380  Anthemis  Cotula— Chemical  Investigation.  {^""Aug.^'isss!™'' 
the  oil  to  a  temperature  of  about  10°C.  These  crystals  were  drained 
on  a  filter,  carefully  washed  with  ether,  converted  into  potassium  salt 
and  from  the  solution  the  adhering  oil  was  extracted  with  ether.  The 
potassium  salt  was  then  decomposed  and  the  free  acid  extracted  with 
ether  and  crystallized  from  its  ethereal  solution,  when  it  was  obtained 
quite  pure.  The  acid  possessed  a  strong,  disagreeable  smell,  entirely 
free  from  any  valerianic  acid  odor,  and  melted  at  58 °C.  A  portion  of 
it  was  mixed  with  a  large  excess  of  concentrated  HBr  when  it  imme- 
diately combined  and  yielded  a  bromated  acid,  which  upon  oxidization 
with  nitric  acid  yielded  hydrobromic  acid.  The  acid  was  also  treated  with 
hydriodic  acid  and  amorphorus  phosphorus  when  the  characteristic  odor 
of  valerianic  acid  was  produced  on  heating.  The  oily  distillate  a,  obtained 
in  the  decomposition  of  the  oil  and  probably  containing  the  alcohols, 
was  extracted  with  ether  and  yielded,  on  evaporating  off  the  ether,  a 
light  straw  colored  oily  liquid  to  the  amount  of  about  30  per  cent,  of 
the  oil  used.  A  portion  of  this  was  distilled,  when  about  40  per  cent, 
came  over  ])etween  185°  and  240°C.  and  was  of  a  light  straw  color, 
while  about  the  same  amount  came  over  from  240°  to  290°C.  and  was 
of  a  dark  brown  color.  The  remainder,  about  20  per  cent.,  formed  a 
solid,  black,  resinous  mass.  A  portion  was  then  treated  with  about 
five  times  its  volume  of  concentrated  hydrobromic  acid  (saturated  at 
0°C.),  but  it  would  not  combine.  Another  portion  treated  with 
metallic  sodium  gave  off  hydrogen,  and  united  to  form  a  sodium  com- 
pound which  upon  treating  with  water  again  decomposed  into  the 
alcohols  and  formed  caustic  soda. 
A  Mustard-Spoxge.— In  referring  to  sponge  as  a  carrier  of  poultices, 
Dr.  Richardson  considers  tliat  it  malies  the  best  of  mustard  carriers.  The 
nurse  mixes  the  mustard  in  a  basin  with  water  until  the  mass  is  smooth 
and  of  even  consistency.  Then  she  takes  the  soft  mass  all  up  with  a  clean 
sponge,  lays  the  sponge  in  the  centre  of  a  soft  white  handkerchief,  ties  up 
the  corners  of  the  handkerchief  neatly  to  form  a  hold,  and  applies  the 
smooth  convex  surface  to  the  skin.  This  mustard  sponge,  warmed  again 
by  the  fire  and  slightly  moistened,  can  be  applied  three  or  four  times,  is 
good  for  several  hours,  and  saves  the  trouble  of  making  a  new  poultice  for 
re-application,  often  a  matter  of  importance  during  the  weariness  of  night 
watching.  The  sponge  can  afterward  easily  be  washed  clean  in  warm 
water.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  this  method  will  save  both  time 
and  trouble,  and  that  the  same  sponge  may  be  used  frequently. — Jou7\  Am. 
Med.  Assoc.,  June  13,  1885. 
