The Project Gutenberg eBook of Pharmacologia, by J. A. Paris

610. Sal Prunelle. Nitre, when coloured purple like a plum, has been long esteemed in Germany as a powerful medicine, under this name.

M. Chevreul supposes the urinous taste attributed to fixed alkaline bases not to belong to these substances, but to the ammonia, which is set at liberty by their action on the ammoniacal salts contained in the saliva; the proofs of which, he says, may be derived from the facts that the sensation disappears upon pressing the nostrils; and that the same odour is perceived when we smell to a mixture of recent saliva and fixed alkali, made in a small glass or porcelain capsule. (See my work on Medical Chemistry, § 8.)

611. See my “Elements of Medical Chemistry,” p. 157.

613. I may take this opportunity to state that Sulphuretted Hydrogen, in a state of simple solution, or in combination with other bodies, possesses considerable powers as a remedy in many cutaneous disorders of a chronic character. The “Gas-Water,” or that which remains after the gas, used for illumination, has passed through the purifier, and which consists of Hydro-Sulphuret and Hydro-bi-Sulphuret of Lime, has been used with great success in such cases.

614. It may be termed a Boro-tartrate.

615. Essential Salt of Lemons. The preparation sold under this name, for the purpose of removing iron moulds from linen, consists of cream of tartar, and super-oxalate of potass, or salt of sorrel, in equal proportions.

617. His specification, lodged in Chancery, is as follows. “Take Antimony, calcine it with a continued protracted heat, in a flat unglazed vessel, adding to it from time to time, a sufficient quantity of any animal oil and salt, dephlegmated; then boil it in melted nitre for a considerable time, and separate the powder from the nitre by dissolving it in water.”

James’s Analeptic Pills. These consist of James’s powder, gum ammoniacum, and the pill of aloes with myrrh, (Pil. Rufi) equal parts, with a sufficient quantity of the tincture of castor to make a mass.

618. In consequence of the antimonial powder having proved inert in the hands of Dr. Elliotson, although exhibited to the amount of a hundred grains for a dose, Mr. Phillips was induced to examine more particularly into the nature of the oxide which enters into its composition. “After the well established fact,” says he, “that peroxide of antimony is nearly or totally inert, it appears to me, that if proof could be obtained, that the oxide of antimony is in this state, the deficiency of power in the Pulvis Antimonialis would be accounted for.” He then proceeds to detail his experiments, from which he deduces the composition of this preparation to be as follows:

Peroxide of Antimony	35
Phosphate of Lime	65

	100

which exist together in a simple state of mixture. Until the subject be elucidated by farther experiments, it will be difficult for the chemist to persuade the physician, that he can never have derived any benefit from the exhibition of Antimonial Powder, although I am by no means inclined to concede to it that extraordinary degree of virtue, which many practitioners are so eager to maintain.

619. This plant is esteemed by the American Indians as a universal remedy, and is always carried about with them. The members of the profession have doubtless heard of an irregular practitioner, who has persuaded a certain number of persons in this metropolis, that he possesses remedies, obtained from the American Indians, by which he is enabled to cure Scrofula in its worst forms; it is to this Empiric that I alluded in the note at page 33; and it may be worthy of notice that the plant upon which he relies for success, is the Pyrola Umbellata.

620. Philosophical Transactions, 1799.

621. Warner’s Cordial. Rhubarb bruised ℥j; Sennæ ℥ss; Saffron ʒj; Powdered Liquorice ʒiv; Raisins pounded ℔j; Brandy oiij; digest for a week and strain.

Moseley’s Pills. The stomachic Pills which are sold under this name, consist merely of Rhubarb and Ginger.

622. Dr. Rehman asserts that it is the root of the same species as that which produces the Turkey variety, but that it is prepared with less care.

623. The seeds of this plant, from which the oil is expressed, are variegated with black and white streaks, resembling in shape as well as colour, the insect Ricinis or Tick, whence the name. These seeds, from the acrid juice in their skins, are very drastic and emetic; they were however used by Hippocrates. Mathiolus attempted to correct their emetic quality by torrefaction, but without success. Gulielmus Piso proposed a tincture of them, but the preparation is not only uncertain, but unsafe in its operation. See Tiglii Semina.

