68 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [March, 



Things to be Remembered by Chemists, Druggists, and 

 Microscopists. 



By H. M. WHELPLEY, M. D., 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 



I. Remember that saltpetre and sulphur may explode if pounded in 

 an iron mortar. 



3. Remember that powdered camphor can be kept in the pulverent 

 form by the addition of one-half per cent, of oil of vaseline. 



3. Remember that sugar added to ordinary ink forms a good copy- 

 ing ink. 



4. Remember that quinine will preserve mucilage, paste, etc. 



5. Remember that aniline colors fade with age. Records should not 

 be written with aniline ink. 



6. Remember that sulphureted hydrogen water is best preserved in 

 glass stoppered bottles, with the stopper protected bv vaseline. 



7. Remember that cherry laurel water and moi-phine salts are liable 

 to form the poisonous cyanide of morphine. 



8. Remember that powdered rosin may produce spontaneous com- 

 bustion. 



9. Remember that an application of a weak solution of hydrochloric 

 acid, followed by a weak solution of chlorinated lime, will remove log- 

 wood stains from the skin. 



10. Remember that rose water made with carbonate of magnesium 

 and used to make eye-water, by dissolving zinc or lead salts, will form 

 an irritating precipitate. 



I I . Remember that many celluloid articles can be mended by cover- 

 ing the edge with glacial acetic acid, and pressing them firmly together 

 until dry.. 



12. Remember to mix acids with water, by pouring the acid into 

 the water and not the water into the acid, as the latter process may 

 cause an explosion of steam. 



13. Remember that the etherial solutions of iodoform are not perma- 

 nent. 



14. Remember that the granulated gum-arabic dissolves more readily 

 than the powdered. 



15. Remember that choral and cyanide of potassium mutually de- 

 compose each other, and that hydrocyanic acid is one of the products. 



16. Remember that pyroxylin should be kept packed in glass and 

 moist with its own weight of water. 



17. Remember that glycerine administered in large quantity may pro- 

 duce poisonous symptoms. 



18. Remember that when alcohol and water are mixed the combined 

 volume is less than the sum of the two separate liquids. 



19. Remember that alcohol stains varnished surfaces. 



20. Remember that moistening aconite tubers with alcohol before 

 powdering in a mortar will prevent the irritating dust from rising. 



21. Remember that carbolic acid is combustible. 



22. Remember that iodine and the iodides precipitate the alkaloids. 



23. Remember that scaly iron salts dissolve more readily by adding 

 the scales gradually to the menstruum than by triturating in a mortar. 



