12 
ON  A  STILL  FOR  APOTHECARIES. 
grows  lighter  by  standing.  This  reaction  is  best  shown  by 
adding  a  minute  fragment  of  nitrate  of  potassa  to  the  solution 
of  berberina  in  sulphuric  acid,  when  the  rich  mulberry  color 
is  instantly  developed. 
When  a  particle  of  bichromate  of  potassa  is  employed,  the 
color  is  much  darker,  almost  purplish-black  and  remains  so  for 
some  time.  The  saturated  aqueous  solution  yields  beautiful 
crystalline  precipitates,  with  diluted  nitric,  muriatic,  and  sul- 
phuric acids,  but  not  with  phosphoric  acetic,  citric,  or  tartaric 
acids.  Aqueous  iodine  renders  it  opaque,  and  affords  a  brown 
precipitate;  tannic  acid  and  iodohydrargyrate  of  potassium, 
each  a  yellow  one. 
Both  the  watery  and  alcoholic  solutions  have  a  strong  bitter 
taste.  The  existence  of  berberina  in  several  of  the  natural 
orders  of  plants  is  quite  remarkable,  and  suggests  to  Mr.  Perrins 
that  it  probably  possesses  more  valuable  properties  as  a  medi- 
cine than  have  yet  been  accorded  to  it. 
ON  A  STILL  FOR  APOTHECARIES. 
By  William,  Procter,  Jr. 
At  the  meeting  of  our  Association  in  1862  the  following 
question  was  proposed  and  accepted  :  "  What  is  the  best  form 
and  material  for  a  still  for  use  by  pharmaceutists,  of  from  two 
to  four  gallons  capacity,  appropriate  for  being  heated  by  gas 
or  stove  heat,  and  which  shall  be  suitable  for  the  recovery  of 
alcohol  in  making  pharmaceutical  preparations." 
In  replying  to  this  query,  I  will  reverse  the  order  and  speak 
of  the  material  first.  Tinned  copper  is,  by  far,  the  best  mate- 
rial for  a  still,  lasting  much  longer  and  capable,  by  retinning, 
of  being  frequently  restored  to  its  original  condition ;  but  owing 
to  the  high  price  of  copper,  the  cost  forms  an  objection  that  would 
prevent  the  general  use  of  the  apparatus.  Tinned  iron  is,  there- 
fore, the  material  here  suggested,  which,  with  due  care,  will  last 
a  long  time  for  liquids  which  do  not  attack  the  metal.  The 
strongest  objection  to  it  is,  perhaps,  the  fact  that  astringent  solu- 
tions gradually  work  their  way  through  the  imperfections  of 
the  tinned  surface,  and  are  blackened  by  contact  with  the  iron 
