AN EXTREME DOSE OF LAUDANUM.-A VILLAGE DOCTOR. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. SIR, I was reading to-day your article on Toxicology, and noticed the paragraph where Dr. Christison mentions a person as taking nine ounces of tincture of opium daily. I have a customer, a woman, at this present time who purchases and takes on an average from eight to ten ounces of laudanum (full strength) daily, and has done so these two years past. A laughable instance of the ignorance of some persons prescribing and selling medicines, is a case which occurred in my shop a few days ago. A "Village Doctor" came and asked for 4 oz. "mercury ointment," 1 oz. "niter," and requested me to mix them for him. I asked him what he wanted such a curious mixture for; he said it was for sores, boils, and eruptions, and such like complaints. He called it "niterated ointment of mercury." Undoubtedly it was niterated with a vengeance. All my explanations as to the nature Ung. Hyd. Nit. could not convince him he was wrong; it was the way he always made "niterated ointment of mercury, and always should." Only fancy rubbing in Ung. Hyd. Fortius and saltpetre to sores, boils, and such like complaints! I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 295, High Street, Lincoln, Oct. 11th, 1852. P. WOODCOCK. NOTE ON THE COMMERCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE CYANIDE OF POTASSIUM. BY M. J. FORDOS AND A. GELIS. THE cyanide of potassium, as manufactured for industrial purposes, is an extremely impure substance, containing scarcely half its weight of the actual cyanide. Its form, which is that of a melted mass, exposes it, more than any other substance, to adulteration; and yet nothing has been done by Chemists with the view of discovering the means of readily ascertaining its commercial value. Nevertheless the industrial importance of cyanide of potassium is becoming greater every day, and the extent of its consumption for galvano-plastic and photographic purposes is already sufficiently important to render this omission of Chemists a matter of regret. For this reason we have sought to repair it. The analytical process which we propose, but into the details of which we cannot enter here, is founded upon the action exercised upon cyanide of potassium by iodine. These two bodies combine rapidly with one another, every equivalent of cyanide of potassium absorbing exactly two equivalents of iodine. The nature of the products thus formed is perfectly well known, and the reaction, which is represented by the formula-CyK+21=IK+ICy, has been studied by Serullas and Wöhler. The two components of the cyanide of potassium divide the iodine exactly between them, and the result is one equivalent of iodide of potassium and one equivalent of iodide of cyanogen. Knowing the reaction, it remained for us to determine the conditions under which it ought to be produced for the purpose proposed, and to indicate the precautions required in the operation: this we have done in our detailed memoir. It was necessary also to guard against the action which might be exercised upon the iodine by the foreign substances which are found in commercial cyanides, and which have been added to it by design. We attained this result by the employment of Selzer-water in our analysis; the carbonic acid contained in it change the caustic alkalies and the carbonate of potash into compound bicarbonates, which do not absorb iodine. We have made numerous trials of this process, and we have succeeded, by means of the indications which they have furnished us, in modifying the processes hitherto employed in the preparation of cyanide of potassium, and which could only give impure results.-Comptes Rendus, Aug., 1852, p. 224. ON THE BOUQUET OF WINE. BY DR. F. L. WINCKLER. In his recent experiments on the vegetation of plants, Winckler has arrived at very satisfactory results explanatory of the specific odour peculiar to the various sorts of wine produced in different districts, which is known by the expression of "blume," or "bouquet." If about half-a-pint of any sort of grape-wine be evaporated in a porcelain vessel by means of steam, until not only all the spirit of wine, but also the oenanthic ether, and in general all parts volatile at this temperature (80° R.) are evaporated, a thickish liquid of more or less dark colour, and of a peculiar, pleasant, acidulo-vinous odour remains behind, from which, after it has become cold, a greater or lesser quantity of tartar separates. By diluting this liquid with water, so that the weight of the solution is about a quarter of a pound, and subjecting the solution with an equal weight of fresh burnt lime to distillation, there is obtained even during the slacking or hydrating of the lime a very agreeable and intensely smelling distillate, which, like ammonia, is a strong base, and forms with acids neutral salts, possessing in a high degree the odour