Adulterations of Prolo-chloride of Mercury, fyc. 7 
By the preceding comparison, it is evident that the drug, 
now vended as Egyptian opium, contains less morphia by 
more than one-half, than the Egyptian opium of Guibourt and 
other varieties. Therefore, should the parcels hereafter im- 
ported be of the same quality with that now for sale here, it 
is important that the comparative virtues of the article should 
be generally known, both for the sake of certainty in medical 
practice, and because it is said it is likely to be brought into 
more general use. 
ART. II— ADULTERATION OF PROTO-CHLORIDE OF MERCURY, 
By James H. Hart, M. D. 
Extract from thesis. New York Coll. Pharm. 
This important chemical is most frequently contaminated 
with the accidental admixture of corrosive sublimate ; and 
as calomel is one of the medicines perhaps as frequently pre- 
scribed by the physician as any article in the materia medica, 
I think it may claim our notice with great propriety. 
I have frequently heard of the injurious consequences which 
have arisen from the exhibition of calomel carelessly pre- 
pared, and Dr. Francis in his learned dissertation on mer- 
cury, asserts that " a small dose of calomel, given in the in- 
fantile state, has been followed by convulsions and sangui- 
neous discharges from the alimentary canal," which, as calo- 
mel when pure is a perfectly mild powder, may be safely at- 
tributable to the impurity of the medicine, and I am informed 
by a respectable physician, Dr. S. C. Roe, of this city, that 
he recently witnessed a most violent case of gastro-enteritis, 
caused by the exhibition of this medicine sophisticated with 
corrosive sublimate, and he is so well convinced that the 
calomel uniformly sold, is not sufficiently pure for internal 
use, th$t he is in the constant habit of rewashing all that he 
