600 
PREVENTION AND PRODUCTION OF MALARIA. 
tate them together, separate the precipitate which forms, by 
straining through a close cloth, and saturate the liquid with 
diluted sulphuric acid till slightly acid. Filter the liquid 
through a close filter, and distil off the alcohol, until the re¬ 
maining liquid measures about a pint and a half. Remove 
any fixed oil which may separate on standing, and having 
continued the evaporation to a syrupy consistence, agitate it 
well with four fluid ounces of ether in a suitable bottle, and 
decant the ether when it has separated. Then add the solution 
of ammonia in excess, agitate thoroughly, wash the mixture 
with repeated portions of ether, by agitation and decantation, 
and having mixed these last ethereal liquids, allow the ether 
to evaporate spontaneously from a capsule, until the aconitine 
remains as a dry, amorphous, shining residue, which should 
be removed from the capsule, powdered, and preserved for 
use in a stoppered vial. 
As thus obtained, aconitine is a powder of greenish or 
brownish-white colour, uncrystallised, very soluble in alcohol, 
ether, and chloroform, saturates acids, and has a strong alka¬ 
line reaction. It irritates the nose powerfully -when a minute 
particle is inhaled, but does not excite sneezing. 
Modes of using aconitine. —When aconitine is to be employed 
in the form of an ointment, its activity may be much increased 
by adding to it a sufficiency of acetic acid to salify it, which 
renders it more readily absorbable in contact with the skin. 
The powder should first be triturated with a few drops of 
alcohol, and the acid added to this, in the proportion of a 
drop of acetic acid to each grain of the alkaloid. 
Glycerole. —When aconitine is mixed with a slight excess 
of acetic acid, it readily dissolves in glycerin, and in this state 
may be applied by friction to the surface requiring its anaes¬ 
thetic action. The proportion of the alkaloid to each pre¬ 
paration must be regulated by the prescriber; two or three 
grains to the drachm of prepared lard is a maximum 
strength for the ointment, and from this down to one grain. 
—The Chemical News. 
ON THE PREVENTION AND PRODUCTION OF MALARIA. 
By Dr. R. Angus Smith. 
A Paper read before the Manchester Literary and Philosophical 
Society. 
C( The author did not pretend to enter on the whole subject, 
but to give a few observations which he considered fitted for 
ts illustration. Malaria has unquestionably been proved to 
