242 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [September 24, 1 S 70 . 
a little peroxide of hydrogen and re-tested with liq. 
calcis, I have sometimes found a precipitate of calcic 
carbonate. I have attributed this to the oxidation 
of a carbon compound into carbonic acid. Another 
effect of this process of oxidation has been the de¬ 
struction of that musty odour so common to recently 
distilled water. I have theorized on these facts in 
this way : these odours may be partly the result of 
electric action in the still, and partly the result of 
algseic or infusorial decomposition; slowly these 
forms of matter pass into more highly oxidized, 
stable and odourless states, and we say the water 
lias improved by keeping. Well, for medical pur¬ 
poses so it has; and perhaps this may throw a ray of 
light on an after subject. Of substances volatilizing 
in connection with boiling water, ammonia nitrate 
may he taken as a type. If a solution of brucine he 
added to recently-distilled water, and sulphuric hy¬ 
drate be allowed to trickle down the side of the test- 
tube, a rose-coloured zone, changing to yellow, may 
be seen at the line of union in the two fluids, indi¬ 
cating nitrates, and ammonia may be readily found 
by Nessler’s test. I have obtained the same results 
in distilled water when more than double the Phar¬ 
macopoeia quantity lias been rejected. 
Gases, as nitrogen, etc., distil over with water. 
According to the experiments of Douny and Grove 
pure boiling water has not been obtained; their ex¬ 
periments tend to show that nitrogen expanding by 
heat into a gaseous bubble carried away an atmo¬ 
sphere of aqueous vapour; that in the process of 
boiling, nitrogen was absorbed as well as evolved; 
that in ■sealed tubes boiled by electricity it was still 
eliminated; and these and other experiments go a 
great way to prove that the action of heat on pure 
water would cause decomposition. But such refine - 
ment is not required for the pharmacopceial article. 
I have referred to it as conffrmative of a theory I 
shall shortly state. 
In aqua destillata we possess the most powerful 
solvent known, and as such it is one of the most de¬ 
licate articles to keep. It absorbs gases as rapidly 
as it is distilled; some, as oxygen and nitrogen, with 
remarkable avidity and force ; and others, as the 
common laboratory gases, carbonic acid and am¬ 
monia, also with great rapidity, and then mi¬ 
nute important and puzzling changes are the re¬ 
sult. Not only salts and minutely-divided sub¬ 
stances, but metals also, are attacked by water. 
Iron is dissolved as ferrous and ferric oxides, and 
lead, zinc, and its compound pewter, with their well- 
known injurious results. Copper is as easily dis¬ 
solved as either of the others. Cupreous water gives 
the blue coloration with ammonia. Manganese, 
mercury, silver, gold and platinum are also attacked. 
Tin is dissolved from the worm, tinned vessels, etc., 
and after a little time thrown down as stannic oxide; 
to this action Parrish attributed the unpleasant odour 
ot distilled water. Cadmium, bismuth, silica and glass 
may be added to the list, and it is probable, if I 
could have experimented with the whole list of ele¬ 
ments, nothing would have completely resisted 
aqueous action, or the almost, if not entirely, nas¬ 
cent condition of its gases. What, then, should we 
use as vessels for aq. destillata ? I think this shows 
that glass, or metallic cisterns coated with their 
most insoluble compound, would be the safest and 
best. And yet we need not wish the absorptive and 
changeful properties of water less, or nature’s great 
sanitary operations might be interfered with. Sew¬ 
age and decaying matter soon find their way into 
water, and if water could not quickly change them 
into innoxious compounds there would be death in 
the pot of teetotallers and non-abstainers alike. Es¬ 
pecially should Londoners be thankful,—with chim¬ 
neys overhead, dustbins and other surface pollutions, 
and sewage underfoot, evolving putrid gases, etc.,— 
that water is so industriously and incessantly turning 
the noxious into less hurtful compounds. 
I have dwelt thus long on distilled water as all the 
substances found in that water, including the re¬ 
jected distillate, are also found in the medicated 
waters of the Pharmacopoeia. To these waters I 
now briefly call attention. 
Aqua Anetlii.—1 lb. of the fruit yields from 3 to 7 
drachms of oil, sp. g. ‘90. In a note to his trans¬ 
lation of the P. L., Phillips says that this oil is 
soluble in 1500 parts of water; if so, it is evident 
the proportion of fruit or oil is excessive in the B. P. 
form. This is a fact, and, if maceration had been 
ordered, the quantity might have been halved and a 
superstratum of oil still obtained. 
Aq. Flor. Aurant.—The foreign preparation, with 
which a syrup is made, often substituted for syr. 
capillaire. The tests given for this water should 
have Gobley’s test. Pli. J. Ap. 66, added to them; 
this test detects orange leaf and oil of neroli water. 
1 lb. of orange flowers yields about 5ss of oil, sp. g. '88. 
Aq. Camphorae I have already referred to. If the 
camphor is beaten in a mortar without spirit, I find 
it can be reduced to a coarse powder, incapable of 
sifting through the muslin, but sufficiently fine to 
make the water quickly.’ 
Aq. Carui is very similar to aq. anetlii; both pre¬ 
parations are reduced in quantity from the P.L., and 
by the adoption of maceration previous to distilla¬ 
tion, might still further be reduced. 1 lb. of carra- 
way fruit yields 5iij to 5x of oil of sp. g. '94. 
Aq. Cinnamomi is slightly altered in proportions 
from the B. P. Using the bark we are not so likely 
to use cassia. Pareira says these barks may be 
known apart by the iodine reaction, but the oils are 
not so easily distinguished. 1 lb. of cinnamon yields 
5i to 5iij of oil, sp.gr. I - 006. 
Aq. Foeniculi comes from Scotland ; possibly En¬ 
glishmen are not yet alive to its value, as it is not 
much in request amongst us. 1 lb. of fennel yields 
5ij to 5vj of oil, sp. gr. '94. 
Aq. Laurocerasi has been investigated by Draper, 
Pooley and others, it is one of the most uncertain 
articles in the Pharmacopoeia. Draper advised 
standardizing its hydrocyanic acid; a weak solution 
of hydrocyanic and sulphuric acids has been praised 
by others; some say make a stronger water and di¬ 
lute when Avanted, others omit the maceration pro¬ 
cess ; so altogether it is a dangerous and uncertain 
article. The oil varies from '06 to '6 per cent. 
(Umney). 
Aq. Menth. Pip. and Aq. Mentli. Vir. represent the 
Labiates; they are the only waters made from oils, as 
recommended by Haselden, and are improvements 
on the herb-distilled waters of the P. L. The oil 
should be divided by trituration with some solid be¬ 
fore it is put in the still. 
Aq. Pimentse has been reduced |th' that is, 2 oz. 
less pimento to the gallon. A thin layer of oil lies at 
the bottom of the water; this opaque water becomes 
clearer by age and deposits crystals, to be afterwards 
noticed. 1 lb. of the berries yields 5ij to 5 v of oil, 
sp. gr. P02. 
