82 
MISCELLANY. 
Mode of preparing Mercurial Ointment, by M. Paton. — This method 
consists in putting into a marble mortar two ounces of old mercurial oint- 
ment, and triturating with a wooden pestle, while another person lets fall 
into the mortar a very fine mercurial shower, produced from a pound of 
mercury enclosed in chamois leather; the mercury thus divided unites 
promptly with the fat. According to M. Paton, mercurial ointment may 
be promptly prepared by this method from fresh lard, when we do not 
wish to profit by the power which the old ointment possesses, to divide 
better the mercury. M. Paton directs, when we have not the chamois 
leather, to form a bag of mercury by enclosing it in several doublings of 
very fine linen; or better, to use a metallic sieve with very fine net work. 
\ Journ. de Chimie Med. 
New mode of preparing the Bicarbonate of Potassa, (Annalen der Physik 
und Chemie. ) — The carbonate of potassa,whether dry or in solution, absorbs 
very slowly, as is well known, the second proportion of carbonic acid neces- 
sary to convert it into a bicarbonate. M, Wohler has found that charcoal, by 
its porosity, when mixed with this salt, facilitates in an uncommon degree 
the formation of the bicarbonate. He proceeds in the following manner : 
Crude tartar is charred in a covered crucible ; the carbonaceous mass is 
slightly moistened with water placed in an appropriate vessel and sub- 
jected to the action of carbonic acid gas. The absorption takes place 
with such rapidity as to heat the mass so considerably, that it is necessary 
to surround the vessel with cold water, to prevent the decomposition of 
the bicarbonate when formed. By the diminution of the temperature we 
know when the saturation is complete. The mass is then to be lixiviated 
with the least possible quantity of water, at the temperature of from 85° 
to 100 6 F. When the filtered solution cools, the greater part of the 
bicarbonate of potassa is deposited in fine crystals. 
Journ. de Pharm. 
Observations on a case of poisoning by Strychnine— employment of ether 
and the oxide of zinc, by M. Paton. Some time since, a physician pre- 
scribed for a person affected with a constant trembling of the hands one 
grain of strychnine in eight pills ; four to be taken in the morning, at ten 
minutes interval, and the other four in the evening in the same manner. By 
mistake the patient having taken the whole eight pills in the morning was 
severely affected immediately after taking the last pill; his legs re- 
fused their support; a determination of blood to the head suddenly ap- 
peared, causing fear of apoplexy ; the symptoms became more and more 
alarming — the physician was sent for, but was then absent. The apothe- 
cary, who had prepared the pills, came at once, but alarmed at the 
state of the patient, he returned, and asked me to give something to the 
man, whom he considered as threatened with immediate death. I ran to 
