36 
PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. 
The formula given by Dr. Jackson for the "Ammonia Lozen- 
ges," is as follows: 
Ammonise Muriat. - 5ifs. 
Morphise Muriat. gr. iii. 
Pulv. Ulmi - - - 3V1. 
" Acacise \ 
" Sacchari > 
" Ext. Glycyr. ) aa gvii. 
Tinct. Tolut. ... - 
01. Gaultherise - gtt. iv. 
To be made with syrup as above, and divided into 180 lo- 
zenges, or into lozenges of 10 grains each. 
OXALIC ACID GENERATED BY THE ACTION OF NITRIC ACID 
ON OIL OF AMBER. 
By John T. Plummer, M. D., of Richmond, Ind. 
About the middle of the present year, (1851) I subjected a 
small quantity of oil of amber to the action of nitric acid, for the 
purpose of making artificial musk. After the materials had un- 
dergone the usual change, I set them aside ; and various avoca- 
tions afterward claiming my attention, I did not separate the acid 
from the plastic mass until three or four months had elapsed. 
After pouring off the acid, and adding warm water to the mass, I 
thought I heard an obscure crepitation in the vessel, like that oc- 
casioned by the solution of oxalic acid. Thinking it possible that, 
as is the case with various animal and vegetable substances, oxalic 
acid might have been generated by the reaction of the mineral 
acid on the oleum succinic I examined carefully the waxy mass, 
and found small groups of elongated, but not quite acicular crys- 
tals, and during the process the crepitation alluded to became very 
apparent. 
To the solution of these crystals I applied the usual tests of 
oxalic acid, chloride of calcium, and chloride of barium, and sul- 
phate of lime ; all of these reagents produced a white precipitate : 
the two first acting immediately, and yielding a copious deposit ; 
the last was much more tardy in its action. The precipitates 
were easily soluble in nitric and in hydrochloric acids. 
