408  Fractical  Notes  from  Va/rious  Sources.  {^lug^;^^ 
on  hand  for  the  rapid  and  convenient  preparation  of  the  weak 
antiseptic  solutions  containing  inj,  to,  etc.,  per  cent,  of  mercuric 
chloride. 
Prof.  V.  Meyer  has  shown  {BeriMe  Ch.  Ges,,  1887,  p  1728)  that 
though  sodium  chloride  has  a  preser^'ative  influence  on  solutions  of 
mercuric  chloride,  it  does  not  prevent  precipitation  of  a  portion  of  the 
mercury  if  water  ha^dng  a  great  degree  of  hardness  be  used. 
Preparation  of  mfusion  of  digitalis. — A  series  of  experiments  made 
by  Mr.  Brocker,  military  pharmacist  at  Utrecht  {Jour,  de  iiM.  de 
Paris,  May  27),  lead  to  the  conclusion  that,  for  preparing  this  infu- 
sion, only  the  parenchymatous  portions  of  the  leaves  should  be  used, 
this  containing  one  per  cent,  of  digitalin,  and  that  the  veins  and 
petioles  should  be  rejected,  because  they  contain  only  0.02  per  cent, 
of  digitahn,  and  are  apt  to  render  the  infusion  gelatinous.  Maceration 
for  two  hours  at  a  temperature  of  20 "C.  gives  the  best  results;  less 
satisfactory  is  the  infusion  made  at  70^C.,  though  it  is  still  better  than 
an  infusion  made  by  submitting  the  leaves  to  the  action  of  boiling 
water  for  from  five  to  fifteen  minutes. 
Pills  of  Agaricin. — As  a  remedy  against  the  nightsweats  of  con- 
sumptives, and  to  lessen  the  laxative  properties  of  agaricin,  Jung  has 
found  the  following  combination  of  sei'^^ce:  Agaricin  0.5  gm ;  Dover's 
powder  7. 5  gm ;  powdered  althaea,  and  powdered  acacia,  of  each  4 
gm;  to  be  made  into  one  hundred  pills,  of  which  two  are  taken 
daily. 
Aqua  Capsici,  in  use  at  the  Philadelphia  Hospital,  is  prepared  by 
Jos.  W.  England  from  tincture  of  capsicum  /oij  which  is  triturated 
with  calcium  phosphate  5ss  until  all  the  alcohol  has  evaporated,  when 
sufficient  water  is  added  to  make,  after  filU'ation,  one  pint.  Capsicum 
water  is  a  colorless  liquid,  having  a  warm  jDungent  taste. 
Aqua  picis. — Tar  water  was  observed  by  Dr.  Saint-Marc  (Lancd, 
May  ]  2)  to  have  a  hfemostatic  effect,  particularly  if  prepared  from 
pinewood  tar.  It  has  been  used  in  pulmonary  hemorrhage  as  well  as 
in  hemorrhage  of  the  uterus  and  kidney,  and  may  be  administered  in 
quantities  of  ten  to  fifteen  drachms  during  a  day. 
Aqua  chloroformi. — According  to  Dr.Unna  {31onatsh  f.  pr .  Dermat.) 
this  water  is  a  valuable  vehicle  for  hypodermic  solutions,  partly  on 
account  of  its  local  anesthetic  effect,  and  because  it  prevents  the  de- 
composition of  Fowler's  solution,  of  ergotui.  and  of  many  other  sub- 
stances. 
