206 
NOTE  ON  LOZENGE  CUTTING. 
simple  leaves,  whilst  all  the  other  subclasses  have,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions, compound  leaves.  Admitting  this  supposition,  I  would 
not  be  surprised  that  the  plant  be  an  Eryngium,  an  aquatic  and 
subaquatic  genus,  with  white,  bluish  and  blue  flowers  ;  with, 
sometimes,  fusiform  or  tuberous  roots,  and  aromatic  or  strong- 
scented  flowers  and,  perhaps,  roots,  such  as  E.  aromaticum  of 
Florida  ;  E.  odoratum  of  Portugal,  and  E.  foetidum  of  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America.  E.  Durand." 
The  genera  Angelia  and  Eryngium  are  allied  in  the  same 
natural  order,  and  the  Eryngium  aquaticum,  or  button  snake 
root,  was  long  in  the  secondary  list  of  our  Pharmacopoeia,  and 
has  medical  properties  analogous  to  those  of  "  Osha."  In  regard 
to  "  Yerba  Mansa  "  there  is  strong  reason  to  believe  that  Mr. 
Durand's  opinion,  founded  on  a  seed  vessel,  will  prove  correct. 
NOTE  ON  LOZENGE  CUTTING. 
Philadelphia,  March  1th,  1867. 
Mr.  Editor  : 
Sir, — In  a  recent  issue  you  notice  that  some  of  the  patrons 
of  the  Journal  complain  that  it  is  getting  more  scientific  than 
practical.  I  do  not  think  it  too  scientific  myself,  yet  at  the 
risk  of  the  reverse,  that  of  being  more  practical  than  scientific, 
I  offer,  if  acceptable,  the  following : 
In  compounding  and  dispensing  lozenges  extemporaneously, 
as  ordered  in  perscription,  &c,  where  it  is  desirable  to  secure 
neatness  in  addition  to  the  equal  subdivision  of  a  given  mass,  I 
have  found  the  following  plan  to  work  well :  I  use  a  thin  brass 
cylinder  of  half-inch  or  more  internal  diameter,  and  about 
two  inches  long,  having  a  cylindrical  piece  of  hard  wood  closely 
fitting  the  interior,  with  one  end  smoothly  finished,  to  coincide 
with  one  end  of  the  cylinder,  and  the  other  end  terminating  in 
a  handle.  Divide  the  mass  in  the  usual  manner  as  for  pills, 
then  partially  withdraw  the  handle,  place  the  open  end  of  the 
cylinder  over  the  pill  on  the  tile  or  counter,  hold  firmly  and 
press  down  the  handle  sufficiently  to  give  the  mass  the  desired 
form,  after  which  it  can  readily  be  removed  by  slight  pressure 
on  the  handle.  It  would  be  well  to  have  two  or  more  of 
different  sizes.  Yours  respectfully, 
W.  L.  Turner 
