MISCELLANEA. 
521 
ministered previous to an operation, and that there was no blame attached to the 
medical men.” 
Aqueous Kxtract of the Ldver of the Cod. —M. Despinoy, of Lille, examining 
the fluid which escaped during the fermentation of the cod-liver in the preparation of 
the oil, found it richer in the properties found in the oil than the oil itself. He prepared 
an extract from the fluid, in order that it might be administered in the form of pills. M. 
Devergie recently reported to the Academy on the results obtained by several trials of 
these made in the Paris Hospitals. It was found that when the pills were given in great 
doses they caused anorexia, but given to young scrofulous subjects in moderate and pro¬ 
longed doses, they improved the assimilatory powers very much, as is done by small 
doses of cod-liver oil; but in regard to their ultimate effect upon the special symptom 
, they were found very inferior in efficacy to the oil. Still, as a remedy in cases in which 
the cod-liver oil cannot be borne in examples of chlorosis, anaemia, indigestion, and com¬ 
mencing phthisis, they may prove of great utility, it always being remembered that the 
same amount of therapeutical results is not to be obtained as from the oil. The mean 
dose of the pills is four per diem, commencing with one night and morning. M. 
Despinoy’s researches prove that the peculiar active principle of cod-liver oil has yet to 
be sought for, as, while the watery extract is of less therapeutical power, it is richer in 
its proportions of propylamine, ichthyoglycene, iodine, phosphorus, etc .—Bull, de 
Therap. vol. lxiii. p. 545. 
Case of Alleged Poisoning. —Mr. Richard Oke Millett, surgeon, of Penpol, Corn¬ 
wall, was charged before the magistrates of Hayle with having administered poison to 
his brother, Jacob Curnaw Millett, with intent to cause his death. 
Some suspicions of foul play having arisen, and, on the information of Mr. William 
Millett (brother of the deceased)and Mr. Frederick Edmonds, surgeon, Sir George Grey gave 
an order for the exhumation of the body, certain portions of which were sent to Dr. Taylor 
for analysis. The evidence adduced at the several examinations was of the most trivial 
character; and at the last sitting, when the report of Dr. Taylor was received, the case 
completely broke down, and Mr. Millett was honourably acquitted. Dr. Taylor stated 
n his report, that not only was there a total absence of poison in any part of the body 
which he had examined, but, from the symptoms described, he should not have suspected 
it to have been a case of poisoning at all. 
A lew and Delicate Vegetable Reagent. —M. Goppelsroeder, of Bale, has dis¬ 
covered a very delicate reagent in the extract of the petals of the mallow. The extract 
of mallow is violet, and it becomes red when treated by an acid. Paper is tinted with 
this extract, and it then may be employed in the same way as litmus or curcuma. The 
alkaline bases render this paper violet when their solutions are diluted, and green when 
they are more concentrated. If a solution contain only two-millionth part of caustic 
soda, the reagent becomes of a violet colour, producing effects when litmus and curcuma 
cease to do so. The alkaline nitrites furnish the same result.— Bull, de Therap. No. 9. 
Poison for Kats.—The ‘Journal d’ Agriculture Pratique ’ states that carbonate of 
baryta may be successfully employed for the destruction of rats. As the salt is tasteless, 
it may be mixed with various kinds of food; it only becomes poisonous by the action of 
the gastric juice, which renders the salts of baryta soluble. 
Another Chrome Green. —A brilliant green for printing is said to be made in 
the following way :—Take 15 parts of bichromate of potash, 36 parts of crystallized 
phosphate of soda, and G parts tartaric acid. Fuse the phosphate in its water of 
crystallization, and add to it the bichromate rubbed to fine powder, and afterwards the 
tartaric acid. Great frothing takes place on the last addition, and the colour of the mass 
changes from yellow to green. A porous brown mass remains, which dissolves in hot 
water and dilute acids, giving an emerald green solution. The porous mass is to be 
moistened with as much strong hydrochloric acid as it will absorb; it is then treated 
with cold water to remove the acid, and afterwards with boiling water to dissolve out 
the soda and potash salts. An insoluble green body remains on the filter, which, when 
more finely divided by levigation, becomes of a brighter shade. The 6 parts of tartaric 
acid may be replaced with 14 parts of Rochelle salt.— Chemical News. 
Phosphates in Medicinal Decoctions and Infusions. —Some researches made 
by M. Terreil show that plants contain the phosphates in a soluble state. If we pour a 
slight excess of acid into a well-filtered infusion of mallow leaves, or into a decoction of 
taraxacum root, the sides of the glass will within twenty-four hours be found lined with 
