80 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
February, 1882. 
PERMANGANATE OF POTASSA AS AN ANTIDOTE FOR 
SNAKE POISON. 
Dr. de Lacerda lately made in Brazil some important 
experiments on the modification caused by various substances 
in the effects of the snake poison’s inoculation. He found 
perchloride of iron, borax, acid, nitrate of mercury, tannin, 
and other chemicals, to be all inert or nearly so, but perman- 
ganate of potassa was discovered to afford astonishing 
results. 
The first series of experiments was as follows: — The fresh 
venom of the bothrops snake, collected on cotton wadding, and 
corresponding in quantity to that produced by a number of 
bites, was diluted with eight or ten grammes of water. The 
liquid being introduced into a Pravaz syringe, about one-half 
of it was injected into the cellular tissue of the thigh of one 
of the dogs selected for observation. Then, one or two 
minutes afterwards, sometimes later, an equal quantity of a 
one per cent, solution of permanganate of potassa was injected 
in the same place. 
The dogs, on being examined the next day, showed no trace 
of local lesion, save the usual traces of the puncture. The 
same poisonous liquid, however, when not followed by the 
antidote, always produced in other dogs great local tume- 
faction, and abscesses more or less voluminous accompanied 
with loss of substance and destruction of tissues. 
The next series of experiments was in injecting the poison 
into the veins, when the antidote failed in only two cases out 
of thirty. The lack of success in these two instances is ex- 
plained by the fact that, in order to vary the experiments, 
some of the dogs operated upon were ill-fed, very young, or 
weak, and in some cases the introduction of the permanganate 
was made very late, when the heart’s beats were ready to 
cease. 
In a number of cases the injections consisted of half a 
syringeful of a poisonous solution containing the venom pro- 
duced by twelve or fifteen snakes’ bites, mixed with ten 
grammes of water. Half-a-minute afterwards two c.c. of the 
one per cent, permanganate solution were injected. With the 
exception of a transient agitation and occasional cardiac 
acceleration scarcely lasting a few minutes, no disturbances 
were noted. The animals were kept under observation for 
several days, and their health remained good. 
In another series of cases, after injecting the poison, the 
operator waited for the manifestation of the characteristic 
troubles. When the animal already exhibited great pupillary 
dilatation, respiratory and cardiac disturbances, constriction, 
&c., Dr. de Lacerda injected into the vein two to three cubic 
centimeters of the permanganate solution. After two or three 
minutes, five at the utmost, all disturbances ceased ; slight 
general prostration only remained, which never lasted longer 
than twenty-five minutes. Then the animal, being placed on 
the ground, could walk and even run. At the same time other 
dogs, to which the same quantity of poison had been adminis- 
tered, but no antidote, met with a death more or less rapid. 
These striking results were observed at different times by 
various persons, notably the Emperor of Brazil and professors 
of the faculty. Hence, Dr. de Lacerda affirms without hesi- 
tation that “ permanganate of potassa acts as a true antidote 
to snake’s poison.” 
Correspondence. 
Mr. H. F. Massey, of Williamstown, writes : — “ Will you 
kindly allow me space in your journal to inform Mr. Alexan- 
der Hall that the paragraph he refers to in his letter in no way 
emanated from me? The circulars issued by me state that “ I 
have commenced business in the premises lately occupied by 
Mr. A. Hall.” This by no means infers my having “ suc- 
ceeded” to his business. 
CRICKET MATCH. 
To the Editor of the Australasian SupgAement to the Chemist 
and Druggist. 
Dear Sir — I t is the intention of a number of chemists on the 
south side of the Yarra to arrange a cricket match against a 
team from the north side. If any of your readers desire to 
take part in the match, and would kindly send their names 
and addresses to me, they will be placed before a committee 
for selection. The match will be played either this or next 
month, upon a ground to be agreed upon. By kindly inserting 
this in your journal, you will oblige, yours respectfully, 
G. E. Treen. 
102 Clarendon-street, Emerald Hill, 9th February, 1882. 
ffotes anti Abstracts. 
