350 
MISCELLANY. 
colorless and translucent, the other, having a reddish-brown hue. The 
latter character is an acquired one, and simply dependent upon the age 
of the ergot. In old specimens, the oil is colored throughout, and often 
deeply ; in recent ones, on the contrary, it is not unfrequently entirely free 
from color. 
Its taste is oily, and slightly acrid, its odor is similar to that of ergot, 
though more agreeable, and neither heightened by acetic acid, nor de- 
stroyed by long contact with a clear plate of copper or of iron. When 
heated, it blackens rapidly, acquires a disgusting empyreumatic odor, like 
that of an old tobacco pipe, and an acrid biting taste. If the heat be 
long continued, complete volatilization takes place ; but if the oil be suf- 
fered to cool, it thickens, solidifies slowly, and ultimately becomes re- 
sinous. 
By long exposure to light and air, at a moderate temperature, it as- 
sumes a reddish-brown color, though it is little altered in either smell or 
flavor. The purple hue of ergot appears to be owing to the action of light 
and air upon the oil, aided by the free phosphoric acid. By mixing the 
colorless oil with flour and a little acid, and exposing the mass to air and 
sunshine for some weeks, I have succeeded in producing the distinct 
color of ordinary ergot. It will be remembered that the laiter, when 
growing, is never darkened so long as it is completely shielded by the 
glume. 
Oil of ergot is of less specific gravity than water, and when these are 
agitated together, the latter becomes slightly odorous, and the former is 
rendered somewhat opaque. It is soluble in all the ethers, alcohol, naph- 
tha, and bisulphuret of carbon, from which it is imperfectly separated on 
the addition of water. It is dissolved by all the essential oils, and mixes 
intimately with some of the fixed ones, particularly almond and olive oil. 
It is likewise soluble in kreosote, caustic alkalies, earths, and ammonia. 
With the latter substances, it forms a soapy solution, from which it may 
be separated by an acid. Sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids in the 
dilute form, have little action upon it, but, when concentrated, they con- 
vert it into a deep brown or black mass. When long exposed to light and 
air, at a moderate temperature, the oil thickens, deepens in hue, and di- 
minishes in strength ; yet, if kept in a stoppered bottle, it is patient of 
preservation, and will retain its activity for years. On this account, as 
also from the fact of its embodying all the active properties of ergot in a 
safe and manageable form, Dr. W. is persuaded it will be found a much 
more advantageous officinal preparation than the crude drug. 
Am. Journ. Med. Set. , from Edin. Med. and Surg. Journ., July, 1840. 
On the Hydrocyanoferrate of Quinine. — Notwithstanding the valuable 
febrifuge virtues of the sulphate of quinine, it is well known that it occa- 
sionally fails. In such cases the hydrocyanate of quinine has been used 