624. For the derivation of the name Castor oil, see p. 39.

625. The sugar cane is called in Arabic Lukseb. The produce of it, Assakur, hence Sugar. Some authors have attempted to derive the word from Succus a juice; this is obviously an error.

626. For this purpose it may be added to certain ointments to prevent their becoming rancid. For the reasons, however, above stated, it must not be boiled with the ingredients, but added after they are cold.

627. In those districts where Soap is generally made from wood ashes, or from Russian or American potass, unless Salt were added in large quantities, it would not have any consistence. As Kelp and common Barilla contain a sufficient quantity of it, no further addition is required.

628. Transparent Soap is made by carefully evaporating the alcoholic solution. The solution itself is sold under the name of Shaving Liquid, or “Essence Royale pour faire la Barbe.”

629. When a solution of soap and sub-acetate of lead are added together, the potass of the former combines with the acetic acid of the latter, and the fat and oxyd of lead are disengaged; the one rising to the surface, while the other is precipitated; and yet notwithstanding this complete decomposition, some surgeons are in the habit of using an application which consists of a drachm of the Liquor Plumbi Sub-Acetatis, and two ounces of the Linimentum Saponis! We cannot have any hesitation in deciding upon the inefficacy of such a mixture.

630. Godfrey’s Cordial. The following receipt for this nostrum was obtained from a wholesale druggist, who makes and sells many hundred dozen bottles in the course of a year. There are however several other formulæ for its preparation, but they are not essentially different. Infuse ℥ix of Sassafras, and of the seeds of Carraway, Coriander, and Anise, of each ℥j, in six pints of water, simmer the mixture until it is reduced to four pints; then add ℔vj of Treacle, and boil the whole for a few minutes; when it is cold, add f℥iij of the tincture of Opium. The extensive and indiscriminate use of this nostrum in the nursery, is a subject of national opprobrium, and is so considered by foreign writers. See Fodéré, Medicine Legale, vol. iv. p. 22.

631. M. Virey says, “On observe que des acides châtrent, pour ainsi parler, tout l’energie de la Scammonée.”

632. Count Warwick’s Powder. The purgative long known and esteemed under this name, consisted of Scammony, Oxide of Antimony, and Cream of Tartar. It is much extolled by Baglivi, and by Van-Swieten, as an efficacious purgative in intermittent fevers.

633. The English physicians do not do justice to this valuable article. In this country it enjoys a high and deserved reputation. As a remedy in Croup it has long been esteemed as one of our most efficient resources, and more recently it has been very warmly recommended as a powerful emmenagogue. In Croup, it should not be given until after the use of venesection and other evacuants. It may then be administered in the form of decoction, prepared from half an ounce of the bruised root boiled in eight ounces of water down to four. Of this a tea spoonful is to be taken every hour or half hour as circumstances may require. When used as an emmenagogue, the decoction is to be prepared by simmering in a close vessel ℥j of the bruised root in a pint of boiling water, until it is reduced about one third—of this four ounces are to be taken daily, and to be increased as far as the stomach will bear, at the menstrual period. Ed.

634. It enters into the composition of Stoughton’s Elixir, for which see Gentianæ Radix.

635. It is for this reason that the cake left after expression is so much more pungent than the seeds, for the fixed oil can be easily separated by pressure.

636. Whitehead’s Essence of Mustard.—This consists of oil of turpentine, camphor, and a portion of spirit of rosemary; to which is added a small quantity of flour of mustard.

Whitehead’s Essence of Mustard Pills.—Balsam of Tolu, with resin!

Ready Made Mustard.—This is made up with currant wine, and sugar; formerly Must, or grape juice, was employed for this purpose, whence the name Mustard.