Ready Method of Preparing Fomentations.— Take 
your flannel, folded to the required thickness and size, 
dampened quite perceptibly with water, but not enough to 
drip, and place it between the folds of a large newspaper, 
having the edges of the paper lap well over the cloth, so as to 
give no vent to the steam. Thus prepared, lay it on the heated 
surface of the stove or register, and in a moment steam is 
generated from the under surface, and has permeated the 
whole cloth sufficiently to heat it to the required temperature. 
This method is often very convenient and efficient where there 
is no opportunity to heat much water at a time . — Michigan 
Medical Neivs. 
Colouring White Flowers. — A correspondent of Vick's 
Floral Monthly says : — A very pretty experiment is performed 
by putting the stem of a freshly cut tuberose, or other white 
flower, into diluted scarlet ink for a short time. The liquid 
will be drawn up into the veins, colouring them in a very 
pleasant manner. It is also instructive, showing whether a 
plant is net-veined or parallel-veined. A tuberose coloured 
not too highly makes a very pretty novelty. I gave one to a 
young lady, who wore it in a mixed assembly, where it attacted 
considerable attention. Among those interested was an 
amateur botanist, who entered into a lengthy explanation of 
how he supposed the matter to have been accomplished by 
hybridising, and considerable merriment was caused when the 
truth was revealed. I discovered this process accidentally, 
and the ink mentioned is the only colour I have found fine 
enough to pass into the pores of the flowers.” 
To Colour Iron Black. — A brilliant black is produced on 
iron and steel by applying, with a fine hair brush, a mixture 
of turpentine and sulphur boiled together. When the turpen- 
tine evaporates, there remains on the metal a thin layer of 
sulphur, which unites closely with the iron when heated for a 
time over a spirit or gas flame. This varnish protects the 
metal perfectly, and is quite durable. 
Stain for Mahogany Cherry. — The most simple and 
best stain for mahoganising cherry is ground burnt sienna 
mixed in benzine or turpentine. Apply with a brush or 
sponge, let it stand for a short time, and clean off with a 
cloth. It will be better to let it remain in this condition until 
the following day before commencing to finish. 
METALLIC OLEATES AND OLEO-PALMITATES. 
Dr. L. Wolff, in a paper read at a pharmaceutical meeting 
of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, recommends the 
following process for obtaining pure oleates : — 
One part of castile soap (sodium oleo-palmitate) is dissolved 
in eight parts of water ; the solution so obtained is allowed to 
stand for twenty-four hours, when there will be a considerable 
deposit of sodium palmitate, while the supernatant liquor, 
containing mostly sodium oleate, is drawn off and then decom- 
posed with a concentrated solution of a metallic salt, which, 
if obtainable, should contain no free acid to prevent the forma- 
tion of free oleo-palmitic acid. The heavy deposit of oleo- 
palmitate so derived is strained off, pressed out in the strainer, 
and the adherent water evaporated in a water-bath ; after 
this it is dissolved in about six to eight times its quantity of 
petroleum benzine, and the insoluble palmitate is left to sub- 
side while the solution of oleate decanted therefrom is filtered 
off. The benzine evaporated will yield an oleate that is 
entitled to that name, as it is a chemical combination, and will 
remain stable and efficacious. 
The oleates, so prepared, he says, present an amorphous 
appearance, while the palmitates are of a crystalline character. 
While I have noticed a marked affinity of some of the metallic 
salts for palmitic acid, the absence of it in others is remark- 
able. Thus, mercury, zinc, bismuth, and lead combine with 
palmitic acid abundantly ; but iron and copper seem to form 
an exception therefrom, and while the oleates of mercury, iron, 
and copper seem to be desirable as therapeutic agents, the 
oleo-palmitates of zinc, bismuth, and lead appear preferable. 
