212       ON  CITRINE  OINTMENT  MADE  WITH  BEAR'S  OIL. 
The  activity  of  the  plant  appears  to  reside  in  an  alkaline 
principle  which  is  analogous  if  not  identical  with  conia,  as  when 
the  seeds  are  rubbed  with  liquor  potassse,  the  peculiar  mousey 
odor  of  conia  is  exhaled,  and  a  rod  moistened  with  hydrochloric 
acid,  brought  near,  causes  white  vapors.  The  author  subjected 
the  ground  seeds  of  water  hemlock  to  distillation  with  caustic 
potassae  by  Geiger's  process,  neutralized  the  distilled  alkaline 
liquid  with  sulphuric  acid,  evaporated  the  liquid  to  a  syrupy 
consistence,  and  added  anhydrous  alcohol  so  long  as  sulphate 
of  ammonia  was  afforded,  which  was  separated  by  filtration. 
The  alcohol  was  now  distilled  off,  and  the  residue  mixed  with 
a  solution  of  caustic  potassse,  and  distilled  anew.  A  yellowish 
oily  matter  passed  over  with  the  water  and  floated  on  its  surface. 
During  the  process  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  plant  was  copious- 
ly evolved.  The  amount  yielded  by  one  pound  of  the  seeds  was 
somewhat  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  drachm.  It  is  very  slightly 
soluble  in  water,  but  readily  in  alcohol  and  ether  ;  and  it  red- 
dens turmeric  paper  and  neutralizes  acids. 
The  medical  properties  of  Phellandrium  seeds  are  stated  to  be 
aperient,  diuretic,  emmenagogue,  expectorant,  sedative,  and 
narcotic.  In  over  doses  it  produces  intoxication  and  other  nar- 
cotic effects.  It  has  been  used  with  signal  success  in  chronic 
pectoral  affections,  as  asthma,  bronchitis  and  pulmonary  con- 
sumption.   Dose  from  three  to  five  grains  in  substance.* 
ON  CITEINE  OINTMENT  MADE  WITH  BEAR'S  OIL. 
Br  William  Prior  Creecy, 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy: 
Bear  Sir, — I  send  you  with  this  letter  a  specimen  of  Citrine 
Ointment,  in  which  the  neatsfoot  oil  and  lard  is  substituted  by- 
bear's  oil.  I  am  under  the  impression  that  it  is  much  less  liable 
to  change,  and  is  fully  as  economical  as  the  formula  now  officinal 
in  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  Bear's  oil  can  be  furnished  in 
Philadelphia  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  two  dollars  a  gallon,  and 
*M.  Hutet  [Dorvault's  Officine,  page  452]  states  that  he  obtained  a  neu- 
tral liquid  from  Phellandrium  by  the  process  for  Cicutin,  which  had  a 
strong  odor  and  was  very  active. — Ed.  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
