186 
ORIGINAL Of MMUNICATIONS. 
it will contain, and dissolve in each gallon one ounce of super- 
carbonate of soda; apply the handle to the pump, and, after 
forcing into the fountain a sufficient quantity of the solution 
of super-carbonate of soda from the reservoir to procure as 
rapid a discharge as is desired, pour into a half pint tumbler 
about one fluid ounce of the syrup prepared as above, and 
open the stop-cock until the tumbler is filled. 
For soda water without syrup, dissolve 8 ounces of tartaric 
acid in one gallon of pure water, and use in the same manner 
and in like quantity as the syrup. 
ART. XXIX.— NOTE UPON VERATRTA, AND ITS USES. 
By Augustine Duhamel. 
The now extensive use of this vegetable alkaloid, and the 
limited knowledge of the manner it is employed in medical 
dispensation, from there being no published formula of its 
preparations, presents an inducement to give a few details in 
relation to it. 
It is believed to have been first used in this city by Dr. 
S. Jackson, for whom some was imported by Mr. Ditrand, 
a few years ago, when but little known here, and then only 
recently introduced in medical practice in Europe. Its ef- 
fects were tried in neuralgic affections by Dr. Jackson, and 
with signal success; so much so as to oblige his constant re- 
currence to it in similar cases. 
For the discovery of Veratria we are indebted to those in- 
defatigable chemists, Pelletier and Caventou, the pioneers 
of a new branch of Chemistry, whose labours in this depart- 
ment of science were rewarded by the great discoveries of 
Quinine, Strychnine, Brucine, and other proximate elemen- 
tary substances of vegetables; by them a wide field has been 
opened for future investigation to the lover of Chemistry. 
