess of nitric acid, and then can be used either strong or diluted with water to any degree necessary. For general purposes, the officinal liquor hydrargyri nitratis answers admirably. Two troy ounces of liq. hydrarg. nit. (representing 384 grs. mercury) were diluted with an equal bulk of water, and then 660 grs. of iodide potassium dissolved in fgiv water gradually added, until no farther pre- cipitation took place. The resulting precipitate of red iodide of mer- cury was collected on a filter, washed with cold water, and then dried. It weighed 868 grs., being a difference of only a few grains from the estimated theoretical yield, and seemed to possess all the qualities of a good article. The manipulations necessary for the preparation of this salt were all conducted in a vessel of 8 ozs. capacity, and with the expenditure of about ten minutes' attention ; whereas, if the officinal process had been followed, a vessel at least five times as large would have been required, and considerably more time needed. Another ad- vantage can be also found in the fact that the process is considerably cheaper than that of the U. S. P. In practice, I have found it neces- sary to use a little more than the theoretical quantity of iodide potas- sium, in order to allow for moisture in the salt as well as to thorough- ly insure the decomposition of the mercuric nitrate. On the other hand, care must be taken not to add a large excess of iodide potassium, on account of the solubility of the mercuric iodide. For preparing the mercuric iodide, I would therefore propose the following formula : R Mercury, . . • • 1000 grs. Nitric acid, . • • • 1700 grs. Iodide potassium, . . . 1662 grs. or q- s. Distilled water, . . • . q. s. (Instead of the mercury and nitric acid gv & 9ii of liq. hydrarg. nit. can be used.) Dissolve the mercury in the nitric acid by the aid of a little heat (in laro-e quantities this is not necessary, as the reaction between the acid and mercury generates sufficient heat), and dilute with an equal bulk of water. Then add the iodide potassium, dissolved in 8 fluidounces of AmMari8P76arm'} Presence of Tannin in Gentian Root. 117 water, until no farther precipitation ensues, being careful towards the last to add the solution very gradually, so as to avoid dissolving the mercuric iodide in an excess of the liquid. Collect the precipitate on a filter, wash well with distilled water, drain and dry. The solution of mercuric nitrate also affords a very convenient way of preparing the yellow oxide of mercury, and I submit also a formula for its preparation. Hydrargyrum Oxidum Flar. R Sol. mercuric nitrate (prepared by dissolving mercury in an ex- cess of nitric acid), . . any convenient quantity Liq. sodae, . . . . q. s. Dilute the solution of mercuric nitrate with an equal bulk of water, and add liq. sodae until in slight excess. Collect the yellow precip- itate, wash well and dry. Sol. soda is used here instead of sol. potassa, as directed by the " Pharmacopoeia," on account of its cheapness, there being no appreciable difference in the quality of the yellow oxide ob- tained from the two solutions. For these formulae I do not claim any special originality, but regard them only as affording, by the aid of a very common and easily-made preparation, a much more convenient and practicable method of pre- paring these mercurials than any other process of which I have knowl- edge. Their greatest merit lies in the fact that they can be prepared with much economy of both time and space, both important points to pharmaceutists whose facilities for manufacturing are of a rather limited character. ON THE ASSERTED PRESENCE OF TANNIN IN GENTIAN ROOT. BY JOHN M. MAISCH. [Read at the Pharmaceutical Meetings February i$tk, 1876.) The root of Gentiana lutea, owing to its importance as a medicine, has been frequently subjected to chemical analysis during the last sixty years, and none of the investigators have been able to prove the presence of tannin in it. The long list commences in 1 815, with Schrader (" Berl. Jahrb. f. Phar.," xvi), who is followed by Henry, and by Guille- min and Foecquemin in 18 18 ("Jour, de Phar.," v) ; in 1821 by Henry and Caventou {ibid., vii) ; in 1836 by Denis {ibid., 1836, January) ; in 1837 bv H. TrommsdorfF ("Ann. d. Phar.," xxi), and by Claude 1 1 8 Presence of Tannin in Gentian Root. {Am£l.ri8P76.arm' Leconte (uJour. de Phar.," xxiii) ; in 1838 by Dulk (tcArch. d. Phar.,', xv) ; in 1847. by Baumert ("Ann. d. Chem. u. Phar.," lxii) ; in 1861 by H. Ludwig ("Arch. d. Phar./' clvii), and in 1862 by Kromayer (ibid., clx). To these investigations must be added the recent ones by Hlasiwetz and Habermann (" Buchn. N. Repert.," 1874, p. 631 ; "Amer. Jour. Phar.," 1875, p. 207). It is true that many of these analyses were undertaken with the principal object of isolating the bitter principle or the gentianic (gentisic) acid ; but it is hardly to be supposed that a principle like tannin, the presence of which is so readily proven, should have been overlooked. More particularly is this the case with the analyses of Henry and Caventou, Leconte and Dulk, the two former of which were undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining all the constituents, and that of Dulk verified the substan- tial correctness of the results of the former. The results obtained by these chemists agree perfectly well with the physiological effects observed by numerous physicians, and which may be summed up with the words of Pereira : " Gentian is very properly regarded as a pure or simple bitter ; that is, as being bitter, but without possessing either astringency or much aroma." Moreover, none of the works on Materia Medica, in the English, French and German lan- guages, which the writer had occasion to consult, mentions tannin or a similar compound in this root. In the face of these numerous investigations, it must appear rather startling to learn that Mr. E. L. Patch, in a paper recently read before the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, asserted that "he found tannin in the gentian, contrary to the usual statement of works on Materia Medica" ("Drug. Circ," 1876, p. 48). This assertion seems to be mainly based on " the incompatibility of the tincture of chloride of iron and the compound tincture of gentian," although it is stated that Mr. Patch exhibited numerous preparations of gentian in connection with his paper. Unfortunately, the gentleman seems to have over- looked the fact, that the tincture mentioned contains also orange peel, and that the white parenchyma of the latter is colored of a deep black on the addition of solution of any ferric salt, which coloration, accord- ing to Fliickiger and Hanbury (" Pharmacographia," pages 105, 113), is owing, "probably, to a kind of tannic matter." It will be observed that the authors mentioned are very guarded in their expression, not- withstanding the ink-black coloration produced by iron salts. ^'&'S&m'} Presence of Tannin in Gentian Root. 119 But what is the effect of ferric salts upon gentian ? The investiga- tions mentioned above have thrown considerable light on this point. Henry already noticed the dark color produced by ferric chloride with what he supposed to be the bitter principle, but which was subsequently proven to be merely the yellow coloring principle contained in the root. Baumert says that the concentrated alcoholic solution of pure gentianic (gentisic) acid produces with ferric chloride a red-brown precipitate, and Ludwig found that the aqueous solution of the extract contains a body 'which, under certain circumstances, imparts a dark-green fluores- cence. In these observations we have the key for the behavior of ferric salts with the preparations of gentian, which I shall endeavor to explain with the following experiments. Well-dried and bruised gentian root was nearly exhausted by cold water, first by percolation and subsequently by expression after mace- ration. The first portion of the percolate gelatinized on standing a day or two, in consequence of the separation of pectin compounds. This aqueous infusion is not disturbed by gelatin solution, a pretty sure evidence of the total absence of tannin ; in the course of a few hours, a scant light-colored precipitate made its appearance, which, after having been thoroughly washed with water is merely tinged light-brown by dilute ferric salts. The infusion, however, strikes with ferric chloride a dark reddish-brown color, which in reflected light shows a deep greenish tint ; no precipitate takes place, as the liquid remains perfectly transparent in thin layers, although a concentrated infusion apparently becomes opaque on the addition of the iron salt, but after water is added shows not the slightest sign of a precipitate, even on standing. If the infusion has been previously diluted with water, the addition of ferric chloride will scarcely darken it. Alcohol added to the cold infusion precipitates pectin compounds, albuminous and gummy matter, and the clear liquid behaves exactly as the infusion from which it had been made. The infusion preserved by alcohol was treated with a fragment of fresh hide for 24 hours ; the behavior of the liquid to ferric chloride showed no difference. The experiments detailed prove conclusively that the aqueous infusion of gentian does not contain any tannin. Gentain root, previously nearly exhausted with water, was now macerated, and then displaced with strong alcohol. The tincture thus obtained is of a bright yellow color, quite distinct from the yellowish- 120 Presence of Tannin in Gentian Root. {Am'J^7trm' brown color of the infusion or tincture prepared directly from unex- hausted root. It gives, with ferric chloride, a deep brown-green color, and also a precipitate, if sufficiently concentrated ; on diluting it with water, the mixture turns muddy from the separation of resin and fat, its color becoming of a dirty green-brown ; if, instead of water, alcohol