corresponding to the so-called " bouquet" of the employed wine. This fact suggested the idea that this compound may be in a similar manner contained in the wine itself, and the supposition was fully corroborated by experiments. If the residuary lime of the evaporated wine be treated with water after the conclusion of the distillation, the solution filtered, and the filtrate distilled with a small quantity of moderately strong sulphuric acid, a new volatile acid of a highly specific, almost balsamic odour is obtained, which being neutralized by the necessary quantity of the first obtained nitrogenous base, yields a neutral volatile salt, which possesses the peculiar odour (" bouquet") of the employed wine in the highest degree. There is, therefore, no doubt that this compound is not only contained as such in the wine, and constitutes the "bouquet," but that it is this nitrogenous compound which determines the chemical constitution, the durability, and all those changes to which it is subject by keeping. Although for the present only six different sorts of red and white grape-wine from various districts of the Grand Duchy have been examined, yet the results are so uniform and decisive, that there exists no reason to doubt their correctness. The contrast was very striking on comparing the "bouquets" of a fine red Oberingelheim wine of 1846 with a very excellent sort of white Bergstraszer of 1846, and with one of the worst qualities of 1851 from the latter district. The two first sorts yielded quite a different bouquet of a very pleasant odour, whilst the latter betrayed but too distinctly the year and quality by its unpleasant earthy smell. Beer also contains a considerable proportion of nitrogen, which can be obtained from it in the same way as from the wine. It is this component from which beer obtains its importance as a nutrient. The author has, moreover, found, that the colouring matter of wine, and chiefly that of red wine, is closely connected with this nitrogenous compound; that most, and perhaps all, fresh vegetable juices contain nitrogen, and undergo during the process of vegetation changes which are analogous to the fermentation of wine; that the fragrancy of the vine flowers, and very likely also the odours of most flowers and leaves are dependent on similar compounds, which are characteristic, and of a peculiar chemical composition in each genus of plants.-Jahrbuch f. pract. Pharmacie, Bd. xxv., Hft. 1, p. 7. ON LITMUS. BY DR. J. MÜLLER, APOTHECARY AT BERLIN. ACCORDING to Dr. Müller, the inferior sorts only of litmus contain a mechanical admixture of indigo. Whilst moist, the litmus is introduced into a swing-machine [Schwungmaschine] containing finely powdered indigo, and worked until it has assumed an uniform colour. But neither Prussian blue nor cobalt is employed. In the manufacture of litmus all kinds of lichens, even indigenous sorts, are employed; but the best quality is prepared in Holland exclusively from Roccella tinctoria. Inferior sorts, however, are made from species of Variolaria, Lecanora, and Parmelia. These are finely ground, and placed in contact with nitrogenous substances, especially urine, at a certain temperature. The first product is a red colouring matter, which is formed slowly, if sufficient attention be not paid to the process, and equally high temperature maintained. As soon as this stage has been attained some potashes are added, not American, Russian, or Illyrian, but a German sort, which contains a peculiar constituent, and cannot be manufactured in Holland. Upon this constituent, and the addition of Carrara marble, rests chiefly the secret of obtaining a good litmus.-Archiv. de Pharm., 2te Reihe, Bd. Ixx., H. 3, p. 287. BLACKING. THE following description of the essential conditions for the production of good blacking is given in the "Reports of the Juries" of the Great Exhibition. Blacking consists essentially of two principal components, namely, a black colouring-matter and certain substances which will acquire a gloss by friction. Each maker has, of course, proportions and methods of mixing peculiar to himself, but the chief materials used are the same in most cases. In England they generally consists of bone-black, sugar or molasses, sperm-oil, sulphuric acid, and strong vinegar. These, according to Mr. W. C. Day, are mixed in the following order :The bone-black, in the state of a very fine powder, and the sperm-oil are first thoroughly incorporated; the sugar or molasses, mixed with a small proportion of vinegar, is now added and well stirred with the mass; strong sulphuric acid is then gradually poured into the vessel. Much heat is generated at this stage of the process, and an effervescence ensues, owing to the action of the acid on the carbonate of lime contained in the bone-black. The object of the sulphuric acid, which should not be in excess, is to cause the decomposition of the tri-basic