9S2 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[Jane 3,1871. 
mitted light of a magnificent crimson-red, whilst their 
reflected colour was a hronzy green of strong metallic 
lustre. Analysis showed that they are a compound of 
thallic carbonate with thallic platinocyanide Tl 2 PtCy 4 , 
CO T1 o 2 . On treating this salt with acids, carbonic acid 
is set free, and a pale pink residue left, which, on exa¬ 
mination, was found to he thallic platinocyanide. The 
next paper read was “ On the Action of Nitric Acid on 
Dichlorophcnolsulphuric Acid,” by Dr. Armstrong. 
gfotcs ira)> Queries. 
*** 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. 
Ho notice can he taken of anonymous communications „ 
All queries or answers should be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer. 
MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 
Wednesday ...London Institution, at 2 p.m. — Distribution 
June 7. of Prizes and Certificates by the President, 
Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. 
Friday . Quekett Club, at 8 p.m. 
June 9. ltoyal Botanic Society, at 4 p.m. — “ Economic 
Botany.” By Professor Bentley. 
Saturday . Royal Botanic Society, at 3.45 p.m. 
VACANCIES AND APPOINTMENTS IN CONNEC¬ 
TION WITH PHARMACY. 
The Editor will be glad to receive early notice of any 
vacancies of pharmaceutical offices connected with public 
institutions, and likewise of appointments that are made ,— 
in order that they may be published regularly in the Journal. 
APPOINTMENT. 
Mr. Edwin Eoy has been appointed Dispenser at her Ma¬ 
jesty’s Prison at Dartmouth. 
farJiittutntarj aitir flato fwmMngs. 
Poisoning by Prussic Acid. 
On Tuesday, an inquiry was held at St. George’s Hos¬ 
pital respecting the death of Mr. Russell Goldie, the 
secretary and superintendent of the institution. It ap¬ 
peared from the evidence adduced that the deceased had 
been in the habit of taking prussic acid to allay a cer¬ 
tain pain from which he was suffering. On Sunday 
morning he went up to his room in the hospital. He 
said he was unwell, and complained of a pain in the side. 
After drinking a cup of tea, he lay down on the couch 
and said he did not wish to be disturbed. About two 
o’clock in the afternoon the assistant secretary found him 
lying on the couch quite cold and dead. On the table 
■was a bottle which had contained prussic acid and cam¬ 
phor. Mr. John F. Boyes, Gloucester Crescent, Regent’s 
Park, said he had known deceased for many years. 
"When he had been with him he had often thought his 
breath smelt of prussic acid or laudanum. Witness had 
charged him, as a friend, with taking prussic acid, and 
deceased on one occasion said, “ My dear friend, if you 
suffered the pain I do, you would bo glad enough to take 
anything to allay it.” Mr. Thomas Jones, resident me¬ 
dical officer of the hospital, said ho saw the deceased 
alive on Saturday. He then appeared very nervous and 
excited, and said to witness the cause of his condition 
was through certain annoyance and the hospital work. 
He died from the effects of prussic acid. The coroner 
having summed up, the jury returned a verdict that 
the deceased was accidentally poisoned by taking an over¬ 
dose of prussic acid. 
The following journals have been received:—The ‘British 
Medical Journal,’ May 27; the‘Medical Times and Gazette,’ 
May 27; the ‘ Lancet,’May 27; the ‘Medical Press and Cir¬ 
cular,’ May 31; ‘Nature,’ May 27; the ‘Chemical News,’ 
May 26; ‘Gardeners’ Chronicle,’ May 27; ‘Journal of the 
Society of Arts,’ May 27; the ‘Grocer,’ May 27; ‘Produce 
Markets Review,’ May 27 ; the ‘English Mechanic,’ May 27 ; 
‘Journal of the Chemical Society ’ for May; the ‘ Canadian 
Pharmaceutical Journal’ for May; Ihe ‘Chicago Pharma¬ 
cist ’ for May; the 1 Leavenworth Medical Herald and Journal 
of Pharmacy’ for May; the ‘British Journal of Dental 
Science ’ for Juue. 
