APeJb°uiB;mtRM  }         Liq.  Magnesia  Bisulphitis.  77 
solution,  and,  consequently,  that  the  digestion  of  calomel,  so  far  as  its 
solution  in  artificial  gastric  juice  is  concerned,  is  brought  about  under 
the  same  conditions  as  that  of  the  albuminoids. 
The  importance  of  this  observation  will  become  apparent,  when  it  is 
borne  in  mind  that  it  offers  an  additional  explanation  to  those  already 
published  of  the  manner  in  which  calomel  enters  the  circulation  in 
order  that  it  may  exercise  the  many  therapeutic  actions  with  which  it 
is  accredited.  Whether  or  not  oxide  of  antimony,  sulphide  of  anti- 
mony and  other  so-called  insoluble  remedies,  are  dissolved  by  pepsin 
and  dilute  acid,  is  a  problem  which  remains  to  be  solved.  The  influ- 
ence of  different  acids,  the  chemical  composition  and  characters  of  the 
dissolved  mineral,  and  its  behavior  when  subjected  to  dialysis,  also 
the  action,  if  any,  of  peptones  on  inorganic  bodies,  have  likewise  to 
be  determined  ;  but  these  matters,  together  with  many  others,  will 
form  the  subject  of  future  communications. — Pharm.  Journal  and 
Trans.,  Dec. 23,  1871. 
LIQ.  MAGNESIA  BISULPHITIS,  A  REMEDY  FOR  CARDIALGIA 
(HEARTBURN). 
By  George  Archbold,  D.SC. 
Some  time  ago  a  physician  asked  me  the  question,  "  Do  the  bisul- 
phites prevent  the  butyric  acid  fermentation  ?"  In  order  to  give  him 
an  accurate  answer,  I  promised  to  try  two  experiments.  This  I  did. 
First,  1  proceeded  to  make  butyric  acid  by  fermentation  of  a  mixture 
of  chalk,  cheese,  and  honey  and  water,  and  allowed  the  mixture  to 
stand  for  four  days.  Secondly,  in  another  vessel  I  proceeded  in  the 
same  manner,  using  the  same  ingredients,  with  an  addition  of  bisul- 
phite of  lime  ;  set  it  aside  for  four  days  with  the  first,  keeping  them 
at  a  temperature  of  80°  F.  ;  after  which  I  subjected  each  to  distilla- 
tion with  a  little  H  CL*  From  the  first  I  recovered  a  considerable 
amount  of  butyric  acid,  but  from  the  second  (containing  bisulphite) 
I  did  not  recover  a  trace.  This  at  once  proves  that  the  bisulphites 
do  prevent  butyric  acid  fermentation.  Now  the  object  in  ascertaining 
the  fact  was  that  a  suitable  remedy  for  heartburn  might  be  discovered, 
*  For  the  first  two  days  lactic  acid  is  formed,  which  combines  with  the  lime, 
but  at  the  expiration  of  four  days,  the  lactate  of  lime  is  replaced  by  butyrate  of 
lime,  which  on  being  distilled  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  and  the  distillate 
treated  with  calcium  chloride,  is  dried  into  two  strata,  the  upper  being  butyric 
acid. 
