156 
MISCELLANY. 
duced to powder; it is the brighter, k e. has a less violet tint, the 
finer it is pulverized. — Chem. Gaz. from Polytech. Central Blatt. 
Adulteration of the Neutral Chromate of Potash, — According to the 
observation of C. Erdmann of Leipsic, there occurs at present in 
commerce a chromate of potash of English manufacture, which is noth- 
ing less than chromate of soda, sophisticated moreover with sulphate 
of soda. Now, chromate of soda, when crystallized at a temperature 
below 86°, contains 53 per cent, water, while the potash salt is entire- 
ly free from water under all circumstances. The spurious chromate of 
potash in question has given rise to numerous complaints respecting its 
want of efficacy, and has proved indeed to contain a considerable 
amount of water. The adulteration is evidently not unintentional, 
and is based on the chromate of soda crystallizing with this amount of 
water at a low temperature, and then possessing the form of sulphate 
of soda. The chromate of soda is obtained at a higher temperature as 
free from water as the potash salt : and if the soda salt were pure, there 
would then be a gain in the amount of chromic acid with this substitu- 
tion, from the equivalent of soda being lower. — Ibid from Fharm. 
Central Blatt. 
New Salt of Mercury and Quinia. — The combination of oxymuriate of 
mercury and tincture of bark has been long known as a remedy for the 
treatment of scrofula and enlarged mesenteric glands, also in the treat- 
ment of strumous ophthalmia. This combination is well known to be 
unchemical, the salt being decomposed by the bark. Mr. R. N. M'Der- 
mott of Dublin, convinced of the value of a combination of the active 
principle of the barks with salt of mercury — "a combination which, ac- 
cording to the concurring testimony of various physicians, accelerates, in 
a remarkable manner, the constitutional action of mercurials, was brought 
to think that a definite compound might be formed in which the bichlo- 
ride would perform the part of an acid, and the alkaloid quinia form the 
base, and which would combine the therapeutic value of these two im- 
portant substances." On trial he found the results were exactly as he 
had anticipated. He obtained a double salt, a proto-chloride of mercury 
and quinia, chemically combined. On subjecting it to the strictest ana- 
lysis, no trace of bichloride could be detected. The intimate com- 
bination of the active principle of the bark with mercury in the form just 
indicated, will, in his opinion, render it less liable to produce the ill 
effects of mercury on some constitutions, while its efficacy as a general 
remedy must be much enhanced. He anticipates that the combination 
of these two agents will rarely fail of producing a happy result in the 
diseases of the eye generally, but especially when scrofula is present. 
Dublin Medicul Press. 
