CALX  SACCHARATUM,  SYRUPUS  CALCIS.  335 
Calculated.  Found. 
-  Pb  69-69  69-84) 
C  8.08  7-87  V=Formiate  of  lead. 
H  0-66  0-69) 
There  is  also  formed  in  this  reaction  a  small  quantity  of  humic 
acid. 
The  specific  action  of  the  water  in  this  decomposition  seems 
to  be  that  of  an  acid  ;  for  if  sugar  be  heated  with  alcohol  at  the 
same  temperature,  in  sealed  tubes,  it  remains  perfectly  unchang- 
ed ;  not  the  smallest  quantity  of  carbon  is  separated.  Further, 
I  have  found  that  sugar  is  not  decomposed  by  heating  it  with  a 
solution  of  baryta  in  heated  tubes  at  170°  C.  Beautiful  needles 
of  sugar-baryta  only  are  formed. 
Water  has  the  same  action  upon  other  "carbohydrates." 
Starch,  gum,  or  milk-sugar  heated  with  water  to  170°  for  about 
five  hours,  gives  formic*  acid,  carbon  and  carbonic  acid  ;  gum 
yields  the  most  carbonic  acid.  There  is  also  formed  a  peculiar 
acid,  but  little  soluble  in  water,  though  easily  in  alcohol  and 
ether.  I  propose  to  make  this  acid  the  object  of  further 
study. — The  Am.  Journ.  of  Science  and  Arts.,  May,  1867. 
CALX  SACCHARATUM,  SYRUPUS  CALCIS. 
Messrs.  Editors, — I  enclose  a  letter  from  Dr.  Squibb,  of 
New  York,  which  I  received  with  some  lime  prepared  with  sugar. 
I  trust  that  those  who  have  undertaken  to  make  the  syrup  and 
failed,  will  not  be  discouraged.  I  must  caution  against  the  use 
of  the  article  in  pill  or  dissolved  in  water,  as  it  will  produce 
nausea,  or  even  a  caustic  effect.  It  should  be  given  in  milk.  I 
have  used  it  in  doses  as  large  as  forty-five  (45)  drops  every 
two  (2)  hours.  Generally,  thirty  (30)  drops  every  three  (3) 
hours  have  been  sufficient.  I  have  never  found  alkaline  urine  to 
follow  its  use,  no  matter  how  large  nor  how  frequent  the  dose. 
Very  truly  yours, 
Boston,  March  31,  1867.  Chas.  E.  Buckingham. 
Dr.  C.  E.  Buckingham,  Boston. 
Brooklyn,  March  16,  1867. 
Dear  Sir, — Your  paragraph,  on  the  back  of  the  reprint  from 
the  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  came  duly  and  has 
