31 ay 13,1871.] 
TIIE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
917 
otherwise than by experiment, and in Dr. Attlield’s 
Manual experiment is the leading- and characteristic 
feature. Every theoretical conclusion is led up to and 
.supported by a series of experiments, for the most part 
simple enough to be performed without difficulty by a 
novice, and requiring the employment of hut little special 
apparatus. 
We almost wish the author had thought good to extend 
.and develope a little further the chapter on chemical 
philosophy, and also some of the theoretical considerations 
interspersed through his pages. Whilst entertaining 
all due appreciation of the enormous labour of which 
•every page is witness, in the multitudes of formulae, 
notes and references which are to be found therein, we 
'venture to think it would have contributed to elevating 
the philosophical character of the book, without diminu¬ 
tion of its usefulness, if some portions of it had pre¬ 
sented less of the character of a dictionary. An earnest 
.student will sometimes, with mistaken diligence, commit 
masses of this kind of matter to memory, and, as we 
have before observed, leave off with too large a notion 
of what he has learned, and too small a conception of 
what there is yet to acquire. Under the guidance of 
judicious teachers, however, this is not likely to inter¬ 
fere to any serious extent with the generally valuable 
-qualities of the work. 
In this American edition all necessary corrections 
seem to have been very carefully attended to. The 
headings of the sections are now in thick type, so as to 
very greatly facilitate reference. The chemistry of the 
Preparations and Materia Medica of the United States 
Pharmacopoeia has been introduced side by side with 
that of the British Pharmacopoeia, and evidently every 
■care has been taken to render the book worthy of the 
reception which we feel sure it will meet with at the 
hands of the pharmacists of America. 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ May 6; the ‘Medical Times and Gazette,’ 
May 6; the ‘ Lancet,’ May 6; the ‘ Medical Press and Circular,’ 
JSIay 10: ‘ NatiirA.’ iiffl-o- a. ttio i fwnw.:i at— > m 
- j -, — ^u.ay u; 
‘Journal of the Society of Arts,’ May 5; ‘Gardeners’ Chro¬ 
nicle,’ May 6; the ‘Grocer,’ May 6; ‘Produce Markets Re¬ 
view,’ May 6; the ‘English Mechanic,’ May 5; ‘Food 
Journal’ for May; the ‘Practitioner’ for May; the ‘Cana¬ 
dian Pharmaceutical Journal’ for April. 
ftote anli <$arats. 
*** 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, 1V.C., and not to the Pub¬ 
lishers. 
[222.]—TINCTURA COLOCYNTHIDIS.—Mr. J. Whit¬ 
field sends a further communication on this subject, and, ac¬ 
cording to his request, we print here the formula given in 
the last edition of the Prussian Pharmacopoeia:— 
Colocynth (free from seeds), 8 parts by weight 
Star Anise Fruit .... 1 part „ 
Alcohol, sp.gr. *830 to ‘834, 9G parts „ 
Macerate for eight days. 
[236.]—DISPENSING.—BROMIDE OF POTASSIUM. 
—In looking over the Journal this morning, my attention 
was directed to the replies to J. PL. Gr.’s inquiries, and I am 
quite in accord with the Editor as to the British Pharma¬ 
copoeia dose; but still I think that 80 grains three times 
daily is excessive, notwithstanding that much larger doses are 
given in practice than that sanctioned as the maximum of the 
B. P. I have seen it myself administered in 15 and 20 grain 
■doses thrice daily, but I very much question the practice. 
Three distinct cases have come under my notice where such 
doses have produced a feeling as if the interior of the skull 
was being scraped. However, Dr. Ainstie, in the February 
number of the Practitioner , gives two cases where large 
doses were given ; in the first 90 grains, and in the second 120 
grains daily, with decided success. In both cases, smaller 
doses had been tried without benefit. I should certainly en¬ 
deavour to communicate with the physician, or learn, if pos¬ 
sible, some history of the case, before I should feel justified 
in dispensing so large a dose.—G. J. G. 
[240.J—DISPENSING.—Further communications have 
been received from Mr. H. H. Pollard, Mr. A. Marshall and 
Mr. E. Skipper in reference to the prescription ordering sp. 
lavand. 
We have no doubt that in this case the compound tincture 
was intended by the prescriber.—E d. Piiaem. Jouex. 
[241.]—WARTS.—“ Omega” will find a very successful 
application in commercial chloride of ammonium. The wart 
should be first moistened with a little water, and then rubbed 
with a piece of the above, repeating it daily.—L. A. S. A. 
[242.]— IODIDE OF STARCH POWDER.—J*. T. B. 
will find the following formula serve his purpose :— 
R. Iodine Resublimcd gr. xxiv 
Sp. Yini Rect. iqxxiv vcl q. s. 
Pulv. Amyli Pur. jj. 
Rub the iodine to powder by means of the spirit; gradually 
add the starch, and triturate until the mass assumes a uni¬ 
form colour.—L. A. S. A. 
[243.]— HYPOCHLORIDE OF SULPHUR.—In most 
establishments, I believe a powder prepared in a similar 
manner to the following would be dispensed for “ sulph. 
hypochlor.”:— 
“Into a vessel containing a thin layer of ‘ washed ’ sulphur 
let chlorine be passed, until the gas ceases to be absorbed.” 
The true hypochloride is a volatile liquid, obtained by pass¬ 
ing a current of chlorine over “melted” sulphur, and distil¬ 
ling the liquid. This preparation is not so often used in 
ointments, etc., as the impregnated powder.—J. T. C. 
Hypochloride of sulphur is prepared by spreading washed 
sulphur thinly on the bottom of a wooden box, or other 
chamber, and passing chlorine gas slowlv over it until it 
ceases to be absorbed.—L. A. S. A. 
I*** A more convenient apparatus for working on a small 
scale would be a wide glass tube.—E d. Phaem. Jouen.] 
[244.]—LOYAGE.— TV. Clark wishes for a recipe for 
making lovage. 
[245.]—CLOVES CORDIAL.—A correspondent asks for 
a formula for the preparation of cloves cordial. 
[246.]—INSECT POWDER.—Can any reader give me 
a good recipe for a powder to kill insects ?—A. P. S. 
[247.]—DISPENSING.—To-day the following prescrip¬ 
tion was brought to be dispensed :— 
R. Ferri et Quinse Citr. 5j 
Amon. Sesquicarb. 5ij 
Sp. Myristicce 5 SS 
Syr. Simpl. 5 SS. 
M. A tablespoonful with a tablespoonful of lemon juice in a 
wineglassful of water effervescing. 
Will some of your readers inform me of the best manner to 
dispense it, and what appearance it should present ? I may 
add that ammonia was spelt with one m, and the in under¬ 
lined.—A lfeed Maeshall. 
[%* It seems to us that in this prescription the water was 
left out. Probably a six-ounce mixture was intended.—E d. 
Phaew. Jouex.] 
[248.]—SIPHON BAROMETER TUBES.—Can any of 
your correspondents acquaint me with the best method for 
filling the siphon barometer tubes ?—Htdeaegyeum. 
[249.]—BRILLIANT ELASTIC BOOT VARNISH.—I 
should be glad if any of your readers could furnish me with a 
good recipe for the above varnish for patent leather, etc., 
which can be sponged off.—C. H. H. 
[250.]—CRYSTAL VARNISH.—Would you kindly, 
through the Phaemaceuticad Jouenal, inform “ Indoctus” 
how to make a good crystal varnish, such as is used in posi¬ 
tive photographs ? 
