AMi>ec™;i873RM'}      Preparation  of  Liquor  Bismuth.  541 
2.  To  make  the  solution  in  a  red  glass  flask  by  simple  agitation. 
3.  To  use  the  following  proportions  : 
Crystallized  iodoform,  1  gramme  ; 
Ether  (60°  Baume'),  4  grammes. 
I  had  a  solution  prepared  with  Squibb's  ether,  and  find  that  it  pos- 
sesses all  the  advantages  of  iodoform  in  powder  for  local  applications, 
without  its  disadvantages.  The  smarting  which  the  ether  may  be  ex- 
pected to  produce  upon  the  mucous  membrane  is  momentary  only,  so 
that  the  application  becomes  really  painless.  Its  beneficial  effects 
surpass  my  expectations. — Philada.  Medical  Times,  Oct.  4,  1873. 
THE  PREPARATION  OF  LIQUOR  BISMUTHI  * 
By  0.  Mehu. 
In  the  formula  given  by  Mr.  C.  H.  Wood  for  the  preparation  of 
Liquor  Bismuthif  there  are  two  equivalents  of  citric  acid  ordered  to 
one  equivalent  of  bismuth.  I  have  satisfied  myself  many  times  that 
a  single  equivalent  of  citric  acid  is  sufficient  to  obtain  a  perfectly 
stable  solution  of  bismuth.  In  this  manner  an  excess  of  citrate  of 
ammonium  in  the  liquor  is  avoided.  The  method  which  I  adopt  is  as 
follows  : 
I  dissolve  an  ascertained  weight  of  pure  bismuth  in  three  times  its 
weight  of  pure  nitric  acid,  then  concentrate  the  solution  and  leave  it 
to  crystallize.  After  one  or  two  days  the  mother  liquor  which  sur- 
rounds the  crystals  is  decanted  and  evaporated  in  a  porcelain  capsule 
at  a  moderate  temperature,  so  as  to  completely  drive  off  the  excess 
of  acid;  in  cooling  the  liquor  forms  a  crystalline  mass.  All  the  crys- 
tals being  put  together,  I  then  pour  upon  them  a  concentrated  solution 
of  citric  acid,  made  with  heat.  For  each  equivalent  of  bismuth  I 
employ  an  equivalent  of  crystallized  citric  acid,  being  very  nearly 
equal  weights  of  each.  The  solution  of  citric  acid  dissolves  completely 
the  crystals  of  nitrate  of  bismuth. 
In  order  to  obtain  citrate  of  bismuth  I  divide  this  solution  of  nitrate 
of  bismuth  in  citric  acid  into  two  equal  parts,  and  pour  into  one  of 
them  a  sufficient  quantity  of  ammonia  to  dissolve  the  precipitate  that 
is  formed  at  first,  leaving  only  a  slight  excess  of  ammonia,  and  then 
add  the  other  portion  of  the  solution.  From  this  mixture  there  results 
*"Annuaire  Pharmaceutique,"  1873,  p.  55. 
f  "  Pharm.  Journ."  [3],  vol.  ii,  p.  233. 
