March, 1881. 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
83 
According to the Pharmaceutical Journal , a valuable 
paper on the preparation of pepsine has been contributed 
by M. Petit, giving the results of a large number of com- 
parative experiments. He reports that, taking fresh pigs’ 
stomachs that have not undergone alteration, and using 
suitable precautions, he has succeeded in preparing pepsines 
capable of converting into albuminose one thousand times 
their weight of strongly died fibrin. Sheep’s stomachs yielded 
pepsine which was only one-tenth as active. It may be 
mentioned here that ostrich pepsine, which was vaunted to 
have a digestive power corresponding to the omnivorous 
reputation of the bird, as well as a preparation from the gizzard 
of the chicken, have been proved by the experiments of Mr. 
James to be practically destitute of the power of digestion. 
Dr. Sporer, of St. Petersburg, states that chloral in the solid 
state will relieve the most severe toothache in a few minutes, 
if a small piece wrapped in cotton wool is placed in the 
cavity of the tooth and allowed to dissolve. 
The results of some experiments upon the dialysis of ferric 
oxide dissolved in a solution of ferric chloride have been 
recently reported to the French Academy of Sciences by M. de 
la Source ( Nature , 25th November, p. 86). He represents “fer 
Bravais” by the formula 30Fe 2 O 3 *Fe 2 Cl 6 , and he states that 
after three months’ dialysis of a weak solution of this pre- 
paration the greater part of the chlorine had passed into the 
dialysate, and the proportion of ferric chloride had been 
reduced to one molecule to 116 of ferric oxide, the chlorine 
not even then having ceased to pass through. He is of 
opinion that under certain conditions ferric hydrate per se is 
soluble in water. 
It would appear that some physicians still order lig. ferric 
dialysat in combination with lig. arsentcalis, &c. It cannot be 
too much insisted on that lig. ferri dialysatic is best given 
alone or with a little glycerine. All alkaline or acid bodies 
have more or less a tendency to decompose iron in this form. 
Some recent experiments in France prove that oxide of iron 
in the colloid form is soluble in the stomach. 
In Mzmozwm. 
PROSPER VINCENT RAMEL. 
/, whose name is and will be forever associated with 
the successful planting of the eucalyptus in Europe and 
Algeria, is dead. This sad news was received by the last mail 
from Professor Baillou, the eminent botanist, who was one of 
the deceased gentleman’s most intimate friends. M. Ramel 
was in his seventy-fourth year. It is now many years since 
he resided in Australia, to which he was much attached. 
It was during his residence in this colony that the writer 
became acquainted with him ; a friendship, which has been 
terminated only by death, then sprang up. His last letter was 
dated 21st Sept., 1880, a few weeks before his death — a long 
and interesting letter, in which he descants with all his old 
enthusiasm upon the eucalyptus. He was also occupied with 
the idea of introducing the truffle into Australia, and had 
taken great trouble, in association with the late Mr. Edward 
Wilson (of the Argus) and Mons. Planchon, to make experi- 
ments and investigations, in order that this last desire of his 
life might be crowned with success.. Mr. E. Wilson’s death — 
which was a great blow to M. Ramel, and who entered warmly 
into the project — prevented the realisation of this important 
experiment in acclimatisation. In his last letter M. Ramel 
curiously said, in speaking of his health, “ Bien portant grace 
a V Eucalyptus Globulus ,” which was, in one form or another, 
his only medicine, and which he used daily. M. Ramel was 
the first to propound the opinion that i( La cause de la salubrite 
du Continent Australien ” was due to the eucalypts. He it 
was who, assisted by Baron von Mueller, caused these trees to 
be planted in Spain and Algeria, in which latter country he 
planted many thousands, under the auspices of the late 
Emperor Napoleon III.; he — to quote from the Paris corre- 
spondent of the Argus — “bent his whole thoughts upon the 
acclimatisation of ‘ his dear tree whole forests of eucalyptus 
now cover, thanks to him, the plains of Algiers.” For his 
services he was rewarded with the Cross of the Legion of 
Honour. He was a member of several scientific societies ; and 
we may apply to him the words, among the last sent to him 
by his friend, Mr. E. Wilson — 
“Though I shall be extinguished, yet shall rise 
Some other beacon from the spark I bore.” 
C. R. Blackett. 
JOHN STENHOUSE, F.R.S. 