637. This term is also applied to the Sub-carbonate of Ammonia. The objection to its use depends upon the solecism which it involves; the division of an atom, which, according to chemical principles, is indivisible; but this objection may be answered by stating, that the term is one merely of convenience, and serves to express the proportions of the acid and its base. The chemical difficulty is at once solved by multiplying each by two, which will make the proportions as 3 to 2. instead of 1½ to 1.

638. Sodaic Powders.—Contained in two distinct papers, one of which is blue, the other white; that in the former consists of ʒss of the carbonate of soda, that in the latter of grs. xxv of tartaric acid. These powders require half a pint of water. It is very evident that a solution of these powders is by no means similar to “Soda Water,” which it is intended to emulate; for in this latter preparation, the soda is in combination only with carbonic acid; whereas the solution of the “Sodaic Powders” is that of a neutral salt, with a portion of fixed air diffused through it.

Patent Seidlitz Powders.—These consist of two different powders; the one, contained in a white paper, consists of ʒij of Tartarized Soda, and ℈ij of Carbonate of Soda; that in the blue paper, of grs. xxxv of tartaric acid. The contents of the white paper are to be dissolved in half a pint of spring water, to which those of the blue paper are to be added; the draught is to be taken in a state of effervescence. The acid being in excess renders it more grateful, and no less efficacious as a purgative. This preparation cannot be said to bear any other resemblance to the mineral water of Seidlitz, than in being purgative. The water of this spring, which was discovered by Hoffman about a century ago, contains Sulphate of Magnesia as its active ingredient, together with Muriate of Magnesia, and Sulphate, and Carbonate of Lime. In the Codex Medicamentarius of Paris there are two formulæ for the preparation of a water which may resemble that of Seidlitz, the one differing from the other merely in the proportion of its Sulphate of Magnesia.

639. Our English Salt is generally thus contaminated; for which reason it is unfit for the curing of several kinds of fish; this will not appear strange, says Mr. Parkes, when it is considered that merely its own weight of water is all that is necessary for the complete solution of muriate of magnesia; a circumstance which renders it impossible to preserve such salt for any length of time in a dry state. This muriate however might be separated from common salt, on a large scale, for one shilling per cwt. By exposing the salt to a gentle heat in reverberatory furnaces, the muriatic acid of the magnesian muriate will fly off, and the magnesia (on a subsequent solution of the salt) will be precipitated. It is well known that muriate of magnesia begins to part with its acid at a temperature a little higher than that of boiling water.

640. The annual quantity of salt raised from the Salt Mines and Springs in Europe, is estimated at from 25 to 30 millions of cwt.

641. The respect paid to Salt amongst Eastern nations is very remarkable, and may be traced to the highest antiquity. Homer gives to it the epithet of θεὶον, Il. ix. p. 214.

642. In addition to the numerous instances cited by these authors, I may here introduce one which has been just communicated to me by my friend Mr. John Taylor, the agent of the London Company for working the Real del Monte Silver Mines in Mexico. He states that the ore, which consists of the Sulphuret of Silver, is, together with Mercury, amassed in heaps with iron pyrites and common salt; and that such is the greediness of the Mules employed in the works for the Salt, that they are constantly licking the materials; the consequence is that a portion of the Silver Amalgam is introduced into their stomachs; the animals, however, suffer no inconvenience; but, after death, on opening their stomachs, it is not unusual to find considerable masses of Silver, the mercury having escaped, or been dissolved by the gastric juice.

643. The celebrated Indian Tonic for Dyspepsia and Gout, called Bit laban, is prepared by fusing together muriate of soda and some other ingredients. See Dr. Fleming’s Catalogue of Indian Medicinal plants and drugs, p. 54, 55.

644. I have myself witnessed the bad effects of a diet of unsalted fish; and in my examination before a Committee of the House of Commons in 1818, appointed “for the purpose of inquiring into the laws respecting the Salt Duties,” I stated the great injury which the poorer classes in many districts sustained in their health, from an inability to procure this essential article. Lord Somerville (in his address to the Board of Agriculture) gave an interesting account of the effects of a punishment which formerly existed in Holland. “The ancient laws of the country ordained men to be kept on bread alone, UNMIXED WITH SALT, as the SEVEREST punishment that could be inflicted upon them in their moist climate; the effect was horrible: these wretched criminals are said to have been DEVOURED BY WORMS, engendered in their own stomachs.”

