Aj1unJeOU?'9^7iarm' ^       ^n  Interesting  Prescription.  253 
From  a  study  of  other  subdivisions  of  medicines  these  variations, 
considering  the  character  of  the  article,  are  reasonable. 
Second,  chemical  reactions.  There  appeared  to  be  no  reaction 
at  the  time  the  material  was  received,  nor  at  the  end  of  two  years. 
In  discussing  this  matter  with  the  prescribing  physician  he  stated  in 
substance  that  this  mixture  enabled  him  to  give  very  large  doses,  as 
large  as  2  grains  of  the  mercuric  chloride,  without  any  untoward 
effects.  He  considered  this  a  very  important  observation  in  that  it 
may  be  possible  by  this  mixture  to  inhibit  undesirable  intestinal  fer- 
mentation. It  was  suggested  that  possibly  the  mercury  may  be  con- 
verted into  an  insoluble  sulphide,  thus  rendering  it  inert,  but  no 
information  on  this  point  has  been  found. 
Third,  method  of  analysis.  It  can  readily  be  seen  that  the  large 
amounts  of  sulphur  and  cocoa  butter  would  tend  to  make  the  deter- 
mination of  the  mercuric  compound  rather  difficult.  Neither  in- 
cineration nor  sublimation  was  possible.  A  little  experimentation 
showed  that  petroleum  ether  dissolved  the  sulphur  and  cocoa  butter 
and  practically  none  of  the  mercuric  chloride.  The  method  used  for 
estimating  the  mercury  compound  was  as  follows : 
A  number  of  pills,  accurately  weighed,  were  introduced  into  a 
beaker,  a  sufficient  amount  of  petroleum  benzin  was  added  to  com- 
pletely disintegrate  the  pills  and  dissolve  the  greater  portion  thereof  ; 
the  mixture  was  then  transferred  to  a  separatory  funnel,  the  beaker 
rinsed  with  several  successive  portions  of  the  benzin  and  transferred 
to  the  above  separatory  funnel.  The  benzin  mixture  was  then 
treated  with  several  successive  portions  of  water,  acidulated  with 
hydrochloric  acid,  the  successive  aqueous  portions  transferred  to  a 
beaker  through  a  funnel,  in  the  throat  of  which  a  pledget  of  cotton 
was  lodged.  After  the  benzin  solution  was  completely  extracted  with 
the  acidulated  watery  solution  and  the  latter  transferred  to  the 
beaker,  the  mercury  was  precipitated  with  gaseous  hydrogen  sul- 
phide. The  mercuric  sulphide  obtained  was  transferred  to  a  weighed 
Gooch  crucible  provided  with  a  suitably  prepared  filter,  the  precipi- 
tate washed  with  water,  then  with  alcohol,  and  finally  with  ether  to 
dissolve  any  free  sulphur.  The  crucible  and  contents  were  then 
dried  to  constant  weight  at  no°  C.  in  a  hot  air  oven  and  the  weight 
determined.  From  the  data  available  the  amount  of  mercuric  chlo- 
ride was  calculated.  The  amount  found  was  somewhat  less  than 
called  for  by  the  prescription.  The  pharmacist  apparently  endeav- 
ored to  lean  on  the  side  of  safety  in  filling  an  order  calling  for  so 
potent  a  poison  to  be  taken  internally. 
