234 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
results I bare met with thus far. From this it will be observed that the pro¬ 
portion of available chlorine present in the samples varied from under 9 to 
nearly 35 per cent. ; and, even making all allowances for the differences in 
age which must have existed amongst the several specimens, the variation in 
quality therefore is certainly excessive. 
Whenever possible the sample was taken from four places near the middle 
of the cask or other containing vessel, in order to obtain a fair average ; and 
experience has convinced me that, -when well packed, the “ chlorinated 
lime ” suffers no material diminution of strength for many months except for 
a few inches from the outside. The best method of keeping it, however, is 
to line the cask, as it were, thinly with finely-powdered caustic-lime. 
In determining the amount of moisture, the figures given were arrived at 
by deducting from the loss in drying at 100° F. in a current of desiccated air, 
the differences found in estimating the available chlorine on the fresh and 
dried samples. For the determination of available chlorine I know of no 
better methods than those depending upon the oxidation of protochloride of 
iron and arsenious acid, and the presence of chlorates was most conveniently 
ascertained by slowly decomposing the bleaching powder in an apparatus 
specially constructed for the purpose by a mixture of carbonic and acetic 
acids, extracting the chloride of calcium therefrom by means of alcohol, and 
then washing out the chlorides with water. As will be seen from the table, 
as much as 7 per cent, of chlorate of calcium was found in one instance, ren¬ 
dering this sample utterly useless for the purposes of dyers and calico-printers. 
For the prices given in the table I am not responsible, and cannot vouch for 
their accuracy, except in a few instances, many persons being extremely 
willing to get your opinion, upon a fresh arrival of chlorinated lime, but dis¬ 
trusting your motives immediately if asked what they gave for it. 
If the preceding observations, for which no pretensions of intrinsic import¬ 
ance are made, should be the means of attracting the attention of other and more 
competent inquirers to a subject well worthy of the cognizance of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Conference, the objects of the writer will have been fully attained. 
NOTE ON SULPHUR PASTILLES. 
BY WENTWORTH LASCELLES SCOTT, F.C.S. 
The practice of burning sulphur for purposes of disinfection has been 
known and valued in most countries for many centuries, it being quite com¬ 
mon in the time of Cleopatra ; but every now and then attempts are made 
to invest the products of its combustion with superlative curative powers, 
the excitement consequent thereon generally dying away at the expiration 
of a longer or shorter time. 
As one of these “ volcanic cycles,” as they might be called, is now appa¬ 
rently just commencing in this country, I have thought that a few words 
upon one section of this subject might not perhaps be wholly inappropriate. 
It is not unreasonable to suppose, from its very remarkable antiseptic 
powers, that sulphurous acid should be serviceable in the treatment of what 
might be popularly designated fermentive diseases and affections, as it in¬ 
stantly arrests oxidation in almost every form. Of late, sulphurous acid 
has been recommended in three different forms—as vapour mixed with that 
of water for inhalation, in shape of liquid spray, and lastly again in the gase¬ 
ous form, as produced by burning sulphur in air. 
Without expressing any opinion here of its value in a purely medical point 
of view, my present object is simply to direct attention to the danger 