Salt was an object of taxation at a very early period in this country; Ancus Martius, 640 years before our era ‘Salinarum Vectigal instituit.’ This tribute was continued on the Britons when our Isle was possessed by the Romans, who worked the Droitwich Mines, and who made salt part of their soldiers Salarium, or salary. Hence the custom at the Eton Montem of asking for salt.

The great advantages which must ultimately accrue to this nation in its fisheries, agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, from a late remission of the odious and impolitic tax upon salt, are incalculable. The government of France appears to have been as impolitic with regard to this tax as the English. Buonaparte abolished the collection of turnpike dues; and imposed a tax on salt, payable at the Salt-pans, in its stead. It is not perhaps generally known, that by the aid of this tax he was enabled to complete the grand entrance into Italy, over the Simplon; so that it may be fairly observed, that if Hannibal was enabled to cross the Alps by the aid of Vinegar—Buonaparte, by the assistance of Salt, succeeded in constructing a public road over the same mountains.

645. Cheltenham Salts.—A factitious compound has been long vended, as a popular purgative, under this name; it is formed by triturating together the following salts. Sulphate of Soda, grs. 120. Sulphate of Magnesia, grs. 66. Muriate of Soda, 10. Sulphate of Iron, gr. ½. As a purgative it is very efficacious, and superior probably to that which is actually obtained by the evaporation of the Cheltenham water itself; for notwithstanding the high pretensions with which this latter salt has been publicly announced, it will be found to be little else than common Glauber’s Salt. This fact has been confirmed by the experiments of Mr. Richard Phillips, (Annals of Philosophy, No. lxi,) who observes, that the “real Cheltenham Salts contain no chalybeate property, but are merely sulphate of soda, mixed with a minute quantity of soda, and a very small portion of common salt.” It could not be imagined that the salt should contain oxide of iron even in a state of mixture, much less in combination, for carbonate of iron is readily decomposed by ebullition, and the oxide of iron is precipitated before the salt can be crystallized. A preparation, under the name of Thomson’s Cheltenham Salts, is accordingly manufactured in London, by evaporating a solution consisting of sulphate of soda and sub-carbonate of soda.

“Efflorescence of real Cheltenham Salts.” The preceding salt deprived of its water of crystallization.

“Efflorescence of real Magnesian Cheltenham Salts,” made from the Waters of the Chalybeate Magnesian Spa. This is asserted to be a sub-sulphate from nature, which combines both a pure and a sub-sulphated magnesia in its composition; “but,” says Mr. Phillips, “neither nature nor art has ever produced such a combination; in truth, it consists of Epsom Salt, with small portions of magnesia, and muriate of magnesia or muriate of soda.”

Murio-sulphate of Magnesia and Iron. The preparation thus named by Mr. Thomson, was found by Mr. Phillips to consist of Epsom Salt, deprived of part of its water of crystallization, and discoloured by a little rust of iron, and containing a small portion of muriate of magnesia.

Thus it appears, that not one of these preparations is similar to the water which is drank at the Spa; in order to remedy this difficulty, Mr. Thomson prepared the “Original Combined Cheltenham Salts,” by evaporating the waters to dryness: but a very small share of chemical penetration is required to satisfy us that no process of this description can remedy the defect described, for as Mr. Phillips has observed, the chalybeate properties of the water must be essentially altered by such an operation.

646. Hungary Water. Aqua Reginæ Hungariæ. This article, when genuine, is a pure spirit distilled from the Rosemary, and is strongly scented with the rich perfume of that aromatic plant.

647. I apprehend that the peculiar flavour of Cogniac depends upon the presence of an æthereal spirit, formed by the action of Tartaric or perhaps Acetic acid upon Alcohol; it is on this account that Nitric Æther, when added to Malt spirits, gives them the flavour of French Brandy. The same flavour is also successfully obtained by distilling British spirits over wine lees, or by distilling a spirit obtained from Raisin Wine, which has become acescent.

