300 
Original Communications. 
alluded to as appropriately occupying a portion of the lec- 
turer's attention, is not only admissible as a relief from the 
more essential and laborious parts of the study, but is posi- 
tively useful to the learner by the influence which it contri- 
butes, with other analogous information, to exert upon the 
character of his mind, his social standing, and even his pro- 
fessional reputation. 
ART LX. — ON AN ADULTERATION OF SULPHATE OF QUININE, 
By John Fahb. AND A REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF IN- 
SPECTION. 
A short time since, a quantity of French sulphate of quinine, 
was sent to our laboratory to be recrystallized, and purified 
from fragments of broken glass, sealing wax, &c, with which 
it had become mixed by the breaking of the vials, in which it 
was packed. 
On attempting to dissolve it in water, a considerable por- 
tion of white powder separated, and remained insoluble; the 
precise quantity could not be ascertained by reason of the 
glass, &c, with which it was mixed. With a view to ascer- 
tain this, a fresh portion of the sulphate was obtained from 
the same source, which was subjected to the following experi- 
ments : 
The article was put up in one ounce vials, and bore the seal 
label of Delondre, Nogent, near Paris. On the label certain 
tests were given for detecting adulterations. The first of these, 
viz: its solubility in boiling alcohol was employed; 50 grains 
were boiled in a florence flask, in one ounce of alcohol of ordi- 
nary strength, and suffered to stand a few moments to allow the 
precipitate to subside, the solution of quinine was then poured 
carefully off, and the insoluble precipitate washed with boil- 
ing alcohol on a filter, until it ceased to be bitter ; the pre- 
cipitate remaining on the filter, when dry, weighed 6 grains. 
