Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
June,  1879.  J 
Chloroform  and  Ether. 
291 
When  I  first  commenced  making  glycerin,  the  quantity  of  lead 
plaster  manufactured  gave  me  for  one  or  two  years  all  that  I  needed  ; 
but  soon  I  made  the  plaster  for  the  sake  of  the  glycerin  alone  ;  and  I 
remember  at  one  time  I  had  many  hundredweight  of  plaster,  in  mass, 
from  which  I  had  taken  the  glycerin,  and  for  which  there  was  no  sale, 
so  that  the  plaster  and  not  the  glycerin  became  the  refuse  product. 
In  looking  over  my  books  for  facts  connected  with  this  article,  my 
mind  was  saddened  by  reading  the  names  of  many  who  thirty  years 
since  were  actively  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  their  profession,  but 
who  now  "  sleep  the  last  sleep."  Referring  to  a  few  in  our  city  alone,  I 
meet  such  names  as  Charles  Ellis,  Edward  Parrish,  Wm.  Procter,  Jr., 
Elias  Durand,  Frederick  Brown,'  Tristram  Needles,  Joseph  and  John 
Reakirt,  Frederick  Klett,  John  K.  and  George  K.  Smith,  Edward 
and  Charles  Yarnall,  Geo.  D.  Wetherill,  the  Roberts,  Lennigs,  Cres- 
sons,  and  many  others. 
It  is  an  interesting  study,  comparing  the  small  beginnings  as  related 
above  (only  a  generation  back)  with  the  immense  production  of  glyce- 
rin at  the  present  day.  So  far  as  I  am  informed,  all  that  I  made  and 
sold  was  used  medicinally,  either  internally  administered  or  in  form  of 
iotion  or  unguent. 
At  this  day,  vast  quantities  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  nitro- 
glycerin, dynamit,  duallin  and  other  explosives.  The  perfumers  are 
large  consumers,  also  the  confectioners.  Large  quantities  are  used  for 
the  preservation  of  fruits  and  meat,  as  well  as  in  the  preparation  of 
chewing  tobacco. 
But  the  greatest  demand  comes,  perhaps,  from  the  brewers.    It  is 
estimated  that  over  40,000  pounds  is  drank  annually  in  beer  in  this 
country  alone  ;  and  instead  of  my  old  price  of  $4.00  per  lb.,  an  article 
quite  as  good  can  now  be  produced  for  18  cents  per  lb. 
Philadelphia,  April,  1879. 
  I 
ON  THE  MIXTURE  OF  CHLOROFORM  AND  ETHER. 
By  Wm.  H.  Greene,  M.D. 
A  mixture  of  chloroform  and  ether  has  long  been  employed  as  an 
anaesthetic,  and  discussion  has  frequently  arisen  as  to  the  proportions 
which  should  be  employed  and  the  properties  of  the  mixture.  The 
second  of  these  questions  may  be  decided  by  experiment. 
