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ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
A factitious Musk is in the market, which is fit for any 
thing but medical dispensation. Instead of the blackish- 
brown color, and peculiar animal odor of genuine musk, it is 
of the color of Spanish brown, like snuff in appearance, with 
the sweetish smell of perfumer's musk. 
I shall here terminate this paper by remarking, that in the 
purchase of Nitrate of Silver, choose that which, when 
broken, presents a crystalline texture and radiated. This 
article is adulterated to an unlimited extent. Would you 
know the proportion, make a solution of it and precipitate 
with dilute muriatic acid, the chloride of silver, which throw 
upon a filter, wash and dry; by dipping in the remaining 
solution a bright rod of iron, if there be any nitrate of copper 
it will be precipitated upon it, and by evaporation to dryness, 
the nitrate of potash will be obtained. 
Finally, you must penetrate the recesses of the laboratory, 
if you would unveil the mysteries which belong to the art of 
sophistication. A. D. 
ART. XLVIII.— PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. No. XVII. 
By Augustine Duhamel. 
Sesquiodide of Mercury. 
There are three iodides of mercury possessing distinctive 
characters, yet medical treatises often speak of the effect of 
iodide of mercury, without reference to the particular com- 
pound employed. These are the green, yellow, and red, 
formed from the combination of iodine with mercury, in the 
relative proportions of one, one and a half, and two atoms to 
one of metal. The first and last are of easy preparation. But 
in attempting, for the first time, the preparation of the second, 
improperly called protiodide, the operator is liable to be 
embarrassed by the seeming inconsistency of the results. 
Several ways are mentioned, but so immethodical, as to leave 
