282 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 
Petroleum spirit dissolved out from bark 1*275 per cent, of the 
original substance, but no bitter principle. When dried, ether dissolved 
*637 per cent., principally a brittle resin. 
Absolute alcohol dissolved 6*075 per cent., including some of the 
bitter principle, tannic acid, &c. The residue was tested for nitrogen, 
but none found. The material was then dried, and water dissolved 
from this equal to 9*4 per cent., consisting largely of gummy and 
mucilaginous matters ; the remainder of the bitter principle is here 
found. Prom the above it is seen that by its action and mode of 
recovery it somewhat approaches the glucoside Strophanthin, by being 
so readily decomposed by all acids, even 1I 2 S acting upon it ; by its 
poisonous properties ; by certain of its reactions. But it differs from 
that glucoside in that it is precipitated by basic acetate of lead, also 
by tannic acid; that it gives a precipitate with KI + I solution; by 
its difference in reaction with ferric chloride in sulphuric acid, and, 
most marked of all, its different reaction with concentrated sulphuric 
acid alone, and the beautiful emerald-green colour produced as 
described with K 2 Cr 2 0 7 and sulphuric acid. It is well, therefore, to 
provisionally name this new glucoside Carissin. 
It has been a difficult matter to isolate the principle satisfactorily ; 
but now that is accomplished, it will not be difficult to complete the 
investigation, and we hope shortly to have its chemical composition 
completed, and also that of its decomposition product. It seems at 
present as if it were impossible to crystallise it in any way. 
10.— THE OINTMENTS OF THE PRABMACOPCEIA. 
By F. W. SIMMON DS. 
This subject is one that has not been much discussed, and 
there are a good many of the ointments of the British Pharmacopoeia 
that are not satisfactory — at any rate, in this climate. The Phar- 
macopoeia allows of too great liberty of interpretation, as in the case 
of hard paraffin, where the melting point is placed at from 110 degrees 
Fahr. to 145 degrees Fahr., also soft paraffin may either be white or 
yellow. I think: that in the new addition of the Pharmacopoeia, if 
these are retained as ointment bases, the melting point and colour 
should be stated in each case ; or if it is intended that different samples 
should be used in winter and summer for the purpose of regulating 
the hardness, this should also be stated. This indefiniteness may 
make in some cases no difference in the therapeutic effect of the 
ointment; but it is often a source of annoyance to the patient as well 
as the doctor. 
There is no doubt that a prescription dispensed by one chemist 
should not be different if repeated at a dozen different places. This is 
impossible if we ail do just what we like; and, as there is nothing 
in the Pharmacopoeia to define what colour the soft paraffin is to be, 
how r can we dispense it so as to be sui*e that we are carrying out the 
wishes of the prescriber ? The white variety is, I suppose, almost 
invariablv used in those cases where the ointment would otherwise be 
coloured; but as some medical men have a dislike to this white variety 
