Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
June,  1882.  J 
Practical  Notes. 
307 
Tised  no  longer  gives  a  residue  upon  evaporation.  This  salicylate, 
which  is  of  the  color  of  whey  when  just  treated  with  ether,  has  a 
slightly  greenish-gray  color  when  it  has  been  dried  at  100°C.  It  is 
blackened  by  alkalies,  turns  green  with  iodide  of  potassium,  and  gives 
mercurous  chloride  with  hydrochloric  acid. — Phar,  Jour,  and  Trans. ^ 
March  18,  1882.  . 
PRACTICAL  NOTES  FROM  VARIOUS  SOURCES. 
By  the  Editor. 
Preservation  of  Ferrous  Sulphate. — The  observation  of  Johanson 
<see  "Amer,  Jour,  of  Phar.,''  1882,  p.  74),  that  crystallized  ferrous 
:sulphate  keeps  best  in  not  hermetically  closed  vessels  is  explained 
by  W.  Rietzel,  as  being  the  result  of  adhering  moisture.  The  crystals 
of  this  salt,  and  notably  that  obtained  by  precipitation  with  alcohol, 
if  thoroughly  dried,  keep  very  well  in  a  diy  atmosphere  and  in  closed 
vessels,  but  not  in  moist  air,  when  hydrogen  dioxide  is  formed  and  the 
oxidation  of  the  salt  facilitated.  Ferrous  sulphate  containing  6  II2O 
is  not  oxidized  in  contact  with  air. — Phar.  Centralhalle,  1882,  p.  130. 
Preservation  of  Tannate  of  Lead. — This  compound,  prepared  accord- 
ing to  the  German  Pharmacopoeia,  in  a  short  time  acquires  an  acetous 
•odor  in  consequence  of  the  oxidation  of  the  alcohol.  If,  however,  the 
latter  is  re[)laced  by  an  equal  quantity  of  glycerin,  the  gelatinous  tan- 
nate keeps  very  well  and  may  even  easily  be  mixed  with  lard  or  with 
cerate. — Jour.  Phar.  d^ Alsace- Lor r.,  March,  1882,  p.  50. 
Nutrient  Suppositories. — Mr.  H.  E.  Spencer,  L.R.C.P.E.,  commu- 
nicates the  following  to  the    Practitioner  : 
Artificially-digested  meat  is  mixed  with  a  little  wax  and  starch,  and 
made  into  a  suppository.  These  suppositories  are  of  such  a  size  that 
the  digested  and  extracted  product  of  twenty  ounces  of  meat  from 
which  the  insoluble  matter  is  removed  is  contained  in  about  five  sup- 
positories. The  convenience  of  this  method  is  very  great.  It  is  easv 
for  most  patients  to  introduce  them  themselves,  and  their  use  is 
.attended  with  no  discomfort  whatever  in  the  majority  of  cases.  After 
an  hour  or  two  the  waxy  basis  is  frequently  returned,  the  peptone  and 
extractive  being  absorbed.  In  some  few  cases,  owing  to  irritability  of 
the  rectum,  the  whole  suppository  has  returned  ;  but  this  can  be  obvi- 
ated by  the  addition  of  a  little  opium  to  each  suppository.  Amer, 
Pract,  April,  1882.  p.  227. 
