PHARMACEUTICAL  GLEANINGS. 
211 
the  subject,  that  its  study  becomes  an  intense  and  self-supporting 
pleasure.  Provided  with  a  book-shaped  tin  box,  (or  in  lieu  of 
this,  a  yard  of  oiled  silk  and  a  sheet  of  paper,)  a  lens  and  a  strong 
knife, the  student,  if  a  city  resident,  may  quickly  be  wafted  within 
walking  distance  of  excellent  botanical  localities,  by  the  omnibuses, 
cars  or  ferry  boats,  and  after  spending  an  afternoon  pleasantly  in 
recognizing  and  collecting  plants,  will  return  invigorated  in  health, 
and  loaded  with  specimens  that  will  occupy  the  leisure  of  several 
subsequent  clays  in  their  analysis  and  preservation.  This  practical 
knowledge  is  of  lasting  service  in  the  conducting  of  business. 
With  Gray's,  Eaton's,  or  Mrs.  Lincoln's  Botany  at  his  disposal, 
all  the  important  indigenous  plants  may  be  recognized,  and  once 
well  learned  are  never  forgotten.  It  is  gratifying  to  notice  that 
some  attention  is  granted  to  this  science  in  the  curriculum  of  the 
Philadelphia  and  New  York  schools  of  Pharmacy  ;  but  until  the 
study  is  accompanied  with  practice  in  the  manner  mentioned,  it 
will  be  difficult  to  excite  more  than  a  passing  interest  in  the  lecture 
room.  Trusting  that  this  intrusion  on  your  pages  may  inciden- 
tally benefit  some  of  your  readers,  I  sign  myself,  with  respect, 
A  Pharmaceutist. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  GLEANINGS  FROM  VARIOUS  SOURCES. 
Animated  Balsam  Sulphur. — M.  E.  Robiquet  recommends  that 
this  preparation  should  be  made  by  heating  one  part  of  sulphur  in 
a  flask  to  about  400°  F.  until  it  assumes  the  ductile  condition,  when 
it  is  suddenly  cooled.  Four  parts  of  oil  of  aniseed  is  now  added, 
the  flask  imperfectly  corked,  and  the  two  digested  together  in  a 
water  bath  (boiling)  for  half  an  hour.  After  removal  from  the 
bath  it  is  suffered  to  settle  for  24  hours,  and  when  perfectly  limpid 
decant  it.  Thus  prepared  the  preparation  contains  8  per  cent,  of 
sulphur,  which  is  one-seventh  more  than  that  made  by  the  old  for- 
mula, which  is  due  to  presenting  the  sulphur  in  the  modified  or 
ductile  state. — Journ.  de  Pharm. 
Hydro-alcoholic  Extract  of  Ergot.  By  M.  Stickel. — Displace 
ergot  in  powder  with  its  weight  of  ether  to  remove  the  oil,  dry  the 
residue,  and  digest  it  in  six  times  its  weight  of  water  during  two 
days  at  about  167°  F.    The  aqueous  infusion  is  now  decanted 
