86  On  Iva  {Achillea  Moschata.)  l^FebTm^"" 
given  off,  a  blackish,  metallic-looking  substance  being  left,  entirely 
soluble  in  spirit,  which  proved  to  be  pure  iodine.  Acid  nitrate  of 
bismuth  remained  in  solution,  which  was  not  precipitated  by  a  small 
quantity  of  water,  or  until  neutralized.  With  hydrochloric  or  sul- 
phuric acid  there  was  no  effervescence,  but  iodine  was  again  precipitated; 
with  the  latter  some  iodic  acid  was  formed.  Oxalic  acid  also  decom- 
posed the  salt,  setting  free  the  iodine  ;  the  action  being  somewhat 
slower  than  it  was  in  the  case  of  the  minerals  acids. 
A  few  trials  of  it  in  doses  of  5  to  20  grains  appear  to  indicate  that 
it  is  not  an  energetic  therapeutic  agent,  which  is  probably  to  be 
ascribed  to  its  comparative  insolubility. — British  Medical  Journal. 
ON  lYA  (ACHILLEA  MOSCHATA.) 
By  Dr.  A.  v.  Planta-Reichenau. 
The  plant  is  known  in  Switzerland  as  forest  lady's  herb  (Wildfrau- 
lein  J^^raut)  and  has  been  used  there  for  centuries  as  a  stomachic 
tonic,  &c. 
The  author  collected  the  herb  before  flowering  without  the  root. 
It  was,  in  the  form  of  a  coarse  powder,  distilled  with  steam,  until 
volatile  oil  ceased  to  come  over,  and  the  aqueous  decoction  evaporated 
to  the  consistency  of  an  extract.  The  herb  thus  exhausted  with 
water,  was  dried  and  extracted  with  alcohol  until  it  ceased  to  impart 
to  it  a  bitter  taste ;  most  of  the  alcohol  was  distilled  off. 
Iva  Oil.  The  crude  volatile  oil  is  bluish  green,  of  a  peculiar,  not 
disagreeable  odor,  and  a  taste  reminding  of  peppermint.  It  com- 
mences to  boil  at  170°  C.  ;  the  greatest  portion  distils  between  180 
and  210°  C. ;  the  distillate  between  230  and  260°  C.  is  brown,  and 
has  the  odor  of  wormwood.  A  dark  brown,  soft  resin  is  left  behind, 
which  is  not  bitter,  insoluble  in  absolute  alcohol,  but  readily  soluble 
in  ether  and  oil  of  turpentine.  The  rectified  oil  was  of  a  faint  yel- 
lowish color,  an  agreeable  refreshing  odor,  and  a  warm  bitter  taste, 
reminding  of  peppermint.  Its  composition  is  C^gH^oO^ ;  the  author 
names  this  ivaol. 
Ivain.  The  dark  green  alcoholic  liquid  was  precipitated  by  alco- 
holic solution  of  acetate  of  lead  ;  the  filtrate  was  treated  with  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  and  the  filtrate  evaporated,;  the  residue  was 
washed  with  acetic  acid  until  the  washings  were  colorless,  afterwards 
with  water,  until  it  floats  upon  it.    It  was  then  repeatedly  dissolve 
