472 
Pharmaceutical  Notes. 
(  Am.  Jour.  PI'  arm. 
t      Sept.,  1881- 
had  increased  to  nine,  and  as  there  was  no  further  import  of  Kashmir 
earth,  native  soil  had  to  be  partly  used,  and  with  success.  In  Kashmir 
the  C.  sativus  is  cultivated  on  raised  parterres,  and  drained  and  care- 
fully weeded ;  though  Dr.  Downes  believes  not  irrigated.  As  the  half 
of  the  price  of  the  produce,  which  is  the  due  of  the  cultivator,  very 
seldom  comes  his  way — owing  to  the  plundering  of  intermediate 
government  olBcials — the  plant  is  left  very  much  to  its  own  care. 
During  the  last  two  famine  years  no  saffron  has  been  gathered,  though 
this  year  a  small  crop  is  expected.  According  to  one  native  tradition, 
the  Ci'OGUs  sativus  miraculously  appeared  in  Pampur,  after  the  prayer 
of  a  holy  man  some  three  hundred  years  ago;  while  others  assert  its 
introduction  from  the  direction  of  Kabul  by  a  ruler  named  Bar-Shah. 
— Fhar.  Jou7\  and  Trans.,  July  2,  1881. 
PHAEMACEUTICAL  NOTES. 
By  R.  De  Puy. 
I  send  the  following  formula  and  notes  as  being  eminently  practical, 
having  proved  always  successful  in  my  hands.  I  trust  they  may  be 
so  in  the  hands  of  other  pharmaceutical  brethren. 
Citrine  Ointment. — Mercury  4  ounces,  nitric  acid  C.  P.  12  fluid- 
ounces,  neatsfoot  oil  8  fluidounces,  lard  2 J  pounds.  Dissolve  the  mer- 
cury in  the  acid.  Heat  the  lard  and  oil  to  180°,  then  add  the  dis- 
solved mercury  all  at  once.  Connnence  stirring  and  continue  doing  so 
until  the  ointment  is  cold  or  about  of  the  consistency  of  molasses. 
Towards  the  latter  end  of  the  process  the  vessel  may  be  set  in  one 
containing  cold  water,  thus  hastening  the  cooling.  I  wish  to  impress 
it  firmly  upon  the  minds  of  all  trying  this  process  that  it  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  continue  the  stirring  until  the  completion  of  the 
process.  The  above  gives  an  ointment  of  good  consistency,  bright 
lemon  color,  without  disagreeable  smell  and  keeps  well. 
Filtering  Paper  Pulp. — I  noticed  some  time  ago  a  query  regarding 
a  practical  method  for  preparing  paper  pulp,  and  offer  the  following  : 
Place  any  amount  of  paper  (filtering  paper  is  not  necessary,  though 
it  is  the  best)  in  a  mortar  or  other  vessel,  upon  which  pour  enough 
liq.  sodse  or  potassse  to  very  thoroughly  wet  it,  stir  it  with  a  pestle  or 
a  stick  until  it  is  reduced  to  a  pulp,  which  will  only  take  a  minute  or 
two,  then  add  cold  water,  stir,  throw  upon  a  calico  filter,  let  drain  and 
wash  with  water  till  all  traces  of  the  alkali  are  washed  out.    By  this 
