460  Use  of  Nut  Oil  in  Pharmacy,  etc.  {^bct^wS"1' 
The  Chinese  ascribe  to  it  marvellous  medicinal  properties,  and  pay 
for  it  enormous  sums,  thereby  securing  the  entire  yield. 
Common  camphor  is  obtained  by  distillation  from  the  root,  stem 
and  leaves  of  certain  species  of  lauracece,  but  more  especially  from  the- 
laurus  camphora.  Of  this,  also,  there  are  two  varieties.  The  Chi- 
nese or  Formosa  camphor  is  carried  in  junks  to  Canton  and  there- 
packed  in  square  chests  lined  with  lead,  whence  it  is  sent  to  the  dif- 
ferent Eastern  ports,  where  we  procure  it.  It  is  of  a  grayish  color^. 
with  a  grain  like  sugar,  and  usually  unattractive  in  appearance.  The 
Dutch  or  Japan  camphor  is  prepared  in  Batavia,  is  packed  in  tubs* 
securely  matted,  is  pinkish  in  hue,  and  coarser  than  the  Chinese.. 
Both  kinds  need  purification  before  using. 
Camphor  is  slightly  soluble  in  water,  but  yields  freely  to  alcohol^, 
acetic  acid,  ether,  and  the  essential  oils.  A  pretty  experiment  may 
be  tried  with  it,  which  the  young  people  will  find  amusing.  Scatter 
a  few  pieces  of  clean  camphor  upon  pure  water,  and  they  whirl  and 
sail  about-,  keeping  up  the  dance  sometimes  for  hours.  Drop  among- 
them  some  greasy  matter  and  the  merry  little  performers  will  stop  on 
the  instant. — Scientific  American,  Aug.  30,  1873. 
THE  USE  OF  NUT  OIL  IN  PHARMACY,  AND  ESPECIALLY  IN 
THE  PREPARATION  OF  UNGUENTUM  HYDRARGYRI  Nl- 
TRATIS  * 
By  M.  Falieres. 
In  a  brief  review  of  former  formulas  for  the  preparation  of  citrine- 
ointment,  the  author  calls  attention  to  the  large  increase  which  has 
taken  place  in  the  relative  proportion  of  the  nitric  acid  to  the  mer- 
cury. The  proportions  indicated  by  Baume,  in  1785,  were  nitric  acid' 
128  parts,  mercury  96  parts,  lard  1000  parts.  The  mercury  has  been 
gradually  decreased  until,  in  the  Codex  for  1866,  where  equal  parts- 
(500)  of  olive  oil  and  lard  are  ordered,  the  nitric  acid  is  100  parts, 
and  the  mercury  50.  Thus  the  proportions  which  originally  were  4 
of  nitric  acid  (sp.  gr.  1-28)  and  mercury  3,  have  become  nitric  acid 
(sp.  gr.  1-42)  2,  and  mercury  l.f  Without  blaming  the  progressive 
diminution  of  the  metal,  since  even  with  this  reduction  the  medica- 
*  "  Bull,  des  Travaux  de  la  Soeiete  de  Pharmacie  de  Bordeaux,"  vol.  xiii,. 
165. 
t  In  the  B.  P.,  where  nure  olive  oil  is  used,  the  proportions  are,  nitric  acid 
3,  mercury  1. 
