216 
ON HOFFMAN'S ANODYNE LIQUOR. 
as nearly as can be approached with his standard specimen. In 
the process of rectification it is probable that at least a part of 
the heavy oil of wine is decomposed, with the production of the 
light oil or etherole, and that the commercial Hoffman's ano- 
dyne differs in this respect, as well as in containing a much 
smaller proportion of oil of wine, from that of the Pharmacopoeia. 
To get a better idea of the preparation in use here, authentic 
specimens w T ere obtained from four of our largest manufacturing 
chemists, and compared with compound spirit of ether made 
for the occasion strictly according to the United States Pharma- 
copoeia. Their density was carefully taken with the 1000 grs. 
bottle. 
A, Wetherill & Brothers specific gravity at 60° F. .8925 
B, Smith, Pemberton & Co. « « « .8723 
C, Kosengarten & Dennis " « " .8495 
D, Powers & Weightman " " « .8394 
E, U. S. Pharmacopoeia " M " .8151 
Equal measures of each specimen and distilled water were 
mixed together ; they all produced opaque milky liquids ; globules 
of oil of wine soon separated from the mixture with E and floated 
on the surface, while the liquid gradually lost its opacity as more 
of the oil arose. The mixture with D became less opaque by 
standing, a small portion of oil rising to the surface. The mix- 
tures with A B and C retained their opacity without apparent 
separation of oil of wine, A being the most so. 
A was the mildest and least repulsive to the taste, because least 
ethereal. C was the next least ethereal, but had pungency not 
arising from ether. B was more ethereal than the preceding, 
notwithstanding its greater specific gravity. D was yet more 
charged with ether. E presented sensible properties differing 
from all the others, being more ethereal and aromatic, but 
without a peculiar taste noticeable in the other specimens, more 
especially in C. 
When 2i fluid drachms of each specimen was shaken in gra- 
duated tubes with 60 grains of carbonate of potassa, they were de- 
hydrated somewhat in the ratio of their specific gravities. A and 
B dissolved the salt readily by a few minutes' agitation, and the 
separated aqueous alkaline solution equalled a third of the bulk 
of the mixture. In C and D only about half of the salt was dis- 
solved, whilst in E the salt was merely rendered pasty. 
