S. Which is the most favourable time for cutting Elixir Pyrophosph. Iron, Quinine and Strychnine.— the poppy-heads? 4. Does the yield of seed increase with the incision?-Zeitsch. oestr. Apotheker- Vereines, July, 1871. FORMULARY OF ELIXIRS AND PREPARATIONS OF THE NEWARK PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION. A short time since we recorded the fact that the Newark (New Jersey) Pharmaceutical Association had issued a formulary of elixirs and unofficinal preparations, by which they proposed to dispense all such compounds unless specially directed otherwise by the prescriber. The following reprint of this formulary is taken from the Chicago Pharmacist. Wine of Beef and Iron. RExtracti Carnis (Liebig's) 1 oz. Ferri Citrat. 96 grs. Vini Xerici 16 oz. Syrupi 2 oz. Pimenta (contus.) dr. Aquæ q. s. ft. 24 oz. Dissolve the extract of beef in 4 oz. of water and add the allspice; after standing ten hours add the wine and syrup, then the citrate of iron, previously dissolved in 2 oz. water: filter. Each fluid ounce contains: fresh beef, 1 oz.; citrate B Cort. Cinchonæ flav. oz. " Sem. Coriand. 2 dr. Cocci Cacti 1 dr. Spts. Vini Deod. 12 oz. Aquæ 10 oz. Glycerinæ 5 oz. Syrupi 5 oz. Reduce the barks, etc., to a moderately fine powder, and pack firmly in a percolator; mix the deodorized spirits, water, glycerine and syrup, adding enough water to make two pints of percolate, to which add 20 grains of powdered tartaric acid, and after standing twenty-four hours, filter. Each fluid ounce contains: 16 grains cinchona bark. Elixir Pyrophosph. Iron and Quinine.— B Ferri Pyrophosph. 160 grs. Spts. Vini Deod. 2 oz. Aquæ 9 oz. Flor. Aurantii 5 oz. Acid. Sulph. dil. q. s. B Elixir Ferri Pyrophosph. et Quiniæ 16 oz. Each fluid ounce contains: pyrophosph. iron, 8 grains; quinine, grain; strychnia, 1-16th grain. Wine of Pepsin. Pepsin (Hawley's) 160 grs. Vini Xerici 16 oz. Acid. Mur. Dil. 1 dr. Dissolve the hypophosphites in the water in a water bath, and filter. Add sufficient water to make up for the evaporation. Add sugar--and apply gentle heat to make syrup-21 oz. Each fluid ounce contains: hypophosphite of soda, lime and potash, 12 grains each; hypophosph. iron, 6 grains. Compound Syrup of Hypophosphites.- B Parrish's formula, omitting cochineal and muriatic acid. See U. S. D. Each teaspoonful contains 1 grain phosphate of iron, 24 grains of lime and the other alkaline phosphates. Elixir Pepsin, Bismuth and Strychnine.— B Pepsin (Hawley's) 256 grs. Aq. Flor. Aurantii 6 oz. Glycerina (pur.) 2 oz. Triturate the pepsin with the water and glycerine, and filter; dissolve the bismuth in 2 oz. orange-flower water, with a few drops of aqua ammoniæ; dissolve the strych nine with a few drops of acetic acid. Add the bismuth THE INFLUENCE OF SUNLIGHT ON PETROLEUM solution to the pepsin, then the balance of the fluids, and finally the solution of strychnia. Each fluid ounce contains: pepsin, 16 grains; citrate of bismuth, 4 grains; strychnine, 1-16th grain. Ferrophosph. Elixir Gentian.— B Cort. Aurantii 1 oz. Sem. Coriand. 1 dr. Macis 1 dr. Rad. Gentian. 1 oz. Spts. Vini Deod. 4 oz. Flor. Aurantii 2 oz. Syrupi 6 oz. Ferri Pyrophosph. 256 grs. OILS. BY M. GROTOWSKY. In some recent experiments made by M. Grotowsky, he has shown that when petroleum oils are exposed, under certain conditions, to sunlight, they absorb oxygen from the air, which is converted into ozone, a phenomenon that has already been observed in some other hydrocarbons. No chemical combination takes place between the oil and the ozone, but the latter remains free, and oxidizes strongly any substance with which it comes in contact. In oils containing ozone the smell is completely modified; they burn with difficulty, and attack rapidly the stoppers of the vessels containing them, especially if the Reduce the roots, seeds, etc., to a moderately fine pow-stoppers be of cork. When glass vessels are used, it has der, pack in a percolator-mix the spirits and waters, and percolate 10 ounces. Dissolve the pyrophosphate of iron, add the syrup and filter. Each fluid ounce represents: 16 grains pyrophosph. iron; 30 grains gentian. THE COLLECTION OF MASTIC AT CHIOS. Mastic flows from the Pistacia Lentiscus, a Terebinthaceous tree, growing principally in the south of the Isle of Chios, about Cape Mastic, which takes its name from this resin, and is situated about an hour's journey from the city of Chios. According to the natives it exudes, not only from artificial incisions, but also spontaneously from the branches, where it congeals in drops, which, under the name of dakra (tears), are gathered separately, and constitute the most esteemed kind. But the bulk of the resin issues from vertical incisions skilfully made with a knife close together round the whole circumference of the trunk, from the root to the branches. A few hours after this operation, which is done about the middle of June, there issues from the incisions a resinous, transparent, aromatic substance, which soon solidifies. After fifteen or twenty days this resin is collected in little baskets, lined