be added to the mixture, a perfect solution is obtained, having a brown color with a greenish tint. The tincture prepared from the nearly exhausted root is, therefore, likewise free from tannin. In order to further elucidate the subject, a portion of the tincture was evaporated, and the residue washed with cold water to remove the remaining bitter principle, gentiopicrin. The clear, yellow filtrate evidently contains gentianic (gentisic) acid in solution, it yields, with ferric chloride, a deep brown color, without any percepible green tint. Dilution of the mixture with water revealed the absence of a precipitate. The yellow granular mass left, after washing the alcoholic extract with water, was washed with cold ether to remove adhering resin and fat ; on evaporation of the yellow etherial solution, a yellow amorphous mass was left, which, dissolved in a little alcohol, yields, with ferric chloride, a dark brown-green precipitate, the mixture becoming muddy on the addition of water, but perfectly transparent by alcohol. The portion left undissolved by ether, consisting of nearly pure gentianic (gentisic) acid, was recrystallized by hot alcohol ; but the quantity operated on being small, the acid was not obtained in an absolutely pure state. Its alcoholic solution behaved nearly like the solution of the etherial washings, except that the precipitate of the latter with ferric chloride, and its solution in alcohol, was of a more decided green color. If it is remembered that gentianic (gentisic) acid is slightly soluble in water, not freely in ether, but readily in alcohol, the dark coloration imparted to various simple preparations of gentian by ferric salts is easily explained, likewise the dark-colored precipitate occurring by the same agent with fluid extract of gentian ; and if it is remembered that alcohol takes up from gentian root also resin and fat, which are precipitated on the addition of water, the occurrence of a per- manent precipitate in the presence of iron apparently remaining on diluting the alcoholic liquid with water, will likewise become obvious. AmMarUr,I8P76arm"} Ready-Made Pills of Our Bay. \ 2 1 In proximate analysis it is of the utmost importance not to place any reliance upon any single reaction, much less when the test is applied in such complex mixtures as infusions and tinctures must necessarily be. While it is true that tannins produce, with iron salts, blueish - black or greenish - black colorations or precipitates, according to the state of concentration, it must be borne in mind that there are numerous other compounds which produce somewhat similar reactions, without being in the least related to the interesting group of tannins. THE READY-MADE PILLS OF OUR DAY. BY SAMUEL CAMPBELL, OF PHILADE1 PHIA. A paper bearing the above title appears in the late Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association, purporting to emanate from the pen of Joseph P. Remington, Professor of Pharmacy in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Any one reading it carefully will find that the written statements and tabulated experiments do not agree as to the awards of merit in his classification of the various ready-made pills of our day. He writes that his tabulated results show the un- coated pill to be the most soluble, next in order the sugar coated pill, then the compressed or lenticular pill, then the gelatin coated pill. Mr. Remington starts out by making up a special uncoated pill, using as an excipient glycerin in both cases, which is not a fair or just criterion of the uncoated ready-made pill of our day. It should have been the regular officinal ready-made pill of the shop, usually made in strict ac- cordance with the ingredients and excipients directed in the United States Pharmacopoeia, and kept on hand for immediate dispensing. Mr. Remington then prefers the sugar coated pill as second in point of solubility. If he will look over his experiments and reflect a moment, he will observe that he should have given the preference to the compressed pills, as it appears in his tables they were the only ones dissolved, all the others were only disintegrated, or as in the case of the cachets de pain the materials were only shaken out, (disintegration does not prove solubility),1 and in the acidified solution of Pepsin the compressed 1 We are informed by Professor Remington that the compressed quinia pill dis- solves gradually without becoming disintegrated 5 it, therefore, presents to the liquid of the stomach and intestinal canal a limited surface to act upon, while the uncoated 122 Ready-Made Pills of Our Day. Am. Jour. Pharm. Mar. 1876. pills were dissolved in the same time as the sugar coated pills. Again, the compressed compound cathartic pills assert their superiority in becoming disintegrated 15 minutes before the sugar coated pill. In the case of the uncoated compound cathartic pill, Mr. Remington uses the indefinite »and impractical expression of "gone in 15 minutes." This implies a perfect solution of the pill, and when we take the in- gredients into consideration, we know that they cannot be wholly dis- solved in a weak alkaline solution. Another important fact, which Mr. Remington has overlooked, is that a sugar coated pill must first be de- prived of its coating before the solvent reaches the pill itself, which he asserts is from 5 to 15 minutes. Two other points in this paper open to criticism are the shaking every 3 minutes, which in the case of the gelatin pills, occupied 18 and 24 hours. Query : How did Mr. Rem- ington manage to shake the pills every 3 minutes during the night ? Also, Mr. Remington neglects to state how he maintained a regular temperature of 8o° and 980 for that length of time. And in order to further confirm the idea that Mr. Remington really intended to endorse the compressed pills as superior to ail other ready-made pills of our day, he represents a machine in a wood-cut at the latter part of his paper, for making a pill that he has published as a third rate pill in point of solubility, which machine I find by tracing its history, is based on a machine found by Professor Remington among the stock which he purchased from the estate of the late A. Mosely, a graduate of our college, and his predecessor in business. Machines made after this model have been offered for sale by different parties, one of them by Messrs. H. C. Blair's Sons, styled the " Remington Pill Press." The machines, four of which I have experimented with, and find that they are not practically up to the standard for doing what they represent to do. A pill may be made by the machines with materials of a heavy or moist character, but not so readily with light dry substances, as I found that the machines required cleaning between every one or two pills made, with the chance of breaking them between the dies^ and in my judgment, endorsed by the and sugar coated quinia pills being disintegrated, present the quinia in the state of powder, and consequently with a very large surface, so that its chances of dissolving rapidly in the stomach, appear to be far better than those of the compressed pill. — Editor Amer. Jour. Phar. 1 I have, however, seen an improvement in one of the machines made at Mr. Remington's suggestion, which obviates the difficulty mentioned, as far as I had time to determine. — S. C. AmMarrz876arm } Ready-Made Pills of Our Bay. 123 experience of several pharmacists with whom I have conversed, that the waste of time and labor involved by their use, will ultimately consign them a place among the rubbish of drug stores. I have thus criticised this paper from the fact that I have been en- gaged on this subject for some time past, deeming it one of importance to the members of both professions and the community. The follow- ing table of experiments were made from the various pills taken from stock ort hand in my store, and were conducted conscientiously with a view of arriving at a true solution of which is the best ready-made form of pill for immediate dispensing by the retail pharmacist. The following list of pills embrace all the known standard ready- made pills of our day, viz. : The officinal ready-made pills ; the solu- ble pills from Schieffelin & Co., of New York ; the sugar coated pills from many well-known houses ; the gelatin coated pills from Keasbey & Mattison, of Philadelphia and from McKesson & Robbins, of New York ; the compressed pills from Jacob Dunton and John Wyeth & Bro. ; the medicated globules or pearls from E. Fougera & Co., of New York ; also the cachet de pain, a French wafer, first introduced into this city by L. Dursse, of Baltimore, and thence through myself to the medical profession of this citv. The points to be considered in such experiments, are the maintenance of a regular temperature, and to get a solution as nearly representing the gastric juice as possible, which, according to the latest authorities on physiology, consists of about 5 parts acid to 15 parts of pepsin, with traces of the chlorides of sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium ; also phosphates of lime, magnesia and iron, in 1,000 parts of liquid. In my experiments I used a hot water oven, in which heat was maintained at a regular desired tempera- ture, by means of a Bunsen gas regulator as long as required, day and night. The pills were placed in small cylinders of tin, inches in diameter by J inch deep, having gauze bottoms, and suspended in / tumblers holding 12 fluidounces. The solvents used were water kept at a steady temperature of ioo° Fahrenheit, and a mixture correspond ing to the gastric juice, as before described, and previously tested to prove its digestive power by its action upon albumen, also maintained at a temperature of ioo° Fahrenheit, with the following tabled results : 124 Ready-Made Pills of Our Day. ( Am Jour. Pharm. \ Mar. 1876. I found that all the pills described, with the exception of the Dunton compressed pill, contained