\ia7i,  m™}  Digestive  Power  of  certain  Pepsins.  213 
From  this  analysis,  it  appears  that  the  constitution  of  the  Crab 
V/lCll.llU.  bail  lis  lilt?  iOllUWlllg  J  — 
Sulphate  of  Magnesia, 
.    44,778  Containing 
.  29-852 
Sulphate  of  Lime,     .       .       .   ,  . 
.  1-277 
.     0  751 
Sulphate  of  Potash,  .... 
.  1-871 
.  0-859 
Sulphate  of  Soda,  .... 
.  6-483 
.  3-652 
Chloride  of  Lithium, 
.  0-049 
Chloride  of  Sodium,  .... 
.  0-412 
Water,  ...... 
.  44-655 
Insoluble  Matter  and  Ferric  Oxide,  . 
* 
.  0.520 
The  salt,  dried  at  120°  C,  contains  the  principal  constituents  in 
the  following  quantities  : — 
Sulphate  of  Magnesia,   65.463 
"  Potassa,   2-735 
"  Soda,   9-480 
Chloride  of  Sodium,   0-602 
"       "  Lithium,   0-072 
Water  of  Crystallization,   18'933 
Crab  Orchard  salt  is  a  brownish-white  granular  powder,  without 
smell,  of  a  saline  and,  at  first,  rather  pleasant  taste,  with  an  after  bit- 
ter taste.  The  cathartic  effect  of  Crab  Orchard  salt  is  similar  to  that 
of  Epsom  salt,  except,  probably,  milder  in  its  action.  It  is  also 
claimed,  by  its  advocates,  to  have  a  specific  action  on  the  liver,  and 
good  tonic  properties.  These,  together  with  the  fact  that  smaller 
doses  are  required,  give  it,  in  the  opinion  of  most  of  those  "who  have 
used  it,  a  decided  advantage  over  the  Epsom  salt. 
The  dose  is  from  half  an  ounce  to  an  ounce,  dissolved  in  water;  it 
acts  with  greater  certainty  and  more  advantageousl}^  when  given  in 
drachm  doses,  at  short  intervals,  till  half  an  ounce  is  taken. 
ON  THE  COMPARATIVE  DIGESTIVE  POWER  OF  HAWLEY'S 
AND  SACCHARATED  PEPSINS. 
By  E.  Scheffer. 
In  the  March  number  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy  Dr. 
J.  S.  riawley  complains  of  my  comparative  tests  of  different  commer- 
cial pepsins,  and  seems  to  accuse  me  of  impeaching  his  veracity  and  by 
my  statements  doing  him  pecuniary  harm.  I  am  not  acquainted  with 
Dr.  Hawley,  and  my  experiments  were  not  intended  to  reflect  upon  any 
