412 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[November 23, l£72. 
pared by bringing phosphorus vapour into contact 
with melted zinc in an atmosphere of dry hydrogen. 
The deposit that occurs in the phosphorated oil 
of the French Codex was investigated by M. 
Mehu. In a paper read before the Societe de 
Pharmacie, at Paris, in May, 1861,* * * § he states 
that it is the result of the action of the phos¬ 
phorus upon the albumen, resin, and other or¬ 
ganic matters present in ordinary oil of almonds. 
These deposits are yellow, becoming reddish by ex¬ 
posure to light, and vary in quantity with the tem¬ 
perature and the quality of the oil; and since they 
carry down some ' of the phosphorus, the strength of 
the preparation is thus liable to variation. He 
proposes, therefore, to submit clear almond oil to a 
temperature of 150° C. in a porcelain capsule for 
about a quarter of an hour; then for ten minutes to 
200° C. or 250° C. By this means water is at first 
driven off, and then instable organic matters are de¬ 
stroyed or volatilized. The superheated oil deposits 
slightly after standing some time, or it may be fil¬ 
tered ; it will then produce an absolutely clear and 
stable solution of phosphorus. 
According to M. Mehu, sweet almond, olive or 
poppy seed oils will dissolve easily one-eightietli 
of their weight of phosphorus. He therefore pro¬ 
poses that only one part of phosphorus to 100 parts 
of oil, instead of the two parts of the Codex, should 
be used. Phosphorated oil of this strength is strongly 
luminous in the dark ; but this luminosity may be 
entirely destroyed by the addition of a small quantity 
of ether, or of any of the essential oils not containing 
oxygen, such as bergamot, citron, copaiba, lavender, 
mace, mustard, rosemary, turpentine, etc. Colza, 
rape, beechnut, linseed, and brown cod-liver oils each 
dissolve one-seventietli of their weight of phosphorus. 
Castor oil dissolves one part in one hundred and 
five.-j- Cacao butter dissolves one per cent.; but if 
a colourless product be required, it should be treated 
as recommended for the oil of sweet almonds. J 
Dr. Radcliffe has recommended the following 
formula for gelatinized phosphorus pills:—§ 
“Phosphorus.6 grains. 
Suet.GOO „ 
“ Melt the suet in a stoppered bottle capable of holding 
twice the quantity indicated; put in the phosphorus, 
and when liquid agitate the mixture until it becomes 
solid; roll into 3 grain pills, and cover with gelatine. 
Each pill will confab- A of a grain of phosphorus.” 
The following formal by Soubeihan of a “ Potion 
pliosplioree ” is given by Dorvault as the best 
method of administering phosphorus internally :— 
“ Phosphorated Oil. 8 
Gum Arabic. 8 
Peppermint Water.100 
Syrup.60 
Make an emulsion.” 
* Journ. de Pharm. et de Ckimie, viii. (1868) p. 37. 
f Mehu, Journ. Pharm. et de Chimie, ix. (1869) p. 94. 
j Ibid, viii. (1868) p. 42. 
§ Phaem. Jouen., 2nd ser. vol. VII. p. 615. 
The phosphide of zinc before referred to is a com¬ 
pound easily decomposed by weak acids, such as 
lactic acid, yielding phosphuretted hydrogen. It 
contains one-fourtli of its weight of phosphorus; but it 
is said that experiments have shown that physiological 
effects equal only to half the weight of phosphorus 
result from its use, and that consequently it is ne¬ 
cessary to use eight parts of the phosphide to obtain 
the effects of one part of phosphorus. 
Professor E. S. Wayne, who, on the occasion of 
his presence at the recent meeting of the British 
Pharmaceutical Conference, was elected an Honorary 
Member of that bod} 7 , has since his return to Cin¬ 
cinnati been entertained by the members of the 
College of Pharmacy there, of which he is President. 
Professor Wayne gave an interesting account of 
pharmacy in Europe as it had come under his notice. 
THE CANTOR LECTURES. 
The first course of the Cantor Lectures, in con¬ 
nection with the Society of Arts, for the coming ses¬ 
sion, will be commenced on Monday next, November 
25th. It will consist of five lectures on “ The Prac¬ 
tical Applications of Optics to the Arts, Manufac¬ 
tures, and to Medicine,” by C. W. Meymott Tidy, 
M.B. A second course on “ The Energies of Gra¬ 
vity, Electricity, Vitality, Affinity, Light, and Heat, 
especially with reference to the Measurement and 
Utilization of them,” by the Rev. Arthur Rlgg is 
announced. 
THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 
The following lecture arrangements at the Royal 
Institution for 1872-73 have been announced :— 
Prof. Oiling, M.A., F.R.S.—Six Christmas lectures 
(adapted to a juvenile auditory), “ On Air and Gas,” on 
December 28 (Saturday), December 31, 1872; January 
2, 4, 7, 9, 1873. 
Prof. Rutherford, M.D., F.R.S.E.—Twelve lectures 
“ On the Forces and Motions of the Body,” on Tuesdays, 
Januaiy 14 to April 1 . 
Dr. Debus, F.R.S.—Three lectures “ On Oxidation,” 
on Thursdays, January 16, 23, 30. 
Dr. H. E. Armstrong, F.C.S.—Four lectures “ On the 
Artificial Formation of Organic Substances,” on Thurs¬ 
days, February 6 to February 27. 
Prof. A. Vernon Harcourt, F.R.S.—Five lectures “ On 
the Chemistry of Coal and its Products,” on Thursdays, 
March 6 to April 3. 
Edward A. Freeman, Esq., D.C.L.—Six lectures “ On 
the Comparative Political Institutions of Different Na¬ 
tions,” on Saturdays, January 18 to February 22. 
Prof. W. K. Clifford, M.A.—Three lectures “ On the 
Philosophy of the Pure Sciences,” on Saturdays, March 
1, 8 , 15. 
Prof. Max Muller, LL.D.—Three lectures “ On Dar¬ 
win’s Philosophy of Language,” on Saturdays, March 
22, March 29, and April 5. 
John Morley, Esq.—Three lectures “ On the Limits of 
the Historic Method,” on Tuesdays, April 22 to May 6 . 
J. H. Parker, Esq., C.B.—Four lectures “ On the 
Evidence for the Traditional History of Rome from Ex¬ 
isting Architectural Remains.” on Tuesdays, May 13, 20, 
27, and June 3. 
Prof. Tyndall, LL.D., F.R.S.—Six lectures, on Thurs¬ 
days, April 24 to June 5. 
