82 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[July 29, 1871. 
ceedingly inexpensive but valuable adjunct to the 
polariscopist. Tlie polarizer should be a good Nicliol 
prism, tlie analyser, which must be capable of being 
rotated, may be either a tourmaline, Herapathite, 
or Nicliol. Mr. Swift fits the Nicliol prism in a 
manner singularly well adapted to polariscope re¬ 
searches, and, when specially requested, provides 
means by which the precise number of degrees over 
which the analyser is rotated may be measured with¬ 
out the necessity of carrying the prism in place of 
the cap over the eyepiece. A few glass slides, then 
covers and thick brass plate, are the remaining re¬ 
quisites. The first step should be to prepare a slide 
or two of known pure wax. Having cleaned the slip 
and cover perfectly, place the former on the brass plate 
(which should be at least half an inch thick), with the 
cover upon it as near the centre as possible. Place 
at the edge of the cover a small fragment of wax 
and slowly heat the plate by means of a spirit-lamp 
underneath until the w r ax melts. Extinguish the 
lamp, and allow the whole to cool. When the slide 
is cold remove it. Prepare slides of commercial 
stearine, of composite candle fat, suet and sperma¬ 
ceti in the same way, and label each as prepared. 
Mix with the pure wax various proportions of stea¬ 
rine, tallo»w, suet; mount slides and label. Finalty, 
study each carefully under the micropolariscope, the 
prisms being crossed so that the field is dark, and 
rotate the slide by means of the rotating stage. 
When thoroughly familiar with the differences be¬ 
tween these slides and the forms of the several 
crystals, the observer may proceed to the examina¬ 
tion of commercial wax, and he will be singularly 
fortunate (according to my experience) if he discover 
a single pure specimen of commercial wax. Cera 
alba is, to my notion, the most adulterated, chiefly, 
I think—though, from my comparative neglect of this 
article I am not sure—with stearine. Spermaceti is 
also probably adulterated, but as yet I have not ob¬ 
tained a trustworthy standard specimen. 
THE ECONOMIC USES OF MALVACEiE. 
BY EBXEST T. AGNEW. 
The astonishing neglect of the valuable properties 
of this important Natural Order in British pharma¬ 
cology is somewhat extraordinary, considering the 
extent to which our immediate neighbours employ 
them. No one species of the Order, with the excep¬ 
tion of Gossyjnum , appears in our Pharmacopoeia; 
whereas the French Codex enumerates five species, 
and twelve preparations therefrom, not including the 
celebrated “ Pate de Guimauve,” which, curiously 
enough, contains nothing to identify it with its 
name, but is made as follows:— 
White Gum . . . 1000 grammes. 
White Sugar . . 1000 „ 
Water. 1000 „ 
Orange-flower Water 100 „ 
White of Egg . . No. 12. 
Great care is necessary for a successful issue. The 
solution of gum and sugar should be evaporated over 
a water-bath to the consistence of thick honey, and 
the white of eggs, previously well whisked with the 
orange-flower water, should be added gradually, and 
the mixture constantly stirred till nearly solid. The 
result repays the trouble incurred, the fresh pate 
being an uni vers ally-liked and deservedly-favourite 
remedy for irritation in the throat, larynx or fauces. 
The common 21 ale a syleestris, so abundant every¬ 
where in England, furnishes nearly as much muci¬ 
lage as the Althcea officinalis, and furnishes a 
conspicuous example of credulous natures “ going 
farther and faring worse.” Flowers, leaves and 
roots all abound with it. The celebrated oculist, 
Dr. Desmarres, frequently prescribes a hot decoction 
of the root until which to bathe the eyes in any case 
of inflammation of those organs. A “ tisane ,” or in¬ 
fusion of the flowers sweetened with sugar, is used 
on the Continent in lieu of linseed tea,—its agreeable 
flavour and greater efficacy particularly recommend¬ 
ing it as a demulcent drink in fever, cold or go¬ 
norrhoea. 
The Lavatera arborea, or Sea Tree-mallowq is 
frequently employed by the inhabitants of the coasts 
on which it grows. Its large deep-purple flowers 
covering the shrub, which always grows on small 
rocky islets, render it one of the handsomest of our 
indigenous plants. All parts of it are equally muci¬ 
laginous, and the petals yield a splendid colour when 
infused with hot water. The flowers of the Althcea, 
arborea sen rosea, the Hollyhock of our gardens, are 
much used in Germany. They contain a red extrac¬ 
tive and mucilage. 
The Althcea officinalis ranks high in the estimation 
of most Continental practitioners. The powdered 
root is used chiefly as an excipient,—much, in fact, 
as liquorice root is used here,—and has the advan¬ 
tage of being white and nearly tasteless. A cata¬ 
plasm of it is also officinal. The syrup is an agree¬ 
able vehicle for kermes, morphia and other active 
medicines. Guimauve lozenges are prepared with a 
mucilage of the plant, and dissolve in the mouth 
with a peculiarly balsamic and slimy effect. Mcdva 
glabra, rotunclifolia and sylvestris are also officinal. 
Their flowers are used for tisanes or infusions, and 
are a component of the famous quatre-Jieurs {species 
emollientcs). 
The Cotton-plant ( Gossyjnum ) is too well known 
to pharmacists to need any description. The oil is 
largely imported, being expressed from the seeds by 
means of heat. Its chief use, I am sorry to add, is 
to adulterate other more expensive oils. 
The boiled root of the Althcea, after preparing the 
decoction, is highly palatable, and can be eaten with 
much relish as a vegetable. During a short historic 
period, in which hunger caused many of us to make 
some curious experiments with the esculent commo¬ 
dities of a pharmacy, we found the boiled marsh¬ 
mallow-root a very pleasant addition to horseflesh, 
much resembling salsify in flavour and appearance. 
How much esculent food is lost in this country 
through ignorance and prejudice is an economist’s 
problem; but I am certain that boiled cliickweed is 
superior to spinach, dandelion salad to endive, and 
marslimallow-root to parsnips. Crecle experto. The 
hedges furnish food for thousands, but is science 
powerful enough to overcome prejudice? 
PHARMACY IN PORTUGAL. 
Dr. Ullersperger, of Munich, gives an account of 
the state of pharmacy in Portugal in 1809-70, which 
he divides into two parts, viz. the pharmaceutical in¬ 
struction at the University of Coimbra, and the 
position of practical pharmacy. At the university 
five years’ study are prescribed, viz. 1st year, inor¬ 
ganic chemistry; 2nd year, organic chemistry and 
analysis; 3rd year, natural philosophy (1st part) 
