Angora-Bozouk.-This root was of a madder colour exteriorly, and yellowish in the interior, cylindrical, 10 centimetres long by 24 in diameter; 40 grams of the pounded root treated with alcohol yielded 4 grams 20 centigrams (or 10:30 per cent.) of a purgative substance so hygrometric, that it be came syrupy when exposed to the air. Alep Isladé.-Root of a dark grey exterior, yellowish in the interior, ligneous and very porous; 50 gram of the root treated with alcohol gave a percentage of about 5:40 of a purgative product very hygrometric. To summarize this inquiry, it is clear from the careful researches made, that the great difference in quality which exists between one kind of scammony and another, is due less to the nature of the soil, or the varieties of the plant which produce them, than to the defective modes of extraction of the milky juice, and the successive manipulations to which it is submitted. CARBOLIC ACID AND CREASOTE. in all proportions with glycerine. This notice, however, requires, I beg to observe, a slight modification. True creasote, which stands the above test. is perfectly miscible in any proportion with anhydrous or nearly anhydrous glycerine, but it is not so with a somewhat diluted glycerine; a clear solution of ereasote and of the same weight of anhydrous glycerine becomes turbid on addition of a little water, whereas a similar solution of carbolic acid may be diluted with water without separation of carbolic acid.* The blue colouration of carbolic acid, due to perchloride of iron, enables us to discover it when mixed with creasote, but not to prove the presence of creasote in carbolic acid. The latter question, however, seems to me of less practical importance; yet, creasote, if present to some extent, would quickly separate in the above process, a+b+c+d, if more water be added. For this purpose the addition of perchloride of iron would be useless. CHINESE CHEMICAL MANUFACTURES.+ BY F. PORTER SMITH, M.B. There is a body of men in China called Taouists, the professed followers of Lau-tsze, the great philosopher of China. Their studies have embraced every department A fact which is lost sight is that the root is longlived, though the stem is annual, for it does not attain its full development till after the space of several years, and it is only after the third or fourth year of growth that the juice is completely saturated with gummy resinous substances. The extraction by expression is the most useful and practical. of knowledge, including especially the subject of alBy selecting the most healthy-looking roots, clean-chemy, as an art and as a science. The Rev. J. Adkins, ing and cutting them, and submitting them to a gra- a veritable Christian Taouist, pointed out in a communidual pressure in a canvas bag, two men will obtain cation made to the Hongkong Branch of the Royal in two days more than four will procure in eight Asiatic Society in the year 1855, that alchemy was days by the old method of incising the root. pursued as a practical study for two centuries (3) before the Christian era, and for several centuries after that period. He argues from the facts that, as the Chinese were possessed of this knowledge long before alchemy was studied in the West, and the Arabian or Mohammedan traders who were the reputed discoverers of this art, had frequent and early intercourse with China by land and by sea, this interesting branch of knowledge was borrowed from the Chinese as the first professors of this true science. In the pursuit of some flux by which the dross of animalism was to be purged away, and the higher part of man's nature to be crystallized out and sublimed into some stable and eternal form, these Taouists practised fasting, discipline, worship, the use of charms, and the search for a sovereign remedy for all the ills of life. More essentially Chinese than the followers of Confucius, these students of nature started with the study of that oldest scientific book in the world, the Fih King, or Classic of Changes, hoping to wring from it some reply to their deep-searching cry for the truth as it is in nature. BY PROFESSOR FLÜCKIGER, BERN. A good plan for distinguishing these two substances is as follows: Take a. Solution of Perchloride of Iron about 1:34 spec. gr. b. Creasote, that is to say, the liquid to be tested for Creasote c. Alcohol, containing about 85 per cent. d. Water Now a+b mixed assume no peculiar colour. On the other hand, in the case of carbolic acid, suppose likewise, a. The above ferric solution, weighing equally B. Carbolic Acid (phenol) 7. Spirit of Wine, as above. 8. Water Now a+ will show a yellowish hue. Parts. 