158 



POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 



[October, 1889. 



ture containing five grams of chlorate of potash, 

 and believes that manj children die from the effects 

 of potash whose death is attributed to the disease 

 for which the potash was prescribed. 



Dr. Pollard (Therap. Gaz.) claims that glyce- 

 rine, in drachm doses, will be found most valuable 

 in preventing stomacli troubles in convalesence 

 from debilitating diseases; that it will often cut 

 short an attack of indigestion, and that it will pre- 

 vent and cure manj' cases of "summer diarrhoea" of 

 children. It will also, to a great extent, control the 

 vomiting of pregnancy. 



Jaborandi is recommended hy Prof. Waugh 

 {Metl. Times) in erysipelas. The dose is twenty-tive 

 drops of the fluid extract, repeatedly, until diaphore- 

 sis is produced. 



<♦►— 



CONDENSED MILK, WITH REFERENCE TO 

 PREVIOUS SKIMMING. 



The consumption of condensed milk in this coun- 

 try has attained such enormous proportions that 

 any information aflfecting the quality of this article 

 enlists our attention, as well as that of our readers, 

 particularly if such information emanates from a 

 trustworthy source. The annual report of the 

 Department of Health, for 188S, of the city of 

 Brooklyn, N. Y. , published in September, 18S9, has 

 recently come into our hands. Ten pages of this 

 report are given to the subject of condensed milk, 

 under the heading we have placed at the commence- 

 ment of this article. 



We only propose to refer to a few of the interest- 

 ing items contained in this report, which is made by 

 the otlicial chemist of the department, who states 

 that among the many methods of analysis known to 

 the .scientific world, he has adopted that of Dr. 

 Koenig in his celebrated work on the analyses of 

 foods. Koenig lays down the rule that condensed 

 milk, preserved with cane sugar, can be prepared 

 without abstracting any of the cream ; and further, 

 that it is absolutely true that with the normal milk 

 of a nuinbtr of healthy cows taken together, the 

 amount of fat exceeds the amount of albuminoids. 

 This statement is supported by reference to forty- 

 two analyses, thirty-nine of which gave mo7-e fat 

 than albuminoids. The fact is revealed by Dr. 

 Kent's analysis, that of the eighteen leading brands 

 of condensed milk sold in the United States in 

 soldered cans, seventeen contain less fat than 

 albuminoids, and are more or less skimmed. The 

 only brand that contains more fat than albuminoids 

 is that of Nestle's; while of the condensed milks 

 sold from wagons, all contain more fat (as they 

 should do) than albuminoids. 



Lest some error might be caused by the milk hav- 

 ing stood on one end for some time in the cans, Dr. 

 Kent tells on page 102 that he experimented with 

 two well-known brands; and found the fat at one 

 end in the can of the first was 6.16 per cent., and at 

 the other end 4.94; the amount of albuminoids was 

 8.21 per cent. At one end in the can of the second 

 the fat was 5.72 per cent., and at the other end 6.26, 

 against 8.41 albuminoids. The deficiency of cream 

 shown in these two cases cited by Dr. K«nt is over 

 25 per cent., and many of the others are much 

 worse, one sample showing less than one per cent, 

 of cream, against 8.88 of albuminoids. 



The conclusion we must arrive at is, that if the 

 public think they are using full cream condensed 

 milk, they are likely to be mistaken, except when 

 Nestle's Condensed Milk is used. 



THE ELIXIR OK LIFE. 

 TiiK new "elixir of life," which Dr. Brown-Sequard 

 claims to have discovered, and of which the dailv 

 press favors us with almostdroUy respectful accounts 



from time to time, is something that suggests medi- 

 a;val astrology in its most aggravated form, and 

 inspires doubts as to whether, after all, the world 

 does move. It is quite beyond imagination that the 

 discoverer of this mighty agent for human rejuvena- 

 tion should announce his discovery otherwise than 

 from the door of a dark cave, clad in robes bordered 

 with strange, cabalistic characters, and with a black 

 cat perched on his left shoulder. Like his predeces- 

 sors, the astrologers, he favors the world, as far as 

 ascertained, with no explanatory principle, but 

 merely with a statement of performance and effect. 



It is odd and pathetic enough to see how eagerly 

 every item concerning this obscure discovery of the 

 new fountain of youth was absorbed and discussed 

 by a public which so evidently hid a trembling 

 hope behind an incredulous smile. There have 

 been found but a few sane and brave enough to ask, 

 — granted that all these fine, strange promises are 

 true, — cui bono? Is practically endless life, among 

 the limitations of a world like this, a»thing to be 

 gratefully sought.' Would we exchange la curiosiie 

 de la mort for the certainties which we know to be 

 mixed with so much sorrow, and so many hints of 

 great possibilities, which yet are seen to be possible 

 only under larger, other conditions than this world 

 can aft'ord.' It would seem that he who would 

 accept earthly immortality must be not remotely of 

 like nature with the guinea-pig, in whose "living 

 tissues" he seeks the charm with which that immor- 

 tality is to be bought. 