excipients of some kind to keep them in pill form. The Wyeth compressed pill was submitted to same test as the Dun- ton pill, but required one-fourth longer time to dissolve, whilst the solution of the quinine pills was ' cloudy, and had a very perceptible Am'MJa0rUrx8P76arm } Ready-Made Pills of Our Day. 1 1 5 odor of grease, evidencing the fact of the presence of some foreign matter in their composition. The objection that the pressure used in making a compressed pill renders it so compact and hard as to inter- fere with its solubility, was met by a microscopical examination, which shows that they are quite porous, which fact must practically aid in their solution or disintegration. The soluble pills, so-called, from Schieffelin & Co., of New York, are a handsome-looking pill, but are open to the same odjection as the gelatin coated pills, viz., irregularity in dissolving, requiring from 6 to 24 hours, swelling up in some in- stances as large as raisins, thereby materially interfering with the action of the solvent. The sugar-coated pills were taken from stock recently purchased from Messrs. Bullock & Crenshaw, W. R. Warner & Co. and Hance Bros. & White, all of this city. They required from 15 to 60 minutes to remove the coating, with evidence, in the iodide of potassium pills, of the presence of gum tragacanth and extract of gentian as excipients, swelling up after five hours as large as hazel nuts. The pill proper was, in all casses, hard and brittle, which must neces- sarily happen on account of the heat employed in coating the pill. Hence is it practical to suppose a sugar-coated pill to be as readily dis- solved as one made without coating, with the ingredients merely pressed together without any adherent substance ? The globules or pearls from E. Fougera & Co., of New York, are gelatin capsules, with the in- gredients in a powdered form, free from excipients, and required from 30 to 60 minutes to dissolve their coating. Their size is an objection, however, yet they include in their list liquids such as apiol, turpentine, ether, phosphorated oil, &c, and the pearls should be classified with Cachet de Pain, and not as pills. They are perfectly reliable, and worthy the attention of the profession. The Cachet de Pain is, no doubt, an elegant mode of giving medicine, yet it is already murmured around by patients that they make a bulky dose. The method of agitation also engaged my attention, as the one adopted by Mr. Jos. P. Remington to prove the solubility of the pills. I took four 6J oz. bottles, each containing 4 fluidounces of water at 700 F. In each bottle I placed a 2 gr. sulphate of quinia pill one made with glycerin as an excipient, another B. & C.'s sugar coated another McK. & R's gelatin coated, another Dunton's compressed. The bottles were attached to the eccentric rod of an upright steam engine, and speeded up to 350 revolutions a minute, with the following results : The Dunton compressed was dissolved in five hours, the 126 Iodo-Sulphate of Chinioidin. Am. Jour. Pharm . Mar. 1876. uncoated in seven hours, the sugar coated in eight hours, the gelatin coated in seven hours. I differ on this point also with Mr. Remington, as the digestive process of the stomach is not agitation, but more pro- perly a churning or a circulatory displacement process, quiet but con- tinuous in its mode of operation ; hence my plan of suspending the pills in a large bulk of fluid arid allowing the bulkier portion to be below the pills. Hence, after going carefully over the ground described, and as my tabled results will show, T find that in point of solubility the Dunton compressed pill surpasses all others. The second in point of solubility is the uncoated or officinal pill ; third, the sugar coated ; fourth, the gelatin coated. Although there is some difference between the two latter, yet they may be placed on the same footing, as the fact of their being coated excipient pills must create in the mind of any practical pharmacist or intelligent physician a doubt as to their more rapid solubility over a non-excipient or uncoated pill. Philadelphia, Feb. 14M, 1876. ON IODO-SULPHATE OF CHINIOIDIN AS AN EXCELLENT RE- AGENT FOR THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF QUINIA. BY DR. J. E. DE VRIJ. Since I applied Herapath's discovery1 of the remarkable compound of quinia with iodine and sulphuric acid to the quantitative determina- tion of quinia in a mixture of Cinchona alkaloids,2 it has often occurred to me that the use of an alcoholic solution of iodine has many incon- veniences, for it requires a great deal of practice to add the right quantity. A slight excess of iodine is necessary to precipitate all the quinia ; but if this excess is too great, a compound containing more iodine is formed, which is very soluble in alcohol. It appeared to me, therefore, desirable to abolish, if possible, the use of free iodine, and to obtain the same result by using a compound of iodine. For this purpose I tried the most soluble of the crystallizable iodo-sulphates described in Herapath's paper, viz., the iodo-sulphate of cinchonia. The alcoholic solution of this compound added to a solution of quinia in alcohol acidulated with sulphuric acid, really produces a precipitate of iodo-sulphate of quinia (herapathite), but the bulk of the reagent required to precipitate all the quinia was too great to answer my pur- 1 " Pharmaceutical Journal," [1] vol. xi, p. 448, and vol. xii, p. 6. 2 u Ibid," [3] vol. ii, p. 642. " Amer. Jour. Phar.," 1853, p. 137. AmMan'i87h6!rm'} Iodo-Sulphate of Chinioidin. 127 pose of applying it to the quantitative determination of quinia. After some experiments with the iodo-sulphate of chinioidin (wrongly called amorphous quinia,) I found that this compound is perfectly adapted for the required purpose, as its solubility in cold alcohol is great enough to make a concentrated alcoholic solution containing 16 per cent, or even more of it. This reagent is made as follows : Two parts of sulphate of chinioidin,1 are dissolved in 8 parts of water, containing 5 per cent, of sulphuric acid. To this clear solution, contained in a large capsule, a solution of one part of iodine and two parts of iodide of potassium in 100 parts of water, is slowly added under continuous stirring, so that no part of the solution of chinioidin comes into contact with an excess of iodine. By this addition, an orange- colored flocculent precipitate is formed of iodo-sulphate of chinioidin, which either spontaneously or by a slight elevation of temperature, col- lapses into a dark brown-red colored resinous substance, whilst the supernatant liquor becomes clear and slightly yellow-colored. This liquor is poured off,2 and the resinous substance is washed by heating it on a water-bath with distilled water. After washing, the resinous substance is heated on the water-bath till all the water has been evap- orated. It is then soft and tenacious at the temperature of the water- bath, but becomes hard and brittle after cooling. One part of this substance is now heated with 6 parts of alcohol of 92 or 94 per cent, on a water-bath, and is thus dissolved, and the solution allowed to cool. In cooling, a part of the dissolved substance is separated. The clear dark-colored solution is evaporated on a water-bath, and the resi- due dissolved in 5 parts of cold alcohol. This second solution leaves a small part of insoluble substance. The clear dark colored solution obtained by the separation of this insoluble matter, either by decanta- tion or filtration, constitutes the reagent which I have now used since the beginning of 1875, under the name of iodo-sulphate of chinioidin, both for the qualitative and quantitative determination of crystallizable quinia. To determine the. quantity of quinia contained in the mixed alkaloids 1 Identical with " Sulphate of Amorphous Quinia, prepared according to Dpt de Vrij's process, by Messrs. Howard & Sons, Stratford. 2 To prevent the use of an excess of iodine, I have prescribed on purpose not enough iodine to precipitate all the chinioidin in the form of iodo-sulphate. There- fore this liquor contains still chinioidin which can be obtained in a very pure state, if a little sulphurous acid is added before precipitating the alkaloid by caustic soda. 128 lodo-Sulphate of Chinioidin. J Am. Jour. Pharm. \ Mar. 1876. obtained from a sample of cinchona bark, 1 part of the alkaloids is dis- solved in 20 parts of alcohol of 90 or 92 per cent., containing i'6 per cent.1 of sulphuric acid, to obtain an alcoholic solution of the acid sulphates of the alkaloids. From this solution, the quinia is separated by adding carefully, by means of a pipette, the above-mentioned solu- tion of iodo-sulphate of chinioidin, as long as a dark brown red pre- cipitate of iodo-sulphate of quinia (herapathite) is formed. As soon as all the quinia has been precipitated, and a slight excess of the reagent has been added, the liquor acquires an intense yellow color. The beaker containing the liquor with the precipitate, is now covered by a watch glass and heated on a water-bath till the liquid begins to boil.2 After cooling, the beaker is weighed, to ascertain the amount of liquid, which is necessary in order to be able to apply later the above-men- tioned correction. For although the quinia-herapathite is very little soluble in alcohol, it is not insoluble,3 and, therefore, a correction must be applied for the quantity which has been dissolved both by the alcohol used for the solution of the alkaloids, and the alcohol contained in the reagent. The liquor is now filtered, to collect the iodo-sulphate of quinia, on a small filter, where it is washed with a saturated solution of herapathite in alcohol.4 After the washing has been completed, the weight of the funnel with the moist filter is taken, and the filter allowed to dry in the funnel. As soon as it is dry, the weight is taken again to ascertain the amount of solution of herapathite which remained in the filter, and which left the dissolved herapathite on the filter after 1 This quantity is quite sufficient to transform the alkaloids into acid sulphates, and ought not to be increased, for an excess of acid would increase the solubility of the herapathite in alcohol. 