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and that it was necessary in order to preserve the mixture in 
a pulverulent state, without changing the proportions of the 
ingredients and without altering its properties, to add to it 
an inert substance, which I indicated to him. He did not 
wish to deduct any thing ; the preparation was decidedly 
made badly. The discussion became more and more animated, 
and threatened to terminate disagreeably. 
In this state of things, I employed a last argument, which 
made him lower his tone. I presented to the Doctor all the 
substances in a pulverized state, which were mentioned in the 
formula, requesting him to please mix them himself. He 
did so, and acknowledged his error; and I must say, as a man 
of honor, he became reconciled without retaining any ill-will. 
It would be useless to enter into long details as to other 
applications of this essay; in practice they will present them- 
selves to the mind of the reader. 
Those which at first sight are most apparent, are connected 
with the preparation of powders, pills, and plasters, of which 
camphor, the gum-resins, resins, &c, form the constituent 
part. If the properties of sandarach and those of mastic are 
compared, as regards camphor, the possibility may be deter- 
mined of detecting the mixture of the two resins, a frequent 
sophistication in commerce, in consequence of their great 
difference in value. 
It, moreover, would be found, if we were not in possession 
of several means, that this was a convenient one for distinguish- 
ing the resins of jalap and scammony. 
As regards the modifications which the odor of camphor 
undergoes under the same circumstances, without having a 
practical application in view, they ought not to be indifferent 
to the pharmaceutist who regards his profession as something 
more than a manual art. I will say further, that observa- 
tions of this kind or those analogous to them, however 
unpretending they may be, will sooner or later terminate by 
finding their place in science, should it only be as the point 
of departure to researches of a higher order. 
Journ. de Pharmacie. 
