Crle(nutif/s  1)1  Materia  Medica. 
f  Aui..)(jur.  I'liarm. 
\      Jan.,  I8S2. 
residents  and  natives  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State  regard  it  as  a 
ourative  in  rhiis  poisoning,  and  also  as  highly  beneficial  in  certain 
pulmonary  disorders.  For  the  former  purpose  it  is  used  externally  in 
the  form  of  decoction.  The  root  is  preferred  for  internal  use,  and  is 
highly  valued  in  cough  and  pulmonary  consumption.  Judging  from 
the  active  sensible  properties  of  the  plant,  we  think  it  worthy  of 
investigation.  Its  anti-rhus  reputation  is  probably  due  to  the  fact 
that  a  thorough  washing  of  the  skin  with  warm  water  alone  soon  after 
<3ontact  with  the  j)oison  or  at  the  first  appearance  of  the  effect,  will 
very  generally  prevent  or  cure,  the  efficacy  of  the  ^vashing  being 
enhanced  by  alkaline  or  saponaceous  fomentations,  and  very  probably 
by  impregnating  the  liquid  with  herbs  of  various  kinds. — Pacific 
Med.  and  Surg.  Journ.,  Sept.,  1881. 
Oil  of  Erif/eron  canadense. — American  oil  of  peppermint  is  fre- 
quently colored  and  of  inferior  quality,  Avhich  is  due  to  the  growth  of 
Canada  erigeron  in  the  American  peppermint  plantations.  With  the 
view  of  detecting  the  presence  of  oil  of  erigeron  in  oil  of  peppermint,  , 
Fevd.  Yigier  and  Chas.  Cloez  have  prepared  the  former  from  plants 
grown  near  Paris,  and  obtained  from  the  fresh  herb  0'7  per  cent.,  and 
from  the  root  and  crown  0*4  per  cent,  of  oil.  Fresh  peppermint 
yields  only  between  0"05  and  0"15  per  cent,  of  oil. 
Oil  of  erigeron  is  of  a  yellow  color,  of  a  weedy  odor  and  of  an  acrid 
burning  taste,  and  in  contact  with  the  air  oxidizes  rapidly,  producing 
ii  red-brown  deposit,  resembling  in  odor  that  of  oxidized  oil  of  orange 
(Portugal).  Most  of  the  oil  distils  between  175°  and  177°C.  Recti- 
fied at  177°  the  oil  is  colorless,  very  mobile,  of  a  peculiar  strong  odor, 
does  not  stain  paper  permanently,  is  not  inflammable  directly,  but 
thrown  upon  burning  charcoal  burns  with  a  sooty  flame.  It  is  insolu- 
ble in  85  per  cent,  alcohol,  has  at  10°C.  a  density  of  '848,  a  rotating 
power  of  -|-1(3'15°  and  the  elementary  composition  of  oil  of  turpentine, 
(CjH^)^.  Dry  hydrochloric  acid  gas  yields  with  it  a  crystalline  com- 
pound containing  52'51  per  cent.  HGl.  No  liquid  compound  is  formed. 
Nitric  acid  reacts  violently  with  oil  of  turpentine,  the  elevation  of 
temperature  being  slight,  producing  a  yellowish  viscous  resin,  which 
is  soluble  in  potassa  with  a  dark  red  color  and  with  the  formation  of 
potassium  oxalate.  Sulphuric  acid  colors  the  oil  black,  but  the  mix- 
ture does  not  completely  solidify.  The  oil  does  not  explode  with 
iodine,  and  is  not  colored  by  chloral  hydrate  until  a  drop  of  hydro- 