On the last day of the old year passed away Dr. John Sten- 
house, F.R.S., in the seventy-second year of his age. He was 
a native of Glasgow, where he received his first education. 
Afterwards he was a pupil of Graham and Liebig, and became 
an unwearied investigator in the domain of organic chemistry, 
his studies being a labour of love to him. In the catalogue of 
scientific papers, published by the Royal Society up to the 
year 1871, no less than 64 papers are enumerated, written by 
him at different periods. He has contributed not a little to 
the progress of pharmaceutical knowledge, in recognition of 
which he was, in 1856, elected an honorary member of the 
Pharmaceutical Society. Aloin, oil of cinnamon leaf, thymol, 
from the seeds of Ptychotis ajowan, the crystalline deposit in 
essential oil of bitter almonds, and myroxocarpine, are a few 
of the substances he examined. Of the latter, a crystalline 
substance obtained from the white balsam of Peru, a specimen 
exists in the museum of the society. Dr. Stenhouse was a 
Royal Medallist of the Royal Society, LL.D. of Aberdeen, and 
one of the founders of the Chemical Society. On removing 
to London he was appointed lecturer on chemistry in St. 
Bartholomew’s Hospital. In 1865 he succeeded Dr. Hoffmann 
as non-resident assayer to the Royal Mint. Though labouring 
for many years past under severe physical suffering, yet he 
was not deterred from continuing his scientific investigations. 
In private life, as a Christian philosopher, as a stern denouncer 
of scientific humbug, and as a kind and sympathising friend, 
he is said by those who knew him best to have left behind 
him but few equals. — Pharmaceutical Journal. 
FIRE AT ST. ARNAUD. 
We extract from the St. Arnaud Mercury of the 30th March 
the following : — “ The inhabitants were startled from their 
slumbers at about half-past one o’clock yesterday morning by 
the alarm of fire being given through the medium of the fire- 
bell and the shouts of residents in Napier-street, and on pro- 
ceeding to the scene of the disaster it was discovered that the 
lower portion of the premises occupied by Mr. J. F. F. Grace, 
chemist, Napier-street, was in flames, in a manner similar to 
the fire which broke out in that establishment some three 
months ago. From what we can learn of the occurrence, it 
appears that a little before the hour named, Mr. F. Fearn, who 
had just left a rehearsal of the minstrel troupe held in a private 
dwelling, was proceeding down Napier-street on his way home, 
and when near the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle Hotel, observed 
the reflection of a peculiar brilliant light in Mr. Grace’s 
window. On crossing over to see what it was, he observed 
that the shop was on fire, the flames appearing to come from 
under the window. Mr. Fearn at once gave the alarm, and 
with commendable promptitude ran across to the Rose, Sham- 
rock, and Thistle Hotel, knocked up the proprietress, and 
obtained a bucket. He then made an aperture in the window, 
and with the aid of some water running down the side-channel, 
made a desperate attempt to put the fire out, and had nearly 
succeeded in doing so, when it caught some explosive, and 
was thereby vigorously renewed. In the meantime the fire- 
bell was tolled, and Mr. Grace (who was in bed in the upper 
story) warned of his perilous position, shortly afterwards 
came down scantily dressed to endeavour to save his property. 
Meanwhile, the flames had rapidly spread, and the fire brigade 
and a crowd of spectators had put in an appearance. The 
brigade, though labouring under many difficulties through 
being short-handed and being compelled to carry on operations 
amidst darkness, rain, and mud, promptly had the hose to 
work, and quickly arrested the progress of the flames, the fire 
being extinguished in ten minutes after their arrival. The 
damage done was confined to the shop and stock, nothing else 
being injured. The origin of the fire is a mystery, Mr. Grace 
being in bed at the time of the occurrence, and the shop 
locked up some time previously apparently all secure. Strange 
to relate, although everything was insured, the reverse might 
have been the case, as Mr. Grace had only re-insured with the 
local agent the afternoon previous.” 
To Test House Drains,— In London house drains are 
tested by pouring in at the highest point of the pipes an 
emulsion of oil of peppermint and water, following this up 
with a couple of buckets of water to wash the emulsion 
through the drains. Should there be any leaks they can be 
located by the penetrating smell of the peppermint. The 
same system is, we believe, used in Boston. 
