■•Am  J  our.  Pharm.  \ 
Dee.  1,  1873.  J 
Varieties. 
561 
a,  portion  of  the  fat,  forming  a  fluid  globular  mass  under  the  water, 
whilst  the  remainder  of  the  matter  taken  up  by  ether  rises  to  the 
surface  as  a  thin  film.  The  globule  containing  phosphorus  is  now 
treated  with  about  10  to  15  grams  of  strong  aqueous  ammonia  in  a 
small  flask  and  violently  agitated.  This  treatment  is  repeated  a  few 
times.  Lastly,  if  the  adhering  ammonia  be  removed  by  washing  first 
with  water  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  then  with  pure  water, 
the  phosphorus  remains  behind,  certainly  somewhat  soft  in  consist- 
ence, but  otherwise  exhibiting  all  the  physical  and  chemical  proper- 
ties which  characterize  it.  It  may  be  brought  in  a  little  glass  tube 
and  handed  to  the  judge  as  corpus  delicti. — Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans., 
Oct.  18,  1873.   
llartctic6# 
Lead  Poisoning  from  Hair-Dye. — Dr.  Crocker  reports  the  following  :  During 
the  month  of  February,  R.  W.,  aged  fifty-five  years,  applied  to  him  for  relief 
from  pains,  similar  to  those  which  characterize  muscular  rheumatism.  In  ad- 
dition to  pains  in  the  deltoid  and  other  muscles  of  the  shoulder,  he  suffered 
from  partial  paralysis  of  both  arms.  The  disease  appeared  to  yield  under  the 
influence  of  simple  remedies,  but  .later  it  was  noticed  that  there  was  almost 
complete  paralysis  of  the  extensors  of  the  fingers.  The  patient  could  seize 
objects  forcibly,  but  found  a  difficulty  in  letting  them  go.  As  he  had  suffered 
for  several  years  from  occasional  attacks  of  colic,  his  gums  were  examined,  but 
no  metallic  stain  could  be  seen.  After  the  water  of  the  dwelling  had  been  tested 
and  the  kitchen  utensils  suspected,  it  was  found  that  he  had,  for  the  last  fifteen 
years,  made  use  of  a  hair-dye,  which  he  prepared  himself,  as  follows  :  To  one 
pint  of  water,  add  one  teaspoonful  of  acetate  of  lead  and  three  teaspoonfuls  of 
sulphur.  This  he  was  accustomed  to  use  at  least  once  a  week.  This  lotion 
was  interdicted,  and,  under  the  influence  of  iodide  of  potassium  and  electricity  f 
he  made  a  good  recovery. — N.  Y.  Med.  Journ.,from  Union  Medicaid. 
Nitrate  of  Zinc  as  a  Caustic. — M.  Lefort  describes  (Journ.  de  Pharm.  et  de 
Chzmie,  May,  1873)  a  caustic  paste  prepared  from  nitrate  of  zinc,  which  has 
been  reported  on  favorably  by  Drs.  Clement  and  Desgrange,  at  the  Hotel-Dieu, 
Lyons.  The  nitrate  is  prepared  by  dissolving  commercial  zinc  with  heat  in 
equal  volumes  of  nitric  acid  and  water,  maintaining  an  excess  of  zinc,  and  con- 
centrating until  a  slight  basic  precipitate  is  formed,  which  carries  down  any 
iron  present.  Boiling  water  is  then  added,  and,  when  cool,  the  solution  is  fil- 
tered, and  evaporated  at  a  gentle  heat  until  slight  ebullition  takes  place;  if 
then  left  to  cool,  it  forms  a  cake,  which  should  be  broken  up  and  drained  in  a 
glass  funnel.  Of  the  nitrate  of  zinc  so  prepared,  100  grams  are  dissolved  in 
50  grams  of  water,  and  afterwards  incorporated  with  50  grams  of  vvheaten 
flour.  This  forms  an  homogeneous  paste,  which  remains  soft,  spreads  easily 
over  surfaces  without  afterwards  contracting,  and  does  not  spread  at  the  edges 
36 
