VARIETIES. 
279 
The flowers of the Arnica montana being that part of the plant in which 
its medical properties are said to be the most predominant, were selected 
for examination. 
They were subjected precisely to a similar process to that by which lobe- 
lina was extracted from lobelia inflata, the result of which was the elimina- 
tion of an organic base, arnicina. This substance has a strong alkaline 
reaction. It combines with acids, forming a series of salts. When exposed 
to a high temperature it suffers decomposition, and leaves a carbonaceous 
residuum, consequently it is not volatile. I have not yet been able to 
ascertain whether it is crystallizable, in consequence of the smallness of 
the product which the flowers yielded, but, as far as can be judged from its 
condition when obtained by evaporation from the ethereal solution, it has a 
disposition to assume that form. To the taste it is slightly bitter, but not 
acrid, and has the odor of castor. From the aqueous solutions of its salts 
it is precipitated by tincture of galls in somewhat dense flocks. It is 
slightly soluble in water, but much more so in alcohol and ether. When 
subjected to the action of caustic alkalies it is decomposed. 
The hydrochlorate of arnicina, after being freed from its coloring 
matter by animal charcoal, forms stellated acicular transparent crystals. 
What are its peculiar therapeutic properties is a question that must 
remain for the skill of the physiologist to determine. This base, doubtless, 
deserves a more complete examination than it has received, but this task 
can only be accomplished by operating on a large quantity of the flowers, 
as independently of the small per centage of arnicina which the flowers 
primarily contain, much of it is unavoidably lost in each step of the pro- 
cess for its eduction. — Pharm. Journ. February, 1851. 
Eau de Cologne. By Professor Varrentrapp. — This well-known per- 
fume is a solution of different volatile oils in pure strong spirit. The prin- 
cipal condition for the preparation of a fine water, is the employment of a 
spirit quite devoid of fusel-oil (oil of grain) and of all foreign odor. 
In respect to the proportion and kind of oils employed, we have numerous 
formulae. It is of importance that these oils, which are usually purchased 
of the druggists of the South of France, should be of the finest quality, and 
and that no oil should be used in sufficient quantity to allow of its pecu- 
liar odor being recognisable in the mixture. The oils are to be dissolved 
in spirit, and the mixture allowed to stand for some weeks (or still better 
for some months) to improve its odor. Distillation does not effect this ; on 
the contrary, a fresh distilled water requires to be kept a much longer time. 
Distillation is indeed objectionable, for on account of the greater volatility 
of the spirit, the oils in part remain behind in the still. Distillation can 
improve the odor only when the less volatile oil has been used in too large 
a quantity, and we wish to obtain a better proportion. Before all things, 
we should employ a pure, old, strong spirit, and not too much of, nor a too 
strongly smelling, oil. 
