VARIETIES. 
381 
jelly.  It  may  be  applied  in  the  same  manner  as  the  above,  but  does  not 
require  to  be  warmed, —  The  Druggist. 
Method  of  Preserving  Cut  Flowers. — Most  persons  are  fond  of  preserving 
bouquets  of  natural  flowers.  Many  methods  of  preservation  have  been  pro- 
posed, but  they  have  all  more  or  less  failed  ;  the  vt^ater  in  which  they  are 
placed  becomes  tainted,  and  is  obliged  to  be  changed  at  least  once  or 
twice  a  day,  but  even  then  the  decay  of  the  flowers,  which  begins  very 
aoon  after  their  separation  from  the  plant,  is  not  materially  prevented.  The 
following  method,  which  has  completely  succeeded,  consists  in  putting  a 
table-spoonful  of  powdered  charcoal  into  the  vase  which  contains  the  water 
destined  to  receive  the  flower  or  cut  spray,  and  carefully  placing  the  latter 
30  that  their  lower  extremities  are  beneath  the  liquid.  This  method  has 
produced  the  most  favorable  results,  for  flowers  may  be  thus  preserved 
without  any  visible  alteration — at  least  as  long  a  time  as  in  their  natural 
condition — without  the  necessity  of  renewing  the  water  or  the  charcoal. — 
London  Fharm.  Journ.  May  1,  1861,  from  Memorial  des  Pyrenees,  and 
Jouimal  de  Chimie  Medicale. 
Cam-phor  in  Powder  and  Ointment. — Camphor  may  be  very  easily  powdered 
by  contusion  in  a  large  marble  mortar,  adding  a  small  quantity  of  water, 
and  passing  it  through  a  hair  or  silk  sieve,  according  to  the  degree  of  fine- 
ness required.  When  powdered  in  this  manner,  the  camphor  never  runs 
into  lumps  even  when  kept  a  long  time.  To  make  a  good  ointment:  — 
Three  parts  of  camphor  so  pulverized  should  be  melted  by  aid  of  a  bath  in 
twelve  parts  of  prepared  lard  ;  and  the  mixture,  as  soon  as  it  begins  to  be 
a  little  cold,  should  be  stirred  from  time  to  time  until  it  entirely  sets — thus 
preventing  the  granular  crystallization  always  observed  in  ointments  which 
.are  allowed  to  set  without  stirring.  This  ointment  preserves  its  smoothness 
and  consistence  for  a  year  after  its  preparation. — London  Pharm.  Journ, 
July,  lS&l,frojn  Journal  de  Chimie  3Ied. 
Tar  and  Copaiba. — M.  Ricord  has  lately  combined  tar  with  copaiba  in 
the  treatment  of  gonorrhoea,  this  combination  having  been  proposed  by  a 
pharmaceutical  chemist  to  the  Academy  of '  Medicine.  These  substances 
are  said  to  neutralize  each  other's  noxious  tastes,  and  the  combination 
seems  to  prevent  the  sometimes  unpleasant  effects  of  the  copaiba.  The 
compound  is  administered  in  the  form  of  capsules.  Take  4  lb.  7  oz.  of 
copaiba,  7  oz.  of  Norwegian  tar,  and  5  oz.  of  calcined  magnesia,  to  make 
4000  capsules.  Dose  15  capsules  per  diem.  The  same  surgeon  also  com- 
bines the  copaiba  with  pepsine  and  bismuth,  to  prevent  the  drastic  effects 
of  the  balsam.  Take  5  lb.  7  oz.  of  copaiba,  1  lb.  3  oz.  of  neutral  pepsine, 
4  oz.  of  trisnitrate  of  bismuth,  and  6  oz.  of  calcined  magnesia,  to  make 
0000  capsules.    Dose,  from  15  to  18  per  d'lem.^Med.  News. 
