April 29, 1871.] 
TI1E PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
877 
©Mtprg* 
The American Journal of Pharmacy announces the 
death by an accident, at the age of thirty-four, of Mr. 
Ferris Bringhurst, of Wilmington, Delaware, a pro¬ 
minent and much-esteemed member of the American 
Pharmaceutical Association. The deceased gentleman 
was engaged in the preparation of a quantity of oxygen 
from chlorate of potash, for the illustration of a lecture 
he was about to deliver to the members of a working 
men’s institute, when the iron apparatus he was using- 
burst. One of the fragments struck him on the forehead, 
inflicting a dreadful wound and causing his death a few 
days afterwards. 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ April 22 ; the ‘Medical Times and Gazette,’ 
April 22 ; the ‘ lancet,’ April 22; the ‘ Medical Press and 
Circular,’ April 26; ‘Nature,’ April 20; the ‘Chemical News,’ 
April 21; ‘Journal of the Society of Arts,’ April 19; ‘Gar¬ 
deners’ Chronicle,’ April 22 ; the ‘ Grocer,’ April 22; ‘ Produce 
Markets Review,’ April 22 ; the ‘ English Mechanic,’ April 21; 
the‘Pood Journal’for April; the ‘Photographic Journal,’ 
April 18 ; the ‘ Journal of the London Institution,’ April 18; 
‘Proceedings of the Royal Institution;’ the ‘Brewers’ Guar¬ 
dian,’ April 24; ‘Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Re¬ 
porter,’ Nos. 733, 734; the ‘New York Herald,’ April 5. 
U.ohs anil twits. 
*** In order to facilitate reference , correspondents are 
requested to mark their answers in each case with the title 
and number of the query referred to. 
No notice can be taken of anonymous communications. 
All queries or answers should be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer. 
NOTICE.— To prevent delay, correspondents are re¬ 
quested to send their communications to the Journal Depart¬ 
ment ^ 17, Bloomsbury Square, TP.C., and not to the Pub¬ 
lishers. 
[191.] —WHITE SHELLAC.—To obviate the annoyance 
occasioned by the alteration that white shellac sooner or later 
undergoes, dissolve it as soon as received from the maker in 
methylated spirit, so that one fluid ounce shall contain half 
■an ounce by weight. In this fluid form it is at once available 
for polishes; and should a little of the solid be'required, it 
can readily be obtained by precipitation with hot water. This 
suggestion is addressed, of course, to small and unfrequent 
consumers only.—T. B. Groves. 
[220.]—DISPENSING.— 
R. Quinim Sulphatis 9ij 
Acid. Hydroch. Dil. 5ivss 
Pot. Ioclid. 5hss 
Tinct. Iodi 5iij 
Syr. Aurant. ^iv 
Spt. Chlorof. 5ij 
Aq. ad ^viij. M. 
This prescription is one of those which never give satisfac¬ 
tion to the dispenser, and often creates a feeling of distrust in 
the mind of the patient for whom it was written. It is im¬ 
possible to mix it and not have decomposition. I consider 
the following to be the best manner of preparing it:— 
After selecting the 8-oz. bottle, let an ounce of water be 
put into it, and then introduce the “ iodide of potassium;” 
when perfect solution has taken place, add the “diluted 
acid” and the “syrup of orange,” shake well together; then, 
having previously weighed the “ quinine ” and powdered it 
finely by passing a knife over it, introduce it into the bottle 
and shake well. Mix the “ tinct. of iodine ” and the “ spt. 
of chloroform ” together, and add this gradually (shaking well 
at each addition) to the mixture. 
When prepared in the above manner, it assumes a reddish, 
opaque colour, but, after standing for some time, ehanges 
its appearance and becomes almost bright, a precipitate is 
thrown down (iodide of quinine ?) and a scaly film is formed 
on the surface of the mixture, both of which, to a certain de¬ 
gree, disappear when the mixture is well agitated. 
If the prescribed dose be mixed with a wineglass of w r ater 
and well stirred, it still does not form a perfect solution.— 
C. T. J. 
[ 221 .]—SULPHATE OF LIME is valuable to farmers; 
10 cwt. per acre being used as a top dressing for clovers, tre¬ 
foil, cinquefoil, etc.—H. 
It should be remembered that there is a difference 
between the sulphate of lime used, in the form of gypsum, as 
manure and the residue from the production of carbonic acid 
gas, inasmuch as the latter contains free sulphuric acid.— Ed. 
PlIARM. JOTJRN.] 
[222.]—TINCTURA COLOCYNTHIDIS, known also as 
“ Dahlberg’s Tincture.”—The following is from the Prussian 
Pharmacopoeia:— 
Colocynth Pulp (cut small and 
free from seeds) 5j 
Aniseed 5j 
Proof Spirit, 1 lb. 
Digest for eight days, express and filter. 
Dose .—6 to 20 drops.—C. T. J. 
A similar answer has been received from F. O. Collins. 
J. T. C. thinks that J. Whitfield is wrong in stating the 
time for maceration of the above to be three days. According 
to Beasley’s ‘ Book of Prescriptions,’ Neligan prescribed the 
Prussian formula, which is— 
Colocynth yj 
Aniseed 5j 
Proof Spirit, 1 lb. (not 14 oz.) 
Digest for eight days, express and filter. 
[226.]—COD-LIVER OIL JELLY.— C. D. L. N., if he 
can meet with some true sweet almond flour (I have none), 
is i-ecommended to try my glycylceum. See article of that 
name in the proceedings of the Dundee meeting of the Phar¬ 
maceutical Confei-ence. A little ingenuity spent upon it 
would make it, I think, a useful item of elegant pharmacy.— 
T. B. Groves. 
[228.]—SYRUPUS TONICUS.—Easton’s syrup, flavour¬ 
ed with orange flower-water, is largely prescribed in Man¬ 
chester and its neighbourhood under the name of“syrupus 
tonicus.” 
Each fluid drachm of this preparation contains ;— 
Phosphate of Iron.1 gi*ain. 
„ Quinine .... 1 „ 
„ Strychnine . . . „ 
—James Woolley, Manchester. 
[229.]—STRAINERS.—In answer to J. W., I beg to say 
that a piece of fine muslin placed in the neck of the funnel is 
very useful. It must not be pressed in too tight. — George 
Adams. 
During the cotton famine a substitute for cotton wool, 
prepared from flax by the process of the late Chevalier 
Clausen, was offered for sale by Messrs. Bourne and Taylor. 
For some years I saw, much to my annoyance, some pounds 
of it lying about in my wareroom unsaleable, for it did not 
take. Now I am equally annoyed to note its gradual dis¬ 
appearance, for I have devoted it to the purpose indicated by 
J. W., and do not certainly know whence to obtain afresh 
supply 7 . Its advantages are these—it is cleaner and finer 
than tow, not so fine as cotton w 7 ool, and is not repellent of 
icater, w hich is its crowning superiority. 
The best vroven strainer that I have discovered is crinoline, 
or at least a cheap cotton material that goes by that name. 
Its stiffness—due to starch or some cereal flour—must be 
removed by washing in very hot water. Then it appears like 
a coarse and strong muslin. For press bags I have selected 
strong serge, after trying canvas, duck, etc. I am told that 
a kind of twilled flannel is still better. I saw it in use at 
the laboratory of Messrs. Evans, Liverpool, but have not yet 
