HYDRARGYRUM CUM CRETA. 
317 
tion, without, after eight or ten days' labour, having suc- 
ceeded in completely extinguishing the mercury, Mr. W. 
Hew son, formerly a druggist of Augusta, Georgia, happened 
to enter my store, and seeing our occupation, remarked that 
he had accidentally discovered a simple, quick, and certain 
mode of accomplishing the object, by putting the ingredients 
into a well-corked bottle, which was to be kept in constant 
agitation by the hand until the preparation was completed. 
By this mode he had found that much less time was expended 
than by the old one. 
Obliged for the information, I lost no time in testing the 
plan, by putting three ounces of mercury and five ounces of 
prepared chalk (precipitated) in a quart bottle well corked. 
I decided, however, to continue the occasional trituration of 
that in the mortar, upon which so much time and labour had 
already been expended, for the purpose of instituting a com- 
parison with that about to be made. The result was most 
satisfactory, as you will be enabled to judge from the sample 
sent. It follows, conclusively, that if with the amount of 
succussion expended upon this preparation, it has been made 
so fine as to prevent the detection of a minute globule by the 
aid of a glass of moderate power, a further continuance of 
the same would effect a still more complete comminution. 
It will be seen that the sample sent presents the fine grey 
colour attributed to it ; and it may be well to state that this 
preparation is known by many as the Grey Powder, by 
which appellation I have had it called for. 
I feel the more disposed to consider it important to dis- 
seminate through the Journal of Pharmacy the above simple 
plan of preparing a valuable medicine, from the fact that a 
large proportion of that imported does not possess the cha- 
racteristic colour, satisfying me that such had been made by 
the addition of some simplifying agent ; with the result of an 
inferior, if not an injurious, article. The process above de- 
tailed will enable all to dispense a perfect preparation, and 
prevent disappointment at the bedside. 
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