VEEATRIA. 
5 
Porpoise  and  seal  oils  are  the  varieties  most  frequently  used  as 
the  article  of  adulteration.  Lard  oil  is  also  said  to  be  used  for 
the  same  purpose.  No  very  certain  method  of  detecting  these 
adulterations  has  yet  been  discovered.  Probably  the  best  and 
surest  means  of  discrimination,  is  a  peculiar  odor,  identical  with 
that  of  shoe  leather,  which  is  perceived  in  the  genuine  article. 
Sulphuric  acid  is  also  a  valuable  test.  When  added  in  a  concen- 
trated form  it  produces  a  beautiful  violet  color,  which  soon  changes 
to  a  brown,  and  finally  a  black  color.  This  effect  is  also  produced 
on  the  common  varieties  of  fish  oil,  though  not  in  the  same  de- 
gree ;  the  violet  color  being  much  less  distinct,  and  becoming 
brown  sooner  than  in  the  genuine  article.  Taste  also  affords  a 
ready  means  of  discovering  the  genuineness  of  the  article  to  per- 
sons accustomed  to  its  peculiar  flavor. 
ON  VERATEIA. 
By  James  Beatson, 
Manufacturing  Chemist  U.  S.  Naval  Laboratory,  N.  Y. 
The  formula  of  the  United  States  and  British  Pharmacopoeias, 
for  obtaining  this  article,  has  always  appeared  to  me  more  compli- 
cated and  troublesome  than  necessary  ;  which  has  induced  me  to 
adopt  a  modification  of  the  process  recommended  by  Christison, 
the  last  time  I  had  occasion  to  prepare  it.  The  manipulation  is 
so  simple,  and  the  result  so  satisfactory,  that  I  feel  confident, 
when  generally  known,  it  will  be  universally  adopted,  wherever 
this  article  is  required  to  be  made,  either  upon  the  small  or  large 
scale. 
Seventy-three  pounds  (avoirdupois)  of  sabadilla  were  rubbed 
upon  a  coarse  wire  seive,  which  separated  the  seed  from  the  cap- 
sules, reduced  to  a  coarse  powder,  in  Swift's  drug  mill.  Finding 
that  a  portion  of  the  veratria  was  still  retained  with  the  mem- 
braneous follicle,  I  passed  the  capsules  likewise  through  the  mill, 
which,  from  their  elasticity,  were  but  coarsely  comminuted  ;  the 
finer  portions  I  separated  with  a  coarse  seive,  and  mixed  with 
the  ground  seeds,  moistened  with  alcohol,  and  allowed  them  to 
stand  for  twelve  hours.  I  then  introduced  them  into  a  displace- 
ment apparatus,  and  exhausted  them  thoroughly  with  rectified 
alcohol,  in  the  following  manner :    Into  the  displacement  appa- 