phosphate and the carbonate of lime contained in the bone-black, so as to produce on the one hand sulphate of lime, and on the other a soluble acid phosphate. Sulphate of lime, when produced under such circumstances, gives rise to a very tenaceous paste, by mixing with the finely divided carbonaceous matter of bone-black disintegrated by the same reaction, which paste or cake is capable, when spread out, of assuming a very smooth surface. To this the sugar and the oil impart the property not only of adhering to the leather, but also of taking a high degree of lustre under the frictional or burnishing action of the brush. The oil is, moreover, very useful in rendering the leather pliable. and The mixture, after the action of the acid has ceased, is diluted with an additional quantity of vinegar, and is bottled whilst it is still warm. By bottling the liquid in this state, and corking and sealing it immediately, a rarefied space is formed; there is no liability afterwards that the blacking, if it wet the cork, will exude by the expansion of the air contained in the bottle, as it is not likely to become again heated to the same temperature under the influence of any climate to which it may be subjected. The vinegar employed should not be too weak, otherwise the blacking will not keep. Paste blacking is now made in precisely the same way as liquid blacking, excepting that the last portion of vinegar is not added. The employment of such blacking appears to have preceded that of liquid blacking. It was usually stuck on to a small shovel-shaped board, having a very short handle; and it was wetted with water or saliva, as required. The old cake blacking differed in composition from that of the present day, and appears to have contained lamp-black, treacle, and oil. GERMAN BLACKING. ACCORDING to the information which Baron Liebig has kindly furnished to the reporters, it appears that in Germany blacking is made in the following manner:Powdered bone-black is mixed with half its weight of molasses and one-eighth of its weight of olive-oil, to which are afterwards added one-eighth of its weight of hydrochloric acid, and one-fourth of its weight of strong sulphuric acid. The whole is then mixed up with water to a sort of unctuous paste. THE LATE PROHIBITION OF THE SALE OF COFFEE MIXED WITH ANY OTHER INGREDIENT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. MY DEAR SIR,-Having been accustomed to manufacture "Essence of Coffee" for some time, and as chicory and sugar both enter into the composition of this preparation, I was repeatedly asked whether the new Government Act would interfere with the sale of the essence, when it promised to be so stringent in the regulations attending the sale of ground coffee. As no one in this neighbourhood could give me a satisfactory reply to the query, whether parties selling essence of coffee were liable to be prosecuted for infringing the Treasury Order about to come into operation regarding the sale of coffee, I was induced to write direct to the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue, and the following is a copy of the communication: "To the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue. "GENTLEMEN, I have for some time manufactured Essence of Coffee,' containing a certain proportion of chicory, and for my future guidance in the preparation of this Essence I will feel obliged by your informing me whether Essence of Coffee so prepared will come under the operation of the recent Government enactment regarding the sale of pure and unmixed coffee. "I remain your obedient Servant, "Edinburgh, 121, George Street, 12th Oct., 1852." "JOHN MACKAY. In answer to this a letter was received in a few days, of which the following is a copy: "Inland Revenue Office, Old Broad Street, London, "Oct. 16th, 1852. "MR. MACKAY, "SIR,-In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I am directed by the Commissioners to acquaint you that you will undoubtedly be liable to prosecution if you mix chicory or any other ingredient with coffee in any form. "I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, (Signed) "THOS. DOBSON, Assist. Secretary." This reply being of such a sweeping nature, I could not otherwise view it than as a declaration that from henceforth no Essence of Coffee would be permitted to be sold. To put, however, the whole affair at rest, I wrote again to the Commissioners, as follows: "To the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue, London. "GENTLEMEN,—I am in receipt of your communication of the 16th instant. From the contents, am I right in concluding that no preparation from coffee can henceforth be sold excepting the whole and ground bean? In other words, will I, for the future, be prevented making an Essence of Coffee with coffee and sugar alone? If I am thus prevented, will I be permitted to make 'Essence' at all, supposing it possible that a suitable article could be