In new brandy there also appears to be an uncombined acid, giving to it a peculiar taste and quality, which are lost by age. This explains the reason why the addition of five or six drops of “liquor ammoniæ,” to each bottle of new brandy, will impart to it the qualities of that of the oldest date.

648. Taylor’s Red Bottle, commonly called the Whitworth Doctor. British Brandy coloured with Cochineal, and flavoured with oil of Origanum.

649. Mr. Parkes, in his Chemical Essays, has the following remark: “an ingenious friend assures me that if new rum be exposed for a night to a severe frost, and then removed to a heated room, and thus alternately treated for a week or two, it will in that short time have acquired a flavour equal to fine old spirits.” The mischievous effects of new rum, as drank in the West Indies, would seem to depend upon the presence of Lead; see Plumbi Acetas.

650. Mock Arrack. The author of ‘Apicius Redivivus,’ directs, for the purpose of making a mock Arrack, that two scruples of Benzoic acid be added to every quart of Rum. By a receipt of this kind the celebrated Punch of Vauxhall is prepared.

651. The famous Helvetian Styptic, described in page 83, depended wholly on this accidental contamination for its colour, and it was no small mortification to our chemists, when this nostrum was first introduced amongst us, that they could not prepare it with our own spirits, but were obliged to be at the expense of true French Brandy. Our own Spirits, although equally coloured, would never produce a violet tincture; at length, however, the mystery was discovered, and the gall nut imparted to the tincture that characteristic colour which was so long considered essential to its efficacy; but the discovery threw discredit upon the nostrum, and it fell into disuse.

652. If any additional argument were necessary, we might repeat, that Arsenic in its metallic state is not poisonous. As it is almost impossible to reduce metallic arsenic to a state of powder, without its becoming oxidized, M. Renault had recourse to its alloys for deciding the question; and he found that Mispickel (an alloy of iron and arsenic,) when given to the extent of two drachms, had no apparent effect; this result agrees with the conclusion of Bayen in his work on Tin, and proves that the arsenic which may be contained in that metal cannot produce any medicinal effect, as it exists in its metallic state. Recherches Chimiques sur l’Etain, par Bayen et Charlard, 1781.

653. Guy’s Powder or Ethiopia. This once celebrated remedy consisted of pure rasped Tin, Mercury, and Sublimed Sulphur, triturated together.

Blaine’s Powder for the Distemper in Dogs. The basis of this nostrum is the Aurum Musivum, or Sulphuret of Tin, and which has been said to be more efficacious in cases of Tænia than the simple metal.

Mathieu’s Vermifuge was indebted to Tin for its efficacy, see Filicis Radix.

654. Sulphur Lozenges. Sublimed Sulphur one part, sugar eight parts, Tragacanth mucilage q. s. used in Asthma, and in Hæmorrhoids.

655. Sugar, perfectly free from the extractive matter with which it exists in combination in nature, and which constitutes that compound to which the name of Sweet Principle has been given, will not, however diluted, undergo any kind of fermentation; for it is the presence of this peculiar extractive matter, the natural leaven of fruits, that enables it to undergo that process; since, however, all clayed sugars, or modifications of sugar which are short of perfect purity, still contain a small proportion of this extractive, they are capable of fermenting, when sufficiently dilute; Dr. Maccullough, in his essay on the art of making wine, observes, that by the addition of a very small quantity of the Sulphite of Potass, the fermentation of syrups and preserves may be effectually prevented; he states also, that the same object may generally be attained by the use of Oxy-muriate of Potass, a salt absolutely tasteless, and easily procured.

656. The Damask Rose, Rosa Centifolia, of which this Syrup is composed, was imported into this country by Linacre, on his return from Italy.

657. Major Cochrane’s Cough Medicine. White poppy heads without seeds, are made into a decoction, which is strained, and boiled again with vinegar and brown sugar, until it assumes the consistence of syrup, which is then acidified by elixir of vitriol.

