NOTES ON IMPUEITIES. 
123 
vomiting, would certainly have killed liim liad I not interposed with emol¬ 
lient drinks and careful nursing. The crystalline variety of aconitine ought, I 
think, to he solely used for the internal administration of Aconite, supersed¬ 
ing the present dangerous preparations of root and leaf w'hich now are used 
so rarely because so unreliable. I would suggest for this purpose a powder 
of aconitine reduced with sugar of milk to a convenient degree, and also a 
watery solution with sufficient spirit to keep it from moulding. Half a grain 
to the ounce—about a thousandth part—would perhaps be a convenient pro¬ 
portion for each. 
I ought not perhaps to omit ^ to mention the discovery of Napelliu, an¬ 
nounced many years ago in the ^ Echo Medicale de la Suisse.’ It is described 
as differing from aconitine in being very sparingly soluble in ether, and not 
precipitable from acid solution by ammonia. I can only say I have never 
met with it. 
I must say the same of Messrs. Smith’s discovery of Harcotin in Aconite 
Hoot. I have not heard the discovery confirmed; and as nearly all the pro¬ 
cesses of late years adopted for the preparation of aconitine would serve 
equally well for the search for narcotin, as the latter body is also so readily 
distinguishable from the former by its splendid reaction with nitro-sulphuric 
acid, contrasting with the negative result, I cannot but think the case in which 
it is said to have occurred perfectly exceptional ; in fact, were it announced 
from any other laboratory than that of Messrs. Smith, one would be tempted 
to ask whether or no, by accident or mischievous design, some narcotin had 
not been introduced into the aconite preparation. 
The President remarked upon the highly interesting nature of the inquiry as to the 
existence of a volatile acrid principle in aconite, as had been so confidently asserted 
in some quarters. Mr. Groves’s results appeared to set this matter at rest. 
Mr. Giles thought that in speaking of the doses of the more potent alkaloids and 
other active principles, we should recognize how different were their actions upon dif¬ 
ferent individuals. He had known half a grain of extract of belladonna produce all the 
symptoms of poisoning. The results of such idiosyncrasies should be borne in mind, and 
impressed upon physicians who prescribed the more active remedies. 
Mr. Groves could not but reiterate the objections that he had already expressed to 
the use of galenical preparations of indefinite strength, consequent upon variations m the 
plants used. 
NOTES ON IMPUEITIES. 
BY B. S. PEOCTOR. 
The following instances of impurity in articles used in pharmacy have 
casually come under notice during the past twelve months. 
Treacle. 
A lady having observed, with some alarm, that several of her children 
were passing black faeces, sought to know if it was the probable effect of 
some poison or some disease. 
On making inquiry, the only unusual food they had had was treacle, and 
an examination of this showed the presence of iron in sufficient quantity to 
account for the effect observed. The quantity of iron was not determined, 
but the precipitated sulphide, on settling for several hours, occupied a space 
equal to the bulk of the treacle from which it had been precipitated. 
A second sample of treacle, which had been purchased for pharmaceutical 
