Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  > 
Dec.  1, 1872.  j 
Japanese  Wax,  etc. 
543 
compact  nature  especially  recommend  it.  It  completely  replaces  the 
sand  bath  in  every  particular.  Among  its  numerous  advantages,  it 
does  not  adhere  to  apparatus,  which  is  an  exceeding  annoyance  with 
sand  or  iron  filings.  Funnels  holding  filters  with  precipitates  to  be 
dried  can  be  partially  immersed  in  this  material,  and  the  drying 
speedily  effected.  It  is  a  valuable  adjunct  to  the  water  bath  for  utiL 
zing  heat. 
Thus,  any  convenient  vessel  can  be  partially  filled  with  it,  and  then 
water  poured  on  so  as  either  to  reach  slightly  above  the  surface,  or 
fall  below  it.  Heat  is  then  applied,  and  upon  this  support  evapora- 
ting dishes  can  be  placed,  containing  liquids,  or  filters  with  precipi- 
tates. In  this  case  a  special  advantage  is  secured  by  using  an  evap- 
orating dish  containing  the  material  dry,  for  the  purpose  of  drying 
precipitates  and  other  substances,  which  must  not  be  heated  above 
212°  F.  The  funnel  is  then  partially  submerged  in  the  cuts  contained 
in  the  evaporating  capsule,  which  is  in  its  turn  heated  by  the  mixture 
of  cuts  and  water  in  the  other  vessel.  By  this  procedure  immense 
effects  are  obtained. — The  Pharmacist,  Oct.,  1872, 
JAPANESE  WAX  AND  ITS  EMPLOYMENT  IN  PHARMACY. 
By  Dr.  C.  Roucher,  Pharmacien  Principal  de  Premiere  Classe. 
The  vegetable  wax  known  under  the  name  of  Japanese  or  Chinese 
wax  is  produced  by  the  Rhus  succedaneum.  It  is  harder  than  ordi- 
nary wax,  but  much  more  fusible,  the  point  of  fusion  indicated  by 
various  authors  varying  from  40°  C.  to  42°  C.  It  is  white,  with  a 
slightly  yellowish  tint,  has  a  feebly  rancid  smell,  and  is  more  friable 
than  beeswax. 
As  this  vegetable  wax  is  now  much  used  in  pharmacy,  the  author 
has  sought  to  determine  the  exact  point  of  fusion,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose examined  two  specimens,  which  yielded  exactly  similar  results. 
This  he  did  by  using  very  thin  closed  tubes,  15  millimetres  wide,  in 
the  lower  third  of  which  the  substance  was  spread  in  a  uniform 
layer.  The  tubes  were  then  plunged  into  water  at  various  tempera- 
tures, and  the  points  noted  of  opacity,  semi-transparence,  complete 
transparence  and  running  against  the  sides  of  the  glass. 
The  results  obtained  with  the  Chinese  wax  were  as  follows :  At 
from  40°  C.  to  45°  C.  the  wax  remained  opaque,  provided  that  the 
temperature  was  raised  one  degree  at  a  time ;  from  45°  C.  to  50°  C. 