2 If during the addition of the reagent to the solution of the mixed alkaloids, the liquid is not continuously stirred, it may happen that, if cinchonidia is present in large proportion relatively to quinia, as in Indian red bark, an orange-colored gelatinous precipitate is formed of an iodo-sulphate of cinchonidia If this happens, the liquid must be heated till this gelatinous precipitate disappears, before adding more of the reagent to precipitate all the quinia. 3 Alcohol of 92 per cent., saturated with herapathite at a temperature of 24*5° C. left by evaporation 0*133 gram of herapathite. 4 For my bark analysis, I always keep a supply of this solution, made by putting an excess of herapathite dried at ioo° C. into alcohol of 92 per cent., and shaking from time to time. The temperature of the laboratory in which the analysis is made, is quite indifferent, provided that it is noted and does not change during the operation. It is clear that the amount of herapathite dissolved at that temperature in the alcohol must be ascertained, as this quantity varies with the temperature. *Sfc87h6!rm'} 'Iodo-Sulphate of Chinioidin. 129 the evaporation of the alcohol. This amount is subtracted from the total amount of liquid, and, for the remaining, the correction is calcu- lated with reference to the temperature of the laboratory during the time of the analysis. The dry iodo-sulphate of quinia is taken from the filter and dried on a water-bath, in one of a couple of large watch- glasses closing tightly upon each other, so that the weight of the sub- stance contained in the glass may be taken without the access of the air. When, after repeatedly ascertaining the weight, it remains con- stant, this weight is noted down, and to it is added the product of the calculated correction. The sum of this addition is the total amount of iodo-sulphate of quinia obtained from the mixed alkaloids subjected to the operation, and from this weight the amount of crystallizable quinia can be calculated by the use of Hauers's formula, 2C40H24N2O4, 3(HO, S03), 3 I (old notation), which I have found to be correct. Accord- ing to this formula, I part of iodo-sulphate of quinia dried at ioo° C. represents 0*5509 part of anhydrous quinia or 07345 part of pure commercial disulphate of quinia.1 The accuracy of this determination* may be proved by the following examples : 0*294 gram of anhydrous crystallized quinia, kindly presented to me by Dr. O. Hesse in October, 1873, gave °'54I gram of herapathite dried at 100° C. =0*298 gram of quinia. According to Hauers's formula, I ought to have obtained 0.5336 gram of herapathite=o*294 gram of quinia. 1*048 gram of bitartrate of quinia gave 1.224 gram of herapathite= 0,674 gram of quinia. According to the formula of the bitartrate C^H^N^C^, C4H6Os+ Aq=492 ; 1*048 of bitartrate represent 0*69 of quinia, so that I ought to have obtained 1*255 gram of herapathite. 1 Although, as Mr. Umney stated at the Pharmaceutical meeting on Wednes- day, November 3, 1875, "manufacturers only believed in the crystallizable sulphate of quinia which they could see and weigh," I suppose they will equally be satisfied by seeing and weighing the quinia herapathite obtained by the analyst from a cer- tain amount of bark ; for, not only can this compound be easily distinguished from the similar compounds of the other Cinchona alkaloids, but by dissolving it in sulphurous acid and precipitating the solution by caustic soda, quinia is obtained, which may be easily transformed into crystallized sulphate. 9 1 30 lodo-Sulfhate of Chinioidin. { Am£rur^7earm' Notwithstanding the different circumstances in which the reagent was applied, the results seem to me satisfactory. The two following experiments were made with pure quinia, dried at ioo° C, at which temperature it still retains water, under identical circumstances : 1*0664 gram of hydrated quinia gave 1*7266 gram of herapathite= 164*5 Per cent. 1*055 gram of the same hydrated quinia gave 1*7343 gram of hera- pathite=i64*3 per cent. Although I feel convinced that this process of estimating the amount of quinia in a mixture of Cinchona alkaloids, is not one which, even in the hands of inexperienced persons, shall give accurate results in a short time, I have some hope that in the hands of experienced analysts, it may prove a satisfactory one, if, before applying it, they study, as I have done, the action of the reagent upon solution of 1 gram of quinia, quinidia, cinchonia and of cinchonidia, each of them separately in 20 grams of the above-mentioned acidulated alcohol. If they do so, they will find that the iodo-sulphates of quinia and of quinidia, thus obtained, have an analogous composition, and are identical with the compounds described by Herapath,1 whilst the iodo-sulphates of cin- chonia and cinchonidia have a different composition from the former, and both require more iodine to be transformed into the optical iodo- sulphates described by Herapath. In the meantime, they will find that of all these iodo-sulphates, that of quinia is the most insoluble in alcohol, as has been stated already by Herapath in the paper above quoted, and is therefore precipitated the first of all and alone by a judicious addition of the iodo sulphate of chinioidin. I do not in the least pretend to have exhausted the subject, but on the contrary, I hope that my paper may lead to a still better process. Thus, for instance, I feel some hope that it may be possible to apply the alcoholic solution of iodo-sulphate of chinioidin to volumetric analysis, and, therefore, I presented a specimen of it to Mr. Sutton, the author of the valuable work " On Volumetric Analysis," when he was so kind as to call upon me at the Hague last summer. — The Phar. Jour, and Trans., December 11, 1875. 1 " Proceedings of" the Royal Society," vol. ix, p. 10. AmMa?.ri876.arm'} Gleanings from Foreign Journals. 131 GLEANINGS FROM THE FOREIGN JOURNALS. BY THF EDITOR. Preparation of pure Iodide of Potassium. — If an aqueous solution of potassium iodide, containing iodate, is treated with sulphuretted hydrogen, the iodate is reduced, some sulphuric acid being formed at the same time, so that the iodide may- contain 1 to 2 per cent, of sulphate, which may be decomposed by barium iodide. A simpler and more interesting method of purification consists, according to G. Pellagri, in shaking a warm solution of the impure iodide with iron filings, which produces complete reduction of the iodate, no iron being dissolved, nor is iodine found in the ferric oxide formed. In a concentrated solution, the ferric oxide will ultimately exert an oxidizing influence upon the iodide, and the complete reduction of the iodate is only possible if the liquid is filtered and repeatedly treated with fresh iron filings. Complete reduction of the iodate is effected in the cold by immersing in the liquid an iron and a copper plate, and forming them into a galvanic element by uniting them, outside of the liquid, with a wire ; the iron only becomes oxidized, but no loss of iodine or contamination with iron or copper takes place. Potassium bromate is likewise promptly reduced by the iron-copper couple, but the chlorate is but incompletely acted upon. Powdered zinc acts, at first, energetically upon potassium iodate, but does not effect complete reduction — Schiveiz. Woch.f. Ph. 1875, No 50, from Ber. Chem. Ges. The De<vorati-ve Capsules, noticed on page 31 of our January number, appear to be made principally of gelatin. In a warm place, or if handled with moist fingers, they readily become adhesive and lose their gloss, at least in the places touched. They are folded neatly with difficulty only, and are, for the apothecary, very incon- venient, much more so than the wafer capsules, which are readily closed with a very simple apparatus. Another disadvantage of the new capsules is their unsightly appearance, due to their greyish color. — Ibid., No. 51. Iodinized Cotton. — Cotton, if dipped into a concentrated solution of iodine in ether or carbon bisulphide, retains, after drying, only traces, but no definite amount of iodine. Mehu impregnates cotton with 5 or 10 per cent, of iodine, by sprinkling it over layers of cotton, contained in a bottle, which is then warmed in a horizontal position in a sand or water bath. As soon as the warm air has been expelled, the bottle is tightly closed ; the vapors of iodine penetrate the fibres and color the cotton yellow, the color gradually becoming deeper, finally resembling roasted coffee, when the operation, which requires about two hours, is finished. — Zeitschr. Oesterr. Apoth. Ver., 1876, No. 3, from Jour, de Phar. et de Chim. Examination of Volatile Oil of Mustard. — Hager observes that the solubility of this oil, in water, is variable ; old oil required only 120, fresh oil about 230 parts of water of medium temperature for solution. Agitated with three times its volume of concentrated sulphuric acid, the mixture remains clear and becomes thick like syrup, after 12 hours, or is converted into a crystalline mass. — Phar. Cent. Halle, 1875, No- 43- Elisa Galeers liquid for promoting the growth of the hair is a filtered mixture of 15 grams ammonia water, 20 grm. glycerin, 50 grm. alcohol, 10 drops each of the oils of rue, lavender and bergamot, and 200 grms. of water. — Ibid. 132 Gleanings from Foreign Journals. {Am'li*l'S%£m~ Insoluble Cement for Glass is obtained, according to Prof. H. Schwarz, by dissolv- ing one part of bichromate of potassium for every 5 parts of gelatin, or glue, in a solution containing from 5 to 10 percent, of the latter. After having been applied to- the glass, the cement, on exposure to the sunlight, loses