prepared with water only? An early reply to the above will be esteemed a favour by your obedient Servant, “Edinburgh, 121, George Street, 18th Oct., 1852." To this the following answer was received: : (Signed) "JOHN MACKAY. "Inland Revenue Office, Old Broad Street, London, "22nd Oct., 1852. "MR. JOHN MACKAY, 121, George Street, Edinburgh. "SIR,-In reply to your further letter of the 18th instant, I am directed to acquaint you that no article whatever can be mixed with coffee for sale. "I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, "GEO. BALLARD." This ends the correspondence, and it would appear, that on and after the 3rd of November, any one vending Essence of Coffee will be liable to prosecution. As I think the sooner all interested in this subject are made aware of the state of the law the better, I will not here inquire into the merits or demerits of the late enactment for the sale of pure coffee, but as the Excise authorities are not very agreeable parties with whom to be at variance, every caution should be exercised in not opposing the spirit and meaning of the Act. Permission may yet be granted to manufacture an essence from coffee under certain restrictions, but until this be obtained and sanctioned, parties must be careful as to the manner in which they dispose of essence of coffee. It must not be forgotten that the tea licence, which most respectable Druggists pay to enable them to sell spices, comprehends coffee, and thus brings these individuals under the eye of the law as "licensed dealers." The statement now made may, I hope, be the means of eliciting further information on the subject, and I may in concluding, mention that a respectable firm in this town who do a very large trade in Essence of Coffee, have, since the beginning of this correspondence, sent a memorial to the Lords of the Treasury on this subject, which I trust may be attended with some good result. I remain, yours very truly, Edinburgh, 121, George Street, 23rd Oct., 1852. JOHN MACKAY. IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AMMONIACAL SALTS. (Newton's Patent, enrolled Aug. 23.) In the process of manufacturing coke by means of the ordinary coke ovens, the ammoniacal gases generated have hitherto been allowed to escape and become lost. The object of the present invention is to prevent the loss of this ammonia, by conducting or drawing off the gases and vapours which are given off in the manufacture of coke, by means of a blowing apparatus into a flue containing suitable contrivances for condensing them, after which the condensed products are brought into contact with finely divided streams of sulphuric acid or other suitable liquid capable of taking up the ammonia. The sulphate or other salt of ammonia is then obtained by · evaporation in the usual way. The non-condensable gases pass off from the condenser into the chimney, or are applied to heating or other purposes. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF RAW (Coupier and Mellier's Patent, enrolled Aug. 23.) THE first part of this invention consists in acting on straw and other vegetable matters used in the manufacture of paper, by means of a boiling solution of caustic potash or soda of specific gravity 1.051 to 1.075. The material, after having been subjected to the action of the alkali, is next well washed, first with hot and then with cold water, after which it is heated with a solution of hypochlorite of alumina or other hypochlorite, of specific gravity 1.022, and again well washed to remove all traces of the hypochlorite. From thirty to forty gallons of dextrine solution are required for each 112 lbs. of fibre operated upon, and about twenty-five per cent. in weight of hypochlorite. This procees is also applicable to the preparation of flax and cotton waste for the paper-makers' use. The second part of the invention consists of heating wood-shavings (pine, elm, ash, beech), with about eighty per cent. of nitric acid, specific gravity 1.332, diluted with water to specific gravity 1.036. Heat is applied, and when the boiling has been continued for a sufficient length of time, the shavings are submitted to the action of a caustic alkaline solution, and after treatment with hypochlorite of alumina as in the first process; in this case, however, only about two per cent. of these ingredients are required to form the solution to be used. The nitric acid solution employed in operating on the first batch of shavings is used, after having about 40 per cent. added to it, for treating a second quantity. In each case, the nitrous fumes evolved are made to pass from the vessel in which the shavings are operated upon, into another vessel, where they come into contact with other moistened shavings, and are partially converted into hyponitric acid. A quantity of oxalic acid may be obtained by evaporating the used acid liquors, also an acid of a character analogous to nitro-picric acid. |