M. MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE.565 



POISONOUS COLORS. 



The result of some recent experiments by Mr. Guyot, upon 

 the poisonous qualities of certain products of the phenyl 

 group, are summed up in a late communication as follows : 

 That azuline is or is not poisonous, according to its method 

 of preparation ; when it contains an excess of aniline it is poi- 

 sonous ; and when prepared with poisonous coralline it may 

 contain phenol, and, in consequence, act upon the epidermis. 

 Prepared with rosalic acid, even itself poisonous, azuline may 

 be harmless when it is properly washed. Lydine purified, or 

 free from prussiates and from aniline, does not act upon the 

 skin. This purification of lydine is best accomplished by 

 means of a succession of solutions in alcohol, and a partial 

 precipitation by the aid of soda. Azuline and lydine may 

 be employed in dyeing and in the printing of. cloths. 6 B, 

 1870,877. 



POISONOUS VEGETABLE OILS. 



Mr. Skey, in the course of a chemical investigation of the 

 Tutu plant of New Zealand (a species of Coriaria), thinks he 

 has ascertained that the poisonous principle does not reside 

 in a vegetable alkaloid, as is generally the case in noxious 

 plants, but in the oil ; and he suggests that this may be the 

 case with other poisonous plants, from which no poisonous 

 alkaloid has hitherto been derived. He cites the case of cas- 

 tor-oil, which possesses peculiar properties, and does not con- 

 tain any of the acids of the common oils or fats, but has acids 

 entirely peculiar to itself. 1 A, 1869, December 30, 313. 



CHLORAL HYDRATE AND COD-LIVER OIL. 



An Italian pharmaceutical journal contains the announce- 

 ment that by the addition of hydrate of chloral to cod-liver 

 oil this substance will be rendered much less nauseous, while 

 at the same time preventing the night-sweats of the patient, 

 inducing sleep, and creating an appetite. The formula given 

 consists in adding ten grains of the crystals of pure chloral 

 hydrate to one hundred and forty grains of the cod-liver oil, 

 and dio-estinGf them in a sand-bath at a o-entle heat. The 

 dose is to be six table-spoonfuls daily. 20 A, June 24, 713. 



