EXPERIMENTS ON SARSAPAR1LLA. 
259 
7.75 per cent, the quantity of mercury obtained, to 24 per cent 
of this incombustible residue, we have about 32 per cent, of 
the mass, very near the amount that should have been con- 
stituted of mercury. 
The article is put up in one pound jars, of an extra large 
size, covered, and labelled "Blue Pill," with English arms, 
without any maker's name. It is said to be in charge of 
an individual who is agent for an establishment at New- 
Castle-on-Tyne, England. 
Our New York friends deserve credit for their acuteness 
and success in delecting these foreign adulterated prepara- 
tions, and it is only to be regretted in this instance that the 
true origin of the imposition is not known, that the authors 
of it might be visited by that severity of rebuke of which 
such nefarious practices render them deserving. 
ART. LVII. — EXPERIMENTS ON SARSAPARILLA. 
By W. S. W. Ruschenberger. 
Some months since, with a view of comparing the value 
of varieties of sarsaparilla in the market, I caused the fol- 
lowing experiments to be made by Wm. St. Clair Nichols, 
then the apothecary of the institution. 
One pound of Para sarsaparilla was macerated in thirty- 
two ounces of alcohol, placed in an apparatus for displace- 
ment, and treated with dilute alcohol until thirty-two ounces 
were obtained. The liquid was of a clear bright colour, 
rather deeper than that of Madeira wine, but of the same 
hue. It possessed the peculiar taste of sarsaparilla. The 
displacement by dilute alcohol was continued, and on mix- 
ing the displaced fluids, a copious precipitate was formed, 