its property of swelling and dissolving in water, in consequence of the partial reduction of chromic acid. — Ibid., No. 45. Estimation of Vanillin in Vanilla. — F. Tiemann and W. Haarmann exhaust finely cut vanilla with ether, the solution is somewhat concentrated by evaporation, and then repeatedly agitated with two portions of a mixture consisting of equal volumes of water and concentrated solution of sodium bisulphite. The mixed aqueous- solutions, containing the vanillin, are treated with some sulphuric acid, the liberated sulphorous acid is expelled by a moderate heat, and the vanillin extracted by agita- tion with ether. On the evaporation of the ether, and drying over sulphuric acid?, pure vanillin is left behind. The authors obtained, by this method, from Mexican vanilla 1*69, from Bourbon vanilla 1*91 and 2-48, and from Java vanilla 2*75 per cent, of vanillin, which, in the two last named varieties, is associated with an oil of a disagreeable odor,, whereby its flavor is modified. — Ibid., No. 47, from Ber. Chem. Ges. Soluble Blood Powder is obtained, according to G. LeBon, by evaporating the blood under decreased pressure and at a temperature not exceeding that of the body. The author submitted a sample, 18 months old, to the Paris Academy. By agitation with water it was, in a few minutes, converted into a fine red solution, possessing all the properties of defibrinated blood, showing the same behavior in the spectro- scope and coagulating on boiling. It is soluble in an acidulated solution of pepsin,, and is recommended as very nourishing. — Chem. Centralbl., 1875, No, 51, from Compt. rend.., lxxxi. A good Copying Ink jrom Extract of Logwood is obtained by treating 250 grams of coarsely powdered American extract of logwood in a suitable bottle, with 3 kilos distilled water. When this is completely saturated with the soluble coloring matters, say in about one or two weeks, the clear solution is carefully decanted from the sediment, about 20 grams of acetate of manganese, dissolved in a little water, are added to the liquid, the whole is well mixed, and solution of acetate of iron carefully dropped in, until a deep violet-blue color is obtained. It is advisable to set the mixture aside for a few days to ascertain the change of color produced. The ink must be protected from the influence of the sunlight, and instead of gum arabic, solution of dextrin or sugar is preferably added to it. — Ibid., No. 52, from Ind. BL, xii Solubility of Oils in Glacial Acetic Acid. — Mr. Barnes' experiments on this subject (see page 29 of January number), were made with an acid solid at 480 F. Mr. W. H. Symons, using acetic acid, remaining solid up to 6o° F., found that one volume of it will dissolve in 4 vols, of almond, olive, cod liver and 'linseed oil, and mix in all proportions with the oils of turpentine and lemon. He also gives the following formulas for Linimentum Terebinthina Aceticum : oil of turpentine, 4 fluidounces $ glacial acetic acid, solid at 6o° F., 1 fluidounce, and camphor liniment, 4 fluidounces. Am. Jour. Pharm. 1 Mar. 1876. j V arieties. 133 The following furnishes a liniment which is miscible with spirit in the proportion of one to seven, and with oils in any proportion, and which retains its transparency at a temperature considerably below the freezing point of water: camphor, 240 grains; oil of turpentine, 2 fluidounces ; dissolve, filter and add castor oil, 2 fluidounces, and glacial acetic acid, solid at 6o° F., 4 fluidrachms. — Pharm. Jour, and Trans.) 1875, Oct. Ammoniacum, according to Prof. W. Dymock, is received, at Bombay, in bales ■containing all parts of the plant, broken up and encrusted with the gum resin, which appears to exude from every part, even the fruit being coated with it, and to be collected after the plant his matured its fruit. In Bombay it is picked and usually sorted into three qualities, large, middle-sized and small tears, the latter often containing dirt and other refuse. If kept during the monsoon, the tears get soft and unite into a lump. Dorema root is an article of commerce in Bombay, being imported from Persia under the name of Boi, and used in the Parsee fire temples as an incense. It has a thin, papery bark, like sumbul root, but is compact and has a resinous section, its texture becoming loose and spongy by age and the ravages of insects. Some years ago it was sent to Europe as Bombay sumbul, after having been cut up and impregnated with musk. — Ibid., Oct. 23. Tellurium a probable impurity in bismuth salts. — Mr. Charles Ekin, having called attention to the intolerable smell of garlic imparted to the breath of patients, after having taken a simple bismuth mixture, publishes extracts from some letters, show- ing that similar observations have been made by others. Mr. Geo. Brownen attributes this effect to the presence of tellurium, and both gentlemen are now •engaged in further investigating this subject. — Ibid., Dec. 25. VARIETIES. Balsam Peru Adulterated with Alcohol. — A. Gavalowski recommends the following test as being easier of execution and as reliable as the distillation test: Add a few drops of the balsam to a solution of potassium bichromate in a test-tube, and then add concentrated sulphuric acid. In the presence of alcohol aldehyd will be formed, the smell of which (somewhat similar to that of rotten apples) will be distinctly perceived, since it quite covers that of the balsam itself. Even mere traces of alcohol are said to be recognizable. — Pharm. Ceniralh. in Ny pharm. Tid., 1875, P- 345- H. W. Mistura Glycyrrhiz^e Composita — A. F. W. Neynaber proposes in the " Druggists' Circular " for February, the following modification of the officinal formula : "Take half a troyounce of best Calabria liquorice, cut it into slices about J inch thick, introduce it into a glass percolator or funnel, using cotton and linen at the bottom and short straw as a layer between the liquorice, and having closed the out- T34 Varieties. Am. Jour. Pharm, Mar. 1876. let with a cork, provided with a little notch on the tapered end (if the apparatus has no stop-cock), pour upon it 12 fluidounces of cold distilled water, set it aside for 24 hours, then loosen the cork so as to allow the liquid to fall in drops, and let it percolate through, adding water in sufficient quantity until 13 fluidounces have been obtained. To this add half a troy ounce of gum arabic, bruised, stir occasionally., and when it has dissolved, add half a troy ounce of sugar 5 stir, heat the mixture to the boiling point, strain, and allow it to cool off, adding, if necessary, distilled water to make it weigh 1 3 J troyounces. To this perfectly clear liquid add camphorated tincture of opium, 2 fluidounces, wine of antimony, 1 fluidounce, spirit of nitrous ether, ^ fluidounce, and mix. " By this process starch and other impurities will be left behind in the funnel or percolator, the mass retaining almost its original shape (being merely a skeleton)., while the liquoiice will be exhausted." It will be observed that this is essentially the same formula suggested by Mr. Wilder on page 97 of our last volume, differing mainly in the recommendation to boil the solution of extract, gum and sugar. Lactopeptin. — The following formula for this preparation is copied from the " Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter,"" of January 26th : Sugar of milk, . . . .20 ounces Pepsin, pure, ... 4 ounces Paucreatin, pure, . . . .3 ounces Ptyalin or diastase, ... 1 drachm Lactic acid, . . . 2^ fl. drachms Hydrochloric acid, . . zj fl. drachms Powder and mix. Quinetum. — A preparation of the whole alkaloids, separated from East India red bark, has been used for some time in the Indian hospitals, as well as in private practice, with great success. The concurrent testimony of medical men in our In- dian possessions is to the effect that quinia is not so greatly superior to the whole alkaloids as to make it worth while to separate the sulphate in its pure state. Mr. Thomas Whiffen, of the Quinine Works, Battersea, now offers to the profession a similar preparation, which he calls quinetum. It is in the form of a fine granular non-adherent powder of a pale buff color. The proportions of the various alkaloids present will, of necessity, vary with the sample of bark used, but we think not so- much as to be of moment therapeutically. Sulphate of quinetum is a white crystal- line body with a faint pink tinge, greatly resembling sulphate of quinia ; and we are informed that the preparation can be supplied to the profession at about one- half of the cost of quinine. — Medical Neavs, Jan., 1876, from Brit. Med- Journ.y. Nov. 27, 1875. Thermic Researches on Phosphoric Acid. By MM. Berthelot and Louguin- ine. — M. Thomsen, having repeated the experiments of Graham in 1869 (" Pog- gendorfPs Annalen," cxl, 90 and 94), concluded that phosphoric acid was not a true tribasic acid, but rather a bibasic and triatomic. The authors, having re-ex- Am. Jour. Pharm. ) Mar. 1876. J Varieties. l3S amined this subject, conclude that the three equivalents of" base successively united with phosphoric acid are combined in different manners, the first being comparable to the base of the nitrates and chlorates, the second to that of the carbonates and borates, and the third to the base of the alkaline alcoholates. — Chem.. Nevus, Dec. 3i, 1875. Constitution of the Phosphates. By MM. Berthelot and Louguinine. — In this memoir the authors examine the formation of an insoluble phosphate, that of baryta ; they undertake an alkalimetrical study of phosphoric acid ; and, finally, they seek to define the displacements and reciprocal distribution of an alkaline base among phosphoric acid and the nitric, hydrochloric and acetic acids. They con- clude that phosphoric acid is not a tribasic acid of the same kind as citric acid, as the third equivalent of a soluble base is separated from phosphoric acid by the feeblest actions, and even by dilution. With ammonia it happens that the third basic equivalent does not combine with phosphoric acid, or if it combines at first it does not remain definitely united to the acid, but is gradually separated spontane- ously and completely. Neither is phosphoric acid a bibasic acid in the same sense as are the sulphuric, oxalic or tartaric acids. The second base, as alkalimetrical operations show, is not neutralized by phosphoric acid, and is entirely separated by the hydrochloric and nitric acids, and gives indications of division even with acetic acid. In short, the three equivalents of base united in the phosphates con- sidered as normal, are combined in different and unequal manners. Phosphoric acid must be regarded as a monobasic acid of a mixed function. — Chem. Nevus., Jan. 7, from Compt. Rend. American Quicksilver. - -Mr. J. B. Randol, General Manager , gives the pro- duction of the New Almaden mine for th e year 1875, in flasks of 7 6\ lbs. each, as ollows : Months. Flasks. Months. Flasks- January, 850 July, 1,220 February, 800 August, 1,100 March, 1,033 September, 1,20-0 April, 850 October, 1,250 May, 1,095 November, 1,700 June, 1,050 December, 1,500 Total, 13,648 The total product of the mine for 1874 was 9,084 flasks, making the increase this year 4,564 flasks, or nearly 50 per cent. — Scientific American, Feb. 26, 1876. Constituents of Wood-tar Creasote. By Ferd. Tiemann and Benno Men- delsohn.