EDITORIAL.  19jl 
Whilst  on  this  subject  wo  will  remark  that  physicians  occasionally,  by 
the  careless  association  of  acid  substances  with  iodide  of  potassium  give 
their  patients  unintentionally  iodine  in  a  free  state.  This  is  often  done  by 
prescribing  sweet  spirit  of  nitre  with  iodide  of  potassium.  It  is  true  that 
this  spirit  ought  to  be  free  from  acid,  but  where  it  is  neutral  in  one  instance, 
it  is  acid  in  twenty,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  and  it  is  only  when  kept 
standing  on  some  antacid  salt  like  crystals  of  bicarbonate  of  potassa,  as 
suggested  by  Mr.  Harvey,  (see  U.  S.  Disp.)  that  it  is  always  in  a  state  fit 
for  this  use.  Pharmaceutists  will  find  it  convenient  to  adopt  this  method 
of  keeping  a  portion  of  sweet  spirit  of  nitre  in  a  neutral  state  as,  however 
free  from  acid  the  preparation  may  be  when  made,  it  tends  to  eliminate  free 
acid  in  the  frequently  opened  shop  bottle.  When  this  free  acid  is  acetic, 
derived  from  the  oxidation  of  aldehyde,  the  change  in  the  iodide  of  potassi- 
um is  not  at  first  perceptible ;  it  merely  produces  acetate  of  potassa  and 
hydriodic  acid  ;  but  gradually  this  acid,  in  contact  with  the  air,  is  decom- 
posed with  the  formation  of  water  and  free  iodine.  When  the  acidity  of  the 
spirit  is  due  to  either  of  the  nitrogen  acids,  there  is  an  instantaneous  devel- 
opment of  free  iodine. 
The  American  Druggists'  Gircular  and  Chemical  Gazzette. — Two  numbers 
of  this  monthly  periodical  have  reached  us.  It  is  published  by  Bridgman 
&  Co.,  Druggists,  New  York,  and  edited  by  Henry  Bridgman.  Each  regu- 
lar number  consist  of  a  sheet  in  eight  pages,  four  columns  each,  in  a  type 
neat  and  comprehensive. 
The  "  Druggists'  Circular"  claims  to  be  "  A  practical  Journal  of  chem- 
istry as  applied  to  pharmacy,  arts  and  sciences,  and  general  business  organ 
for  druggists,  chemists,  and  apothecaries."  Its  general  aspect  is  that  of  a 
newspaper  uncommonly  well  printed.  The  proprietors  address  it  specially 
to  business  men,  and  believe  that  it  will  prove  a  valuable  medium  for 
gaining  and  communicating  information,  and  particularly  for  advertise- 
ments. What  the  tone  of  this  Journal  is  to  be  cannot,  perhaps,  yet  be  de- 
termined, but  we  trust  that  it  will  be  an  advocate  of  correct  practice,  sus- 
tain the  Drug  Law,  and  oppose  the  torrent  of  quackery,  professional  and 
popular,  which  is  now  so  rife. 
Researches  on  the  Ammonia-cobalt  Bases.  By  Wolcott  Gibbs  and  Frederick 
Aug.  Genth.  Washington  City  :  published  by  the  Smithsonian  Institute, 
Dec,  1856,  pp.  67.    Quarto.    (From  Dr.  Genth.) 
The  complex  and  interesting  researches  of  Prof.  Gibbs  and  Dr.  Genth 
have  been  fittingly  presented  to  the  scientific  world,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Smithsonian  Institute.  The  true  nature  of  the  changes  which  ammonia 
cobaltic  salts  undergo  by  the  action  of  oxygen,  was  not  understood  until 
Dr.  Genth  commenced  his  investigation  in  1847,  and  published  his  first 
memoir  in  1851  when  in  Germany.    Since  that  time  they  have  attracted 
