470 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS IN CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. 
organisms, which M. Bechamp names microzyma cretse^ are, the author states, 
the most powerful ferments known. Taking a sample from the very centre of 
a large block of native chalk, mixing it with pure water, and examining it by 
the microscope, there will be seen in the field some bright points, often very 
numerous, endowed with a very lively trepidating movement. These are the 
inlcrozymse of M. Bechamp, the smallest living beings to be seen. In further 
support of his view, M. Bechamp shows that such chalk is capable of acting as 
a ferment, and also that it contains the elements necessary to organic beings— 
carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, 
420 grams of starch paste, and 30 grams of chalk, with 4 drops of creasote, 
were intimately mixed. At the same time, a similar mixture was made, but the 
chalk was replaced by pure carbonate of lime. In three days the chalk had 
liquefied the starch, while the carbonate of lime had effected no change what¬ 
ever. On the 14th November, 1864, 100 grams of starch, 1500 c.c. of water, 
and 100 grams of chalk, with 10 drops of creasote, were mixed. On the SOth 
March, 1866, the mixture was analysed. It yielded 4 c.c. of absolute alcohol, 
8 grams butyric acid, and 5'2 grams of crystallized acetate of soda. On the 
25th April, 1865, 80 grams of cane sugar, 1400 grams of chalk, and 1500 c.c. 
of creasotic water, were put together. On the 14th June, the product of the 
action yielded 2-6 c.c. absolute alcohol, 4-5 grams butyric acid, 6’8 grams ace¬ 
tate of soda, and 9 grains of lactate of lime. 
When proper precautions are taken, no other ferment can be found in the 
liquid after fermentation, besides those which are found in the chalk, but these 
have become considerably augmented. To prevent chalk from acting as a fer¬ 
ment, it is sufficient to raise it, moist, to a temperature of 300° C. 
The organic matter in chalk amounts to 7 per cent., and contains carbon, 
hydrogen, and nitrogen. 
• Emulsion of Tar. 
M. Leboeuf has proposed to make an emulsion of coal tar by means of a tinc¬ 
ture of Vhdivk {Qidllaya saponaria). Twelve parts of the tincture are 
digested with ten parts of coal tar, and an emulsion is obtained which is stable 
with common water. M. Leboeuf prepared the tincture by digesting on a sand- 
bath four parts of alcohol (90°) and one part of finely crushed Panama bark, 
and filtering after a few days’ contact. 
Coal tar cannot be made into an emulsion by a weak solution of an alkali, and 
the above method appears to be the only practicable one for the purpose. 
icood tar, however, differs in this respect, and M. Jeannel has given the follow¬ 
ing form for converting it into a permanent emulsion:— 
Powdered crystals of carbonate of soda . 1 
Wood tar.1 
Water.100 
Intimately mix the tar and the carbonate of soda in a mortar, and then intro¬ 
duce the mixture with the water into a large flask, agitate strongly for some 
minutes, and then filter. Under these circumstances the tar is completely 
emulsioned, and the filter only retains the grosser impurities. The resinous 
substance is all to be found in the emulsive fluid. The mixture has the appear¬ 
ance of “ cq/e au lait f it filters almost as rapidly as pure water, and froths 
like a solution of soap. It is perfectly stable, and deposits, after a long time, 
only slight traces of divided resin, which are again taken up by the slightest 
agitation. Mixed with water, in any proportions, it gives stable emulsions. 
Five grammes of this emulsion, containing five centigrammes of tar, when mixed 
with a litre of water, give a foul liquid which is very little more charged with 
bitter resin than ordinary tar-water, and it is easily accepted by patients. 
