462 
VARIETIES. 
Hydrate  of  Magnesia  as  an  Antidote  in  Poisoning. — Schuchardt  represents 
as  the  result  of  his  experiments,  that  hydrate  of  magnesia  is  a  certain 
antidote,  not  only  for  arsenious  acid,  either  in  solution  or  substance,  but 
also  for  corrosive  sublimate,  for  the  salts  of  copper,  and  even,  although  the 
experiments  in  this  respect  are  not  so  satisfactory,  for  the  alkaloids,  such 
as  morphia  and  brucia.  The  hydrate  of  magnesia  may  be  prepared  by 
mixing  slightly  calcined  magnesia  with  water.  In  poisoning  with  arsenious 
acid  the  quantity  of  magnesia  given  as  an  antidote  should  exceed  eight 
times  the  weight  of  the  poison.  For  corrosive  sublimate  the  antidote 
need  not  exceed  five  times  the  weight  of  the  poison. — Pharmaceutical  Jour- 
nal, from  Journal  de  Pharmacie  d'Anvers. 
Poisoning  by  Strychnia. — The  following  case,  which  recently  occurred  in 
the  neighborhood  of  London,  shows  the  importance  of  caution  in  the  mode 
of  ordering  strong  medicines  in  prescriptions,  and  also  the  necessity  of 
attention  to  the  dose  in  dispensing.  It  is  not  necessary  to  mention  the 
names  of  the  parties  concerned.  The  prescription  was  as  follows  : 
|£  Strychnos 
Nucis  Vomici,  Bij. 
Bismuth  Trisnit.,  jiss. 
M.  ft.  pulv.  xxiv. 
The  prescription  was  prepared  twice  or  three  times  at  different  shops  cor- 
rectly, and  produced  no  bad  effect;  but  on  one  occasion  the  young  man  put 
in  strychnia  and  nux  vomica,  of  each  h)ij.  The  patient  took  one  dose,  and 
very  soon  afterwards  complained  of  some  extraordinary  sensations,  and 
almost  immediately  expired.  The  accident  arose  from  the  fact  that  the 
word  strychnos  being  written  on  a  separate  line,  was  considered  by  the  dis- 
penser to  be  another  ingredient,  instead  of  being  as  it  was,  the  generic  title 
of  nux  vomica.  This  would  not  have  misled  a  young  man  qualified  for  his 
business,  who  considered  for  a  moment  the  strength  of  the  dose  he  was  ad- 
ministering; but  all  young  men  not  being  so  qualified  and  considerate, 
care  should  be  taken  in  writing  prescriptions  to  avoid  any  possible  ambi- 
guity.— Pharmaceutical  Journal,  July,  1853. 
On  the  Purification  of  Sulphuric  Acid  from  Nitric  Acid.  By  M,  Pelouze. 
■ — The  fact  that  ammonia  is  capable,  in  virtue  of  the  hydrogen  which  it 
contains,  of  decomposing  the  nitric  acid  and  nitrous  oxide  present  in  sul- 
phuric acid,  may  be  taken  advantage  of.  for  purifying  sulphuric  acid.  These 
substances  frequently  present  in  sulphuric  acid,  are  very  detrimental  in 
some  cases — for  example,  in  dyeing.  By  the  use  of  a  half  per  cent,  of  sul- 
phate of  ammonia,  the  most  impure  acid  may  be  rendered  perfectly  free 
from  these  substances,  and  in  the  generality  of  instances,  from  one  to  two 
thousandths  is  quite  sufficient.  The  salt  should  be  introduced  into  the  lead 
pans  in  which  the  sulphuric  acid  is  concentrated. 
It  is  the  opinion  of  some  that  the  injury  suffered  in  the  platinum  vessels 
