68 
MR. MORTON’S INTRODUCTORY 
in an insoluble state. Of somewhat the same character are the 
combinations of alum and the sulphate of copper with chalk, as 
astringents, and those diabolical compounds of sulphuric acid and - 
the fixed and volatile oils. 
“ I remember one case which occurred to me when a boy. A 
village farrier—one of the old school—was desirous of procuring a 
stimulating liniment for a cow with garget. ‘ Now, my lad,’ said 
he, ^ mix together so much olive oil and spirit of sal ammoniac; 
add to this some oil of origanum—of course, some laudanum, and 
a little oil of turpentine. Ay! that will do. But stay! this will 
not be quite strong enough : pour in a little oil of vitriol.’ I did so, 
and I suffered for it. The disengagement of heat was so great, that 
the bottle burst in my hand, and I became covered with the farrier’s 
most unchemical compound. Now, had this man been in the least 
conversant with chemical principles, or had I at that early age, we 
should not have committed so disgraceful a blunder. 
Connected with this is another circumstance of which you should 
be aware. It is no uncommon thing for the dregs of all kinds of 
tinctures to be preserved by the wholesale druggists, and, with the 
waste of their warehouses, to be sent to the drug-grinder, in order 
to form the compound powders so much employed by those of the 
old school. At other times, one part of the genuine root or seed 
is mixed with seven of meal, or of some farinaceous matter, and 
coloured and scented secundum artem. A knowledge of chemistry 
will enable you to detect many of these impositions; and, as an 
additional guard, I would urge you to purchase all your drugs in 
the bulk, and as they are imported; and then, if you purchase from 
a respectable druggist, and give a fair price for the article, you need 
not to fear its adulteration. 
“ In chemicals, and such substances as undergo a certain prepara¬ 
tion, the amount of adulteration used to be, and, among some per¬ 
sons is still, enormous. Aloes are mixed with resin and lamp¬ 
black—the balsam of copaiba with turpentine and resin—iodine 
with plumbago—the sesqui-sulphuret of antimony with the same 
substance—mercurial ointment has contained little more than lard 
and colouring matter of various descriptions—calamine has been 
found to consist of the sulphate of barytes coloured with iron—the 
ergot of rye has been mixed with little masses similar in appearance, 
but made of the plaister of Paris—calomel has been adulterated with 
the sulphate of barytes, and even corrosive sublimate has been 
detected in it—the essential oils have been mingled with the fixed, 
or with alcohol—acetic acid with sulphuric acid—the nitrate of 
silver with the nitrate of lead; and the dregs of the tincture of opium 
bottle have been dried, and pounded, and sold as the pulverized 
drug. 
These are some of the tricks practised by the designing on the 