with white paper or clean cotton cloths. Previous to this time the ground underneath the tree is covered so as to prevent the juice, which runs plentifully, from being soiled by the earth. If such contamination does take place, care is taken to cleanse it directly it is collected. The production of resin, which is collected by women and children, lasts about six months, and is valued at about £8 to £10 for a full-grown tree. The mastic that exudes spontaneously is divided into two kinds, the kadisto, which averages in value 100 Turkish piastres, the oke of 1200 grammes, and the phliskari, which has nearly the same value. That which drops from the incisions and is picked up from the ground is the peetta, worth 80 piastres the oke; whilst the worst quality, that which is mixed with earth, called phluda, is only worth from 40 to 60 piastres. The annual production is about 2,000,000 drachms, and is attributed, by the natives of Chios, to the intervention of Saint Isidore, martyred in that island in the third century; the drops of blood of that martyr having given birth, they say, to the mastic tree. In the East mastic is employed to strengthen the gums and to perfume the breath. It is at present little used in medicine, but principally in the arts, in the prepara tion of varnish. A turpentine which has enjoyed a great reputation is also obtained at Chios, from the Pistacia Terebinthus, by means of more or less deep incisions in the trunks of the larger trees.-Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie, been found that the colour of the glass exercises a great influence over the absorption of oxygen. Decolorized oils, exposed in white glass vessels to the action of sunlight, turn yellow, become charged strongly with ozone, and burn with difficulty. This is principally the case with the American petroleums. They should therefore be kept in metallic vessels, or if glass be used, it should be shaded as much as possible from the sun. ACONITINE. MM. Gréhant and Duquesnel recently presented to the French Academy of Sciences a memoir on aconitine, which M. Duquesnel has succeeded in extracting from Aconitum Napellus in the form of rhombic or hexagonal plates. The alkaloid is the active principle of this plant. In order to obtain it, the author extracted the root of the Aconitum by concentrated alcohol, with the addition of 1 per cent. of tartaric acid; the excess of alcohol was then removed by distillation, and the residue diluted with water in order to precipitate the fatty and resinous matters. The aqueous solution of tartrate of aconitine was then treated with an alkaline bicarbonate in order to set the alkaloid at liberty, this latter being scarcely very slightly soluble in water. It dissolves in ether, which, on evaporation, leaves it in the crystalline condition. M. Duquesnel assigns to it the formula CH NO. Aconitine is very slightly soluble in water, very soluble in alcohol, ether, benzine and chloroform. It is not volatile, and commences to decompose about 130° C. Its reaction is feebly alkaline. It combines with acids to form crystallizable salts; the author cites the acetate as presenting abundant crystals. Phosphoric acid, tannine, potassium iodide and iodate, and the double mercury and potassium iodate, produce the ordinary reactions on organic alkaloids. Aconitine is a powerful poison, its physiological action being analogous to that of curari, destroying the motor power of the nerves, but leaving the power of producing reflex actions untouched, at least in small doses.-Revue Scientifique. 40 hemp aloe, is found in most parts of the Philippine Maquey. This plant, more commonly called the Islands. The natives obtain the fibre from it by cutting the thorns off and scraping the leaves on a block of wood with a shell until the pulpy matter is cleared away; the fibre is then hung up in the sun to dry. Another method is to beat out the leaves with a mallet and steep them in water for five days, the fibre is then easily obtained. This plan is much easier than the first, but the quality of filament produced is somewhat inferior. Very fine textures were at one time made from the fibre of the maquey, but it is now chiefly used by the natives for fishing purposes. The maquey fibre, after being steeped in a mixture of blood and lime, is said to be impervious to water.-Consul's Report. The Pharmaceutical Journal. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1871. Communications for this Journal, and books for review, etc., should be addressed to the EDITOR, 17, Bloomsbury Square. Instructions from Members and Associates respecting the transmission of the Journal should be sent to ELIAS BREMRIDGE, Secretary, 17, Bloomsbury Square, W.C. Advertisements to Messrs. CHURCHILL, New Burlington Street, London, W. Envelopes indorsed "Pharm. Journ." CULTIVATION OF IPECACUANHA IN INDIA. Ir will be in the recollection of many of our readers that we have on several occasions referred to this subject, and that last February we published an abstract of a lecture delivered by Prof. BALFOUR to the pharmaceutists of Edinburgh, in which he gave an account of what steps had been taken for introducing the cultivation of ipecacuanha in India. It is scarcely necessary to insist upon the importance of this attempt, should it prove successful, and it is with especial pleasure therefore that we have been enabled through the kindness of Professor BALFOUR to communicate the very hopeful report BALFOUR has been forwarded through Mr. JOHN "Bombay, 31st July, 1871. If this attempt be successfully carried through, our Government will have had the satisfaction of having introduced into India two most important pharmaceutical plants, cinchona and ipecacuanha, and as regards the latter, we shall be greatly indebted to Professor BALFOUR for the part he has taken in providing the plants. HYDRAULIC TINCTURE PRESSES. SOME months ago* reference was made to the use of hydraulic presses for tinctures and the advantages of using them were pointed out. We are gratified at finding that in consequence of the attention thus directed to the subject Messrs. HAYWARD TYLER and Co. have been endeavouring to provide a suitable hydraulic press for the use of pharmacists, and we are informed that they will shortly introduce it. We are also promised a description of this press, which we shall have much pleasure in placing before our readers. ELEGANT PHARMACY. THE publication in another column of the formulary issued by the Newark Pharmaceutical Association is an evidence of the greatly increased demand for the class of preparations therein referred to in the United States, where the proprietary medicine system has developed to an extent far exceeding that of this country, and has more than once occasire on the part of pharmacists of presenting to the sioned attempts for legislative regulation. The depatient bitter and nauseous drugs in a pleasing and palatable form has given rise to the production of a multitude of preparations, as mentioned by Mr. "Dear Sir,-According to promise I write to say that HOWDEN, in his interesting remarks on Pharmacy in your case of ipecacuanha plants has reached Calcutta safely; much of this is due to the admirable packing. America, at an evening meeting of the Society during I never saw plants so well packed for a long voyage. the last session. In fact, this business has grown to Dr. King writes to me from Calcutta as follows:-You such an extent that we are informed it is sometimes will be glad to hear that the plants are in excellent condition. In fact I never saw plants arrive in a better necessary to keep, for dispensing purposes, half-astate of health. These plants will now have all the dozen preparations bearing the same name, but emarainy season as well as the cold, to gather vigour for nating from different makers. This is due to the next hot weather, and I am now more than ever con- practice of certain physicians and apothecaries who vinced that June or July is (with careful personal superintendence the whole way) the proper time to dispatch patronize and prescribe the productions of particular cases of plants (of most kinds) to India. We had trying pharmacists, a custom somewhat similar in effect to weather too in the Red Sea. The thermometer registered one met with occasionally in this country, to which as high as 108° repeatedly. I trust you may succeed with future cases. We ought to have some for trial in attention has before been drawn in the pages of this the Bombay presidency. "I am, dear Sir, yours truly, "J. W. BALFOUR, Esq., M.D. It will be seen from this letter that the arrangements, so far as they have gone, have proved satisfactory, and we learn that there are at this moment about 100 plants in the Edinburgh Botanical Garden ready for transmission to India when required. PHARM. JOURN. 3rd series, Vol. I. No. 5, p. 170. Journal. To counteract this evil the Newark Pharmaceutical Association has issued its formulary, while the Maryland College has proposed to treat these compounds as nostrums, the mode of preparation of which is withheld, or, if published, yields a different article,— and to refuse to dispense them unless made by formulæ approved by the College. Another side of the question is alluded to by the American Journal of Pharmacy, which says that * See PHARM. JOURN. 3rd series, No. 17, p. 321. The Council has the pleasure to announce made arrangements by which it is enabled to o fellow-members and associates the following co course of instruction in chemistry, botany and n A course of thirty lectures by Mr. Coomber, on Elementary Inorganic Chemistry, every Tuesd 7.30 p.m., commencing in October. WE find it stated, in a recent number of Galignani's Messenger, that the Mayor of the 1st arrondisse-medica. ment of Paris, on a report of the Comité des Ambulances, has conferred on Mr. SWIFT, English chemist, of the Place Vendôme, a medal of honour, for his energetic services during the first siege of Paris. This mark of high satisfaction was accompanied by a diploma, declaring that the recipient's exceptional devotedness and attention had entitled him to the gratitude of the French