248 
ON  PILULiE. 
point.  From  such  a  solution,  as  it  cools,  crystalline  flakes 
separate.  By  cooling  it  very  slowly,  larger  crystals  may  be 
procured,  which  when  dried  have  a  pearly  lustre.  A  second 
crystallization  gives  them  a  dazzling  whiteness.  From  a  solu- 
tion of  this  salt  in  hot  potash  water,  hydrochloric  acid  separates 
the  resin.  Immediately  after  the  decomposition,  the  resin  is 
fawn  colored,  soft,  and  sticky;  it  is  washed  with  water,  dissolved 
in  alcohol,  and  the  solution  is  allowed  to  evaporate  spontaneously. 
By  degrees  it  crystallizes  completely.  The  crystals  appear 
scaly,  or  are  aggregated  together,  have  a  pearly  lustre,  and  a 
slight  but  most  agreeable  smell  like  vanilla. 
They  dissolve  in  ether,  warm  acetic  acid,  and  dilute  potash 
ley,  but  are  insoluble  even  in  warm  ammonia  water.  Sulphuric 
acid  dissolves  them,  acquiring  a  purple  color.  Chloride  of 
acetyl  gives  a  substitution  product,  which  may  be  obtained  from 
an  alcoholic  solution  in  granular  crystals. 
It  should  be  remarked  that  with  this  ingredient  the  blue 
reaction  of  tincture  of  guaiacum  with  oxidisable  substances  is  not 
obtained. 
,  From  a  mixture  of  the  solution  of  the  crystallised  resin  with 
a  spirituous  solution  of  soda,  a  soda  salt  is  precipitated,  which 
may  be  purified  like  the  potash  salt. — Annal.  der  Chem.  und 
Ph.,  and  Chem.  News,  Feb.  25,  1860. 
ON  PILULJS. 
By  Mr.  B.  S.  Proctor. 
In  my  communication  upon  some  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  pre- 
parations, printed  in  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  for  July  last, 
I  suggested  one  or  two  alterations  in  our  pilulse. 
Though  you  have  since  then  had  several  contributions  on  the 
same  subject  from  other  sources,  there  is  much  yet  to  be  done. 
I  therefore  now  offer  another  mite  towards  its  accomplishment. 
Some  of  my  present  suggestions  are  in  direct  opposition  to  some 
of  those  recently  made,  and  my  object  in  bringing  them  forward 
is  not  to  supersede  the  recommendations  of  others,  but  to  notice 
one  or  two  considerations  which  appear  to  have  escaped  their 
notice,  and  to  show  the  necessity  of  attending  to  the  wants  of  all 
