\ 
AmJ^l0y,ri8f^arm,}    Irish  Moss  a  Substitute  for  Acacia.  361 
Comparing  the  moss  mucilage  with  acacia  mucilage  in  combinations, 
I  find  that  it  serves  as  well  as  the  latter  for  chalk  mixture.  Guaiac. 
mixture  made  with  it  does  not  soon  acquire  a  greenish  tinge  as  that 
made  with  acacia  :  oxidation  appears  to  be  retarded  and  presumably 
the  moss  is  therefore  to  be  preferred.  For  suspending  copaiba  it  is 
superior  to  acacia,  separation  taking  placs  much  more  slowly  and  less 
completely.  Part  of  the  copaiba  remains  in  an  emulsified  state  at  the 
bottom  of  the  bottle  when  moss  is  used,  but  with  acacia  the  liquid  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  bottle  is  free  from  anything  of  that  kind,  all  the 
oleoresin  having  risen  to  the  top. 
For  emulsifying  cod  liver  oil  it  is  greatly  superior  to  acacia  in  point 
of  preventing  separation,  but  a  finer  division  of  the  oil  can  be  obtained 
by  the  use  of  acacia  in  greater  proportion  than  the  equivalent. 
Moss  mucilage,  5vj.,  cod  liver  oil,  5j.,  and  water  oij.,  produce  an 
emulsion  that  is  practicably  inseparable.  Using  5vj.  acacia  mucilage, 
oj.  cod  liver  oil,  and  oij.  water,  the  product  obtained  quickly  separates. 
It  should  not  be  used  for  suspending  heavy  powders  without  some 
caution,  for  I  find  that  when  it  is  employed  to  suspend  subnitrate  of 
bismuth,  the  bismuth  when  once  it  settles  down  will  not  again  shake 
up.  Where  there  is  no  objection  of  this  kind  it  is  superior  to  ordi- 
nary mucilage. 
Specimens  are  shown  illustrative  of  the  results  of  these  comparative 
experiments. 
In  regard  to  compatibility  moss  mucilage  forms  a  clear  jelly  with 
subacetate  of  lead  solution  ;  it  is  miscible  with  rectified  spirit  and  dilute 
nitric  acid ;  perchloride  of  iron  gives  a  slight  gelatinous  precipitate. 
The  preparation  keeps  good  for  some  weeks  in  full  bottles  without 
any  preservative.  One  specimen  is  shown  that  has  been  kept  in  a 
partially  filled  bottle  in  the  front  shop  for  two  months  and  it  can 
hardly  be  said  to  be  bad ;  other  specimens,  however,  of  about  the 
same  age  have  become  mouldy  on  the  top.  It  does  not  sour  like  acacia 
mucilage. 
Pereira  says  that  Chondrus  crispus  has  a  popular  reputation  for 
pulmonary  complaints,  chronic  diarrhoea  and  irritation  of  the  kidneys 
and  bladder.  The  mucilage  strikes  one  as  being  well  suited  for  use 
with  medicines  for  any  of  these  complaints;  a  few  ounces  of  it  in  a 
cough  mixture,  for  example.  It  may  be  used  freely,  for  it  is  readily 
digested — the  melting  point  of  the  jelly  being  80°  P.,  not  much  above 
that  of  isinglass  jelly  used  for  invalids. 