1 5 60 1 9 Referring to the Notes on Chinese Literature' by Mr. Wylie, we gather that the earliest work now extant on the subject of alchemy is the San-t'ung-k'i by Wei Pehyang of the second century after Christ. Koh-hung, better known by the name of Pau-p'oh-tsze, who lived in the Tsin time, during the close (in the early part of the fourth century after Christ) of that dynasty, was a voluminous author on alchemy, materia medica and other 60 kindred subjects. He is largely quoted in the Pen Ts au Kang Muh as an authority on chemical and medical subjects. Many other authors have included the subject of transmutations in their writings. 5 a+B+y yield a clear brown liquid. a+B+y+8 display a beautiful permanently blue solution, without separation of carbolic acid, or the few drops sinking down may be redissolved à good' test for the purpose under notice, creasote glycerine is also being not or almost not soluble in that liquid, whereas, as it is well known, carbolic acid readily mixes * PHARM JOURN., May, 1872, p. 921. As the result of these researches, pursued with all perseverance, but no success in, finding the Elixir of distilled glycerine of commerce, and he considers the advanThe glycerine employed by Mr. Morson was the ordinary tage of the test suggested by him to consist in its simplicity and easy application.-ED. PHARM. JOURN. + Reprinted from Transactions of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.' present day have a number of exceedingly simple and ' called Shih-ting-chi, probably produced by the accidental economical processes by which they obtain tolerably mixture of some fatty substance with the ordinary pure mercurial and other preparations, of the greatest brimstone of commerce, is fairly described in Chinese service even in their now unskilled hands. Their appa- works. The composition of Chinese gunpowder, called ratus is of the very rudest character, and their materials by them " fiery medicine," is not very different, in some are often of the most unexpected kind, but with these they can manufacture calomel and vermilion of the most beautiful description. cases, from that of English powder. The charcoal of the willow and the Cunninghamia sinensis or Chinese Pine, is used in the manufacture. The Chinese are The manufacture of enamels and porcelain formed aware of the disinfecting and insecticidal powers of sulanother field of chemical research, carrying them to the phur and arsenic. They enter into the composition of same effective results, produced they knew not how or pastilles for getting rid of mosquitos, and the good effects why. The taste for colouring vessels, walls, scrolls, of the gases resulting from the burning of crackers as and some few other objects led them to the study of the expellers of evil influences are appreciated by the Chimetals iron and copper, from which they extracted red nese in some quarters. The alkalies soda and potash and blue pigments. The manufacture of fire-works has are turned to some account, although nitre and soda, or been also a means of increasing their chemical know- natron, are often confounded together. Carbonate of ledge. These artists, called Yen-ho-kia, learnt the use soda is brought from Mongolia, where the soil is charged of iron, camphor, and other secret substances, by the with this alkaline substance, and requires no manipulaaddition of which the flame is altered or intensified. tion to render it useful as a means of raising bread. It has been long known to these numerous manufac- Potash, or pearlash, obtained by burning the rank turers that by the addition of a small quantity of arsenic, herbage of inland districts is also to be met with in the noise of crackers is rendered much louder and sharper. China. Tsi-nan-fu in Shantung is, or was, the seat of The preparation of pigments for artists, of whom there this rough manufacture. Both of these alkalies are are described in authentic works some 1607 celebrated used in Pehchihli to make a coarse soap, a branch of names, has been a stimulus to the manipulation of chemical manufacture which might be well taken up by minerals. To this day the Chinese White is to be found the Chinese, and subsidised by Missionary Societies. in the colour-artists' shops all over Europe as the best Ferrocyanide of potassium, a beautiful yellow salt, is pigment of that description. The manufacture of ink, made in Canton, and by Cantonese in other parts of that most potent agent, has led to several curious ob- China, by burning dry refuse of animal substances, such servations of a chemical nature, of which more pre- as horn-parings, to a red heat with pearlash and a quansently. tity of iron filings in a covered