122 
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
best pieces for sale, and use the inferior sort, together with cap- 
sules and dregs of the case, for powdering. Every dispenser 
ought to powder his opium, and if he will select cold weather for 
the operation, it is attended with little difficulty : slice the opium 
in thin pieces and expose it in the drying chamber, to a temper- 
ature of about 100° F., until it becomes brittle and easy to re- 
duce, and protect the powder when finished in the manner de- 
scribed for powdered squill root. 
Powdered Ergot is so liable to decomposition that many drug- 
gists do not keep it ready for dispensing, preferring to powder 
it fresh when called for. It is often of the greatest importance 
that it should be furnished expeditiously. In uterine hemor- 
rhage after delivery, for instance, where a few moments may de- 
termine the result in life or death, impressed with the import- 
ance of being able to keep it on hand, and to protect it from 
change, I was glad to adopt the following suggestion met with 
in Dr. Dunglison's work on new remedies, and have found it en- 
tirely successful. " To prevent the formation of the parasites, 
Mr. Rawle keeps a small piece of camphor in the stopper bottle 
which contains the ergot. This soon annihilates the 'whole race 
of insects, and adds greatly to the certainty of the effect of the 
medicine. This plan had been recommended before by Dr. 
Bright. It has been advised that the camphor should be admix- 
ed with the ergot in the proportion of a grain to a scruple." 
In adopting this suggestion I have found it sufficient to intro- 
duce camphor,* tied up in a piece of muslin ; the whole mass 
soon becomes pervaded with the smell. Whole ergot is effectu- 
ally protected from the acarus by adopting this plan. 
Tincture of Chloride of Iron, prepared by the present formula 
speedily undergoes change, depositing peroxide of iron, and de- 
preciating in strength. This is effectually prevented by adding 
a portion of honey, and less alcohol, to preserve the officinal 
strength. The following modification of the officinal formula I 
have made use of for some time past, and find it to yield a per- 
manent preparation, viz. : — 
*In another part of this number, a suggestion to employ chloroform to 
hill and preserve cantharides will be found. We think that chloroform 
vapor would act with equal effect on the depredators of ergot. — Editor. 
