68 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
January, 1882. 
NEW ZEALAND. 
A shocking occurrence took place at Wellington on 21st 
December, by which a lady was literally blown to pieces, and 
a building partially wrecked. The facts are as follow: — At 
the shop of Mr. Barraud, chemist, Lambton Quay, some blue- 
fire was in course of preparation for use at the theatre . On 
testing a small portion of the mixture, it was found dan- 
gerously explosive, too much chlorate of potash having been 
inadvertently used in the composition. Accordingly, Barraud’s 
assistant, named Anthony, formerly of Christchurch, took it 
out into the back-yard and began to destroy it by slow com- 
bustion. He had occasion to leave for an instant, and before 
he could return, his wife happened to go into the yard, and 
seeing chemicals on fire, at once threw a bucket of water on 
the burning mass. A terrific explosion immediately took 
place, which shook the whole city, and was heard at a distance 
of some miles. Poor Mrs. Anthony received the full force of 
the shock, and was frightfully mutilated. Both 'arms were 
torn off, also one leg, the lower jaw, and the scalp. Wonderful 
to relate, she lingered for some time. All the windows in the 
vicinity were smashed, and other damage done. The stone 
mortar in which the composition had been mixed was hurled 
many feet into the air, and thrown clear over the tops of the 
houses into the next street. Fortunately, nobody else was 
injured. This dreadful occurrence created a profound sen- 
sation in the city. 
Scientific Summary. 
From the Pharmaceutical Journal and other sources we take 
the following : — 
In an address delivered before the German Pharmaceutical 
Association at its recent meeting, Dr. Meyer gave an account 
of the most recent views of the growth and development, as 
well as the chemical and physical properties of starch. He 
agreed with Schimper and Musculus (Bot. Zeit ., 1880-81), 
according to whom the starch grains grow, like sphaero- 
crystals, by apposition of starch molecules. The starch grains 
are sphserocrystalloids which originate only in the chlorophyll 
grains of the green parts of plants, whilst in all parts destitute 
of chlorophyll, as for instance in rhizomes, starch grains are 
produced by the conversion of other carbohydrates into starch 
by the so-called starch formers ( Stdrhebildner J. To explain 
the origin of the concentric rings, and the peculiarity of starch 
grains always being softer in the interior than on the outside, 
Dr. Meyer made use of a new theory which cannot be here 
entered upon. Chemically, only the outermost layer of the 
starch grain consists of anhydride, (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) 12 , the inner 
layers are composed of “ swollen ” anhydride. ° By the action 
of acids and ferments water is taken up, and the molecule of 
anhydride breaks up into several molecules of soluble starch, 
hydrate of starch (C^Hj O 0 5 ) 3 + H 2 0, which can be obtained 
in sphserocrystals. By the action of ferments soluble starch 
is converted into dextrin and maltose, water being again 
absorbed — 
(O.H l0 O,) ll +H.O=(O.H 0,) + 0 1 .H„0 11 . 
Dextrin. Maltose. 
This decomposition may be continued ; maltose can then, on 
absorption of one molecule of water, split up into two mole- 
cules of grape sugar. The first step towards the production 
of starch from grape sugar has been accomplished in the 
preparation of a dextrin of the formula (C 6 H 10 O 6 ) 3 from 
chemically pure grape sugar. 
In Auckland, New Zealand, an attempt is being made to 
cultivate liquorice, and if successful it is believed that consider- 
able attention will be devoted to it by farmers, the climate 
being most suitable. A large quantity of the root has been 
imported by a local merchant, and has been extensively dis- 
tributed throughout the country districts. 
Professor Hamberg, of Stockholm, has been making a series 
of experiments as to the relative stability of solutions of 
different salts of morphia, and has recently brought the 
subject before the Swedish Medical Association (j Pharm. 
Zeitung , xxvi., No. 46). He finds that the sulphate of 
morphia is more stable than the hydrochlorate, and that the 
best results are obtained when the solutions are made with 
boiling distilled water (tested for freedom from ammonia, 
nitrous, nitric, or phosphoric acids), and filtered directly into 
small well-filled glass-stoppered bottles, 'which should after- 
wards be doubly capped with parchment. 