658. It would appear that there are two principles of activity in Tobacco, an essential oil, and nicotin, either of which are, individually, capable of producing death, but by a very different physiological action, the former by its effects on the brain, the latter by its influence on the heart! See page 132.

659. It seems very probable that the “juice of cursed hebenon,” by which, according to Shakespeare, the king of Denmark was poisoned, was no other than the essential oil of Tobacco:—

——“Sleeping within mine orchard,
My custom always of the afternoon,
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,
With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,
And in the porches of mine ears, did pour
The leperous distilment.”

In the first place, the learned commentator Dr. Grey, observes that the word here used (hebenon), was more probably designated by a metathesis, either of the poet or transcriber, for henebon, i. e. henbane. Now it appears from Gerarde, that “tabaco” was commonly called henbane of Peru, (hyoscyamus Peruvianus,) and when we consider how high the public prejudice ran against this herb in the reign of James, it seems very likely that Shakespeare should have selected it, as an agent of extraordinary malignity. No preparation of the hyoscyamus, with which we are acquainted, would produce death by application to the ear, whereas the essential oil of Tobacco would, without doubt, occasion a fatal issue. The term distilment has also called forth a remark from Steevens, which is calculated to support this conjecture; surely, says he, this expression signifies, that the preparation was the result of a distillation.

660. See “An Essay on the means of lessening Pain, and facilitating certain Cases of difficult parturition, by W. P. Dewes, M.D. 1806. also Med. Journ. vol. xviii.”

661. Cephalic Snuff. The basis of this errhine is powdered Asarum, diluted with some vegetable powder.

662. Tamarind, from Timmer a Date, and Hend India, Timmerhend, i. e. Date of India.

663. Various substances have been proposed at different times as substitutes for Coffee. In the “Fourth Century of Observations” in the “Miscellanea Curiosa,” we find a critical dissertation on the (Cahve) Coffee of the Arabians; and on European Coffee, or such as may be prepared from grain or pulse. Dillenius gives the result of his own preparations made with Pease, Beans, and Kidney Beans, but says that that made from Rye comes the nearest to true Coffee, and was with difficulty distinguished from it. This fact is curious, in as much as a spurious Coffee has been lately vended, which is nothing more than roasted Rye. The article is well known by the name of “Hunt’s Œconomical Breakfast Powder.”

664. See “Some account of the Medicinal and other Uses of various Substances prepared from Trees of the genus Pinus, by W. G. Maton, M.D. &c. being a Supplement to Mr. Lambert’s splendid work on that genus.”

665. The Τερμὶνθος of Theophrastus (lib. 3. c. 3.) and Dioscorides; (lib. 1, c. 76) from which the word Terebinthus seems to have been derived.

666. The term Balsam is very improperly applied to this substance, since it contains no Benzoic Acid.

667. The product of the Amyris Gileadensis, and probably the Balsamum Judaicum, Syriacum e Mecca, Opobalsamum, &c. of the older writers.

668. A fluid extract, prepared by decoction from the twigs of this species of Fir, is the well known Essence of Spruce, which, when fermented with melasses, forms the popular beverage, called “Spruce Beer,” (Cerevisia Pini Laricis.)

True Riga Balsam, Beaume de Carpathes, from the shoots of the Pinas Cembra, previously bruised, and macerated for a month in water.

This same fir also affords Briançon Turpentine.

Hungarian Balsam.—A spontaneous exudation from the P. Pumilio, or Mugho Pine.

669. Lib. 16, c. 10.

670. Prax. Med. Lib. 14. c. 1.

671. Starkey’s Soap. This compound is effected by a long and tedious trituration of alkali and oil of turpentine.

672. This case was occasioned by a violent whirling of the body in a frolic! the circumstances attending it are so interesting, that I shall take an opportunity of submitting the details to the profession. See Dr. Yeat’s work on Hydrocephalus.

673. See “A Memoir on the employment of Terebinthinous Remedies in Disease, by James Copland, M.D.” in the Medical and Physical Journal for 1821, p. 185.