BORAX AND BLACKBEETLES.—We have received 
a considerable amount of correspondence upon the question) 
whether the use of borax as a beetle-powder is followed: 
by the extirpation of those household pests. Most of 
our correspondents deny its efficicy. Professor Tomlinson, 
to whose letter, under the signature of “ T.,” we in a re¬ 
cent number appended a note pointing out that there was 
diversity of opinion upon the subject, informs us that he 
tried the recommendation of H. C. B., and sprinkled 
powdered borax in the haunts of the beetles, but without 
success, lie therefore resolved to decide the matter by ex¬ 
periment upon a captured blackbeetle, particulars of which, 
he has kindly forwarded to us. The conclusions at which 
he arrived ivere—“ (1) that powdered borax is not a poison 
to the blackbeetle ; (2) that it does not act by any sup¬ 
posed odour on the beetle,—the beetle, on the contrary, 
gives a powerful odour to the borax and to his prison-house 
(3) the pounded borax does seem to annoy the beetle by its- 
mechanical action, clinging to his limbs and making him un- 
comfortable; (4) the beetle is under no permanent delusions 
as to the powdered borax—he tasted it and did not like it, 
he got it about his person and cleaned it off, and avoided ia 
as far as his narrow prison would allow. In conclusion, L 
must express my opin'on. that powdered borax is quite useless- 
in getting iid of b’a kbeetles.” 
Another correspondent (“ Obrera”), who has experimented 
with borax and found it inefficacious, has also tried red lead, 
flour and sugar without result, in consequence, he thinks, of 
the beetles declining to cat the mixture. He says that a mix¬ 
ture of strong ammonia with two or three times its bulk of hob 
water has a very quick effect. He has known a large beetle 
to be killed by receiving two or three drops of it on the 
head. He suggests that the solution should be injected late 
at night through the crannies which the beetles are known to> 
traverse. He has not found liquid carbolic acid to have- 
much effect upon them; but the carbolic acid powder seems, 
to clog their feet, and permit the vapour to reach their brain 
organism before they can escape from it. 
On the other hand, “A Country Chemist ” writes :—“A 
grocer in this city about two years since, having great numbers- 
of these pests about his pi’emises, tried various articles which, 
wo were then selling as ‘ beetle poisons,’ but with little bene¬ 
ficial result. Upon the recommendation of a wholesale biscuit 
manufacturer, who assured him that powdered borax kept 
their place quite clear of these vermin, he purchased an 
ounce of me, which he found to be a certain cure. We, 
therefore, tried it on our own premises, and, finding it to an¬ 
swer, have ever since sold it as ‘ beetle powder ’ without a 
single complaint against its efficacy.” 
“ Give and Take,” whose query has brought forth such 
differences of opinion, suggests that the question of the best 
way to exterminate these and similar household pests is 
worthy of more attention than it has hitherto received, espe¬ 
cially from those who are students in the science of entomo¬ 
logy. Our correspondent seems to complain that, by the use 
of the word “ borax” instead of “ sod® biboras,” in our 
‘ Notes and Queries’ column, we have enabled other journals 
to publish what, if it had been what it professed to be, ought 
to have bee-n regarded somewhat in the light of a trade secret. 
Even if we were prepared to endorse such an opinion,—which- 
would be equivalent to supposing that none but chemists 
know' that the terms are synonymous,—we could not plead 
guilty to the charge, as the paragraph which has been going 
the round of the papers was taken from an American source* 
and generally acknowledged as such. 
[231.]—BEETLE POWDER.—I have found that com¬ 
mon red wafers, such as are used for letters, placed in the 
haunts of beetles, are very useful in getting rid of these 
troublesome pests. I have also successfully used a mixture 
of plaster of Paris and oatmeal, equal parts, and about one- 
fourth of sugar.—J. N. M. 
