126  Glycerin  in  Astringents,  etc.  {^'Sf" 
of  lime  and  silica.  Operating  as  above  the  following  results  were 
obtained  : — 
Chlorides  of  Sodium  and  Magnesium    .       .  0*60 
Sulphate  of  Magnesia     .....  1*20 
Sulphate  of  Lime        .....  6.60 
Carbonate  of  Lime         .....  5*40 
Silica   2-20 
16-00 
Calcination  with  potash  and  testing  with  an  acid  and  starch  showed 
no  trace  of  the  presence  of  iodine. 
Practically  the  mixture  of  Gigartina  acicularis  with  carrageen  moss 
presents  no  advantage  to  the  pharmacist,  who  would  not  obtain  with 
this  product  a  jelly  presenting  the  consistence  sought  for  in  the  prepa- 
ration of  jellies  from  carrageen.  But  the  author  considers  that  the 
remarkable  quantity  of  lime  salts  which  the  Gigartina  contains  would 
render  it  a  fairly  active  medicament  in  many  cases,  and  especially  in 
phlegmasies  of  the  intestinal  canal. — Pharm.  Journ.  and  Trans. , 
Jan.  SlsL  1874. 
ON  THE  EFFECT  OF  GLYCERIN  IN  MODIFYING  THE  ACTION 
OF  ASTRINGENTS. 
By  E.  B.  Shuttleworth. 
There  have  been  few  additions  to  the  materia  medica,  which,  in  so 
short  a  time,  have  attained  a  more  universal  popularity,  have  been 
applied  to  as  manifold  uses,  or  been  more  generally  extolled  than 
glycerin.  Its  powers  as  a  solvent,  equalling,  if  not  exceeding,  those 
of  alcohol,  have  opened  up  a  wide  field  of  usefulness  which  has  gen- 
erally been  entered  upon  with  great  advantage.  It  may  be,  however, 
quite  possible,  and  even  probable,  that  a  property  of  such  ready 
adaptability,  and  of  so  wide  a  range,  has  been  to  generally  made  use 
of;  sometimes  under  circumstances  in  which  its  effects  may  have 
proved  the  reverse  of  beneficial.  Of  such  a  character  is  the  indis- 
criminate employment  of  glycerin  in  the  preparation  of  tinctures  or 
fluid  extracts^  of  vegetable  substances  of  complex  composition ;  when, 
though  a  presentable  and  permanent  compound  may  be  obtained,  in- 
ert, or,  perhaps,  injurious  agents,  which  would  have  been  much  better 
undisturbed,  are  dissolved  and  retained  in  solution. 
It  is  not,  however,  to  this  modifying  action  that  I  would,  at  present, 
