AMjui°yci;  mT' }        Ohili  Saltpeter  Deposits  of  Peru.  319 
cutaneous  irritation,  or  even  produce  a  few  pustules  on  the  skin,  espe- 
cially in  certain  persons.  This  result  may,  however,  be  obviated  by 
the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  olive  oil,  or  purified  lard,  accord- 
ing as  an  oleaginous  or  an  unctuous  preparation  is  required.  Any  of 
these  forms  may  be  scented  by  the  addition  of  essential  oils. 
In  employing  these  mercurial  solutions  for  combating  persistent 
inflammation  of  joints,  Professor  Marshall  soon  found  that  the  addi- 
tion of  morphia  was  of  very  great  advantage.  For  this  purpose  the 
simple  alkaloid  must  be  used,  as  neither  the  hydrochlorate,  the  acetate 
nor  the  meconate  is  soluble  in  oleic  acid.  For  every  drachm  of  the 
solution  of  oleate  of  mercury  in  oleic  acid  one  grain  of  morphia  may 
be  added.  Being,  as  well  as  the  rnercury,  completely  dissolved,  it 
quite  as  rapidly  penetrates  the  skin,  comes  quickly  into  contact  with 
the  extremities  of  the  nerves,  and  thus,  even  within  a  few  minutes, 
acts  upon  them  at  their  most  sensitive  points,  and  speedily  produces 
a  soothing  effect. 
The  oleates  of  mercury  and  morphia,  thus  united  in  one  prepara- 
tion, represent,  as  it  were,  a  liniment,  ointment,  or  plaster  of  mercury 
and  opium  ;  but  they  are  far  more  elegant,  economical  and  efficacious. 
— Pharm.  Journ.,  Lond.,  June  1,  1872. 
THE  CHILI  SALTPETER  DEPOSITS  OF  PERU. 
In  travelling  eastward  through  Peru,  from  the  sea  to  the  Cordille- 
ras, on  the  20th  parallel  of  south  latitude,  seven  zones  are  crossed, 
the  third  of  which,  the  Pampa  of  Tamarugal,  and  the  fifth,  Serrania 
Alta,  or  the  inner  chain  (Upper  Peru,  or  Bolivia),  are  explored  for 
saltpeter.  The  treeless  Pampa,  a  plain  somewhat  depressed  in  the 
center,  has  a  very  scanty  vegetation,  and  the  only  thing  which  grows 
there  is  a  single  variety  of  lucerne  grass  (medicago) ;  the  cultivation 
of  even  this  is  attended  with  difficulty,  on  account  of  the  large  pro- 
portion of  common  salt,  borax  and  saltpeter  in  the  soil.  It  serves  in 
part  for  the  support  of  the  beasts  of  burden  used  for  transporting  to 
the  coast  the  salts  and  metallic  minerals  found  here.  In  the  south  of 
the  Pampa  is  a  large  deposit  of  borax,  pieces  of  which  weigh  on  an 
average  from  100  to  200  grammes  ;  soda  saltpeter  is  found  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Pampa  and  Serrania,  but  too  far  distant  from  the  sea.  On 
the  western  slope  of  the  Cordilleras,  salt  is  only  found  in  small  quan- 
tities ;  but  in  Upper  Peru,  where  frequent  rains  wash  it  together  into 
