HIVE  SYRUP. 
127 
mud  in  the  bed  of  the  river  ensues,  and  the  previously  insoluble 
matter  becomes  soluble  matter.'  The  safest  and  most  sensitive 
test  of  putrefaction  in  water  is  the  relative  proportion  of  oxygen 
to  nitrogen  in  the  dissolved  gases.  The  river  North  Esk,  as  it 
flowed  through  the  Duke  of  Buccleugh's  grounds,  at  Dalkeith 
Palace,  in  March  and  in  June  last,  afforded  striking  evidence  of 
this  kind  as  to  the  effect  of  temperature  upon  the  absorption  of 
oxygen  by  the  organic  matter  of  water.  (It  is  only  when  the 
whole  of  the  oxygen  dissolved  in  the  water  is  consumed,  that 
the  latter  assumes  a  true  and  offensive  putrefactive  condition.) 
On  the  3d  of  March,  the  temperature  of  the  water  in  the  North 
Esk  was  38°  Fahrenheit,  and  the  proportion  of  oxygen  to  nitro- 
gen in  the  dissolved  gases  was  0  :  N  =  1  :  2*02.  This  is  the 
normal  proportion  in  water  free  from  organic  matter.  On  the 
21st  of  June,  the  river  emitted  a  putrid  odor,  the  temperature 
of  the  water  was  60°,  Fahrenheit,  and  the  proportion  of  oxygen 
to  nitrogen  was  0  :  N  =  1  :  25 ;  thus  the  amount  of  dissolved 
'  oxygen  was  reduced  to  a  mere  trace,  and  the  organic  matter  was 
in  a  putrescent  condition." — Lond.  Chem.  News,-  December  7, 
1866. 
HI  YE  SYRUP. 
By  L.  W.  Gillespie. 
In  looking  round  for  a  process  to  test  the  capabilities  of  dialysis 
in  its  application  to  pharmacy,  it  occurred  to  me  that  the  com- 
pound syrup  of  squills  would  afford  a  very  good  example,  and 
one  of  great  value  to  the  pharmaceutist,  if  successful,  in  render- 
ing this  preparation  permanent,  and  in  doing  away  with  the  use 
of  alcohol  in  its  manufacture.  With  these  ideas  in  view  I  made 
three  separate  solutions,  one  with  dilute  alcohol,  as  directed  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  another  by  using  only  half  the  amount  of  alcohol, 
and  a  third  by  boiling  in  water  as  formerly  practised.  This  last 
failed  to  produce  anything  like  a  satisfactory  result,  and  I  had 
to  abandon  all  idea  of  being  able  to  dispense  with  the  use  of 
alcohol  in  its  manufacture.  With  the  second  process  I  was  more 
successful;  yet  still  a  large  amount  of  pectin  and  gum  refused 
