538 
PROTOXIDE OF NITROGEN AS AN ANAESTHETIC. 
tion, which cannot but be injurious to the public health. Hoping to be excused 
for taking up your valuable space, 
I am, dear Sirs, yours truly, 
J. C. T. 
April 7, 1868. 
NOTE ON FOREIGN GLYCERINE. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Having had occasion, a short time since, to mix together glycerine with a 
solution of nitrate of silver, I was much surprised to find that the addition of 
the glycerine caused great turbidity in the solution, and that a precipitate sub¬ 
sequently subsided. In this instance the foreign or Vienna glycerine was em¬ 
ployed. Price’s glycerine was afterwards used, with which none of the above- 
mentioned effects were observed. 
The presence of a chloride naturally suggested itself, and an examination of 
the precipitate, combined with its ready solubility in ammonia, proved its pre¬ 
sence. The chlorine was then quantitatively estimated with AgN0 3 , in the 
usual manner, when the following results were obtained :— 
CaCl 2 
Glycerine. AgCl. Cl. CaCl 2 per cent. 
13-645 grammes gave -0268 = -00663 = -01036 = -0759 
44*2035 „ „ -08608 = -02129 = -03328 = *0775 
Oxalate of ammonia gave abundant evidence of the presence of lime, which 
latter, however, was not estimated. 
100 grms. of the glycerine, therefore, contained *0767 grms. of chloride of 
calcium, or 1303 grs. (3 oz. nearly) contained 1 gr. 
The proportion of salt is therefore exceedingly small and exceedingly harm¬ 
less, but is more than sufficient to trouble solution of AgN0 3 , with which it is 
so frequently prescribed. It would be interesting if other members, possessing 
samples of foreign glycerine, would test them with argent, nit., in order to see 
whether this is an isolated sample, or whether chloride of calcium is to be con¬ 
sidered as a general contamination of this variety of glycerine. 
I am, Sir, yours, etc., 
Baker Street , Portman Square. John Watts. 
PROTOXIDE OF NITROGEN AS AN ANAESTHETIC. 
At a meeting of the Odontologieal Society on Monday, April 6th, a full discussion on 
this subject took place. The discussion resulted in the formation of a committee “ for 
the purpose of investigating the anaesthetic powers of nitrous oxide, with powertocall 
in aid any other scientific men, and to report to the Society the result of their investi¬ 
gations at some future meeting.” We learn from the ‘ British Medical Journal ’ that 
“subsequently to the operations at the Dental Hospital, described in a previous num¬ 
ber of that Journal, this gas was administered to some patients at the Ophthalmic 
Hospital, Moorfields, for operations on the eye and eyelids. The operations were per¬ 
formed quite painlessly under its influence. At a meeting of the Odontologieal Society 
on Monday evening, a full discussion on the subject took place, which is reported in the 
‘ British Medical Journal.’ Dr. Evans has presented a donation of £100 to the hospital 
towards the necessary apparatus and materials for the use of this anaesthetic there for 
the patients. Dr. Marion Sims, of Paris, reports some formidable operations successfully 
performed under its influence. It is understood that there will be no difficulty in 
obtaining the gas in a pure, and probably even in a portable form, if desired. Mr. 
Ernest Hart, availing himself of the known properties of the gas, proposes to obtain it 