crucible. The process is kept a profound secret, as far as possible. The importance of this salt, sometimes called yellow prussiate of potash, is its employment along with alum and sulphate of iron to make that beautiful dye prussian bluecalled "foreign indigo" by the Chinese, who largely wear the livery of this Conservative colour. Much trouble is often taken by members of the Sinological order to invent new names for old things to China. Chemists have been known for hundreds of years in Chinese works as Tan-lu-kia, or Tan-tsau-kia, The name Tan-kia, a shortened form, as well as the other terms, is applied in works to what may be called the manufacturing chemists of China. A very fair chemical nomenclature may be constructed out of the plentiful terms quoted in the Pen Ts'au from the writings of these alchemists and physicians. Tan stands (To be continued.) for oxides, when preceded by some specific character. THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF RHUBARBS. This word does not mean exclusively a red substance, such as cinnabar, but may mean some yellow, white, or red preparation. The dot in the centre of the character stands for the fire, that servant of the alchemist, and the rest of the character, sometimes written in the inverted form with the legs turned up, will do for the furnace, or crucible of the operator. Fan is the equivalent of the old chemical word vitriol, or a sulphate. Other similar terms may be found to express many conditions of inorganic matter, by those willing to search for them. Something like a hint at testing substances is found in the Pen Ts'au, where the antipathies of drugs are treated of. The extrication of ammonia when lime is heated along with sal ammoniac, the discoloration of silver and salts of lead by sulphur, and other instances might be adduced as evidence of some vague notions of the reactions of chemical substances. Something like an attempt at the statement of the equivalent composition of substances is seen in one of the names of Ethiops Mineral, sometimes called Rh-ki-sha, or the "twonatured salt." BY DR. CAUVET, PHARMACIEN MILITAIRE.* Conscientious pharmacists, who prepare their own powdered rhubarb, know how difficult it is to distinguish between the true Chinese rhubarb and the root obtained in Europe by the culture of various species of Rheum. The dealers in these false rhubarbs prepare them with so much skill that they may be easily mistaken for exotic rhubarbs of superior quality. The points of resemblance, however, are superficial, all on the exterior; for, although it is possible to dress a root so as to give it the appearance of a true rhubarb, it is not easy to modify its structure, and all the indigenous rhubarbs, whatever may be the species cultivated and the care bestowed upon their cultivation, present the Rhapontic structure. It will be better now to proceed to the particular discussion of the subject in hand-"Chinese Chemical Manufactures,"-by taking them in detail. During a sojourn at Toulouse a pharmacien of that city submitted to the author a specimen of some rhubarb that he had received from a house of undoubted respectability, but with which, despite its handsome appearance, he was not satisfied. It resembled the variety of China called flat," and its only apparent fault was that it was a little soft and did not crackle between the teeth so much as rhubarb of good quality. After removing the fine powder by which it was covered, it was noticed that its In the making of gunpowder the Chinese have prac- superior or convex surface did not present the white tised a good deal of chemistry unconsciously. The lines arranged in a delicate network that are seen in manufacture of nitrate of potash from the efflorescent the true rhubarb, and that its inferior or flat surface was salts which are found on the surface of the soil, and on devoid of the characteristic stars that are always found walls and places charged with urine, is carried on on a in the Russian, and more rarely in the Chinese varieties. large scale in China. The properties of sulphur are well The absence of these two characters seemed to point to known to Chinese writers. It is procurable in large quantities from the sulphur pits near Tamsui and Kelung Memoir read before the Paris Société de Pharmacie, in Formosa, as lately pointed out by Mr. Taintor in the March 6th, 1872; (Journ. de Pharm. et de Chimie [4] vol. xv. Customs' Reports for 1869. The red amorphous sulphur, p. 275). a false rhubarb, and an examination of its structure was therefore made. The root was sawn transversely across, and the section smoothed with a knife; it was then wiped lightly to remove the dust, and moistened with a few drops of water. Upon comparison then with a specimen of genuine Chinese rhubarb it was evident that it was obtained from a different source. The following are the principal points of difference between the French indigenous, the Russian and the Chinese rhubarbs : French Indigenous Rhubarb.