170 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[August 27, 187(7. 
"brown; otherwise it remained perfectly clear. After one 
month, the solution gave no trace of sugar with the alka¬ 
line copper solution. It was then carefully neutralized 
with dilute sulphuric acid, evaporated on the water hath, 
the greater part of the sulphate of sodium separated by 
crystallization, and the residue treated with boiling 70 
per cent, alcohol, the solution filtered and allowed to 
crystallize. Sometimes the mannite did not crystallize 
until all the alcohol had evaporated, leaving a syrup 
that slowly assumed the crystalline form. The product 
had no rotatory power. In no case was the sugar en¬ 
tirely changed into mannite—a gummy substance was 
invariably left, that would not crystallize after exposure 
to the air for months. Mannitan, or some similar body, 
may be one of the products. 
Dextro-glucose made from honey gave mannite when 
treated in the same way, having exactly the same melt¬ 
ing-point as ordinary mannite. In treating milk sugar 
with dilute sulphuric acid, changing into gallactose and 
hydrogenizing, dulcite was not isolated; but I have not 
specially studied the reaction .—Proceedings of the Royal 
Society of Edinburgh. 
Introduction of the Ipecacuanha Plant into 
India. —The Duke of Argyll addressed the Governor- 
General on the 20th April as follows :—“ I have consi¬ 
dered the dispatch from your Excellency in Council, 
dated 25th January, urging upon me the importance of 
introducing the ipecacuanha plant into India, and sug¬ 
gesting that Dr. Anderson, Superintendent of the Bota¬ 
nical Gardens at Calcutta, now in this country, should 
be asked to submit proposals as to the best means for 
obtaining the object in view. On the application of the 
Government of Bombay last year, I had already recog¬ 
nized the importance of introducing this valuable medi¬ 
cine ; and the two plants received at Bombay having 
died, I had already taken steps for procuring others for 
transmission in July next. I transmit to you the cor¬ 
respondence which has been held with Dr. Anderson on 
this subject; and I trust that, even should the other 
attempts fail, Dr. Anderson will still have a sufficient 
number of strong plants to take back with him to India 
to secure the introduction and establishment of the 
plant. It seemed to me that an application through the 
diplomatic agents of her Majesty was not likely to be so 
successful as an application through commercial or 
scientific gentlemen. You will see from the accom¬ 
panying memorandum by Mr. C. R. Markham that he 
has written to Messrs. Miers and Co., of Rio, to Mr. 
Bramah and to Dr. Otho Wucherer to obtain roots of 
the plant. The accompanying correspondence with 
Dr. Cleghorn and Dr. Balfour will show you that I 
have also enlisted the kind assistance of the Royal Bo¬ 
tanical Gardens at Edinburgh besides the aid promised 
at Kew. I forward also copies of the memorandum on 
the propagation of the ipecacuanha plant prepared by 
Mr. M‘Nab, of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Edinburgh. 
Dr. Christison and Dr. Balfoui’ have likewise applied to 
Dr. Gunning, a medical practitioner at Rio, to assist 
them in obtaining plants and seeds. I add to these 
documents the letters which have passed between Dr. 
Hooker and this office on the supply of plants for Bom¬ 
bay. You will learn from my dispatch to that Govern¬ 
ment that the plants destined for them will be retained 
at Kew, and two healthy plants will be sent to them 
from the Botanical Gardens at Calcutta.”— Allen's Indian 
Mail . 
Singular Case of Substitution.— A sample which 
professed to consist of pure chloride of aluminium in 
crystals was recently supplied by a leading operative 
chemist in London. On subjecting it to chemical analy¬ 
sis, however, it proved to be common potash alum. 
The Invention of Soda-'Water is ascribed to Dr. 
Hawkins, of Philadelphia, a blind chemist, who, in 1812, 
made the first soda fountain in America y —Philadelphia 
Medical and Surgical Reporter. 
HELP FOR THE WOUNDED. 
"We have received through Dr. Sieveking the following- 
letter in reference to the suggestion put forward in last 
week’s Journal:— 
2, St. Martin's Place , Trafalgar Square, T . 
August 24th, 1870. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. ~ 
Sir,—On behalf of the Central Committee of the Asso¬ 
ciation for the Sick and Wounded, I beg to thank you 
for the appeal you have made in your last issue to the 
pharmaceutists of Great Britain to promote the objects 
of the Association. I beg to offer you and the pharma¬ 
ceutists who may respond to your call our warmest 
thanks for any aid you may afford us. 
With the view of rendering this aid as efficacious and 
practical as possible, I take the liberty of submitting to 
you the following list of articles which (with the most 
available forms for immediate use) have been agreed 
upon by Doctors Sieveking and Pollock, medical mem¬ 
bers of our Committee, as being more immediately re¬ 
quired from the stores at your disposal. 
Opium in all forms. 
Opium in pills containing 1 grain each, put up in 
small bottles, 4 dozen pills to each bottle. 
Morphia, in pills containing i-grain each. 
Laudanum, in 2 oz. bottles. 
Liq. Ammonise, in 2 oz. bottles. 
Sal volatile, in 8 oz. bottles. 
Chloroform, 1 lb. to each bottle. 
Quinia, in bulk, and in 2-grain pills, 4 dozen to each 
bottle. 
Hydrate of chloral, in 2 oz. bottles. 
Carbolic acid. 
Condy’s fluid. 
Chlorinated lime and soda. 
Effervescing salines. 
Lint. 
Bandages of cotton, linen, or flannel, with the lengths' 
marked on each. 
Cotton-wool—sponges—waterproof sheeting—icebags 
—oil-silk. 
It is thought desirable that all medicines should be 1 
distinctly labelled, in English and Latin, with the doses, 
and that each parcel or box should be accompanied by a 
list of its contents. 
Fuller lists of articles required for the wounded soldiers 
are published by the Society, but I have confined myself 
in the above enumeration to the articles that would ap¬ 
pear to come more immediately under the cognizance of 
your readers. 
Thanking you again for your advocacy of a cause 
which demands our liveliest sympathies, I have the 
honour to be, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
Robert Loyd Lindsay, 
Emit.-Col. and Chairman of Committee. 
Supply of Sulphate of Quinine to the French 
Army. —The intendance militaire has advertised for es¬ 
timates for 500 kilogrammes of sulphate of quinine, to 
be supplied at the rate of 125 kilogrammes a month. 
This advertisement has suggested various surmises re¬ 
garding the health of the army, but they are not of suf¬ 
ficient value to repeat. The fact, nevertheless, is worth 
noticing .—British Medical Journal. 
Morfit’s Hair Dye. —Scald black tea, two ounces, 
in one gallon of boiling water; strain, and add three 
ounces of glycerine, tincture of Spanish flies, half an 
ounce, and bay rum, one quart; digest the mixture for 
two or three days, and perfume with essence of rose or 
bergamot, or any other favourite essence to suit the 
taste .—Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter. 
