610        Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy.  {TovS^S' 
are  solid,  black  in  color,  and  the  size  of  a  goose-quill,  and  on  coming 
in  contact  with  the  liquids  of  the  economy,  evenly  swell  to  six  times 
their  volume.  Before  introduction  into  the  cavity  the  surface  is 
roughened  by  a  grater  or  file,  and  they  are  then  plunged  for  some 
minutes  in  tepid  water.  They  may  be  preserved  in  one  of  the 
following  solutions : 
a.  Corrosive  sublimate   I  part. 
Absolute  alcohol  100  parts. 
b.  Corrosive  sublimate    i  part. 
Ether  100  parts. 
c.  Iodoform  io  parts. 
Ether  100  parts. 
Antiseptic  powders  are  made  with  an  inert  base,  and  such  sub- 
stances as  sulphocarbolate  of  zinc,  iodoform,  phenol,  corrosive  sub- 
limate, salol,  etc. 
The  following  is  the  formula  of  the  powder  of  Lucas  Champion- 
niere. 
Grammes. 
Iodoform,  finely  powdered  )  
Benzoin        "  «       iaa * «0 
Quinine        "  "   960 
Magnesium  carbonate,  finely  powdered  930 
Oil  of  eucalyptus  120 
This  powder  has  a  great  reputation  for  indolent  ulcers,  and  par- 
ticularly with  sores  of  the  sacrum. 
Kummel  has  recommended  common  sand  as  a  basis  for  antiseptic 
powders.  White  sand  is  sieved  and  heated  to  redness,  whereby  it 
is  thoroughly  sterilized;  it  is  then  incorporated  with  corrosive  subli- 
mate, phenol,  iodoform,  etc.,  in  the  proportion  of  5  to  10  per  cent. 
Cloves  and  Caffeine  in  France. — At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Paris  Syndical 
Chamber  of  Chemical  Products,  M.  Adrian  mentioned  that  the  excise  authori- 
ties had  given  distillers  facilities  for  preparing  oil  of  cloves,  which  were  formerly 
not  permitted.  The  cloves  are  admitted  duty  free,  and,  after  having  been  used 
for  preparing  the  oil,  are  burnt  in  the  presence  of  an  excise  officer.  M.  Adrian 
thinks  the  same  favor  might  be  accorded  to  chemists  for  the  preparation  of 
certain  alkaloids,  and  he  especially  referred  to  caffeine  as  being  one  of  the  most 
important  on  account  of  its  increased  use. —  The  Chemist  and  Druggist,  October 
9,  1897. 
