Sulphate of Rhubarb. 385 



pupils testified throughout an examination of nearly four 

 hours. An establishment is spoken of at Fontenay-aux-Ro- 

 ses, which M. Ordinair will direct, agreeably to his system, 

 and in which it will receive all the extent it is susceptible 

 of. Let us hope that the public schools will not long be de- 

 prived of the great advantages it affords, and that the chief 

 of the corps of instruction will promote its adoption in the 

 elementarj' classes of our colleges. We have already an- 

 nounced that that of St. Barbe, Rue des postes, have ad- 

 mitted it, and that it is pursued with great success in the 

 new institution of M. Auguste Michelot, Rue de la Chaise, 

 No. 24 Faubourg Saint Germain. 



Rev. Enc. Aug. 1823. 



21. Sulphate, of Rhubarb. — A preparation has been ob- 

 tained by A. Nani, a Chemist of Milan which he con- 

 ceives will be very useful in medicine, and which he names 

 Solfato di Rabarbarina ^Sulphate of Rhabarbarine.) 

 His statement is the following. After having pulverized* 

 six ounces of Chinese Rhubarb, (Rheum Palmatum, Linn.) 

 I boiled it during two hours in eight pounds of common wa- 

 ter, acidulated by four drams of sulphuric acid. I filtered 

 the decoction through flannel, and having pressed the re- 

 siduum, I boiled it again in 6 ounces of water acidulated 

 by two drams of acid. 



The decoction, filtered, pressed and dried, weighed on- 

 ly two oz. having lost 4 oz. which remained dissolved iu 

 the filtered liquor. 



To the united decoctions, I added, when cool, in small 

 successive portions, three ounces of quick lime, recently 

 pulverized, stirring the mixture frequently with a wooden 

 rod, to promote the reciprocal action of the materials. 



The decoction was of a fine yellow ; and by the addition 

 of lime it passed to blood red, communicating the same 

 colour to the walnut stick. After one day's repose, I fil- 

 tered off the precipitate and dried it in the sun. It weigh- 

 ed six ounces. I then added to it four pounds of alcohol 

 at 36" and digested it two hours at an elevated tempera- 

 ture. The whole was again filtered and the residuum sub- 

 mitted to a second digestion in two pounds of alcahol. 

 Uniting the two portions 1 filtered it through paper, and 

 distilled it from a glass retort until about 5 lbs. of alcohol 

 had passed over. The fluid in the retort was then evapo- 



VoL. VII.— No. 2. 49 



