6 1 2  Varieties.  { Am'DJe°cu; 
A  J  per  cent,  solution  of  sodic  hydrate,  after  digestion  for  six  hours 
at  1040  Fahr.  with  one  gram  of  calomel,  gave  rise  to  six  milligrams 
of  corrosive  sublimate. 
Under  similar  circumstances  a  1  per  cent,  solution  of  sodic  carbonate 
gave  rise  to  4  milligrams,  and  a  1  per  cent,  solution  of  calcined  mag- 
nesia to  3  milligrams  of  mercuric  chloride.  One  gram  each  calcined 
magnesia  and  calomel  were  mixed,  and  at  the  end  of  24  hours  were 
treated  with  distilled  water.  One  milligram  of  sublimate  was  found. 
Lime  acts  like  magnesia.  Neither  carbonate  of  lime  nor  magnesia 
had  the  least  effect  at  the  end  of  six  hours. 
From  these  experiments  the  author  draws  the  conclusion  that  calo- 
mel when  used  therapeutically  must  not  be  mixed  with  inferior  sugars, 
which  are  always  acid  or  alkaline,  nor  with  the  alkaline  chlorides  and 
earths,  solutions  containing  alkaline  hydrates  or  carbonates,  or  mineral 
or  vegetable  acids. —  Chem.  and  Drug.,  Oct.  15,  1877,  from  Gazette 
Medicale. 
V  A  RIETI  E  S. 
The  International  Pharmacopoeia. — In  this  Journal,  1875,  Page  474j  a  short 
account  was  given  of  the  proceedings  of  the  International  Pharmaceutical  Congress 
at  St.  Petersburg,  in  which  it  was  stated  that  a  preliminary  draught  by  Dr.  Mehu 
had  been  distributed  among  the  delegates  for  examination,  correction,  etc.,  said 
draught  to  be  returned  to  the  committee  at  St.  Petersburg  for  further  revision. 
At  the  "  Congres  periodique  international  des  sciences  medicales,"  which  recently 
(Sept.  9-1 5th)  convened  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  H.  P.  Madsen,  from  Copenhagen, 
stated  that  the  International  Pharmacopoeia  had  so  far  progressed  that  it  was  trans- 
lated into  Latin,  and  would  in  a  few  months  be  ready  for  distribution  among  the 
different  pharmaceutical  societies  in  Europe  for  final  revision. 
A  lively  discussion  followed,  which  resulted  in  the  nomination  of  the  following 
committee  of  eight  (four  physicians  and  four  apothecaries) :  Dr.  Pachiotti,  Prof, 
of  Pathology  in  Turin  5  Dr.  Wilkinson,  President  of  the  British  Association  5  Dr. 
Seguin,  New  York;  Dr.  Marion  Sims  ;  Prof.  Gille,  Brussels;  Dr.  Mehu,  Paris  ; 
H.  P.  Madsen,  Copenhagen. — H.  M.  W.,  from  Ny  Pharm.  Tid.,  1877,  p.  321. 
The  Metric  System.— The  Boston  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  have  forwarded 
to  Congress  the  following  memorial : 
To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States,  in 
Congress  assembled — 
The  memorial  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  respectfully  showeth  : 
That  the  incongruous  weights  and  measures  which  have  been  in  general  use  by  this 
nation  since  its  birth  are  inconvenient  in  computation,  ambiguously  named  and 
