316  Selections  from  the  Banish  Journals.  {Am^^rm' 
Phosphorus. — The  solution  of  phosphorus  in  alcohol  generally  takes 
from  12  to  24  hours,  and  the  alcohol  has  moreover  to  be  kept  warm 
all  the  time.  It  is,  therefore,  proposed  to  use  glycerin  as  a  solvent. 
Phosphorus  dissolves  quite  readily  by  shaking  for  several  minutes  with 
warm  glycerin  ;  an  addition  of  warm  alcohol  will  prevent  any  deposit 
of  phosphorus  in  cooling. — Ibid,,  p.  162,  from  Apoth.  Zeit.y  1875,  No.  35. 
Assay  of  Cinchona. — Handry  recommends  the  following  as  a  very 
quick  and  sufficiently  reliable  method  :  Put  into  a  beaker-glass  (or 
other  convenient  utensil)  10  grams  bark  in  coarse  powder,  and  20  grams 
ammonia  water  ;  stir  for  several  minutes,  and  add  i$ccm.  ether,  stir 
again,  let  stand  till  clear  and  decant  the  ether  into  a  bottle.  The 
warmth  of  the  hand  will  be  sufficient  to  evaporate  the  ether  remaining 
in  the  mixture.  Now  repeat  the  treatment  with  ether  5  to  6  times, 
taking  care  not  to  add  the  ether  before  the  remainder  of  the  former 
has  entirely  evaporated.  The  difference  in  the  weight  of  the  beaker, 
before  and  after  the  ether  treatment,  indicates  the  amount  of  quinia. 
Cinchonia  is  estimated  by  treating  this  residual  bark  with  chloro- 
form in  the  same  way  as  above. — Ibid.,  p.  163,  from  J.  de  Pharm.  et  de 
Chim.,  1876,  p.  208. 
Antidote  to  Strychnia. — The  East  Indian  physicians  recommend 
nicotia  as  the  surest  antidote,  which  is  given  in  exceedingly  small 
-quantities  in  sherry  several  times  a  day.  In  default  of  nicotia,  a  decoc- 
tion of  tobacco  leaves  (  \  ounce  to  a  pint)  is  given. — Ibid.,  p.  167. 
Adulteration  of  Arrow  Root. — H.  P.  Madsen,  received  some  time  ago, 
an  original  package  of  arrow  root,  the  appearance  of  which  was  all  that 
could  be  desired,  and  stood  the  test  of  the  Danish  Pharmacopoeia,  par- 
ticularly that  with  muriatic  acid,  very  well.  It  did  dissolve  completely 
in  boiling  water,  but  did  not  form  a  thick  mucilage  even  when  a  very 
large  quantity  was  dissolved.  Examined  under  the  microscope,  the 
arrow  root  in  question  presented  elliptical  grains,  about  three  times 
larger  than  those  of  maranta,  and  mostly  provided  with  a  well-devel- 
oped hilum,  which  latter  characteristic  points  to  tacca  fecula  from  tacca 
pennatifida.  The  grains  of  canna  fecula  (from  canna  coccinea)  are  of 
similar  shape  and  size,  but  the  hilum  is  quite  indistinct.  The  package 
was  consequently  returned. 
He  mentions  also  having  received  two  packages  with  damaged 
arrow  root.    About  the  first  cask  there  could  not  be  any  doubt,  the 
