VARIETIES. 
281 
mining  the  purity  of  the  compounds  of  quinia  with  the  greatest  exactness ; 
and,  after  repeated  experiments,  he  has  rendered  the  execution  of  his 
method  extremely  simple. 
This  method  consists  in  heating  a  small  quantity  of  the  preparation  of 
quinine  in  a  spoon  over  burning  charcoal.  In  a  very  short  time  the  powder 
melts,  leaving  a  residue  of  which  we  shall  speak  presently.  The  examina- 
tion of  this  residue  must  be  conducted  with  the  greatest  care,  for  its  pecu- 
liar tint  serves  to  characterize  each  compound. 
Characteristics  presented  by  perfectly  pure  sulphate  of  quinine :  residue 
of  clear  ruby  color  /  very  pure  quinine,  residue  of  the  color  of  oil  of  sweet 
almonds;  citrate  of  quinine,  residue  of  clear  citron  color,  with  excess  of  acid, 
dark  citron  color  ;  valerianate  of  quinine,  residue  of  the  color  pf  the  prepa- 
ration itself 
When  'either  of  these  preparations  is  adulterated  with  foreign  matter,  the 
residue,  after  fusion,  will  be  wanting  in  polish  and  transparency,  and  will 
present  a  blackish,  porous  appearance.  If  they  are  mixed  with  cinchonine 
or  salicine,  they  become  opaque ;  to  be  certain  of  the  presence  of  salicine, 
concentrated-  sulphuric  acid  may  be  added,  which  will  give  rise  to  a  red 
color. 
These  trials  should  be  made  with  about  a  half  a  grain  of  the  salts  in 
question.  The  author  hopes  that  these  simple  experiments  will  add  one 
more  obstacle  to  the  falsifications  of  the  salts  of  quinine. — Ibid. 
Aconite  as  a  Local  Anodyne—The  comparative  value  of  several  of  our  local 
aneesthetics,  was  well  exhibited  in  a  case  recently  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Curling,  in  the  London  Hospital.  The  patient*  a  woman  of  47,  had  a  patch 
of  dry  gangrene  on  the  outer  side  of  the  left  foot.  Its  slow  increase  was 
attended  with  such  intense  pain,  that  for  several  weeks  she  scarcely  slept 
at  all.  To  obtain  relief,  chloroform,  on  lint  beneath  oil-silk,  belladona  lotion, 
and  the  solution  of  opium,  were  severally  applied  to  the  part,  with,  however, 
but  very  slight  and  temporary  benefit.  A  liniment,  consisting  of  equal 
parts  of  the  soap  liniment  and  of  tincture  of  aconite,  was  then  ordered  to 
be  used  in  the  same  manner ;  and  so  great  was  its  efficiency,  that  under  its 
influence  the  poor  woman  was  frequently  able  to  obtain  a  very  fair  night's 
rest.  This  case  is  only  one  among  many  in  which  we  have  seen  proved  the 
powers  of  aconite  as  a  local  remedy. — Med.  Times  and  Gaz.,  Nov.  11,  1853. 
Composition  of  Oil  of  Thyme.  By  M.  Lallemand. — This  oil  has  been 
found  by  the  author  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of  stearoptene.  He  has 
given  it  the  name  of  Thymol.  It  is  crystalline,  melts  at  108°  F.,  and  will 
remain  liquid  for  a  considerable  time  at  the  ordinary  temperature,  a  cir- 
cumstance which  may  have  been  the  reason  why  its  presence  in  the  oil  has 
"been  hitherto  overlooked.  It  has  no  rotary  action  on  polarized  light ;  in  the 
crystalline  state  it  behaves  like  other  birefractive  media.    Its  composition 
i 