-A transverse section presents a rayed aspect, formed of alternate white and red lines, proceeding from the centre to the circumference, the white lines being a little larger than the red. Just Fig. 1. French Indigenous Rhubarb : transverse section, before reaching the circumference in circular pieces, or close to the edge in flat pieces, the radiating lines are cut by a brown zone, circular in the first, more or less interrupted in the second, but always visible. Russian Rhubarb.-The transverse section of this root exhibits yellow lines upon a white ground, distinct, some times anastomosing, long or short, sinuous, often broken by radial systems. These star-like forms are circular or lengthened, and of variable size; their rays, clear yellow near the centre, become brown as they approach the circumference of the star, where they are generally of a very dark tint. As in the Rhapontic, the yellow lines run from the centre to the circumference; but this direction is ordinarily masked by the interposed radial systems and the flexuosity of the lines. Chinese Rhubarb.-A transverse section shows light yellow rays proceeding from the centre to the circumference, and describing very flexuous lines. These lines appear often to anastomose, and form in the apparent anastomosis a sort of irregular star, the exterior side of Fig. 2. Chinese Rhubarb : transverse section, natural! size. which is furnished with a greater number of rays than the interior. This disposition is seen principally in the cambium, and arises from the multiplication of the rays of the ligneous layer, which may be easily seen by means of a magnifying glass. As in the Russian rhubarb, the intervals between the rays are sometimes occupied by stars; but these are less numerous, less distinct, smaller and without the brown or blackish circle that characterizes the others. If these three descriptions be compared, it will be seen that the French indigenous or false rhubarb is distinguished from the exotic or true by (1). The rectilinear disposition of its rays, which go from the centre to the circumference. (2). The presence, upon its circumference, of a brown zone, relatively large and especially very distinct. (3). The absence of the radiated systems (stars), so numerous in the Russian rhubarb, less frequent, but always easy to recognize in the Chinese. In order to render these descriptions more easily comprehended, two engravings are given, one representing a transverse section of the French indigenous rhubarb, the other a transverse section of the Chinese. As the aspect of the latter varies with every root, and every piece of a root, it is only possible to represent its general appearance. On the contrary, the structure of the indigenous rhubarb varies so little that it is only necessary to examine one section, bearing in mind that the brown zone will be complete or not according as the specimen is an entire one, or only a portion of a root, or that it has been little or much cleansed. LIQUOR FERRI DIALYSATI. BY PROFESSOR G. DRAGENDORFF, I prepare the above in the following manner, which mainly is only a modification of the method of Grossinger:-By mixing 300 c. c. liquor ferri sesquichloridi of sp. gr. of 1.37, and 100 c. c. of caustic ammonia, sp. gr. 0.92, a mixture is produced, which after standing one or two hours, becomes perfectly clear and dark dissolved in ferric chloride. From this mixture, subbrown. It contains ammonic chloride and ferric hydrate jected to dialysis, ferric chloride and ammonic chloride pass into the outer liquid, leaving upon the dialyser a brown solution of the colloidal ferric oxide. The latter capable of being produced perfectly free from ferric is perfectly tasteless, and, as was shown by Graham, chloride. (For 30-3 eq. of ferric oxide-Fe,03 (Fe=28), he had 1 eq. HCl. Annal. d. Ch. and Ph., vol. 121, p. 1.) This solution is used successfully under the above name, and it only devolves upon us to bring it to a definite volume, to render at least an approximate determination of a dose possible for the physician. This is the main difficulty in the way of preparing this substance. The solutions of the colloidal ferric oxide possess, as has already been mentioned by Grossinger, immense powers of attraction for water. In the dialysing drum, always observed, even if the level of the liquid