3 cly 2 , 1870 .] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
o 
o 
It onlj r remains to ascertain what species of Isoe¬ 
tes is found on the lakes of Kashmir, and to compare 
the spores with this substance. The form, texture, 
porcellanic appearance, resistance to acid, place, 
and mode of collection, affinity to Selaginella, and 
agreement with Griffith’s figures, all indicate one 
source, which we have indicated, for the “ Hasan-i- 
Yusaf;” and we commend this explanation with 
some confidence, as removing the chief difficulties in 
the way of identification of this mysterious substance 
with its botanical source. 
Note. Since writing the above we have consulted 
the ‘ Flore d’Algerie,’ and on the 36th and 3?th plates 
find excellent figures of the spores of Isoetes. Those 
of Isoetes velata are almost identical with the Hasan - 
i-Yusaf, and leave not the slightest ground for doubt 
as to the source of the latter. 
FATAL CASE OF POISONING WITH CHLORAL 
HYDRATE. 
BY J. F. BROWN. 
At the present time, when the last new and fashion¬ 
able remedy—hydrate of chloral—occupies so large 
a share of our attention, and we are very frequently 
called upon, both by the medical profession and the 
public, to answer inquiries respecting it, the following 
particulars can harcUy fail to be interesting. 
Their consideration, too, may prompt scientific 
men to pursue what appears to me a highly important 
inquiry, viz. what means exist for counteracting the 
effects of an excessive dose of this substance, now so 
extensively used. 
It appears that Mrs. —, a married lady, about 59 
years of age, had suffered from sleeplessness and 
mental agitation, and that her husband, on their quit¬ 
ting England, had procured an ounce bottle of the 
hydrate, with the view of trying its effect, and fearing 
that in the Continental capital to which they were 
proceeding, there would be a difficulty in obtaining 
it. 
Suffering greatly from want of rest, she became 
very solicitous to carry out their intention, but her 
husband deemed it prudent to consult first a local 
physician. This was done, and he promised, on see¬ 
ing her in consultation with an eminent professor, to 
send a mixture or potion containing the desired re¬ 
medy. But scarcely had he quitted the room than 
she obtained possession, by opening a drawer, of the 
bottle which they had brought with them; finding, 
probably, some little difficulty in removing the lumps 
from the bottle, she placed the latter in a glass, and 
dissolved or washed them out by pouring into it suc¬ 
cessive quantities of water, finally swallowing in this 
way the whole or very nearly the whole of its con¬ 
tents. On his return from taking leave of the medi¬ 
cal attendant, Mr. — learnt from his wife what she 
had done, and being alarmed by her saying, “ I feel 
•so ill,” he started instantly to recall medical aid ; so 
quickty, indeed, had all this passed, that he overtook 
the physician while descending the last flight of 
stairs of their hotel. 
The remedies applied were an emetic, hot mustard 
poultices to the chest, and bleeding from the arm ; 
but although these were promptly used, they were 
ineffectual, as the unhappy lady expired within an 
hour. 
These circumstances were related to me by a gen¬ 
tleman intimately acquainted with the deceased lady 
and her husband, and I have only, in conclusion, to 
express my indebtedness to him for the permission 
to make them public. 
Dover, June 23rd, 1870. 
UNGUENTUM SABINiE. 
BY T. H. BATEMAN. 
To judge from the limited demand for this oint¬ 
ment, it does not now find much favour among the 
medical profession generally, although, in the opinion 
of some eminent surgeons, forming one of the best 
external irritants and escliarotics we have, acting 
much more efficiently in keeping open blisters, etc., 
than does the ung. elemi of the British Pharmaco¬ 
poeia, which, to some extent, has taken its place. 
Looking at this ointment from a pharmaceutical 
point of view, it is exceedingly unsatisfactory; the 
specimen I have before me (supplied by a London 
wholesale house) is perfectly rancid, and resembles 
in appearance “ old green elder ointment.” 
Dr. Boyle says, “ When made in a porcelain 
vessel, or a water-bath, it is of a yellowish-green 
colour, efficient and active, and will keep good for a 
long time,” which it certainly does not, as far as my 
experience goes. 
The B.P. orders fresh savin-tops, collected in 
spring, to be used, thus compelling manufacturers to 
make their year’s stock at once, which is decidedly 
objectionable, as it is thus frequently sent out rancid. 
Although this condition does not in any way inter¬ 
fere with its effect as an irritant, yet it prevents its 
coming under the category of “ elegant prepara¬ 
tions.” 
Pharmaceutists (excepting those in a large way) 
are in the habit of trusting to their wholesale drug¬ 
gists for it, the demand, as a rule, being too small to 
justify their making even the quantity ordered in 
the Pharmacopoeia ; besides, made on a small scale, 
it is exceedingly wasteful, the savin-tops being so 
bulky as to render it difficult to strain the ointment 
from them. 
For satisfaction’s sake I have prepared some my¬ 
self, adopting the following somewhat modified for¬ 
mula, which differs only from the B. P. in the addition 
of gum benzoin :— 
Fresh Savin-tops (bruised) . . 8 oz. - 
Yellow Wax.3 oz. 
Prepared Lard.16 oz. 
Gum Benzoin (coarse powder) . 1 oz. 
Melt the wax and lard on a water-batli, add the gum 
benzoin, and digest for half an hour, constantly 
stirring, then add the savin-tops, and further digest 
for twenty minutes; lastly, strain with pressure 
through calico or flannel, stirring occasionally until 
cold. 
Besulting ointment, pale yellowish-green, with the 
odour of savin distinctly marked, which odour I have 
failed to detect hi most, if not all bought specimens. 
The addition of gum benzoin (judging from its pre¬ 
servative effect on other ointments) will, in this case 
I hope, tend to prevent any decided change from 
tailing place. 
Manley Grove, Stratford, Jane 2nd, 1870. 
CHLORIDE OF ETHYLIDENE. 
It is curious to observe how, occasionally, medicinal 
agents which have been used, reported on, and laid 
