408 
ON  SOLUBLE  CITRATE  OF  MAGNESIA. 
than  ever.  We  have  made  no  effort  to  introduce  them  into  gene- 
ral use,  beyond  our  own  city,  but  use  from  forty  to  fifty  pounds 
of  citric  acid  a  year,  in  its  preparation,  so  that  we  feel  that  its 
use  as  a  reliable  cathartic  is  fairly  established.  It  produces  no 
sickness  or  pain  in  its  operation  ;  is  mild,  but  very  thorough 
in  its  action,  and  is  prescribed  by  all  of  our  regular  physicians 
who  deal  with  us,  and  most  generally  in  fully  half  to  three 
fourths  of  the  cases  requiring  cathartics.  Its  composition  is 
citric  acid  three  parts  and  calc.  magnesia  one  part,  incorporated 
by  aid  of  the  water  of  crystallization  only. 
In  reference  to  the  solubility  of  strychnine,  we  have  as  yet  re- 
ceived nothing  corroborating  or  disproving  our  experiments,  and 
feel  anxious  to  hear  from  you.  We  have  repeated  the  experi- 
ments with  reference  to  its  solubility  in  absolute  and  officinal 
alcohol,  and  find  them  to  fully  sustain  the  first.  Two  grs.  pow- 
dered cryst.  strychnine  placed  in  one  ounce  absolute  alcohol, 
and  one  gr.  in  one  ounce  of  alcohol  of  sp.  gr.  -835,  dissolved 
very  soon,  and  entirely,  so  far  as  the  eye  is  a  guide,  and  we  know 
of  none  better.  Respectfully, 
Plummer  &  Kelly, 
Per  J.  W*  Plummer. 
Each  package  contains  four  powders,  the  united  weight  of 
which  is  a  little  over  an  ounce  and  a  half.  As  received,  the  pow- 
der had  caked  ;  one  of  them  put  into  a  tumbler  dissolved  in  15 
minutes,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  grains  of  magnesia,  and  af- 
forded a  perfectly  neutral  solution.  It  would,  with  a  little  more 
of  the  acid,  have  made  a  clear  solution  and  more  pleasant  to  the 
taste.  They  have  on  trial  been  found  to  come  up  to  the  opinion 
expressed  by  the  manufacturers. 
In  relation  to  the  answer  regarding  the  solubility  of  strychnia, 
we  cheerfully  admit  our  obligation  to  those  gentlemen  to  give  it, 
but  it  has  been  put  off  from  time  to  time  for  a  more  convenient 
opportunity,  and  is  not  yet  accomplished.  A  mere  repetition  of 
their  trials,  would  have  been  attended  with  little  trouble,  but 
it  has  been  intended  to  so  conduct  the  experiment  as  to  give 
rigid  results  as  to  the  solubility  of  that  potent  alkaloid.  They 
will  therefore  give  us  more  time,  when  the  pressure  of  labor  for 
the  Association  is  less  heavy  than  at  present. — Editor  Amjer. 
JOURN.  PHARM. 
