80  Solution  of  Gualac  Resin,  etc.  {"^'kiTmT''" 
in  a  vinegar  factory,  badly  conducted,  where  poor  ventilation  pro- 
duces an  incomplete  oxidation  of  the  alcohol,  but  rather  decay,  must 
at  once  be  struck  by  the  resemblance  of  this  odor  to  that  of  manna» 
It  was  this  experience  which  induced  my  experiments  in  the  manner 
mentioned  above,  the  gluten  of  the  wheat  flour  forming,  together  with 
the  vinegar,  an  excellent  ferment  of  putridity,  which  not  only  pro- 
duces the  nauseous,  humus-like  parts  existing  in  manna,  but  also  the 
molecular  change  'of  cane  and  grape-sugar,  which  converts  it  into 
mannite. 
This  artificial  manna,  in  its  action  as  a  laxative,  equals  the  true 
manna,  and  very  likely  the  presence  of  a  substance  in  a  state  of 
change,  the  active  principle,  is  the  same  in  both  the  true  and  the 
artificial  manna.  The  mannite  produced  in  this  manner  does  not  re" 
duce  alkaline  cupric  tartrate,  showing  the  complete  change  of  the 
glucose  ;  but  your  reporter  would  beg  leave  to  complete  his  researches, 
viz.,  on  the  elementary  analysis  of  the  artificial  product,  which  pres- 
sure of  business  has  prevented  him  from  completing. 
An  accompanying  sample  of  the  manna  produced  will  show  how  far 
my  attempts  have  been  successful. — Proc,  Amer.  Pliarm.  A%%og.^  1870. 
ON  SOLUTION  OF  GUAIAC  RESIN  FOR  MEDICINAL  USE. 
By  James  T.  Shinn,  of  Philadelphia. 
Query  7. — What  is  the  best  and  most  eligible  liquid  form  for  the  preparation 
and  administration  of  guaiac  resin  ? 
There  are  two  ofiicinal  liquid  preparations  of  guaiac,  the  tincture, 
and  amraoniated  tincture,  both  of  which  are  perfect  solutions  of  the 
drug,  but  are  very  disagreeable  in  taste  when  given  alone,  or  even 
when  diluted  with  four  or  five  parts  of  water.  The  great  desideratum 
is  to  find  a  menstruum  which  is  a  good  solvent,  readily  miscible  with 
water,  and  palatable  ;  and  although  unsuccessful  in  this  attempt,  I 
will  give  some  results  of  the  experiments  made. 
Alcohol  dissolves  all  the  resinous  portions  of  commercial  guaiac, 
leaving  from  20  to  25  per  cent,  of  impurities,  chiefly  chips  of  the 
wood  and  sand,  and  the  purified  guaiac  obtained  by  evaporating  the 
alcohol  from  this  solution  is  readily  dissolved  by  its  weight  of  that 
fluid.  The  officinal  tincture  (three  ounces  to  a  pint),  will  bear  an 
equal  volume  of  water  or  syrup  and  remain  clear,  and  is  miscible  in 
any  proportion  with  glycerin  and  liquor  potassae  without  producing 
turbidity. 
