NOTES AND ABSTRACTS IN CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. 231 
anaesthesia. A mixture of strong alcohol and ether saturated with protoxide of 
nitrogen, introduced upon cotton into a decayed tooth, produced momentarily 
an instantaneous disappearance of the pain. The vapour of this ethereal solu¬ 
tion possesses a slightly sweet taste. Introduced into the lungs it produces 
a very agreeable peculiar sensation, and loses the sharp irritating taste of 
ether inhalations, which, with some persons, augments the nervous excite¬ 
ment. 
M. Limousin also details a number of experiments intended to assist in 
forming an explanation of the physiological properties of nitrous oxide. He 
shows that this body is in fact a somewhat unstable compound, decomposed 
under comparatively feeble influences into oxygen and nitrogen; he regards 
it therefore as an oxidizing substance, and capable of acting as such when in¬ 
troduced into the animal economy. In the course of his paper the author 
mentions that bags or vessels of caoutchouc cannot be used for the preserva¬ 
tion or transference of the gas, because this substance allows a very rapid 
diffusion of the gas to take place. 
Xtfew Pood for Infants. 
M. Nestle, of Yevey, has proposed the introduction of a new food for 
young infants, to which he gives the name farine lactee. This food is com¬ 
posed of perfectly pure milk, evaporated in a vacuum at a low temperature ; 
of bread which has been submitted to a high temperature; and of sugar. 
These ingredients are incorporated in certain proportions, calculated to pro¬ 
duce a food of similar composition to human milk. The preparation is made 
into the form of small granules of a yellowish-white colour. According to 
M. Barral, the. food contains, in 1000 parts, 19’5 of nitrogen and 7 of salts. 
It results that, by diffusing 1000 parts of the food through 3000 parts of 
water, a milk is obtained which contains, in 1000 parts, 4'87 parts of nitrogen 
and 1‘7 part of salts. Woman’s milk contains 4‘83 of nitrogen and 2 of 
salts; consequently, the two liquids are very nearly identical in the propor¬ 
tion of their elements. 
M. Nestle very justly observes that, for the nourishment of an infant, no¬ 
thing can fully replace the milk of its mother; but where this natural food is 
unattainable, it should be imitated by something as similar in composition as 
possible. 
Adulteration of Saffron. 
An article in the ‘ Repertoire ’ describes a sample of adulterated saffron 
occurring in commerce. It was new, of a very rich colour, and of a fine ap¬ 
pearance. The colour had been heightened by a little oil, but in other 
respects it might have passed as good and pure. Analysis indicated, how¬ 
ever, that it contained a notable proportion of some pulverulent mineral 
matter adhering to the oily surface. One gramme, incinerated, gave 25 per¬ 
cent. of ash, while an authoritative sample of pure saffron gave only 8 per¬ 
cent. Exhausted by ether, and the solution evaporated, about 5 per cent, of 
fixed oil was obtained. Consequently, this sample of saffron contained at 
least 20 per cent, of foreign matter. 
A Kfew Cement. 
The ‘ Journal de Chimie Medicale’ states that an excellent cement may be 
made by dissolving 1 part of amber in l£ part of sulphide of carbon. This 
liquid is applied by a brush to the surfaces it is wished to unite, and on press¬ 
ing them together the cement dries almost immediately. 
laiquid Fire. 
It is well known that a solution of phosphorus in sulphide of carbon con- 
