292 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
of stearine, which rendered it necessary to perform frequent 
filtration. This at once reminded me that the American 
soap was made with animal fat, while, if I had used the Castile 
soap, which is made with olive oil, the like difficulty would 
not have ensued. 
Iodic Solutions. Mention having been frequently made 
to me, by physicians, of the imperfect manner generally 
followed in preparing Lugol's Solution of Iodine, or their 
prescription of iodine and hydriodate of potassa in solution, it 
may be deemed advisable to remind those unaccustomed to 
manipulate with iodine and its preparations, that to carry into 
effect the desire of the physician, they must triturate the dry 
substances first with a few drops of water only, until the 
iodine is completely dissolved, and afterwards add the requi- 
site quantity of water, instead of the common practice of 
throwing these ingredients into a mortar and pouring upon 
them the prescribed quantity of water at once; or as some do, 
after weighing the ingredients, put them into a vial and fill it 
up with water. Simple agitation in a vial, of these substances, 
with but a very few drops of water, may answer the same 
end; but the manner is unpharmaceutic. Unless the mode 
indicated be pursued, a portion of iodine will always remain 
undissolved. 
Effervescent Magnesia. This saline aperient commonly 
known inconnection with the name of its inventor, as "Moxon's 
Aperient Effervescent Magnesia," has enjoyed considerable 
reputation from its peculiar gratefulness to a fastidious 
stomach, as a remedy in Indigestion, Heartburn, Nausea, 
&c. The manner here indicated is that by which a prepara- 
tion very similar to the original article may be made. It is 
the imitation of Mr. E. Durand. 
Take of Carbonate of Magnesia, one part. 
Sulphate of Magnesia, "| 
Bi-Carbonate of soda, I of each two arts 
Tartrate of Soda and Potash, ( 1 
Tartaric Acid, J 
