COLORING MATTER IN COCHINEAL. 
mon and destructive in tropical climates,) when the inflam- 
matory symptoms had subsided. More recently, Dr. Blume 
has administered it in the epidemic fevers of Java, as well 
intermittent as remittent, and even in those that exhibit the 
most serious and anomalous symptoms, in a word, pernicious 
fevers. The best success has always attended the use of this bark, 
and place it among the most energetic and certain febrifuges. 
Many other physicians, as Kirkhoof, Waitz, &c, have em- 
ployed it under the same circumstances. 
The decoction is administered, made from an ounce of bark 
deprived of its epidermis, boiled in a pint of water, down to 
one-half. An alcoholic tincture is also prepared, and an ex- 
tract. 
The activity of this medicine, although it has not yet been 
introduced into commerce, has made us desirous of bringing 
it into notice. 
ART. XVII — METHOD OF DETERMINING THE QUANTITY 
OF COLORING MATTER CONTAINED IN COCHINEAL. 
Extracted by J. de Fontenelle. 
The Societe Industrielle, of Mulhausen, offered a prize 
upon this subject, which induced M. E. F. Anthon to under- 
take a series of experiments for the purpose of resolving the 
question. We shall now limit ourselves to an exposition of 
the best method that he has devised for the examination of 
cochineal. It may, in the first instance, be stated, that 
chlorine is a very good agent, but it can only be successful 
in the hands of an experienced chemist; besides this, it is 
very difficult to procure solutions of chlorine exactly the same, 
and, moreover, by this reagent, serious errors may be commit- 
ted, from the length of time it may be left in contact with the 
extract of cochineal, because the bleaching action of this gas 
upon carmine, is neither instantaneous or terminated in a 
VOL. IV. — NO. 1. 10 
