AlSM&yi,  i873ARM  }   Minutes  of  Pharmaceutical  Meetings.  233 
the  treatment  of  intermittent  fever.  The  dose  is  from  one  to  two-thiids  grains 
per  day,  given  in  the  form  of  pills,  made  with  any  simple  excipient. 
Prof.  Maisch  showed  specimens  of  the  bark  of  Eucalyptus  globulus,  which  ap- 
pears to  be  used  in  Europe  for  similar  purposes  as  the  leaves.  Attention  was, 
also  drawn  to  the  variation  in  the  siiapo  of  the  latter. 
A  specimen  of  the  oleate  of  mercury  and  morphia  made  by  the  process  of  Mr, 
Charles  Rice,*  was  shown,  which  was  at  first  nearly  transparent,  but  probably 
through  its  exposure  to  the  light  and  air,  had  separated  a  heavy  precipitate* 
It  is  perhaps  necessary  to  protect  this  preparation  against  the  influence  of  the- 
agents  mentioned. 
From  a  large  collection  of  drugs  and  plants,  received  from  M.  J.  Donde,  of 
Merida,  Yucatan,  Professor  Maisch  exhibited  to  the  meeting  preserved  speci- 
mens of  Okra,  the  green  fruit  of  Hibiscus  escnlentus,  which  is  cultivated  to 
some  extent  in  the  United  States,  and  used  for  its  mucilaginous  properties. 
Preserved  and  dried  specimens  of  Semillis  marannon,  the  Cachou  nut... 
Anacardium  occidentale,  were  also  shown.  After  fructification,  the  peduncle 
enlarges  considerably,  forming  an  edible  spurious  fruit,  bearing  upon  its  apex 
the  true  fruit,  a  kidney-shaped  nut,  having  a  seed-like  appearance,  which  con- 
tains, under  the  pericarp,  a  very  acrid  and  poisonous  oil,  containing  cardol ;  the- 
kernel  is  edible,  of  a  pleasant  nut-like  flavor,  and  may  be  obtained  by  roasting* 
the  fruit,  whereby  the  acrid  oil  is  destroyed.  Of  a  similar  nature  and  similar 
properties  are  the  so-called  Malacca  nuts,  the  fruit  of  Semecarpus  anacardium,. 
which  is  almost  heart-shaped.  The  acrid  oil  of  the  latter  has  a  black  color,  is 
used  in  the  East  Indies  like  ink,  and  was  lately  recommended  for  imparting  a 
black  color  to  wax  caudles. 
Mr.  Boring  stated  that  he  had  been  unable  to  find  more  than  one  sample  of 
yellow  mustard  which  had  not  been  colored  with  turmeric  ;  with  all,  except  the 
one,  known  as  Fruhaufs  Russian  mustard,  the  characteristic  brown  red  color  is. 
produced  on  the  addition  of  solution  of  boracic  acid  ;  while  many  of  the  samples 
were  not  affected  by  iodine  solution,  several  of  the  most  popular  brands  show 
by  this  test  a  considerable  quantity  of  starch;  in  these  cases  an  artificial 
strength  appears  to  be  imparted  by  capsicum.  Yellow  mustard,  the  color  o'i 
which  is  heightened  by  turmeric,  deserves  to  be  regarded  with  suspicion  until 
its  freedom  from  other  adulterations  has  been  established. 
Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  piece  of  soap  which  had  been  made  from  fresh  palm 
oil  in  Liberia,  at  the  suggestion  of  Edward  S.  Morris,  Esq.  Although  of  a  dark 
color,  the  soap  has  a  delightful  violet  odor,  being  vastly  superior  in  this  respect 
to  the  soap  made  here  from  imported  palm  oil,  which,  in  consequence  of  long 
keeping  and  exposure,  is  always  rancid. 
Oil  of  valerian  and  several  compounds  of  valerianic  acid  were  exhibited^, 
which  were  made  from  valerian  root,  eight  or  nine  years  ago.  These  valerian- 
ates are  greatly  superior  in  odor  to  those  obtained  by  the  oxidation  of  amylie. 
alcohol.  In  connection  with  this  subject  it  was  stated  that  the  valerian  root 
of  our  commerce,  that  known  as  English  valerian  as  well  as  the  German,  is  fre- 
quently very  unclean,  containing  sometimes  perhaps  25  to  30  p.  ct.  of  dirt  en- 
closed between  the  rootlets.    It  appears  that  this  is  more  frequently  the  case 
*  See  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  January,  1873. 
