320  GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
O71  Wadding  from  Asclepias  Syriaca^  by  M.  Basiner  It  has 
been  frequently  suggested  that  the  silky  appendage  of  the  seed 
of  this  plant  should  be  utilized  by  association  with  silk,  linen  or 
cotton,  but  heretofore  the  results  have  not  proved  to  be  import- 
ant. Recently,  MM.  Piroschkoff  and  Hartmann,  (of  Kiew,) 
have  employed  the  fibres  of  the  liber  of  the  same  plant  by  a 
peculiar  process,  so  as  to  resemble  closely  the  cotton  fibre,  and 
they  propose  to  cultivate  it  on  a  large  scale.  M.  Basiner  made 
a  comparative  microscopic  examination  of  the  silky  fibres  of 
Asclepias  and  those  of  cotton,  and  finds  them  very  analogous  in 
their  structure,  but  says  they  can  be  distinguished  under  the 
microscope  by  the  disintegrating  action  of  the  ammoniacal  oxide 
of  copper  of  Schweizer,  which  is  more  apparent  on  the  layers  of 
cotton  than  on  those  of  the  former. — Repertoire  de  Pharm, 
Glycerole  of  Chlorate  of  JPotassa,  by  M.  Martinet. 
Take  of  Chlorate  of  Potassa,  10  grammes. 
Pure  Glycerin  100  grammes. 
Dissolve  the  salt  in  the  glycerin.  This  mixture  possesses  dis- 
infectant properties  very  marked. 
Another  advantage  of  this  glycerole  is  that  of  removing  the 
portions  of  dressing  adherent  to  the  sides  of  wounds.  M.  Mar- 
tinet asserts  that  the  glycerole  of  chlorate  of  potassa  does  not 
excite  or  redden  old  sores  or  recent  wounds. 
It  has  been  stated  that  about  one-tenth  of.  the  chlorate  re- 
mains undissolved. — Jour,  de  Chim,  Med.,  June,  1861. 
Glycerole  of  Oil  of  Mustard,  by  M.  GrimauU. 
Take  of  Pure  Glycerin,  13  drachms. 
Starch,  20  drachms. 
Volatile  oil  of  Mustard  80  drops. 
Mix  them. 
This  preparation  affords  a  sinapism  always  ready  for  use. 
[The  high  price  of  the  volatile  oil  is  an  obstacle  to  the  general 
use  of  this  recipe,  yet  for  travellers  liable  to  need  this  remedy, 
it  is  an  elegant  and  convenient  form  of  applying  mustard.]— 
Jour,  de  CJiim.  Med.,  June,  1861. 
Syrup  of  Santonin, — The  frequent  employment  of  santonin 
