292 
Suhnitrate  of  Bismuth. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
\    July  1, 1871. 
Mr.  Owen  observed  that  the  sides  were  covered  with  crystals,  which 
he  collected,  and  .proved  to  be  morphia. 
The  process  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  alluded  to,  yields,  in  all  cases,  a 
medicated  water  possessing  an  alkaline  reaction,  which  is  shown  by 
its  effect  upon  a  diluted  tincture  of  turmeric,  the  latter  turning  red- 
dish brown.  If  chloride  of  ammonium  and  ammonia  water  are  added 
to  such  a  medicated  water,  any  soluble  phosphate  will  in  a  short  time 
produce  a  dense  cloudiness  and  finally  a  precipitate.  It  is  unneces- 
sary to  enter  into  the  causes  of  the  solubility  of  magnesia  under  these 
circumstances ;  the  fact  is  a  plain  one,  and  the  possibility  of  danger- 
ous effects  very  obvious.  Neutral  salts  of  insoluble  (in  water)  alka- 
loids may  be  dissolved  in  such  medicated  waters,  but  the  alkaloids 
will  be  gradually  precipitated  in  a  form  in  which  they  cannot  be  uni- 
formly diffused  in  the  liquid  even  by  agitation  ;  hence  the  possibility, 
if  the  separated  alkaloid  does  not  firmly  adhere  to  the  vial,  that  the 
last  dose  may  contain  an  excessive  amount  of  a  poisonous  article ; 
while,  in  case  it  should  adhere  with  sufficient  firmness,  the  result  might 
be,  at  least,  disappointment  in  the  effects,  if  nothing  worse,  in  conse- 
quence of  insufficient  medication. 
Heretofore  we  have  advocated  the  preparation  of  medicated  w^aters 
by  distillation  from  the  drugs,  solely  for  the  reason  of  their  superior 
flavor  and  taste.  The  facts  pointed  out  above  furnish  a  by  far  stronger 
argument.  As  long,  however,  as  the  Pharmacopoeia  allows  the  pre- 
paration of  these  waters  from  the  volatile  oils  by  the  aid  of  magnesia, 
it  would  appear  to  be  the  plain  duty  of  the  pharmacist  to  neutralize 
or  faintly  acidulate  these  waters  in  all  cases  where  salts  of  poisonous 
alkaloids  are  to  be  dissolved  therein. 
EXAMINATION  OF  SUBNITRATE  OF  BISMUTH. 
By  John  D.  Owen,  of  Louisville,  Ky. 
(From  the  Author's  Inaugural  Essay). 
Being  requested  to  make  an  examination  of  the  subnitrate  of  bismuth 
of  commerce,  I  procured  four  samples,  one  from  each  of  the  following 
firms:  Messrs.  Powers  &  Weightman,  Rosengarten  &  Sons,  A.  W. 
Wright  &  Co.  and  Kurlbaum  &  Co.  Taking  two  grammes  of  each  sam. 
pie,  with  each  of  which  I  mixed  two  grammes  pure  carbonate  of  soda 
and  a  small  quantity  of  distilled  water,  I  then  boiled  them  for  a  short 
time  which  caused  a  mutual  decomposition,  forming  carbonate  of  bis- 