— The portion of Rhenish wood- tar creasote boiling at 2000 — 2300, was dissolved in ether and the solution agitated with potash. The aqueous liquid, after separation from the ether, was acidified, and the oil thereby liberated was separated by fractional distillation into two portions boiling at 1950 — 2120 and 2170 — 226° respectively. The latter consisted of phlorol and creosol. Methylcreosol {Dimethylhomopyrocatechin). — This body was obtained thus: The i36 V arieties. (Am. Jour. Pharm. \ Mar. 1876. foregoing mixture of phlorol and creosol, dissolved in alcohol and mixed with a slight excess of potash, was evaporated till it began to crystallize, and the crude creosol-potassium salt thereby formed was dissolved in methyl alcohol and boiled with excess of methyl iodide. The product was a dense oily body, distilling for the most part at 2140 — 21 8°. Methylcreosol is a transparent, heavy liquid, of not unpleasant odor when pure, insoluble in water and dilute alkalies, but easily soluble in alcohol and ether. Dimethjlprotocatechuic Acid. — Methylcreosol was oxidized by heating it with a dilute solution of potassium permanganate. The product was an acid, crystallizing in long prisms, dissolving sparingly in water and freely in alcohol and ether, melting at 1 74°, and having the composition of dimethoxybenzoic acid. By gentle fusion with potassium hydrate it was converted into pyrocatechuic acid. This decompo- sition and its melting point characterize the body as dimethylprotocatechuic acid. Creosol is therefore a derivative of protocatechuic acid, and must be regarded as methylated methylpyrocitechin or homoguaiacol. Indifferent Oils of Wood-tar Creasote. — The etherial solution above mentioned contained an oil boiling at 2 140 — 2180, which was separated by fractional distilla- tion. This body yielded by oxidation dimethylpyrocatechuic acid, and therefore consisted of methylcreosol or dimethylhomopyrocatechin. Other oils present in the etherial solution are being examined by the authors. — Journ. Chem. Soc, [Lond.], Jan., 1876, from Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., viii, 11 36-1 139. Reactions of Saccharine Matters. By M. Vidau. — A mixture of equal parts of commercial hydrochloric acid and of a fatty oil, but especially of oil of sesame, is a very delicate test for sugar, glucose, levulose, honey, &c. The oil and acid are shaken together for some minutes, and the mixture is heated until the acid liquid begins to boil, then the acid is allowed to subside and its colo.r is observed. When oil of sesame is used, the subsequent addition of one-tenth of a milligram of inverted sugar suffices to produce a characteristic rose color. The reaction is dis- tinct with a liquid containing one 20,000th of inverted sugar, and detects a milligram of that substance when dissolved in a cubic centimeter of normal urine. — Ibid., from J. Pharm. Chim., [4], xxii, 33. A New Preparation of Santonin. — Albuminated sodium santonate has recently been much recommended as an anthelmintic. It is prepared by gently heating in a porcelain dish a mixture of four parts of sodium bicarbonate, one part of santonin and two parts of dried, soluble egg or blood albumen with a small quantity of water, until a solution is effected 5 this is evaporated to dryness and subsequently redissolved in a sufficient quantity of warm water 5 the filtered solu- tion is evaporated, at a gentle heat, to dryness. The remaining albuminated sodium santonate forms colorless, shining scales, readily soluble in water, rendering an alka- line solution which, upon addition of acids, separates santonin with the evolution of carbonic acid from an excess of sodium carbonate. — Med. and Surg. Reporter, Feb. 19, 1876. Am. Jour. Pharm. Mar. 1876. Varieties. *37 Pharmacopceia of the Philadelph Linimentum Terebinthina Compositum. R Olei terebinthinas, Aquas ammoniae fortioris, ad f 3 i Linimenti saponis, f^iv Fiat linimentum. Liquor Bromini. Bromini, ,^1 Aquae, f^ii Potassii bromidi, q.s. ut fiat solutio. Signa — For physicians1 use only. Liquor Plumbi Subacetatis cum Opii. (Leadwater and Laudanum.) i Tincturae opii, fjii Liquris plumbi subacetatis diluti, q. s. ad Oii Misce. Mistura Antirheumatic a gtt.jri f §vi Potassii nitratis, Vini colchici radicis, Spiritus astheris nitrosi, Syrupi guaiaci, Olei gaultheriae, Aquas, q. s. ad Misce. Signa — Dose, a tablespoonful every two hours. Mistura Arsenicalis Composita. f Liquoris arsenici chloridi, f§ss Tincturas ferri chloridi, f^iss Cinchonias sulphatis, 3'u Strychniae sulphatis, gr. ii Syrupi, Aquas, da q. s. ad f^vi Fiat mistura Signa — Dose, a teaspoon- ful. Mistura Astringens . R Acidi sulphurici aromatici, f^ii Extracti hasmatoxyli, gii Tincturas opii camphoratas Qjss Syrupi zingiberis, q. s. ad f'^vi Misce secundem artem. Signa — Dose, a tablespoonful. Mistura Cosmetica. (GoddarcTs Cosmetic Lotion.) R Tincturas benzoini, f^ii Hydrargyri chloridi corrosivi, gr. vi Aquas rosas, fjvi Fiat mistura. ia Hospital. (Concluded.) — Mistura Creta Composita. R Tincturas catechu, Tincturas opii camphoratas, ad f3vd Acidi carbolici, gtt. xii Mistura cretas, q. s. ad f^vi Misce secundum artem. Signa — Dose, a tablespoonful. Mistura Ferri Chloridi Composita. [Bashanis Mixture.) R Liquoris ammonii acetatis, f*3 i ii Tincturas ferri chloridi, f^iiss Acidi acetici diluti, fgi Curacoa vel alcohol, fgii Syrupi, Aquas, «a q. s. ad f^vi Fiat mistura. Signa — Dose, a table- spoonful. Mistura Ferri cum £>uinia!. R Quinias sulphatis, £i Acidi phosphorici diluti, q. s. Ferri pyrophosphatis, ^ss Mistura aromaticas, q. s. ad f^xxx Misce secundum artem. Signa — Dose, a tablespoonful, containing 1 gr. of quinia and 4 grs. of iron. Mistura Soda. {Soda Mint.) R Sodii bicarbonatis, gii Spiritus ammonii aromatici, gtt. [xxxvi Aquas menthas viridis, fjfviii Misce. Signa — Dose, one or two table- spoonfuls three times a day. Mistura Soda Composita. R Sodii bicarbonatis, gii Creasoti, gtt. xii Syrupi acacias, f^ii Spiritus lavandulas compositi, f^iss Aquas, q. s. ad f^vi Fiat mistura. Signa — Dose, tablespoon- ful two hours after meals. Mistura Zollickofferi. ( Zollickoffers Mixture.) R Potassii iodidi, Pulveris guaiaci resinae, da ^iiss Vini colchici radicis, £3 iss Aquas cinnamomi, Syrupi, da. q. s. ad Oi Fiat mistura. Signa — Dose, a table- spoonful. Varieties. Am. Jour. Pharm. Mar. 1876. Be Chlorodyne. Chloroformi, fgss Spiritus aetheris sulphurici, f^iss Olei menthae piperitae, gtt. viii Oleoresinae capsici, gtt. ii Extracti cannabis indicae, gr. vi Morphiae muriatis, gr. xvi Acidi hydrocyanici diluti, mjxv Acidi hydrochlorici diluti, fgi Glycerinae, Mellis, cm q. s. ad 15 iv Fiat mistura secundum artem. Signa — Dose, 1 <5 to 20 drops. Pilulae Aloes Composite. Pulveris Aloes Socotrinae, 5SS Ferri sulphatis exsiccatae, Terebinthinae albae, ad Misce et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains 2 grs. of aloes and one gr. each of iron sulphate and turpentine. Pilulae Antineuralgicae. Acidi arseniosi, gr. iv Strychnia? sulphatis, gr. iii Extracti belladonna?, gr. xxiv Cinchoniae sulphatis, ^iii Pilulas ferri carbonatis, ~Jv Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains i-3oth gr. of arsenic, i-4oth gr. of strychnia, i~5th gr. of belladonna, gr. of cinchonia, and i\ gr. of Vallet's mass. R Pilulae Cinchonia et Arsenici. Cinchoniae sulphatis, Ferri redacti, ad ^ss Extracti nucis vomicae, gr. xxx Acidi arseniosi, gr. vi Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains i-2oth gr. of arsenic, \ gr. of nux vomica, and 2 grs. each of iron and cinchonia. Pilule Colocynthidis cum Belladonna. R Extracti belladonnas, gr. xv Extracti colocynthidis compositi, Pulveris aloes socotrinae, da £iii Olei anisi, gtt. xxx Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains §■ gr. of belladonna, and 1^ grs. each of aloes and colocynth. R Pilulce Cinchonia Composite. Cinchoniae sulphatis, Ferri redacti, da ^ss Extracti nucis vomicae, gr. xxx Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains \ gr. of nux vomica and 2 grs. each of iron and cinchonia. R Pilula Opii cum Plumbi Acetate. Pulveris opii, gr. xl Plumbi acetatis, §ss Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains ^ gr. of opium, and 2 grs. of acetate of lead. R Pilulae Podophylli Composite. Resinae podophylli, gr. xx Extracti colocynthidis compositi, Extracti hyoscyami, da Z'n Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains i-6th gr. po- dophyllin, and 1 gr. each of colocynth and hyoscyamus. Pilulae Rhei et Gentianc R Pulveris rhei, ^ss Extracti gentianae, Extracti hvoscyami, da gii Misce, et fiant pilulae cxx. Signa — Each pill contains 2 grs. of rhubarb, and 1 gr. each of gentian and hyoscyamus. R Pul<vis Glycyrrhizae Compositus. Pulveris sennae, Pulveris glycyrrhizae radicis, da !