NOTE  ON  "TINCTURA  LYCOPERDON."  113 
mers.  Should  you  think  it  of  sufficient  value  you  can  give  it  a 
place  in  your  Journal.  Prof.  Parrish,  in  his  work  on  Pharmacy, 
(page  405)  says,  "  if  carb.  magnesia  were  used  to  liberate  the 
gas,  the  tendency  to  deposit  would  be  increased,"  &c,  such  is 
certainly  not  the  case  with  this  preparation. 
R    Magnesise  carboiiatis  3  iii. 
•  Acidi  citrici  3vi. 
Aquae  purse  Ov. 
Syrupi  simplicis  Oi. 
Ext.  limon,  q.  s. 
Potass,  bicarb.,  q.  s. 
Dissolve  the  acid  in  the  water,  add  the  carb.  magnesia  and  stir 
occasionally  until  dissolved  ;  filter  the  solution  and  add  the 
syrup  and  ext.  lemon.  Agitate  until  well  mixed  and  put  into 
eight  12  oz.  bottles,  add  40  grs.  bicarb,  potass,  to  each  bottle 
and  cork  immediately. 
Yours  truly, 
John  T.  Buck. 
Jackson,  Miss.,  Jan.  2oth,  1867. 
NOTE  ON  "TINCTURA  LYCOPERDON." 
By  the  Editor. 
Dr.  B.  W.  Richnrdson,  of  London,  appears  to  have  been  the 
introducer  of  the  dusty  powder  from  Lycoperdon  bovista,  (known 
as  puff-balls — devils  snuffbox,  etc.,)  as  a  remedial  agent.  This 
mushroom  is  said  to  be  poisonous.  When  the  dried  fungus  is 
broken,  the  pulverulent  particles  are  easily  blown  away  by  a 
puff  of  wind,  and  are  said  to  possess  anaesthetic  properties  when 
inhaled  by  animals. 
Df.  Richardson  (Medical  Times  and  Gazette,  June,  1853,  610) 
having  noticed  the  use  of  this  dust  to  stupify  bees,  he  tried  the  fumes 
on  other  animals  and  upon  himself,  experiencing  symptoms  of 
intoxication  and  drowsiness,  and  causing  complete  anaesthesia  in 
animals,  so  that  they  evinced  no  pain  when  operated  upon. 
Recently  this  substance  has  been  used  in  Philadelphia  as  a 
tincture  by  Dr.  Adinell  Hewson,  and  perhaps  by  others  in  cases 
of  nervous  disease. 
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