214 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
On  Sulphurous  Powder.  By  Marcellin  Pouillet. — The 
formula  of  the  Codex  for  the  preparation  of  artificial  sul- 
phurous waters  for  drinking,  is  really  inefficient  and  badly 
studied.  The  Academy  of  Medicine,  on  the  report  of  M  Robinet, 
lias  adopted  the  following  formula,  due  to  the  researches  of  M. 
Marcellin  Pouillet,  which  attains  the  triple  object  of  a  good 
preparation,  keeping  perfectly  well  and  economical. 
Sulphuret  of  Calcium,  Sulphate  of  Potassa, 
Bi  carbonate  of  Soda,  Gum  Arabic, 
Sulphate  of  Soda,  Acid  Tartaric, 
Equal  parts  of  these  substances,  well  dried,  are  reduced  to 
powder  and  mi^^ed. 
Fifty  centigrammes  (7f  grs.)  dissolved  cold  in  a  litre  (2Jth 
pints)  of  water,  gives,  after  standing  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  a 
sulphurous  waier,  which  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  from  the 
natural  sulphurous  waters. 
The  reaction  which  occurs  between  the  different  elements  of 
this  powder  is  easily  understood.  Tartaric  acid  and  bi-carbonate 
of  soda  produce  carbonic  acid  ;  and  this  acid,  in  the  presence  of 
sulphuret  of  calcium,  gives  rise  to  a  disengagement  of  sulphur- 
etted hydrogen  gas,  which  is  dissolved  by  the  liquid.  As  all  the 
sulphuret  of  calcium  is  decomposed,  it  results  that  the  water  is 
always  identical  when  that  compound  is  pure,  and  this  is  a 
condition  essential  to  a  good  preparation. 
The  trials  made  by  MM.  Bazin,  Cazenave,  and  Richet  have 
given  the  most  satisfactory  results,  and  M.  Bouchardat  him- 
self has  prescribed  with  advantage  this  sulphurous  powder. — 
Repertoire  de  Pharm.  Feb.  1861. 
On  Bichloride  of  Tin  as  a  Solvent.  By  W.  Gerardin. — The 
solvent  properties  of  bichloride  of  tin  present  many  analogies 
with  those  of  bisulphuret  of  carbon.  It  dissolves  very  nearly 
the  same  bodies,  but  in  less  proportions.  At  its  boiling  tempera- 
ture it  dissolves  considerable  quantities  of  octohedral  sulphur, 
iodine  and  ordinary  phosphorus.  By  cooling,  the  sulphur  and 
iodine  are  deposited  in  beautiful  crystals.  The  phosphorus  sep- 
arates in  a  liquid  state,  and  solidifies  without  crystallizing.  It 
dissolves  amorphous  sulphur  after  prolonged  ebullition  ;  the  crys- 
tals which  form  by  cooling,  are  octohedral  ;  red  phosphorus  is 