§vi Pulveris foeniculi, Sulphuris loti, * da %in Sacchari albi, ^xviii Misce. Signa — Dose, a teaspoonful at bed-time. AmMa"r'i876.rm'} Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations. 139 B Pul<vis Soda Compositus. Bismuthi subnitratis, gr. v Sodii bicarbonatis, Pulveris zingiberis, Pulvcris calumbas, aa gr. iiss Misce. Syrupus Chlorali. B Tinctura Aromatica , Chloralis hydratis, Tinctura? cardamomi, Syrupi, Aquae cinnamomi, Misce. Signa. — A teaspoonful contains 10 grs. of chloral. Syrupus Guaiaci. ►)lxiv > fa iv ad Oi B ^xxxii Pulveris guaiaci resinae, Liquor is potassas, f§ss Sacchari albi, fbi, (avoird.) Aquas, f§ viii Fiat syrupus. Signa — Dose, a teaspoon- ful, containing 5 grs. of guaiacum. Syrupus Pectoralis. R Ammonii chloridi, ^ss Syrupi senegas, r^i Misturas glycyrrhizae compositae, q s. [ad f^viii Misce. Signa — Dose, a dessert-spoonful. Syrupus Potassii Iodidi. B Potassii iodidi, ^i Syrupi sarsaparillas compositi, q. s. [adfgvi Misce. Signa — Dose, a dessert-spoonful, containing 20 grs. of iodide. Syrupus Potassii Iodidi Compositus. B gr. 11 Hydrargyri chloridi corrosivi, Potassii iodidi, £i Syrupi sarsaparillas compositi, q. s. [ad fSvi Misce. Signa — Dose, a dessert -spoonful, containing 1-12 gr. of mercury, and 20 grs. of potassium iodide. B Coriandri fructus, ^ii Angelicas fructus, ^iiss Glycerinas, f^v Syrupi, fjvi Alcoholis diluti, q. s. ut riant tinc- tura, Oii Signa — A pleasant vehicle for adminis- tering nauseous remedies. B Tinctura Ferri Composita. Cinchonias sulphatis, Strychnia? sulphatis, Tincturas ferri chloridi, ;r. 11 m Syrupi, Aquae, aa q. s. ad f^viii Misce secundum artem. Signa — Dose, a teaspoonful 3 times a day. B Tinctura Saponis Viridis cum Pice. Picis liquidae, Saponis viridis, Spiritus methylici,, Misce cum leni colore. aa £1 B Tinctura Styptica. Potassii carbonatis, 31 Saponis, gii Alcoholis, f§iv Fiat mistura secundum artem. B Unguentum Plumbi Oxidi. Emplastri plumbi, Olei olivas, Misce cum leni calore. fgii B Unguentum Zinci Oxidi Benzoatum. Zinci oxidi, Tincturas benzoini, Adipis, Fiat unguentum. 3* gtt. xl 3vn MINUTES OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. The meeting was called to order at 8.15 P. M. The President and Registrar being absent, their offices were filled by the election of Mr. A. P. Brown and Richard V. Mattison to their respective positions. 14-0 Minutes of the Pharmaceutical Meeting. {Am'^'J^m- The minutes of the previous meeting were read, corrected and approved, the correction being that the glycerin dropper, exhibited at our last meeting, was not the invention of Mr. Bowman, but of Mr. H. W. Wharton, of Nashville, Tenn. (See p. 99). Prof. J. M. Maisch presented, from the British Pharmaceutical Conference, *' The Year Book of Pharmacy," and also a pamphlet, by Prof. Mark W. Har- rington, of the University of Michigan, on " The microscopic examination of crude drugs," which were accepted with the thanks of the meeting. Prof. Maisch then presented a specimen of nut galls, forwarded from Texas, by Mr. Vcelcker, of New Braunfels. They resemble, in structure, Aleppo nut galls, differing, however, in being lighter in color, having a smoother surface and contain- ing less tannin. Prof. Maisch also presented a handsome specimen of monobromated camphor, prepared by Mr. T. C. Linthicum, a member of the present class. Mr. Morris, of Edw'd S. Morris & Co., was then introduced, and presented specimens of palm nuts, from which palm oil is obtained 5 also, palm oil, made from the pulp around the kernel, of a reddish orange color, and also a white oil, obtained from the kernels themselves. A specimen of palm soap, made in Liberia, from the fresh oil, by this firm, was then exhibited, and specimens of coffee, the entire fruit, from Liberia and Brazil, donated to the cabinet. Mr. Morris then spoke of the manufacture of indigo, as prepared by his firm j instead of exposing the juice to the air, as usually practiced, they force air, by a steam pump, directly into the expressed juice of the plants, thus allowing oxidation to proceed with great rapidity, with the consequent great saving of time and labor, the granulated precipitate of indigo is then spread upon trays, and dried by means of hot air. Mr. Trimble read a paper on " The presence of ammonium in phosphoric acid," prepared by Prof. Markoe's process, (seep. 113), the conclusions of the writer being that the amount of ammonia formed is so small as to be of no practical importance. Some remarks followed, in which Prof. Markoe's process was warmly commended, no objection, however, being found to the first process of the Pharmacopoeia. Mr. Chas. L. Mitchell read a paper on the preparation of the red iodide and yellow oxide of Mercury (see p. 115), and exhibited specimens prepared by the processes recommended. Prof, Maisch said that in case of the mercuric iodide, the use of mercuric nitrate had been objected to, owing to the free nitric acid necessary to keep the nitrate in solution, tending to liberate iodine ; Mr. Mitchell's manipula- tion, however, seems to obviate this difficulty, the specimen exhibited appearing to be unobjectionable. Prof. Maisch then read an interesting and valuable paper on "The asserted presence of tannin in gentian root," clearly showing the absence of tannic acid in this drug (seep. 117). The infusion is not at once precipitated by gelatin, and yields, with a chemically neutral solution of ferric chloride, a blackish color, due to gentisic acid, and to a body producing a green fluorescence, the color being, of course, destroyed by an acid from the decomposition of the ferric gentianate. AmMa°rUri8P76rrm' } Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations, 141 The papers were accepted and referred. Some discussion ensuing in regard to the time of holding the meetings 5 on motion it was decided to hold the next meet- ing on March 21st, at 3 P. M. On motion, the meeting then adjourned. RICHARD V. MATTISON, Registrar, pro tern. PHARMACEUTICAL COLLEGES AND ASSOCIATIONS. The Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association was organized at New Haven, February 9th, nine cities and towns being represented by 30 apothecaries. A Constitution and By-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected for the ensuing year: President, N. Dikeman, of Waterbury 5 Vice-Presidents, H. H. Osgood, of Norwich, and Henry Woodward, of Middletown ; Secretary, Alfred Daggett, of New Haven, and Treasurer, G. P. Chandler, of Hartford. An Ex- ecutive Committee and a Committee on Queries were appointed, and the following delegates chosen to represent the new association at the next meeting of the Amer- ican Pharmaceutical Association in September next : Samuel Noyes, New Haven j A. F. Wood, New Haven 5 S. R. McNary, Hartford 5 W. W. Mosher, West Meriden ; Henry Woodward, Middletown. The annual meeting will be held in the city of Hartford on the first Wednesday of February, 1877. - The New Hampshire Pharmaceutical Association held its second annual meeting in Manchester, on October 12th, Mr. Chas. S. Eastman, of Concord, in the chair. The proceedings, an account of which we have received in a neatly- printed pamphlet covering 48 pages, consisted in the reading of the officers'' reports and discussions on the Pharmacy Law of the State and- on apprenticeship, besides the usual routine business. The officers for the present year are Chas. F. Hildreth^ of Suncook, President ; P. J. Noyes, of Lancaster, and B. B. Weeks, of Man- chester, Vice-Presidents ; H. B. Foster, of Concord, Treasurer 5 G. F. Underhill, of Concord, Secretary 5 T. L. Smith, of Dover, Auditor, and P. J. Noyes, Reporter on the Progress of Pharmacy. The delegation to the next meeting of the Amer- ican Pharmaceutical Association consists of Messrs. Geo. F. Underhill, Chas. S. Eastman, Chas. F. Hildreth, H. B. Foster and Thos. L. Smith. The Association, whose next annual meeting will convene in Nashua on the first Tuesday of October, has 87 members and 23 honorary members, six of the latter residing in Europe. The New York Alumni Association of the Philadelpaia College of Pharmacy met February 1st. After transacting the usual business, Mr. Plummer spoke of the generally bad condition in which herbs are found in most retail stores, especially in the smaller ones, and such herbs as have but little demand. He stated that they are not unfrequently kept until they become thoroughly musty and mouldy, and, though once pressed, become loose, and exhibit the change so much as to en- tirely efface the labels. In many stores in this city and throughout the country, drugs of this character could be found which have been in stock for a number of 142 Pharmaceutical Colleges und Associations. {Am\l™? J^™' years, and are yet offered for sale. There ought to be a limit to the practice, as there are but few botanical drugs which do not deteriorate by time and exposure. This class of drugs is not so important a department of the pharmacist's stock as formerly, yet it behooves us to be guarded as to the quality of all drugs passing through our hands, and it ought to be somebody's business to look after it. Mr. Messing said, if parties engaged in putting up herbs, etc., were required to print the date of growth on each package, it would be an important precaution. Most druggists thoughtlessly allow an old stock of herbs to accumulate, forgetting their age 5 but he thought it not warrantable in any case that they be kept longer than two to five years, even in proper receptacles, while man}' druggists keep them in paper or cigar boxes or loosely piled upon shelves. It was suggested that the remarks would as well apply to some pharmaceutical preparations which, being