23()  A  Xetr  Displacement  Apparatus.  {^""nly'illT"'' 
tical  portion,  a  iiuniber  of  darker  dots  (Fig.  h),  which  when  examined 
through  a  lens  are  seen  to  be  vascular  bundles  in  which  the  openings 
of  the  large  porous  vessels  are  visible,  the  vessels  being  surrounded  by 
a  few  wood  cells  which  give  the  dark  color  to  the  dots.  The  taste  of 
the  root  is  starchy  and  slightly  bitter,  without  subsequent  acridity. 
The  root  breaks  with  ease.  Both  the  niedicago  and  the  belladonna 
contain  starch,  the  grains  being  much  larger  and  more  muller-shaped 
in  belladonna,  and  forming  sometimes  duplex  or  triple  granules; 
other  granules  a2)pear  circular  or  oblong  oval,  according  to  their  posi- 
tion. In  medicago  the  starch  grains  are  somewhat  similar,  but  smaller. 
There  are  also  present  in  the  latter  root  a  number  of  linear-oval  grains, 
presenting  a  well  marked  linear  hilum.  There  is  much  less  starch  in 
the  root  than  in  belladonna,  and  the  iodine  test  therefore  gives  a 
€omparatively  faint  reaction.  Neither  root  appears  to  contain  tannin. 
The  best  marks  by  which  to  distinguish  the  medicago  root  therefore 
are  the  radiated  structure  of  the  meditullium,  its  woody  character,  and 
consequent  resistance  when  an  attempt  is  made  to  fracture  it. 
It  may  be  added  that  the  root  was  of  German  origin,  and  that 
those  who  wish  for  genuine  root  would  do  wisely  to  order  the 
English  grown  drug,  which  is  collected  and  prepared  with  more  care. — 
Farm.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  March  H,  1882. 
A  NEW  DISPLACEMENT  APPARATUS. 
By  E.  F.  Fairthorne,  Ph.G. 
A  somewhat  novel  and  in  some  respects  apparently  very  useful  per- 
colator has  been  brought  to  my  notice,  together  with  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  employed,  and  some  articles  produced  by  using  the  same, 
that  possess  properties  showing  that  they  were  well  made ;  in  fact, 
some  of  the  fluid  extracts  were  not  only  fair,  but  unusually  good,  and 
for  this  reason  I  thought  that  a  description  of  the  percolator  and  of 
the  manner  in  which  it  is  used  might  be  as  acceptable  to  others  as  it  was 
to  me.  By  referring  to  the  annexed  cut  the  use  of  each  part  will 
easily  be  understood.  The  shape  of  the  percolator  differs  somewhat 
from  the  usual  form,  being  to  some  extent  egg-shaped,  and  articles 
packed  in  it  are  not  so  liable  to  become  so  compressed  as  to  impede 
percolation,  as  is  sometimes  the  ease  when  the  ordinary  form  of  dis- 
placer  is  used  which  more  nearly  approaches  the  cylindrical  form.  The 
cover  B,  which  is  hemispherical  in  shape,  is  fastened  unto  the  body  A 
