ON BLUE PILL. 
167 
tallic mercury, this is unnecessary. The water is then drawn off, as nearly as 
possible, by means of a pipette; 30 grains of sugar, 100 grains of powdered 
liquorice, and about 5j of glycerine added, and the mass transferred to a warm 
porcelain slab, where most of the remaining water is evaporated at a low tem¬ 
perature, a sufficiency of glycerine and liquorice being used to make the mass 
weigh 300 grains. 
The power possessed by protochloiide of tin of reducing salts of mercury, is 
well known ; the decomposition is as follows :—The tin salt being converted 
into bichloride, 
SnCl 2 
in solution. 
Hgcijgy 
Hg, thrown down. 
A very high temperature is not requisite to produce this change. The solution 
of the protochloride of tin should be effected without heat, and should not be 
very dilute, as in either case a basic salt is liable to be thrown down, especially 
if no hydrochloric acid be present. It is desirable also to employ a considerable 
excess of the tin salt to ensure the reduction of the mercury ; if insufficient be 
used, only calomel will be formed. The precipitate will be found to vary slightly 
in colour, according to the temperature at which it is produced, but I think 
that this being uniform and the solutions of a definite strength, unvarying re¬ 
sults may be obtained. The sugar has been added to assist in the preservation 
of the mercury from oxidation, and the glycerine to prevent the mass from be¬ 
coming dry. 
These appear to be the only precautions necessary to produce a “blue pill,” 
which is, I believe, superior to that obtained by the old process, and which can 
be prepared by any man who possesses two porcelain bowls, a Bunsen’s gas- 
burner, a tripod, a few grains of common sense, and a little knowledge of phar¬ 
maceutical manipulation. 
1, Market Place, Manchester. 
The President said that the suggestions made in this paper appeared to him to be 
highly ingenious, and the process was well deserving of a trial. He remembered that 
many years since, a leading manufacturer introduced to London chemists what purported 
to be a great improvement in blue pill, but as it was found to nauseate all who took it, 
its condemnation soon followed. 
Mr. G. Dymond had found that steam-made blue pill was not unfrequently com¬ 
plained of in the manner alluded to by the President, whilst that made by manual 
■ labour gave satisfaction. It appeared that in the former mode of preparing it, time was 
no object, and that a much longer exposure to the air took place, producing the grey 
oxide of mercury. He thought Mr. Benger’s plan deserving of a trial. The samples 
exhibited were very nice. . . 
Dr. Attfield considered that caution would be needful in the adoption of this pio- 
cess. Several precautions occurred to his mind, the neglect of which might cause the 
result to be very different to what was expected. The temperature of solution, the time 
o.f standing, etc., might influence the coalescence of the particles of mercury and conse¬ 
quent degree of division. He thought Mr. Benger had not proved that the particles of 
mercury prepared in the manner described were always uniform in size. 
Mr. Brady presumed that if the process were adapted for blue pill, it might also 
answ r er for the manufacture of grey powder. # . . 
Mr. Brevitt spoke of some cases which had lately come under his notice, in which the 
green iodide of mercury had produced very unpleasant symptoms, although it had been 
taken from the same bottle previously without bad effect: the iodide had been washed 
with spirit to free it from any red iodide. _ , 7 
Mr. Reynolds suggested that the remedy had met with some incompatib.e substance 
after administration to the patients. He had seen the native sulphide of antimony pro\ e 