little used, stand on the shelves for years, becoming entirely unfit for use, yet they are dispensed. The appointment, by the College of Pharmacy or by the Board of Health, of an inspector was suggested, who should be an expert of recognized abil- ity, and vested with power to condemn all drugs which, after faithful examination, prove to be inert, sophisticated or adulterated. The report of the Committee on Adulterations and Sophistications, made at the last meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, shows that quite a variety of such drugs find their way into the pharmacies, either through the ignorance or carelessmess of pharma- cists. The discussion was extended to some length, bringing out many interesting facts upon this important subject, showing that many drugs pass through our mar- ket that would be much more fitting in accompaniment with the wares of Shakspeare's woe-begotten apothecary of Mantua than to the stock of an American pharmacy. The next meeting will be held Tuesday evening, March 7th, when nominations are to be made for officers for the ensuing year. The Maryland College of Pharmacy held a pharmaceutical meeting, February 16th, at which Mr. W. S. Thompson read a paper on hydrobromic acid, and Mr. J. F. Hancock one on saffron, giving a sketch of its history, &c. We are pleased to learn that this College has purchased from the city of Baltimore one of the school-houses, which is located in a pleasant and quiet neighborhood, and has a lot 74 feet front by no feet deep. Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. — The first pharmaceutical meeting for the year 1876 was held February 9th, President Eaton in the chair. The attendance was unusually large, and much interest was manifested. Prof. Judge gave the result of his experiments on discolored syrup of iodide of iron, and recommended hypo- phosphorous acid as the agent to restore the altered syrup, in preference to hyposul- phite of sodium, which, on being added to discolored syrup, passes into sodium sulphate, and precipitates one-half of the sulphur it contains, leaving the syrup as unpleasant in appearance as before the addition. Hypophosphorous acid, having the same affinity for oxygen, would effect the same change as the hyposulphite, leaving, however, the syrup clear and of the proper color. Prof. E. S. Wayne exhibited a specimen of Indian mallow [Abutilon Anjicenna) nat. ord. Malvaceae, which is a troublesome weed. Paper, he remarked, was made AmMa"ri8Aarm"} Pharmaceutical Colleges and Associations. 143 from the whole stock of the plant, which yielded also an exceellent flax-like fibre, that had been woven into fabrics and made into twine and cordage. The Professor presented to the cabinet a beautiful specimen of " chimaphilin," and three specimens of true balsam of copaiva. On motion, thanks were returned for the donations and remarks. Adjourned, to meet March 8th, 1876, at 3 o'clock P. M. Louis Schwab, Cor. Sec. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. — President T. H. Hills occu- pied the chair at the pharmaceutical meeting held February 2d. Mr. James Deane read a paper entitled " The best form of blistering liquid " The Liquor epispas- iicusy Br.P., is made by incorporating 4 fluidounces of acetic acid with 8 oz. of pow- dered cantharides, and percolate the mixture, after 24 hours, with ether, until 20 fluidounces are obtained; from 2 fluidounces of this preparation o*8 grains of can- tharidin were obtained. Exhausting the cantharides with sufficient acetic ether to obtain 20 fluidounces of percolate, 2*2 grains of slightly impure cantharidin were obtained from 2 fluidounces. The same amount of another preparation, made by moistening the cantharides with a solution of glacial acetic acid in ether, and per- colating with ether, yielded i*8 grains of cantharidin 5 350 grains of cantharides, representing 2 fluidounces of the above liquids, yielded 2 grs. of pure cantharidin. The author is therefore in favor of one of the last two menstrua, the question as to which is the better being medical rather than pharmaceutical. The officinal prepa- ration being stronger than necessary, a reduction of the powdered cantharides to 4 or 5 ounces is advocated. Mr. Harold Senier read a paper on " The Composition of Pilula Hydrargyri, Br.P." A number of samples were analyzed, with the view of determining the amount of metallic mercury and of mercurous frhd mercuric oxides. The results showed that the latter gradually increased in quantity with the age of the blue mass, which, 18 hours after preparation, was found to contain but a trace of mercu- rous oxide 5 after three months, '24 per cent, mercuric and '62 per cent, mercurous oxides were obtained, and in another sample, -44 and i'6o per cent, respectively. After two years, i*8o mercuric and 4*22 mercurous oxides were present. The amount of mercury in the nine samples examined corresponded with the require- ments of the " Pharmacopoeia." In the discussion following, Professor Redwood called attention to his researches, made 14 or 15 years ago, upon Hydrargyrum cum creta, which was found to be more rapidly oxidized than blue mass, particularly if made by machinery instead of in the mortar. Mr. Greenish referred to the paper of Dr. Squibb ("Amer. Jour. Phar.," 1857, P- 388), in which the proneness to the oxidation of mercury in Hy- drarg. c. cret. is attributed to its often being too finely divided. Mr. John Moss read a paper on Vaseline, showing that this term must be regarded as a distinctive name for a mixture of paraffins obtained by a known process, and recommended as a substitute for lard and other similar substances for pharmaceu- tical purposes. Mr. A. W. Gerrard followed with a paper in which he favored the preparation of suppositories, using four parts of vaselin and one of paraffin as a base. The advan- tages over cacao butter are that the former melts slowly into an unctuous mass, which is cleanly and causes no inconvenience to the patient ; that it does not become 144 Editorial. Am. Jour. Pharm, Mar. 1876. rancid, and that owing to its great power of contraction the suppositories leave the moulds with greater ease. Preparations made with vaselin were shown by several gentlemen. Considerable difference of opinion was expressed as to the adaptibility of paraffin mixtures for suppositories. Messrs. Allchin and Williams opposed the use of paraffins in oint- ments, because they would not be absorbed by the skin, in which respect lard was by far superior. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT. Centennial Bureau — It will be of interest to those of our readers who con- template exhibiting goods at the approaching international exposition, to learn that the house of Peter Wright & Sons, agents for the transatlantic steamers running to Philadelphia, has established a bureau for the purpose of attending to the interests of exhibitors, and will undertake the transportation of goods from Liverpool or Antwerp, their reception at this port, their proper installation, the general care dur- ing the exposition,' their disposal or repacking and return. The labor will be divided among experts and firms of acknowledged reputation in the leading depart- ments of industry and arts, Messrs. Bullock & Crenshaw taking charge of drugs, chemicals, chemical apparatus and perfumery. • If it is desired, competent persons will be engaged to give their exclusive time to the exhibition and explanation of goods. Having received several inquiries in regard to such or similar arrangements, it is likely that other readers of the "Journal," in this and foreign countries, may avail themselves of such an opportunity. Female Apothecaries. — During the past session two ladies have been attend- ing the lectures at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. At the December exam- ination of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, Isabella Skinner Clarke passed the major examination, and was duly registered as " Pharmaceutical Chemist." The Growth and Uses of Benzoin. — Under this title, our last number con- tained an essay which was duly credited to the journal in which we found it pub- lished, without reference to any other source. Our thanks are due to several corres- pondents who called our attention to the fact that the paper in question is almost literally copied from Fliickiger and Hanbury's " Pharmacographia," and should, therefore, be credited to that excellent work. Pancreatin. — The last, volume of the "Proceedings of the American Pharma- ceutical Association" contains an interesting paper on this subject, from the pen of Prof. E. Scheffer, of Louisville. In the last sentence on page 731 we find a typo- graphical error, whereby the author is made to say the opposite of what the results of his experiments point to; the sentence in question should read: "The foregoing experiments .... prove the uselessness (not usefulness) of pancreatin as a therapeutical agent, as it will be decomposed when brought into the stomach." THE AMERICAN • JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. APRIL, 1876. ASSAY OF ATROPIA IN EXTRACTS OF BELLADONNA. BY JOSEPH LE ROY WEBBER, PH.G. [Extract from an Inaugural Essay.) In order to determine the relative value of inspissated juices and alcoholic narcotic extracts, commercial and officinal, an assay of the alkaloid in one of the most important of this class, namely, the extract of belladonna, was made with care and accuracy. Extracts of belladonna were purchased, representing the principal houses of this country, and those of Europe which have a very extended sale in this country. When purchased, each package had on it the manufacturer's label, and was in the original package. The process for determining their value was as follows : 10 grams of the extract was treated with an equal weight of water, and subjected to a gentle heat until the extract was reduced to a syrupy consistence. 90 c.c. of alcohol was