ON SUBNITRATE OF BISMUTH. 
17 
which is thought preferable for the more common mode of 
administration in pills. If a solution is wanted, the addition 
of a few drops of sulphuric acid will assist in rendering it 
entirely soluble in water, and will convert the vegetable 
alkalies into sulphates. 
It may be given in doses of from one to four grains ; 
medium dose two grains, and is applicable to the same 
character and form of disease in which bark in substance, 
and the sulphate of quinia, are usually administered. 
ART. III.— ON SUBNITRATE OF BISMUTH. 
By Emil NollenbergeRj 
Apothecary, U. S. Naval^Hospital, New York. 
Mr. Turner, of London, manufacturer of Pharmaceutical 
preparations, requested me, during my residence there, to 
undertake some experiments on the cheapest and most 
practical methods of preparing subnitrate of bismuth in a 
pure and white state. The following process gave me the 
most satisfaction, by yielding a preparation of splendid 
whiteness and purity. 
I weighed four parts of pure nitric acid, spec. gr. 1.20, in 
a glass jar and put a porcelain funnel, which was pierced 
with small holes, in the jar, so as to reach about two inches 
under the surface of the acid, I then put one part of granu- 
lated bismuth in the funnel, and put the whole apparatus 
in a moderately warm place till all the bismuth was dis- 
solved. (It is necessary to put it aside somewhere that the 
nitrous acid may do no harm.) When all was dissolved, I 
diluted the solution with as much distilled water as it 
