156 
NOTE  ON  CONFECTION  OF  SENNA. 
OZONIO  ETHER. 
The  substance  called  ozonic  ether,  and  which  is  now  creating 
so  much  interest  in  the  profession,  is  peroxide  of  hydrogen  in 
ether.  The  mixture  thus  formed  was  first  made  by  myself;  I 
was  testing  the  action  of  the  peroxide  of  hydrogen  on  various 
substances,  organic  and  inorganic,  and  having  one  day  added  a 
strong  solution  of  the  peroxide  to  some  ether,  I  was  surprised  to 
find  that  a  portion  of  the  peroxide  seemed  to  pass  to  the  ether, 
the  ether,  when  decanted  off,  having  a  very  strong  taste  of  per- 
oxide, and  yielding  oxygen  freely  when  treated  with  oxide  of 
manganese.  On  being  kept,  the  ether  was  discovered  to  undergo 
further  change,  the  oxygen  becoming  more  stable  and  fixed.  The 
addition  of  a  little  alcohol  to  the  ether  facilitates  the  absorption 
of  the  peroxide.  The  combination  of  the  oxygen  with  the  ether 
and  some  water,  although  it  is  very  slight,  is  persistent,  for  the 
mixture  has  been  sent  to  Australia  without  deterioration.  The 
compound  is,  without  doubt,  a  useful  agent.  I  think  I  may 
claim  it  as  an  addition  to  our  list  of  remedies  likely  to  hold  its 
place. 
I  used  it  in  the  first  instance  for  diffusion  in  the  air  of  the 
sick-room,  dispersing  it  in  the  form  of  spray.  It  is  quick  in 
action,  and  effective  for  purifying  the  air  ;  it  does  not  charge 
the  air  with  moisture,  and  it  does  not  irritate  the  breathing 
organs.  The  disadvantage  of  it  is  that  it  cannot  be  safely  used 
near  a  light  or  fire.  It  should  be  sprayed  through  a  glass  tube. 
Lond.  Pharm.  Journ^  Jan.  1869,  from  Dr.  Richardson^  in 
'  Medical  Times  and  Gazette.' 
NOTE  ON  CONFECTION  OP  SENNA. 
By  George  F.  H.  Markoe. 
The  writer  has  been  much  annoyed  by  the  failure  of  the  pre- 
sent officinal  formula  to  give  a  satisfactory  product  in  respect  to 
consistence  and  keeping  qualities. 
The  following  modified  process  is  offered  as  affording  a 
remedy  for  these  objections,  giving  a  confection  of  better  con- 
sistence and  one  that  is  not  liable  to  spoil  by  fermentation. 