There is an old ballad which tells of a city within 

 whose walls was, by some gift of the gods, guaran- 

 teed safety from death. And many journeyed 

 thither, and of them all, "never any died." But 

 one by one, the ballad says, the people of the city 

 learned that 



"For the weariness that conies of living;, 

 There is no cnre but death;" 

 and having learned it, they came creeping, one by 

 one, out through the city's gate ; and peaceful graves 

 grew green. 



Perhaps those who rush most eagerly to avail 

 themselves of Dr. Brown-Sequard's promises would 

 sooner or later seek the open door, nor linger on its 

 threshold to bless the name of the discoverer of the 

 new elixir of life. But, indeed, we have haunting 

 fears, from the information received up to date, that 

 in the course of their enthusiastic experiment, they 

 may be pushed, quite unexpectedly to themselves, 

 over the threshold of the door, per guinea-pig's tis- 

 sues and septic infection. — J\^. E. Medical Gazette. 



PHARMACEUTICAL MEMORANDA. 



A Prize Formula for Eau de Cologne. — An 

 English drug firm recently offered the prize of a trip 

 to Paris tor the best formula for eau de cologne. 

 The following simple and inexpensive recipe was 

 considered the best among over two hundred com- 

 petitors : Essence of bergamot, 2 drachms; essence 

 of lemon, i drachm; oil of neroli, 20 drops; oil of 

 origanum, 6 drops; oil of rosemary, 20 drops; S. 

 V. R. treble-distilled, i pint; orange-flower water, 

 I ounce. 



Cochineal Color. — One pound of ground cochi- 

 neal, one pound carbonate of soda, one pound 

 ground alum, two pounds cream of tartar, three 

 pints of water. Put the cochineal and water into a 

 pan, place over the fire, and bring to a boil ; remove 

 from the fire, and add the carbonate of soda and 

 ground alum; boil up again, and then add the cream 

 of tartar; boil all together for a few minutes. Then 

 strain through a piece- of flannel into an earthen- 

 ware jar, the liquid that passes through being used 

 as color. This color must not be put into iron or 

 tin vessels, as the acid in the color touching the 

 metal would turn it quite black instead of being a 

 bright red. 



PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE 



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SETH C. BASSETT, 



Manager. ^ 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 



The Publishers of the NEWS eiirncstly request that sub- 

 scribers will make their remittances either by draft on Bos- 

 ton or New York, or by a postal order. If it is absolutely 

 necessary to mail money, it should be sent only ill a registered 

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 mailed in unrej^istercd letters. 



Remittances will be duly credited on the printed address la- 

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Publisljers' Coluiiirj. 



A GOOD book is a good friend; so also is the Kstkk brook 

 Pkn with which the book was written. 



Dk. CJeo. V. Waters, the manufacturer of that most excel- 

 lent tlesh brush, has removed to No. 6 Somerset St., Boston. 



For Sale ok Exchange. — A fine collection ot objects of 

 Natural History, representing the work of tlurty years. Would 

 like to exchange for a first-class telescope. Address, J, C 

 Catlin, Ravenna, Ohio. 



BoviNiNE is a highly nutritious and easily digested food, 

 contaniing all the essential elements of raw beef, in a jjalatable 

 form. It is highly recommended, l>oth liy jihysicians and 

 patients who have given it a trial. 



An immense advance has been made in breweries in the 

 past six years by the change from ice to machine refrigeration; 

 large gains in storage capacity, lower and more uniform tem- 

 peratures under pcifect control, tlricr and purer air in cellars, 

 and the absence of dripping ceilings antl slushy floors. The 

 machines made by David Boyle, of Chicago, are extensively 

 used, and give universal satisfaction. 



One of the most popular wines on the market today is the 

 Florida Wine Company's Orange Wine. This wine, 

 which is a delightful beverage for table use, and which is also 

 prescribed in several leading hospitals both in Philadelphia 

 and New York, is made at Clay Springs, Orange County, 

 Florida, from the skinless pulp of the richest and ripest 1 

 oranges. The wine, while having sufiicient "body," is at the 

 same time as light as chami)agne, and slightly aromatic. It is 

 non-intoxicating, containing less than twelve j)er cent, of 

 alcohol. See Sth page. 



oriNioN OF dr. wm. f. steuakt. 



Marine Hospital, Port of Baltimore, } 

 January 16, 1S75. \ 



Dear Sir : In compliance with your retjuest to give you my 

 opinion of CoLDEN*s Liquid Beef Tonic, I take pleasure in 

 recommending it as a most excellent stimulant, tonic, and 

 invigorator of the system, which can be used whenever a 

 stimulant aiul tonic combined is not contra-indicated. I have 

 teste<I it in many cases, since its introduction into our market, 

 with universal success. 



Very respectfully yours, etc., 



Wm. F. Steuart, M. D. 



