516 
Varieties. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm^ 
\    Nov.  1, 1871. 
Approximate  Measurement. — Mr.  E.  B.  Suttleworth,  in'the  Canadian  Phar- 
maceutical Journal  for  September,  has  an  article  on  this  subject  in  which  he 
shows  the  absurdity  of  ordering  potent  medicines  by  drops;  as  dropped  from 
vessels  of  different  shape  and  size,  he  obtained  for  one  fluid  drachm  of  lauda- 
num from  50  to  135  drops.  He  likewise  examined  the  teaspoons  as  met  with 
in  commerce,  and  found  them  to  be  of  three  or  four  sizes,  holding  about  55,  75, 
85  and  95  minims  respectively.  The  dessertspoon,  as  now  met  with,  holds  150 
or  200  minims,  and  the  tablespoon  4,  5  or  6  fluid  drachms.  The  author  rec- 
ommends physicians  always  to  specify  the  use  of  small  spoons,  when  the  possi- 
"  bility  of  giving  an  under  dose  is  exceedingly  remote,  the  chances  still  being  that 
the  quantity  will  be  over  the  mark.  The  dessertspoon  might  well  be  aban* 
doned  entirely,  as  the  measuring  of  two  teaspoonfuls  is  almost  as  convenient 
and  far  more  likely  to  be  correct. 
Glycerized  Cotton  for  Dressing  Wounds. —  E'rofessor  Gubler,  at  a  recent 
meeting  of  the  Academic  de  Medecine,  exhibited  some  specimens  of  wadding 
prepared  by  saturatini^  it  with  a  certain  quantity  of  glycerine,  which  he  had 
found  to  render  it  permeable  to  all  medicinal  liquids,  without  causing  it  to  lose 
any  of  its  suppleness  and  lightness.  He  suggested  that  in  this  state  it  might 
prove  a  useful  substitute  for  charpie,  in  the  event  of  a  scarcity  of  that  article. 
Dr.  Delaborde  has  already  employed  it  with  advantage.  In  order  to  prepare 
this  dressing,  it  is  only  necessary  to  pour  a  small  quantity  of  glycerine  over  the 
square  sheet  of  wadding,  and  afterwards  express  it  as  strongly  as  possible. — 
Pharm.  Journ.  and  Trans.,  Sept.  30,  :1871,  from  Journ.  de  Pharmacie  et  de 
Chimie. 
Water  imfrozen  at  a  temperature  of — 18^(7. —  Boussingault  finds  that  by 
preventing  the  dilatation  of  water,  it  may  be  kept  unfrozen  down  to  — IS^C. 
He  experimented  with  a  gun  barrel  of  steel,  into  which  a  steel  ball  was  dropped 
before  filling  it  witk  water.  During  the  cold  days  of  December  26,  27  and  30, 
last,  the  temperature  fell  to  — 12^  and — 18^,  and  yet  on  shaking  the  tube  the 
ball  was  found  to  move  freely,  showing  that  the  water  was  not  frozen. — Amer. 
Journ.  Set.  and  Arts,  Oct.,  1871,  from  D Institute  July  12. 
The  Manufacture  of  Platinum. — As  an  item  worthy  of  record  amongst  our 
mechanical  news,  we  would  notice  the  establishment  in  our  country  of  a  new 
manufacturing  industry,  namely,  that  of  the  manufacture  from  the  raw  mate- 
rial of  platinum  vessels,  wire,  etc.,  for  the  use  of  the  chemist,  and  of  those  en- 
gaged in  technical  pursuits.  For  our  supply  of  these  materials  we  have  been 
until  the  establishment  of  this  enterprise,  entirely  dependent  upon  European 
makers.  The  establishment  is  now,  we  believe,  successfully  conducted,  in  New 
York,  by  Mr.  H.  M.  Raynor,  and  we  wish  the  undertaker  of  it  success. — Journ. 
Frank.  Inst.,  Oct.,  1871. 
Simple  Process  for  Nickel- Plating — Prof.  F.  Stolba  communicates  a  plaa 
♦Dingler's  Polytechnisches  Journal,  cci,  145. 