people. OUR newspapers and magazine covers are so overladen now-a-days with announcements and testimonials of wonderful cures and extraordinary effects of some quack nostrum with a long name, but about the composition of which we are supposed to know nothing, that it really would be a relief if we could have plain old Gerard back amongst us again, turning almost our entire British flora into a medical garden. The leaves of Polygonatum multiflorum appear to have been in his time most efficacious in removing the marks of bruises, for, beaten into a paste, and applied to the injured part, they were said to remove all external appearances, and to cure, as Gerard himself says, "any bruise, blacke or blue spotts gotten by falls or woman's wilfulnesse in stumbling on their hastie husband's fists, or such like." THE island of Nissiros, one of the Sporades, in the Grecian Archipelago, is of volcanic formation, the centre of it consisting of the crater of a large extinct volcano, so much impregnated with sulphur that cultivation is impossible. This sulphurous substance appears to be encroaching yearly on the arable land. A few years since, the Ottoman government esta blished a manufactory for refining the sulphur found in the crater of the volcano, but hitherto little has been produced. If this establishment were worked on a large scale, it would afford a considerable amount of employment to the inhabitants; but some Nissiriotes who had been engaged in the work, having all of them died within a short time, the A course of thirty lectures by Mr. Coomber, on Elementary Organic Chemistry, every Tues 8.15 p.m., commencing in October. A course of sixty lectures by Mr. Leipner, on B Physiological, Economic and Systematic, every M at 7.30 p.m., commencing September 18th. At the conclusion of this series, that is in May an examination will be held in each subject, at each student is required to present himself. Tickets for the entire series will be five shillin members and associates, provided the holder co with the condition of presenting himself for ex tion, and shall have attended not less than twen lectures in each course, in accordance with the tions of the classes, if not, the fee will be ten sh The ticket will admit to either one, or the whole above series, but students are earnestly advised stain from entering for more courses than they ca sonably expect to follow up. As the botanical lectures commence on Mond 18th, it is hoped that every principal will at of quaint the assistants and apprentices of his est ment with the facilities offered for their scientific o and will do his best to further the efforts of the some member of which will shortly call for an to this application. Tickets for the above lectures may be obtained following gentlemen:-Mr. Stoddart, North Stree Schacht, Clifton; Mr. Pitman, Redcliff Hill; Mr lin, Corn Street; Mr. Martin, Redland; Mr. Wine Street; Mr. Townsend, Union Street; wh be happy to give any further information which desired. Through the kind offer of the late Presider Stoddart, the Council is also able to announce a s about twenty-five lessons on the chemistry, bota materia medica of the Pharmacopoeia, adapted to quirements of those associates of the Society w preparing for the examinations at Bloomsbury Mr. Stoddart declines to accept any payment labours, but agrees with the rest of the Council propriety of charging a fee of £1. 18. for attend these lessons, the proceeds being arranged to g formation of a fund to meet the expenses of a p ceutical museum, or some similar educational The lessons will be every Tuesday and Thursday e commencing September 19th. Tickets for this course to be obtained only Stoddart's, North Street. Mr. Coomber is also prepared to offer a course laboratory in Nelson Street. tical laboratory instruction on Friday evenings The fee for this instruction is £1. 1s. per quar Proceedings of Scientific Societies. BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. Mr. D. HANBURY read a paper on WILD RUE OR HARMAL SEEDS (Semen Harmala). Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy in the One of the plants named in the Non-officinal List of the Pharmacopoeia of India is Peganum Harmala Linn., the seeds of which have long held a place in eastern medicine, and are an article of the Materia Medica respecting which Dr. Waring the author of the pharmacopoeia in question, remarks that further investigation is desirable. Although the following notes do not tend much to elucidate the therapeutical properties of this drug, re-portance of distilled water. I do not write a treatise to garding which information is most wanted, they may not be without some value as a contribution to its pharmacological history. For convenience of reference, I have arranged my remarks under distinct heads. Botanical Origin.