460     ETHEREAL  TINCTURE   OF  SESQUICHLORIDE  OF  IRON. 
pressed  the  end  of  a  small  stick  of  the  cold  cement  on  the  surface 
of  each,  when  it  softened  and  strongly  adhered  to  the  metals. 
I  then  poured  a  stream  of  cold  water  on  each  of  the  articles, 
when  they  could  be  raised  from  the  table  and  carried  about,  being 
firmly  supported  by  the  cement,  and  considerable  force  was 
necessary  to  separate  the  articles  from  the  cement. 
This  cement  is  applicable  to  many  useful  purposes.  It  ad- 
heres with  great  tenacity  to  metals,  wood,  stones,  glass,  porce. 
lain,  ivory,  leather,  parchment,  paper,  hair,  feathers,  silk,  wool- 
len, cotton,  linen  fabrics,  &c.  It  is  well  adapted  for  glazing 
windows,  as  a  cement  for  aquariums.  As  far  as  my  experience 
has  yet  extended,  this  cement  does  not  appear  to  affect  water, 
and  will  apparently  be  found  applicable  for  coating  metal  tanks ; 
to  secure  the  joints  of  stone  tanks;  to  make  a  glue  for  joining 
wood,  which  will  not  be  affeeted  by  damp ;  to  prevent  the  de- 
predations of  insects  on  wood.  The  heavy  oak  beams  and  raf- 
ters in  the  roof  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society  are  attacked  to  a 
considerable  extent  by  insects,  as  the  weevil,  &c.  As  this 
cement  is  soluble  to  a  considerable  extent  in  volatile  oils,  as 
turpentine,  naphtha,  &c,  an  application  of  the  solution  of  the 
cement  in  turpentine,  &c,  might  be  beneficial,  and  arrest  the 
ravages  of  those  insects.  It  may  be  highly  deserving  of  in- 
quiry whether  the  cement  may  not  be  applied  to  preserve  sur- 
faces of  metal  and  wood  exposed  to  the  atmosphere  and  to 
fresh  water ;  also  to  protect  anchors,  chain-cables,  &c,  from  the 
corroding  agencies  of  sea  water.-— Lond.  Ohem.  July,  1857,  from 
Journal  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society, 
ETHEREAL  TINCTURE  OF  SESQUICHLORIDE  OF  IRON. 
(Tinctura  Nervina  BestucJieffi.} 
By  A.  Cushman. 
The  excess  of  acid  always  present  in  the  officinal  tinct.  ferri 
chlor.  and  its  exceedingly  styptic  taste  renders  its  employment 
in  some  cases  objectionable. 
Notwithstanding  the  large  addition  made  in  late  years  to  the 
number  of  ferruginous  preparations  in  common  use,  many 
practitioners  still  give  preference  to  the  sesquichloride  over  all 
others,  as  being  the  most  certain  in  its  effects,  and  most  accep- 