within as I used to employ it, made of parchment paper, I the dialyser was half an inch higher than that of the external water, not only a strong outward current into the water, but also the reverse from the water into the dialyser. In other words, the contents of the dialyser possessed a great tendency toward dilution from absorbed water. I hardly succeeded in obtaining solutions of ferric oxide containing over 4.5 per cent. FeO3+3H0, some containing only 15 per cent. I was forced, therefore, to abandon the previously used dialysing drum, and to place the iron solution into a pig's bladder, washed with dilute potash lye and then with distilled water. The bladder is filled through a funnel and then tied tightly as possible, so as to be almost completely filled by the solution. The better this is done the less water will enter the bladder during diffusion, and the more concentrated the liquor will remain. In this manner I succeeded in producing a preparation containing 7 per cent. of the ferric trihydrate. The great tendency of the contents of the dialyser to absorb water may be seen by firmly tying the opening of the bladder around a glass tube four or five feet high. In this the liquid will rise several feet above the level of the dialyser. The bladder containing the iron solution is suspended in a cylindrical glass vessel, with its upper portion about an inch below the level of the water, the quantity of which in the outer vessel should be at least four or five times that of the iron solution within the bladder. This exterior water is changed during the first few days every twelve hours, and later, every twenty-four. Well-water cannot replace distilled water during the first few days. The first diffused liquors, rich in ferric chloride, can be employed for the precipitation of the ferric oxide. The diffusion is continued with distilled water until, after one lasting twenty-four hours, nothing is dissolved, which upon the addition of nitric acid will be precipitated by argentic nitrate. In ten or fourteen days this result will be achieved. The iron solution contained in the bladder I suggest to dilute to 1000, when it will contain about 5 per cent. of the ferric hydrate of the above composition. Should too much water have entered the bladder, the liquor may be concentrated in a waterbath (or better, air-bath), at a temperature of 60° or 70° C. In most cases, part of the colloidal ferric oxide will during this process be changed to the normal oxide, and will separate. stances obtained by Armstrong and by Anderson by this means being identical with the first and last of these bases; it appears probable that tetracodeia may be it would seem as though tricodeia were not likely to be formed by the further polymerization of dicodeia, whereas obtained from dicodeia; on the other hand, it is possible that tetracodeia is directly produced from codeia, and that it could not be formed from dicodeia. To settle ebullition with sulphuric acid diluted with its own bulk this point, pure dicodeia was heated to very gentle of water for five hours, the operation being conducted in a long-necked flask so that no appreciable concentration by evaporation took place. At the end of this time the dicodeia was wholly converted into a base, of which ether dissolved only traces; hence no tricodeia was formed. After precipitation by Na,CO, and drying, the free base was dissolved in alcohol and fractionally precipitated by ether. If the alcoholic solution be Learly free from water, the ether throws down solid amorphous The liquor ferri dialysati is best used without any the ether precipitate is a tarry fluid containing water, flakes; but if ten or more per cent. of water be present, addition, which is easily possible, as it is tasteless. Its alcohol, and the base. Flakes of tetracodeia were thus dilution is only permissible with distilled water. Wellwater at once causes a precipitate of the ferric oxide. obtained identical in all respects with that obtained by Even the patient using the iron should drink distilled the action of phosphoric acid; a trace of some product water afterwards, if he thinks it at all necessary. If the of the further action of sulphuric acid appeared to be preparation is to be sweetened, this may be done with simple syrup. Sufficient white sugar may also be added to produce a syrup, but the solution of this sugar must take place at the ordinary temperature. If the solution is attempted at an elevated temperature, frequently a part or all the ferric oxide will separate from the solu- | tion, especially if the sugar be not perfectly white and free from lime. The liquor ferri dialysati keeps well. I