20 
PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. 
analogous to that collected in France, and described by 
Pelletier as containing no narcotina. I find no mention 
made of the average proportion of narcotina in good Turkey 
opium. From experiments made by Dr. O'Shaughnessy 
upon upwards of fifteen different specimens of India opium, 
he found the per centage to vary from three-fourths to six 
per cent. 
A Method of Writing upon Glass. 
M. Simon in, of Nancy, has suggested an easy method of 
engraving divisions, letters and unalterable characters upon 
glass, for the use of chemists and apothecaries. It is as 
follows: Spread with a soft brush a coating of engraver's 
varnish upon the bottles or tubes you would use ; when dry, 
trace your letters with a pointed instrument, so as to re- 
move the varnish; over these places spread a moderately 
thick coat of a soft paste, made extemporaneously with 
powdered flu or spar and strong sulphuric acid. After 
several hours of contact, wash it, and the glass will be found 
sufficiently corroded. For the formation of indelible marks 
for labelling purposes, the action may be rendered more 
energetic by covering the paste over with a piece of sheet 
lead. — Journ. de Chim. Med. 
I have tried the above given method with the most 
satisfactory result. I would recommend, however, a coat- 
ing of wax instead of varnish, as tending better to preserve 
the glass from being acted upon, except in the parts ex- 
posed. 
The action of the paste during the space of eight hours, 
produced well defined lines, as strongly marked as though 
done with a file ; five minutes time gave a very perceptible 
impression. A. D. 