-Peganum Harmala Linn., belongs to the Order Rutacea. It is a strong-smelling, herbaceous plant from 1 to feet high, found wild in Southern Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt, Arabia, North Western India, and Southern Siberia. History. The plant is the Пhyavov &yptov (Wild Rue) of Dioscorides, Пnyavov being the name still applied in Greece to several species of Ruta. The seeds were used medicinally by the ancient Greeks as they are to this day in India, where they are chiefly known by the old Arabic name of Harmal. In Europe they were formerly much employed as Semen Ruta silvestris, and as such are enumerated among the simples of several of the early London pharmacopoeias. Description. The seeds are of a dark brown, 14 lines in length and to 1 line in diameter, variable in form, but usually conical or with a semilunar or crescentshaped outline, always angular, and rugose on the surface. They have an aromatic taste resembling rue, with some bitterness. Microscopic Structure.--The testa is built up of two distinct layers, the outer forming a spongy tissue which consists of large, thick-walled cells. The cells of the inner layer are of a somewhat cubic form showing a peculiar, undulated outline. The albumen exhibits the usual thick-walled cells, the embryo consisting of a more delicate tissue. These cells contain chiefly albuminous matters, fat and essential oil. Very few words need be said about the value and improve a fact patent to every chemist, but knowing the great inconvenience many experience where they are not in a position to obtain a supply of it promptly, I wish to point out to them an easy and inexpensive arrangement by which an abundance is brought within the reach of every householder, viz., by the very simple expedient of converting the kitchen boiler into a still. I first tried the experiment about twelve years ago in the simplest manner, not knowing what difficulties or even danger I might experience from its use, but I have found none. A few improvements have since been added, and I now purpose describing the whole plan for the benefit of all who may adopt it. The boiler is a small cast-iron one, such as is usually supplied with the kitchen range for a small private family; it is self-filling by a small cistern and ball-cock in the usual manner. This cistern having cold water constantly flowing through it, I thought that it would act as a condenser, and it will be so called in the following description. The lid of the boiler is closed by a paste of castor oil and whiting, which does not harden. The top plate has a hole drilled in it at the back corner near the wall, into which a piece of stout brass tube, about nine or ten inches long, is fixed. To the top of this a piece of halfinch tube of pure tin§ is fitted, bent to an angle of about 60° or 65°, which, passing through a hole in the brickwork at a regular fall of about 25° or 30°, projects a few. inches beyond the other side of the wall, where the end, slightly contracted by a file and curving downwards, is received into the enlarged mouth of a similar piece of tube, into which it fits sufficiently firmly without any joint or cement. It then enters the condenser near the top, is curved half round the inside out of the way of the ball, and passes out at the centre of the bottom, being secured to the condenser by screw joints; that at the top may be an ordinary brass one, but the lower one should be cast in pure tin, or if a brass one is used, it must be carefully tinned inside and out, for although not in immediate contact with the distilled water, a slight moisture might collect on it and injure the water. The lower end of the pipe should be tied over with Fritzsche has showed that the seeds yield 2 to 3 per muslin, or closed and pierced with fine holes, since incent. of an alkaloid termed Harmalin, which is contained sects, attracted by the warmth and moisture, might enter in the outer coat or testa. It is obtainable in colourless it in the night. In fact, the greatest care must be taken crystals, sparingly soluble in water or in ether, but more to ensure the purity of the metal, and that the inside of readily in alcohol, the solutions being of a bitter taste. the pipe, from the point of condensation, is protected Its composition is indicated by the formula C, H, NO.† from any metallic or other contamination. The conBy heating the bichromate of harmalin, another alka- denser should be much larger than usual, and have a lid loid, Harmin (CHN2O) is produced, of which about + Berlin, 1870, page 76. 1 per cent. may also be obtained directly from the Any piece of tube will do. Mine is a piece of a gas pillar, such as is screwed into a counter. Chemical Composition. The most interesting fact concerning these seeds which immediately claims attention, is the magnificent green fluorescence which they impart to alcohol of about 75 per cent. This optical power is partly due to a substance called Harmin, and partly, it would appear, to the formation of a peculiar colouring matter named Harmala-Red which has not yet been fully examined but which does not pre-exist in the fresh seed. It may be observed even with a single seed. + C = 12, 016. 14 Vol. xvi. (1864) 103. § For a very large boiler a or even 1-inch pipe might be required, and the boiler should be made of wrought iron. |