172 
VARIETIES. 
vert the excess of caustic of soda contained in the mixture into carbonate. 
The carbonaceous residue is then exhausted by boiling alcohol at 96.100, 
and the alcoholic liquors evaporated to dryness, leaving a slightly saline 
residue consisting of iodide of potassium. 
As we wished to arrive at more certain results than MM. Girardin and 
Preisser, we estimated, by means of chloride of palladium, the quantity of 
iodine contained in the saline residues ; and in this manner we have been 
able to determine the actual quantity of iodide of potassium contained in 
the cod-liver oils we wished to examine. 
The following are the results we obtained : — 
1 litre of cod-liver oil yielding 0.10 gramme of iodide of potassium. 
2 0.08 « « « 
3 . . . . . 0.04 " « « 
4 0.03 
— Pharm. Journ., from Journal de Chimie Medicate. 
On Peach-Leaf Water. By Messrs. Fellenberg and Konig. — The authors 
distilled in 1847 and 1848, peach-leaves with water, and the difference in 
the proportions of prussic acid in these two sorts of water was very con- 
siderable. The leaves which yielded the smaller proportion of prussic acid, 
were those of the year 1848, when the tree had an abundance of fruit, 
whilst in the year 1847, it had only one fruit. Mr. Konig in Bern, found 
in 1000 parts of a peach-leaf water, prepared by himself, 1.407 of prussic 
acid. That prepared by Fellenberg in 1848, contained in 1000 parts, 0-437 
parts. — London Pharm. Journ., from Central Piatt. 
[These facts are interesting in connection with the observations of Mr. 
Perot, at page 109. — Ed. Am. Jour. Ph.~] 
On some new Constituents in the Ergot of Rye. By Dr. F. L. "Winckler. 
— In the analysis of ergotine, prepared by exhausting the ergot of rye with 
distilled water, and treating the aqueous extract with alcohol, &c, I have 
discovered in combination with an acid a volatile alkaloid, which is very 
similar to, if not identical with coniine. It is to this alkaloid that the ergot 
of rye appears to owe principally its effectiveness, and not, as has hitherto 
been admitted, to ergotine. Besides this alkaloid, I have found as constit- 
uents of ergotine an exceedingly small quantity of kinovic acid, formiate 
and chloride of potassium. — [^See page 105.] — London Chem. Gaz., from 
Central Piatt. 
On the administration of Cod-Liver Oil. — We extract from the Gazette 
Medicate de Lyons the following modes of exhibiting this nauseous remedy: 
1. Cod-liver oil, 30 grammes ; solution of carbonate of potash, 8 gram- 
mes ; syrup of orange-peel, 30 grammes. Mix. A teaspoonful or two twice 
a day. 
2. Cod-liver oil, syrup of orange-peel, aniseed water, equal parts. Mix. 
a tablespoonful for a dose. 
