586 
Abstract  of  Papers. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1877. 
cess,  except  that  digestion  with  alcohol  was  found  to  be  advantageous. 
The  root  contains  also  resin,  starch  and  sugar,  and  yielded  two  and  one-, 
half  per  cent,  of  ashes,  in  which  the  same  bases  were  found  as  in  the 
ashes  of  the  leaves. 
ABSTRACT  OF  PAPERS 
Read  at  the  fune  and  October  meetings  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the 
New  York  College  of  Pharmacy. 
Examination  of  Water  from  a  Well  near  Wichita,  Kan, 
By  J.  W.  Ballard,  Davenport,  Iowa. — The  water  was  perfectly 
clear  and  not  unpleasant  to  the  taste.  On  evaporation  to  one-half  its  vol- 
ume no  precipitate  appeared.  A  portion  was  mixed  with  hydrochloric 
acid  and  chloride  of  barium,  resulting  in  a  white  precipitate,  indicating 
sulphuric  acid.  Chloride  ammonium,  ammonia  and  oxalate  of  ammo- 
nium produced  a  dense  white  precipitate,  indicating  lime.  The  water 
was  now  freed  from  lime  by  precipitation  and  filtration,  and  ammonia 
and  phosphate  of  sodium  added  ;  a  white  precipitate  occurred,  indi- 
cating magnesia.  Search  for  the  other  elements  failed  to  detect  more 
than  a  mere  trace,  therefore  the  writer  reported  the  water  to  contain 
the  sulphates  of  calcium  and  magnesium.  On  evaporating  to  dryness,, 
the  amount  of  mineral  matter  was  112  grains  to  the  gallon. 
The  owner  of  the  well  then  reported  the  following  facts  in  regard 
to  it :  Water  dipped  from  the  surface  of  the  well  with  a  bucket  (the 
well  contained  17  feet  of  water)  produced  no  sensible  effect  on  the 
system  ;  that  obtained  from  the  bottom  by  a  pump,  if  used  freely — as  a 
laboring  man  would  in  the  warm  season — produced  griping  and  purging. 
A  moderate  use  of  the  water  seemed  to  be  beneficial,  as  the  owner  had 
formerly  been  troubled  with  bilious  attacks,  etc.,  and  now  enjoyed 
excellent  health,  which  he  attributed  to  the  use  of  the  water.  He  was 
formerly  much  troubled  with  constipation,  but  now  had  regular  habits. 
Note. — An  examination  for  the  possible  presence  of  organic  matter 
in  the  water  appears  not  to  have  been  made. — Ed.  Am.  Jour.  Phar. 
The  Granulated  White  Sugars  of  the  Market.  By  Edward 
W.  Runyon,  New  York. — It  was  found  on  comparison  that  the  sev- 
eral brands  of  supposed  A  No.  I  granulaed  sugars  of  the  market  pro- 
duced syrups  of  different  tints,  which  suggested  an  examination  of 
their  quality. 
