THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. [December3,1870, 
44G 
the results of these agree remarkably well with a com¬ 
pound haying either of the following formulae, 
C 0 3 (N H 4 ) 2 , C 0 3 Ca. (C0 2 NH 2 ) 2 Ca. 
Ammonio-calcium carbonate. Calcium carbamate, 
mixed with hydrated calcium chloride. A similar pre¬ 
cipitate is obtained with barium chloride. The probabi¬ 
lity, I think, is, that the precipitates are carbamates; 
and if so the constitution of the ammonium carbamate is 
that expressed by its name, and by the formula— 
C0 2 (N H 2 ) (NH 4 ). 
{To be continued .) 
A NEW MATERIAL FOR SUPPOSITORIES. 
Mr. T. Carre, of Meaford, has communicated to the 
Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal a formula for a new 
material for the administration of opium or other medi¬ 
cine, by suppository. He says that in trials made upon 
patients suffering from hemorrhoids he has found it, 
from its elastic texture, to possess advantages over other 
excipients used for a like purpose. Gelatin being one of 
the ingredients, it could not be used for making suppo¬ 
sitories containing tannin, as an insoluble and inert sub¬ 
stance would be formed. The following is the for¬ 
mula :— 
Best Glue.4 oz. 
Glycerine.8 oz. 
Golden Syrup.2 oz. 
Water.8 oz. 
Soak the glue in the water until quite soft, then dis¬ 
solve over steam or water bath. Mix the syrup and 
glycerine well together, add them to the glue solution 
and boil until they lose about 2 oz. in weight; then pour 
out on an oiled tray, or into any suitable mould, previ¬ 
ously removing any scum formed. The result is an 
elastic substance, which will keep for a long time, but 
dissolving more readily when fresh. When required 
for use the composition should be dissolved in a little 
water with gentle heat, the opium or other drug mixed 
with it, and then run into a mould. 
A Confidential Circular from New York.— A 
firm in New York have forwarded printed circulars to 
many persons in England offering to supply them with 
aluminium sovereigns. They say that the base coins are 
“ minted with the express design of circulating in Great 
Britain, being of such perfect execution, and so admirably 
calculated, both as regards weight, colour, sound, and 
resistance to acid tests, to deceive the most accomplished 
experts, that their detection is almost beyond the bounds 
of possibility.” “The aluminium of which they are 
composed” is stated to have been “ discovered in a valley 
among the Rocky Mountains, and was at first mistaken, 
not only by the miners but by dealers in the precious 
metal, for pure gold. It was more than a month before 
its true character was discovered, for it was so much like 
pure gold that the difference could be detected only by 
its lighter weight.” The price of these imitation sove¬ 
reigns is annexed in the “ strictly confidential circular” 
—namely, £2 for 20, 53 for £5, £10 for 108, £20 for 218, 
and £50 for 550. “No more than 550 sovereigns will be 
sent at one time to any one person, for fear they might 
lose their prudence and pass them off too rapidly, thereby 
causing suspicion, for they are so easily passed that some 
persons might get too greedy and overdo the business.” 
The circular also contains directions how to send an 
“ order for sovereigns” to a firm of tobacconists in the 
Broadway, New York, who in the list of prices, also 
printed, which accompanies the “ strictly confidential 
circular,” boast of having “paid over 3,100,000 dollars 
taxes to Government in four years.” It is recommended 
to “word your letter in sending an order for sovereigns 
so as to make it read as if you were ordering so many 
pounds of smoking tobacco.” The price list and “strictly 
confidential circular” are enclosed in envelopes of a yel¬ 
low colour, with two three-cents postage stamps on each. 
— Times. 
Tannin versus Alum. —Dr. Max Jaffe, of Ham¬ 
burg, says that alum, so frequently used for gargles, is 
hurtful to the teeth; he thinks that tannin, dissolved in 
water or red wine, is far preferable.— Lancet. 
CHALK MIXTURE. 
The following formula is published in the American 
Journal of Pharmacy, by Mr. W. H. Robinson, of Potts- 
ville, who says he has used it for two years and found it 
satisfactory:— 
J£> Crete© Prsep. ... 1 troy ounce. 
Sacchari, 
Pulv. G. Acacke, . . each ^ troy oz. 
01. Cinnamomi ... 15 drops. 
-Mix in the usual manner with a pint of water. 
SYRUP OF CITRIC ACID. 
Mr. Benjamin Lillard, of Nashville, Tennessee, sends 
the following, original formula for the preparation of 
syrup of citric acid to the American Journal of Phar¬ 
macy :— 
Take of Citric Acid, in fine powder 
Water. 
Syrup. 
Oil of Lemon ... 
60 grains. 
a sufficient quantity. 
16 fluid ounces. 
30 minims. 
Dissolve the citric acid in the water, add the syrup and 
spirit of lemon, shaking well until they are thoroughly 
mixed. 
When convenient, hot or warm water may be used. He 
says, “I have used the syrup made by this formula for over 
eighteen months, including two summers in this climate, 
and have found it to retain its brilliancy and flavour 
better than when prepared by the old formula.” 
DRUG MARKET NOTES. 
Under this head we purpose giving occasionally 
some particulars as to the drugs, etc., imported into 
this country, and shall be glad to receive information 
on the subject from correspondents. 
Among parcels of drugs which have lately been 
offered for sale were the following:— 
Nux Vomica, 424 bags and 240 pockets. 
Gambier, 181 bales. 
Bees’ Wax,—Madagascar, 9 cases ; Cape, 2 cases; 
Angola, 46 cakes ; Gambia, 58 cakes. 
Japan Wax, 66 cases. 
Sandal-wood, 4 tons. 
Sandal-wood Oil, 2 cases. 
Roll Annatto, 241 baskets. 
Opium,—Turkey, 77 cases; Persian, 25; Indian, 
5; Egyptian, 3. 
Scammony, 23 cases. 
Camphor,—China, 240 cases; Japan, 20 tubs. 
Coceulus Indicus, 213 bags. 
China Soy, 65 casks. 
Honey,—Australian, 5 barrels; Jamaica, 2 barrels. 
Castor Oil, 610 cases. 
Crown Bark, 53 bales. 
Cubebs, 210 bags. 
Ipecacuanha, 11 serons. 
Cascarilla Bark, 57 serons. 
Olibanum, 61 cases. 