Dr. Lacerda has also discovered that permanganate of 
potash is an antidote to snake poison. According to a letter 
co the Medical Times and Gazette “repeated successful experi- 
ments, positive and negative, have been performed by him in 
the presence of the Emperor of Brazil,” and there is said to be 
no doubt felt in Rio as to the thorough truth of the discovery. 
M. Gautier, in a paper read before the Academy of Medi- 
cine, on 26th July last, gives an account of his researches into 
the nature of snake poisons, more particularly that of the 
cobra ( Naja tripudians). He finds that they are not ferments, 
but chemical bodies of definite composition and considerable 
stability, whose energy is proportioned to the quantity 
employed, and but slightly impaired by subjection to a 
temperature of 125° C. (258° F.) for several hours. Although 
the poison has the nature of an alkaloid, he found that in its 
crude state it has an acid reaction, and caustic potash or soda 
enough to neutralise this acidity, rendered it absolutely inert, 
and, in fact, decomposed it, since when neutralised with an 
acid again the energy of the poison was not restored. He, 
however, failed to prevent death by the subcutaneous 
injection of alkaline solutions. M. Guatier also verified the 
fact that the poison may be taken into the digestive canal 
with impunity. 
The existing information as to the solubility under varying 
conditions of carbonate of magnesia in water charged with 
carbonic acid gas being contradictory and incomplete, Messrs. 
Engel and Ville have made a series of determinations, the 
results of which they have recently laid in a tabular form 
before the French Academy ( Comptes Rendes. xciii., 340). 
It was found that under a pressure of one atmosphere, at a 
temperature of 19*5 deg. C. one litre of water charged with 
carbonic acid dissolved 25*79 grams of carbonate of magnesia; 
under 4*7 atmospheres and a temperature of 19 *2 deg., the 
quantity increased to 43*5 grams ; and under 9 atmospheres 
and a temperature of 18*7 deg. to 56'69 grams. It was also 
found that slight variations of temperature — the pressure 
remaining constant — were sufficient to modify sensibly the 
solubility of the carbonate of magnesia. Thus with the ordi- 
nary atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 13*4 deg. C., 
a litre of water dissolved 28*45 grams ; at 19*5 deg., 25*79 
grams; at 29*3 deg., 21*945 grams; at 70 deg., 8*1 grams; 
at 90 deg., 2*4 grams. 
DEFINITIONS OF SOME NEW AUSTRALIAN PLANTS. 
By Baron Ferd. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph. D., 
F.R.S. 
Not very long ago I drew attention in the pages of this 
journal to a new meliaceous tree from Northern Queensland 
(Dysoxylon Schiffneri) and to a terrestrial orchid, till then 
unknown, from the Loddon district in our own colony (Thely- 
mitra Mackibbinii) chiefly with an object to interest pharma- 
ceutic gentlemen throughout the Australian colonies more 
and more in the native vegetation around them. It was hoped, 
that many pharmacists would be induced to form collections 
of dried plants, when it could be shown, that not only the 
fields of therapeutical and chemical phytology had to be 
much further investigated, but that even near our own 
metropolis any assiduous and persevering botanic searches 
would likely be rewarded with the discovery of quite new 
species of plants. That this anticipation was well founded, is 
now again demonstrated by the fact of Mr. D. Sullivan, of 
Moyston, having added to the three species of the remarkable 
orchid-genus Caleya a fourth congener, which he obtained in 
our Grampians. I avail myself of the kind concession of 
C. R. Blackett, Esq., M.P., of giving in these pages 
publicity to this new plant and a few others, he sharing 
my hope that many of his colleagues, especially in 
remote localities of colonial settlements, may be induced 
to forward dried specimens also for the further elucidation 
of the Australian flora, particularly in reference to the 
regional distribution of the species. Researches on the medi- 
cinal, industrial or cultural value will follow gradually any 
systematic descriptive records. Indeed, it would be an im- 
mense gain to Australian practical resources also, if in each 
pharmaceutical establishment gradually a full collection of 
the plants, indigenous in the vicinity, did accumulate, while 
at the same time the Australian members of the pharmaceu- 
tical profession would in botanic inquiries keep thereby pace 
with their brethren in Europe. 
Caleya Snllivanii . — Stem very slender, comparatively short, 
its lowest portion enclosed in a membranous, narrow, slightly 
