MISCELLANY. 
319 
To the specific gravity of that liquid. 
For example: Supposing that the hydrometer weighs 2,091 grains, 
that it is necessary to add 431 grains, to sink it to the mark in distilled 
water, and that when immersed in a certain spirit of wine, 27 grains 
are sufficient for that purpose ; then 2091 + 431=2522 and 2091 + 27 
=2118. Now as 2522 : 1000 : : 2118 : 839, the specific gravity of 
spirit. 
It is evident that the operation of weighing the instrument and float- 
ing it in distilled water, when once accurately performed, need not be 
repeated, and that afterwards this hydrometer may be used where an 
accurate balance cannot be obtained. 
In Dr. Christison's valuable " Dispensatory, " Art. Alcohol, there is 
a table, by means of which, if it were accurate, we might readily convert 
the specific gravity, as obtained by this and other instruments, into 
degrees of Sykes and Dicas's hydrometer, as used by the Excise. But 
from some experiments I have made, I am led to conclude that the 
table is not accurate. It is but just to Dr. Christison to observe, that he 
does not vouch for its correctness, but only introduces it as probably 
more correct than another which he mentions. — Ibid. 
On Commercial Powdered Liquorice Root, By M. Ingenohl. — Of 
late there freqnently occur in commerce powdered drugs, which are 
manufactured on a large scale in Holland and England ; at first sight 
they seem from their external appearance to be very excellent. M. 
Wichmann recently called attention to a liquorice powder, which has 
become an object of commerce under the name of Flores liquiritiae, which 
was adulterated with Dutch pink. 
Some time ago I had an opportunity of convincing myself that the 
liquorice powder of commerce frequently contains a quantity of starch, 
and that on sifting it, small, tolerably hard granules remain behind, 
which swell in water and partially dissolve. Both the solution, as well 
as the swollen granules, are coloured indigo-blue by iodine water, 
which together with their physical appearance, proves them to be sago. 
Having read the above remark of M. Wichmann, I tested the same 
powder, which had been adulterated with starch, with muriatic acid for 
Dutch pink, and in fact it effervesced strongly, and the solution contained 
alumina and lime. 
Such powdered drugs are frequently adulterated and impure, and 
should not be allowed to circulate in commerce. — Chem. Gaz. from 
Arch. der. Pharm. 
