Proareis of Foreign Science. 151 



vermes, an essential oil, which he advises to be given in small 

 quantities, mixed with syrup, as a valuable anthelmintic. The 

 above substance, is not, as some authors have stated, the seed 

 of a plant sent from Persia, but the flovver-bud of the artemisia 

 contra L. 



In the Journal de Phar made for Dec. 1821, we find a letter 

 from Mr. Thos. Morson, an English apothecary, dated London, 

 12th Nov., to M. Blanche, one of the editors ofthat work. 

 He says, " The important discovery of cinchonina will enable 

 us to discover certain sophistications used in commerce. From 

 peculiar circumstances I am in possession of the following 

 formula for preparing extract of cinchona : Take of the extract 

 of the horse chestnut-tree bark 200 p., yellow rosin 25 p. ; 

 mingle. A very large quantity of this strange composition has 

 recently been sold to the apothecaries in the different parts of 

 England, and on the continent." The respectable druggists 

 and apothecaries of London, who supply this kingdom, too 

 well know the pharmaceutical establishments where the extract 

 of Peruvianbarkismade; they are above such a fraud. 



Under the chemistry of organic bodies we may consider ve- 

 getable and animal physiology. Two papers of considerable 

 interest have lately appeared on these subjects. The first is a 

 memoir " On the influence of green fruits on the air, before 

 their maturity, by M. Th. de Saussure," distinguished by the 

 precision of experiment and soundness of induction, character- 

 istic of this philosopher's researches. It was read before the 

 Physical Society of Geneva, 7th Sept., 1821, and subverts de 

 fond en comble, the dissertation of M. Berard, crowned by the 

 Institute of France, of which some account was given in the 

 11th vol. of this Journal, p. 395. 



Researches elicited by the specific stimulus of money or me- 

 dallions, have not of late years, it must be allowed, aided much 

 the promotion of science. Like the prize poetry of our schools, 

 these forced plants of philosophy, however gaudy their foliage 

 and inflorescence, seldom bear any solid fruit, while they too 

 often poison the surrounding air with rank and jealous exhala- 

 tions. As the passion for theatrical effect, will render such 

 academic games always agreeable to our lively neighbours, care 

 should be taken that the unsuccessful competitors may nothave 

 it in their powerto accuse the arbiter* of incapacity, favouritism, 

 or corruption. We know that the decision in favour of M. Be- 

 rard excited much dissatisfaction, and some surprise, in Paris, 

 and that it was ascribed by many to the protection of a powerful 

 patron. Among the luckless candidates there was one of no 

 mean talent, who took the opposite view of the subject to M. 

 Berard, a view in unison with M. de Saussure's early researches 



