168 
VARIETIES. 
pumpkin-seeds  for  ihe  treatment  of  tape-worm.  He  reported  in  the  same 
journal,  in  October  of  last  year,  a  case  of  radical  cure  by  an  emulsion  of 
these  seeds,  after  turpentine  and  even  kousso  had  signally  failed.  He  re- 
ports a  case  which  came  under  the  care  of  a  medical  student  in  that  city,  in 
which  the  oil  was  used  by  him  at  his  request,  and  with  the  happiest  result. 
Half  an  ounce  of  the  oil  was  given  in  the  morning,  and  the  same  quantity 
in  about  two  hours  more,  followed  at  the  end  of  another  two  hours  by  an 
ounce  of  castor  oil,  with  the  effect  of  bringing  away  a  considerable  part  of 
the  worm  ;  and  as  the  patient  had  been  entirely  free  from  every  symptom 
of  verminous  irritation  from  May  to  September,  he  thinks  there  is  no  doubt 
that  the  worm  is  entirely  destroyed.  The  oil  is  obtained  from  the  seeds  by 
cold  expression. — Neiv  Hampsh  ire  Journal  of  Medicine,  Jan.  1854. 
Charta  Exploratoria  Ccerulea.  Blue  test  paper.— This  is  prepared  by 
dipping  slips  of  paper  in  a  strong  and  clear  infusion  of  litmus  ;  or  by  brush- 
ing the  infusion  over  the  paper.  Bibulous  or  unsized  paper  is  usually  pre- 
ferred, on  account  of  the  facility  with  which  it  imbibes  theliquid  to  be  tested, 
and  also  because  the  alum  which  frequently  enters  into  the  composition  of 
thesize  affects  the  color  of  the  litmus.  Prof.  Graham,  however,  recommends 
good  letter  paper ;  or,  if  the  infusion  is  applied  on  one  side  only,  thin  and 
sized  drawing  paper.  Faraday  recommends  the  infusion  to  be  prepared  from 
an  ounce  of  litmus,  and  half  a  pint  of  hot  water.  The  Prussian  Pharmaco- 
poeia of  1827  orders  one  part  to  four  of  water.  Others  employ  one  to  six 
parts. 
In  order  to  obtain  extremely  delicate  test  paper,  the  alkali  in  the  litmus  is 
to  be  almost  neutralized  by  a  minute  portion  of  acid.  To  effect  this,  divide 
the  filtered  infusion  of  litmus  into  two  parts;  stir  one  portion  with  a  glass 
rod  which  has  been  previously  dipped  in  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  and  repeat 
this  till  the  liquid  begins  to  look  reddish:  then  add  the  other  portion  of  liquid 
and  immerse  the  paper  in  the  mixture. 
Good  litmus  paper  should  be  uniform  in  its  color,  and  neither  very  light 
nor  very  dark.  When  it  has  a  purplish  tint  it  is  a  more  delicate  test  for  acid 
than  when  its  color  is  pure  blue.  When  carefully  dried  it  may  be  preserved 
by  wrapping  it  in  stiff  paper,  and  keeping  it  in  well  stopped  bottles  in  a  dark 
cupboard  or  drawer. — Pereira's  Materia  Medica. 
Malate  ff  Lime  in  the  leaves  of  ihe  Common  Ash. — The  leaves  of  the  ash 
have  latterly  been  used  medicinally.  They  are  said  to  be  serviceable  in 
gouty  affections,  and,  according  to  Emile  Mouchon,  purgative. 
The  brothers  Garot  have  examined  them  chemically,  and  find  that  they 
contain  malate  of  lime,  which  is  extracted  by  simple  infusion.  From  one 
kilogram  of  the  leaves  they  obtained  fifty  grm.  of  malate  of  lime.  They 
have  not  analysed  the  acid. — Pharm.  Joxirn.  Feb.  1854. 
