154 
MISCELLANY. 
preventing the eye distinguishing certain colours^ but none that had the 
power of destroying the sense of taste for any one particular substance^ 
while it could appreciate others, and might, consequently, lead to 
some important physiological discovery as regards the organ of taste 
Phar. Jour. 
On the effect of Coffee in diminishing the hitter taste of Sulphate of Quinine. 
By M. QuEVENNE. — Sulphate of quinine is less soluble in an infusion of 
coffee than in water : this is evidently the cause to which the property 
possessed by the former liquid, of masking the bitterness of the 
quinine, must be referred. Besides this the part remaining undis- 
solved at the bottom of the vessel absorbs certain elements of the 
coffee (amongst others tannin and colouring matter)^ and becomes still 
less soluble, not only in an infusion of coffee, but also in pure water. 
With respect to the practical inferences to be drawn from these obser- 
vations in a Pharmaceutical point of view, it may be remarked that, 
besides the necessity already pointed out by M. Dorvault [Repertoire 
de Pharmacie. t. 3, Juin, ]847), of not dissolving the salt of quinine 
previously in acidulated water, but of putting it in powder in the infu- 
sion of coffee, and taking it whilst in a state of suspension, it is better 
that the coffee should not be very warm when the sulphate of quinine 
is added, the solvent power of the liquid, and, consequently, the deve- 
lopement of the bitter taste, increasing with the temperature. The 
coffee should not be employed too strong, as that would increase the 
tendency to the formation of tannate of quinine — a salt less soluble, 
and, consequently) less active than the sulphate. Nine grains of sul- 
phate of quinine, added to an infusion of two and-a-half drachms of 
coffee, in three ounces of water, with sugar a^^ libitum, are suitable pro- 
portions. 
As regards the effect produced on the activity of the sulphate of 
quinine when thus mixed with coffee, these observations would 
naturally lead us to inquire how far this diminution of solubility could 
injure the effect of the medicine. Jt is evident that, starting with this 
general principle, uncontrovertible both in physiology and chemistry, 
that the activity of bodies is increased in proportion as they are dis- 
solved, or readily acted on by the liquids with which they come in 
contact ; and remarking, on the other hand, what has been proved by 
experiment, that sulphate of quinine, dissolved in acidulated water, 
acts more promptly and energetically than when in a state of partial 
solution in pure water, or in pills, we must arrive at the conclusion 
that the manner of administration, of which we are now treating, is 
disadvantageous. But, at the same time, sulphate of quinine, being a 
