26 
Oil  of  Hempseed. 
{Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
Jan.,  1878. 
Since  the  above  was  in  the  hands  of  the  publishers,  we  note  a  case 
of  arsenical  poisoning  successfully  treated  by  the  administration  of  solu- 
tion of  dialyzed  iron  alone,  as  reported  in  the  Philadelphia  u  Medical 
Times,"  Dec.  8th,  pp.  104,  105.  The  patient,  a  young  lady  of  nor- 
mal health,  inadvertently  swallowed  a  considerable  quantity  of  arsenic,, 
which  had  became  by  accident  mixed  with  some  confectionery,  and 
when  the  attending  physician  saw  her  she  presented  the  symptoms  of 
poisoning  in  a  well  marked  degree.  Solution  of  dialyzed  iron  was 
administered  with  prompt  relief,  yet,  strange  to  say,  this  was  not  fol- 
lowed by  an  emetic,  but  the  use  of  the  dialyzed  iron,  continued  in  doses 
of  2  fluidrachms,  largely  diluted  with  water.  The  doctor  notes  the 
recovery  of  the  patient. 
The  occurrence  of  this  case  and  the  treatment  pursued,  while  suc- 
cessful, does  not  convince  us  that  it  would  in  a  similar  case  be  at  all 
proper  or  justifiable  to  rely  entirely  on  the  solution  of  dialyzed  iron  as 
an  efficient  antidote,  if  not  followed  by  the  free  use  of  sodium  chloride  ^ 
as  we  contend  that  where  any  doubt  exists  the  patient  should  have  the 
benefit  of  it,  and,  through  the  exhibition  of  other  remedies,  so  multiply 
the  chances  of  escape  that  death  should  ensue  only  from  neglect  of  these, 
Philadelphia,  12th  mo.  15th,  1877. 
ON  OIL  OF  HEMPSEED. 
By  H.  Betz. 
{Read  at  the  Alumni  Meeting,  December  7.) 
This  oil  is  obtained  from  the  fruit  of  Cannabis  sativa  by  expression. 
By  means  of  a  hydraulic  press,  and  2,000  pounds  to  the  square  inch,  a 
good  commercial  quality  of  hempsed  yields  from  15  to  18  per  cent.,, 
though  according  to  some  statements  24  to  30  per  cent,  can  be  obtained. 
Oil  of  hempseed  has  a  peculiar  hemp  odor,  a  sweetish,  mild,  oleagin- 
ous taste,  deep-green  color,  and,  if  held  before  a  flame,  shows  the 
complementary  hue  scarlet,  if  the  column  has  fifteen  sixteenths  of  an 
inch  or  more  in  diameter  ;  at  thirteen-sixteenths,  it  is  red  with  a  yellow- 
ish shade  ;  at  twelve-sixteenths,  yellow  ;  at  ten-sixteenths,  yellow  with 
a  greenish  tinge  ;  at  eight-sixteenths,  green  with  a  yellowish  shade,, 
and  at  six-sixteenths  and  below  it  has  lost  this  power  of  dichroism. 
The  specific  gravity  is  C9319,  it  boils  at  550°F.,  and  from  1800 
gives  off  very  disagreeable  and  irritating  fumes.    At  5°F.  it  acquires  a 
