^"^'mv^'mT'^' }        Preparations — llexican  Phai^macopoeia.  547 
when  known  be  readily  adopted.  Mr.  Christie  continues  :  "  The  mor- 
dants when  precipitated  seem  to  have  full  dyeing  power/'  which  means 
that  as  a  dung-substitute  the  alginate  has  done  its  work  well. 
As  an  Article  of  Food. — Algin  contains  carbon,  44*39  per  cent.; 
hydrogen,  5*47 ;  nitrogen,  3'77  ;  oxygen,  46  57  ;  or  about  the  same 
amount  of  nitrogen  as  is  found  in  Dutch  cheese.  For  thickening 
soups  and  puddings,  as  a  substitute  for  gum-arabic  in  the  manufacture 
of  jujubes  and  lozenges,  and  in  making  jellies,  it  is  said  that  it  would 
be  very  serviceable. 
In  Pharmacy. — It  is  said  that  it  would  be  useful  for  emulsions  of 
oils,  as  an  excipient  for  pills,  and  for  fining  of  spirits. 
For  Boiler  Incrustations. — Mr.  Spiller  has  proved  that  a  solution 
of  sodium  alginate  forms  one  of  the  best  fluids  for  preventing  boiler 
incrustation,  as  it  quickly  precipitates  the  lime  from  the  boiler  water 
in  a  state  in  which  it  can  be  easily  blown  otf. 
Algic  Cellulose. — This  substance  bleaches  easily,  and  under  pressure 
becomes  very  hard,  when  it  can  be  turned  and  polished  with  facility. 
It  makes  also  a  good  paper,  tough  and  transparent,  but  with  no  fibre. 
Alone,  or  mixed  with  algin  and  linseed  oil,  or  shellac,  it  may  be  used 
as  a  non-conductor  of  electricity  where  a  cheap  material  is  needed. 
The  Sea-ioeed  Charcocd. — It  is  proposed  to  use  this  in  conjunction 
wdth  algin  for  covering  boilers,  and  such  a  composition  has  been 
largely  applied  under  the  name  of  ^'  carbon  cement.^'  This  is  nearly 
all  charcoal,  three  per  cent,  of  the  algin  being  sufficient  to  make  it 
cohere.    It  forms  a  cool,  light  and  efficient  non-conducting  covering. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  PREPARATIONS  of  the  MEXICAN 
PHARMACOPGEIA. 
By  the  Editor. 
(Concluded  from  page  441.) 
Tinturas,  Tincturse.  Among  the  tinctures  which  are  rarely  employed 
here,  the  following  may  be  mentioned,  which  are  made  in  the  pro- 
portion of  1 : 5 : 
Menstruum  80  per  cent,  alcohol ;  the  tinctures  of  euphorbium  and 
of  all  balsams,  turpentines,  gum  resins  and  resins ;  also  the  tinctures 
of  cloves.  Winter's  bark,  fruit  of  Myroxylon,  mace,  nutmeg  and  con- 
trayerva. 
