CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 237 



body itself, but all hitherto tried may be resolved into glycerine and fatty 

 acids at a temperature of 560 Fahrenheit, many at much below that temper- 

 ature. In the case of palm oil, cocoa-nut oil, fish oil, animal tallow, Japan 

 vegetable wax, and several others, they have yielded satisfactory results, the 

 fatty acid and glycerine distilling over together, but no longer in combination, 

 and separating in the receiving vessel. Mr. Wilson enumerates the properties 

 of glycerine as follows: It has a taste like sugar; is applicable to the cure of 

 burns, rheumatism, and ear-diseases ; it is a substitute for cod-liver oil, and 

 also for spirits of wine ; also for the preservation of flesh ; and can be applied 

 to photography, and preserving animals in their natural colors. 



In regard to the application of gtycerine to medicine, MM. Cap and Garot 

 have recently published some interesting statements. Glycerine may be used 

 in preparation of pharmaceutical preparations to great advantage, in the place 

 of every variety of oils or fatty bodies, whose use presents many inconve- 

 niences in external application. Thus oil does not dissolve, except perhaps in 

 very small proportions, the metallic salts, or those with a metalloid base. It 

 combines or decomposes in contact with the alkalies or more powerful acids. 

 When we endeavor to make it act on fresh plants, it removes very little but 

 chlorophyl and some aromatic principles, but nothing is less certain than its 

 action on the active principles. The vegetable juices, extracts, gums, sugar 

 and tannin are insoluble in it. Moreover, all fatty bodies present disadvan- 

 tages in surgical practice. Their application soils apparatus, and renders 

 wounds more difficult to cleanse. Oils, pomades are liable to become rancid 

 and injured by simple contact with the air. But glycerine presents none of 

 these inconveniencies. Its solvent power with respect to the metalloids, the 

 salts, and neutral organic bodies, equals, if not surpasses, that of water or 

 alcohol. In prescriptions it will unite with either aqueous or alcoholic liquids. 

 It is not likely to become rancid or spoiled. Finally, in surgical practice it 

 has this valuable quality, that any wound may be cleansed, or bathed with 

 either tepid or cold water ; all topical applications of which glycerine forma 

 the vehicle, being so very soluble. 



G-um Arabic is very soluble in glycerine. One part of glycerine and three 

 parts of powdered gum form a thick mixture which spread on cloth or paper, 

 adheres well and possesses a suppleness which remains unchanged by con- 

 tact with the air. Five parts of glycerine and one of powdered gum form a 

 transparent mucilage of a good consistence. By varying the proportions of 

 this mixture gum plasters may be prepared which retain then' suppleness, and 

 into the composition of which various medicinal extracts may be introduced. 

 For instance, a little glycerine added to the gummy mixture used for the 

 preparation of court-plaster renders the latter flexible and prevents it from 

 cracking. Collodion, which of late has come into extensive use, has one 

 great inconvenience, that of drying too rapidly, and contracting the tissues on 

 which it is applied, and cracking. In a word, it is wanting in flexibility and 

 elasticity. Glycerine dissolves in collodion to a sufficient extent to overcome 

 the difficulty. 100 parts of collodion and 2 of glycerine give a perfect prepar 

 ration for surgical uses. 



The following are the conclusions given respecting the solvent action of 



