186 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
classed among the vegetable alkalies, and hence deserves the 
name of Xerophia, from the plant. 
From the foregoing observations, we may infer that the 
principal ingredients of Xerophy Hum setifolium are — I, gum; 
2, starch; 3. volatile oil; 4, resin; 5, fixed oil; 6, vegetable 
albumen; 7, a peculiar alkaline principle, styled Xerophia. 
ART. XXV. — ON THE ADULTERATION OF LAC SULPHURIS. 
The following remarks, on lac sulphuris, are intended to 
call the attention of pharmaceutists to the fact of its fre- 
quent adulteration, which, though well known, and easily 
ascertained, appears not to be sufficiently attended to, as the 
adulterated article is as frequently to be found in our shops as 
the pure. 
Under the name of lac sulphuris, two articles are imported 
and vended in this city, with a difference of price which could 
not obtain, unless the low priced medicine was depreciated 
in value by some improper means. This, on examination, 
turns out to be the fact. A number of specimens, obtained 
from different quarters, on being subjected to a low red heat, 
were volatilized; some totally, while others so partially as not 
to appear even to be reduced in bulk, but leaving behind a resi- 
due of sulphate of lime, averaging, in several experiments, fifty 
per cent. 
The lac sulphuris being that modification which is recom- 
mended as the most to be preferred, it must happen, when 
this inferior article is used, that the physician is dissappointed 
in the result of its administration; for if we make due allow- 
ance for the 21 or 22 per cent, of water contained in the sul- 
phate of lime, which was driven off withthe sulphur at the low 
red heat used, there will remain even less than 40 per cent, 
as the amount of sulphur in the preparation. 