have preserved a sample solution of the same over four years, without having noticed any change. Also a sample of syrupus ferri dialysati, prepared by dissolving 120 parts of powdered sugar in 75 parts of the liquor, I have kept for several years without any apparent change. Grossinger has already called attention to the stability of such a syrup. I claim a superiority of these solutions of dialysed iron over those prepared by Hager's method, as mine contain less ferric chloride than Hager's. His proportion between muriatic acid and iron is 13:7. For children and weakly persons, I deem my preparation more useful. A liquor ferri phosphorici dialysati, I prepare by mixing an aqueous solution of the officinal sodic phosphate with an aqueous solution of ferric chloride, and subsequent diffusion. After completion of this process a light brown solution is obtained, containing 3 per cent. ferric phosphate. The proportion of ferric oxide and phosphoric acid was established as 3 eq. to 1 eq. This solution also is tasteless, and may be especially applicable for therapeutic use, possesing the merit over the solutions of ferric phophate ordinarily used of containing common orthophosphoric acid i.e., phosphoric acid in the shape in which the animal body can best assimilate it. Also from this liquor I prepared a syrup by the addition of sugar in the above proportion. But this commenced to show decomposition in about two weeks. The liquid became gelatinous, and acquired an inky taste. After three or four months numerous alge were found in the mixture.-The Chicago Pharmacist. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF THE (Concluded from page 992.) IV. Action of Sulphuric Acid on Codeia and its The results detailed in the previous sections show that the action of sulphuric acid on codeia is to polymerize it, with the formation of di-, tri-, and tetracodeia, the sub present, however, as the free base turned slightly green on drying, without, however, absorbing so much oxygen Dried at 100°, 0-221 grm. gave 0.583 CO, and 0·142 H2O. as to make any appreciable difference in its composition. С144 Calculated. Found. 1728 72.24 71.94 H168 168 7.02 7.14 112 4.68 Ng 04 V. On the Physiological Action of the foregoing Polymerides. By REGINALD STOCKER, M.B., Pathologist in St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. An aqueous solution of the hydrochlorate of codeia and its polymerides was in each case employed, being subcutaneously injected into adult cats (a dog being also employed in a few experiments), quantities equivalent to 0.1 grm. of the anhydrous salt being used in each experiment. Four cats were employed, several trials being made with each animal, and three or four days being allowed to intervene between each experiment, so that the effects of one dose had entirely passed away and the animal entirely recovered before the administration of another dose. The main results observed were follows: as Tetracodeia-Four experiments. In each case profuse anticipation of this result experiments are in progress salivation, micturation and depression; dilated pupils in with morphia. three instances, and lachrymation in two; in one case vomiting and purging; in another increased reflex excitability with an occasional convulsion (cat was weak and not in good condition); slight hypnotism in two cases. In two experiments with the dog, salivation and depression only were produced. From these results it would appear that codeia produces cerebral congestion and increased reflex excitability without vomiting; whilst di- and tetracodeia produce profuse salivation and some depression, with vomiting in several instances; no evidence of cerebral congestion and but little of increased reflex excitability being noticeable. VI. Conclusions. Hesse has shown that by the action of HCl on the baine, there are produced two isomerides of that base, ote forming crystalline salts, one amorphous salts; not improbably these are respectively dithebaine and tetrathebaine. Matthiessen and Foster have shown that cotarnise occurs in crystals of the formula C12H13NO+HO and C12HNO+H20; and the writer's observations indicate that the former substance is more stable than the latter, which rapidly become more or less coloured; not improbably these two forms are polymerides, the first being CHÑ2O+HQ, the second (CHNO)" "H,O. Opianic cid, on heating, furnishes an anhydride of formula CHOrg; this tends to show that the formula of this acid is not less than— C20H2O10; The foregoing results suggest the probability of other bases being capable of forming similar polymerides. In not impossibly, therefore, the formula of narcotine may |