246 
SULPHATE  OF  POTASSIUM  IN  ERGOT. 
dren  and  three-drachm  doses  to  adults,  every  four  hours,  could 
have  been  given  without  ill  effects.  It  is  more  probable  that  a 
solution,  as  ordinarily  found  in  pharmacy,  of  about  2  or  3  per 
cent,  was  used. 
I  should  .suggest  that  a  solution  of  1*027  specific  gravity,  con- 
taining 5  per  cent,  by  weight  of  real  acid,  be  substituted  for  the 
present  oflficinal  solution  at  the  earliest  opportunity,  such  a  solu- 
tion being  sufficiently  strong  for  medicinal  purposes.  Their 
would  then  be  no  difficulties  attending  upon  the  production  of 
acid  of  such  strength,  neither  would  there  be  the  least  justifica- 
tion for  the  entire  absence  of  such  a  solution  from  pharmacy. 
We  should  thus  be  giving  the  remedy  a  fair  trial,  and  by  its 
medicinal  merits  alone  it  would  either  retain  its  place  or  be  ex- 
punged from  future  pharmacopoeias.  This  communication,  I 
trust,  will  prevent  any  blame  from  being  attached  to  the  phar- 
macist, if  such  a  valuable  remedy  should  undeservedly  be  brought 
into  disrepute. 
Laboratory  40  Alder sg ate  street^  E.  Q. 
In  reply  to  a  question  from  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Umney  said, 
he  thought  an  acid  containing  5  per  cent,  would  be  strong  enough 
for  use  in  medicine. 
Dr.  Attfield  thought  that  if  an  acid  of  the  strength  indicated 
in  the  Pharmacopoeia  was  really  required,  it  vfould  be  necessary 
to  obtain  it  by  passing  the  pure  gas  into  water,  and  not  the  two 
gases  resulting  from  the  action  of  charcoal  on  sulphuric  acid. — 
London  Pharm.  Journ.^  March^  1869. 
NOTE  ON  SULPHATFJ  OF  POTASSIUM  IN  ERGOT. 
By  Professor  Attfield. 
In  the  official  process  for  Extr actum  Ergotce  Liquidum^  B.  P., 
powdered  ergot,  freed  from  oil  by  ether,  is  exhausted  by  warm 
water,  the  mixture  filtered,  the  filtrate  evaporated  to  a  low  bulk, 
spirit  of  wine  added,  the  mixture  set  aside  for  coagula  to  subside, 
and,  after  an  hour,  filtered  and  bottled  for  use.  On  recently 
carrying  out  this  process,  a  correspondent  (Mr.  Romans,  55 
Westgate,  Wakefield)  tells  me  that  after  adding  the  spirit  of 
wine  he  had  occasion  to  set  the  mixture  aside  during  a  night 
