'586 
MISCELLANEA. 
M. Grimault supplies a formula for its preparation independently of any pharmaceutical 
apparatus. It suffices to shake up in a phial two volumes of white of egg and one 
volume of chloroform. Providing that the chloroform be pure, or at least is devoid of 
foreign bodies (alcohol or acid, for example) liable to coagulate the albumen, the jelly 
forms of itself, and can be preserved for several days without separation.— Ball, cle 
Therap { vol. lxiii. p. 559. 
The Chemical Manufacture of Matches.—At the annual distribution of prizes 
and certificates to the successful candidates at the examinations of the Museum of Irish 
Industry, October 1st, Sir Eobert Kane delivered a lecture “ On the Chemical Manufac¬ 
ture of Matches.” He described the mode in which the manufacture of matches was 
carried on, availing himself of some models and samples, for which he expressed him¬ 
self indebted to Mr. Johnson, of Ardee Street, who was, he believed, the principal manu¬ 
facturer of matches in Dublin. The importance of the manufacture might be estimated 
from the following statistics :—The number of matches manufactured in Great Britain 
was about 40,000,000 a day ; in addition to which the importation of foreign matches was 
five times as great, so that the total consumption of matches might be estimated at 
240,000,000 a day. The manufacture of this immense quantity gave employment to a 
large number of workmen, and it was satisfactory to know that, owing to recent im¬ 
provements, the diseases formerly incident to the manufacture were now avoided. 
A Volatile Alkaloid, in Digitalis Purpurea.—By treating the fresh leaves of 
foxglove in the same manner by which conia is extracted from hemlock, they yield a 
volatile alkaloid, which the discoverer, W. Englehardt (Zeitschrift fair Chemie u. Pharm. 
1862, December, p. 722) has named JDigitalium Jluidum , and which, from the experi¬ 
ments made with it on animals, appears to be the real bearer of the physiological action 
of this plant. This alkaloid is exceedingly volatile, of an oily consistence, an alkaline 
reaction, difficultly soluble in water, readily so in alcohol, little soluble in chloroform, 
and soluble in absolute ether. Its odour is very penetrating, intermediate between that 
of conia and nicotina: when diluted it is not so unpleasant (Neues Jahrb. f. Pharm. 
Januar, 1863. xix. p. 29 .)—American Journal of Tharmacy. 
Dangerous Damp Oils.—At the meeting of the Association of Medical Officers of 
Health, held on Saturday, February 20th, at the Scottish Corporation Hall, a paper was 
read on the recent petroleum accidents, and on the ready detection of dangerous lamp 
oils. It -was shown that these accidents had invariably resulted from the employment of 
oils capable of being ignited at a very low temperature, in many cases even below the 
standard of the Petroleum Act; one very severe accident being traced to the employment 
of an oil giving off inflammable vapour at a temperature below the freezing point of 
•water. The author of the paper, Mr. Tegetmeier, exhibited a very easy and practical 
mode of detecting dangerous oils. Two teacupfuls of boiling water and one of cold 
water (at the ordinary temperature of a sitting room) were mixed together in a small 
basin; a cupful of the w r ater was then taken, and a teaspoonful of the oil to be tested 
poured on its surface ; in a few seconds a light was applied to the oil. The dangerous 
oils, those capable of igniting below 128 degrees, immediately took fire, whereas it was 
shown to be impossible to ignite those which wnre of a safe and non-explosive character. 
In the conversation that ensued, Drs. Letheby, Lankester, and E. D. Thomson took part, 
and the desirability of raising the standard of the Petroleum Act from 100 to 125 de¬ 
grees was discussed; many accidents, some of a fatal character, have arisen from the 
employment of oils having a higher inflaming point than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.— 
Times. 
Destructive Fire at Apothecaries’ Mall, Dublin.—A fire broke out in the 
stores of the Apothecaries’ Hall on March 30th, by which a large quantity of drugs and 
pharmaceutical preparations were destroyed—property to the amount (it is reported) of 
£15,000. The books and valuable laboratory machinery were saved. 
Accidental Poisoning' by Strychnia,—On Thursday, February 25th, Sophia 
Tulloch, servant at the Poor House at Belnaboth, parish of Glenbucket, who had been 
rather unwell for some time, went to the grocer (Mr. Chree’s) at Sunnybrae, in the same 
parish, and asked for a calomel powder. The grocer’s wife—a most respectable woman 
- -who was acting at the time in his absence, unfortunately gave the amount asked 