674. Kaauw de Persp. N. 430.

675. The Guestonian Embrocation for Rheumatism. ℞. Ol. Terebinth: f℥iss—Ol: Oliv: f℥iss—Acid: Sulph. dilut: fʒiij.

676. Scouring Drops. The peculiar odour which distinguishes oil of turpentine, may be destroyed by the addition of a few drops of some fragrant volatile oil, as that of lemons: a combination of this kind is commonly sold under the name of Scouring Drops, for the purpose of removing paint, oil, or grease from cloth.

677. Dutch, or Haerlem Drops. The basis of this nostrum consists of the residue of this redistillation, which is a thick, red, resinous matter, to which the name of Balsam of Turpentine has been given; a preparation, however, is frequently vended as “Dutch Drops,” which is a mixture of oil of turpentine, tincture of guaiacum, spirit of nitric ether, with small portions of the oils of amber and cloves. Serapion, the younger, one of the earlier Arabian writers on the Materia Medica, describes them as bearing some analogy to “Pine nuts.”

678. The reader will find an account of the Botanical Literature of this plant, by J. Frost, Director of the Medico-Botanical Society, in the 17th volume of the Medical Repository, p. 461.

679. Rumphius, (Herb: Amboinense) in speaking of the Grana Molucca, observes that women who are desirous of getting rid of their husbands, give them four grains at one dose.

680. See Ainslie’s Materia Medica of Hindostan.

681. I state this fact on the authority of a communication made by order of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to the College of Physicians, enclosing the extract of a letter from Mr. Conwell.

682. Journal of Science and Arts. No. xxvi.

683. I understand that to the Veterinary Surgeon this oil has proved an article of great utility, as it uniformly purges the horse, and may be employed, for that purpose, in those cases in which Aloes would be inadmissible.

684. In making such a tincture we should employ a fluid-drachm of Rectified Spirit, to two drops of the oil. They should be digested for some time and then filtered. With all the care that can be used, a certain portion of the spirit will be evaporated, and half a fluid-drachm of the tincture may be thus considered as nearly equivalent to a drop and a half of the oil.

685. The object of this preliminary step is to saturate the alcohol with a fixed oil, that it may not dissolve any portion of that in the Tiglium, and thus confuse the results. The quantity of fixed oil which alcohol is capable of dissolving is extremely small, and will not in the least degree injure the alcoholic solution for subsequent medicinal use.

686. The change of colour which Guaiacum undergoes by admixture with other bodies, not only affords a test by which we may appreciate its purity, but at the same time it becomes a reagent by which we may assay the virtues of other vegetable substances. According to the experiments of M. Taddey and Rudolphi, it appears that Guaiacum in powder, is an excellent test for vegetable gluten, forming with it a fine blue colour, whence it affords the means of determining the quality of wheat flour. From the experiments of M. Planche, it moreover appears that there is a series of vegetable roots which, when fresh, are capable of producing a blue colour, if introduced into an alcoholic solution of Guaiacum: so that we may hereafter be furnished with a chemical test that will at once appreciate their freshness, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest desiderata of pharmaceutical science.

A communication has appeared from Mr. A. T. Thomson, in which he proposes Guaiacum as a test for the freshness of Colchicum. I have, however, never been able to succeed with it, to my satisfaction.

687. Hudson’s Preservative for the Teeth and Gums. Equal parts of Tincture of Myrrh, Tincture of Bark, and Cinnamon water, to which are added Arquebusade and Gum Arabic.

Greenough’s Tincture for the Teeth. The following receipt is given on the authority of Mr. Gray. Of Bitter Almonds, 2 oz. Brazil Wood and Cassia Buds, equal parts, half an ounce; root of the Florentine Iris, 2 dr.: of Cochineal, Salt of Sorrel, and Alum, equal parts, one drachm; Rectified Spirit, 2 pints; Spirit of Horse Radish, half an ounce.

Ruspini’s Tincture for the Teeth. This consists of the root of the Florentine Iris, eight ounces; Cloves, one ounce; Rectified Spirit, two pints; Ambergris, one scruple.