408  Gleanings  from  the  Foreign  Journals.  {AmsJptu%8P76arm* 
Apothecaries  who  are  not  deficient  in  knowledge,  are  sometimes 
deficient  in  caution,  and  articles  published  in  reliable  journals  are  copied 
and  used  without  hesitation,  and  the  compounder  or  dispenser  is  brought 
into  unlooked-for  and  unexpected  difficulties. 
The  above  article  is  written  solely  with  a  view  of  placing  druggists 
and  physicians  on  their  guard  in  using  or  dispensing  a  dangerous  com- 
pound. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  FOREIGN  JOURNALS. 
BY    THE  EDITOR. 
Phosphide  of  Zinc,  according  to  Vigier,  is  sometimes  defective,  con- 
taining oxide  of  zinc,  probably  in  consequence  of  having  been  prepared 
in  contact  with  air.  It  should  form  a  very  fine  powder  resembling 
iron  reduced  by  hydrogen,  easily  soluble  in  hydrochloric  acid  with  an 
abundant  disengagement  of  phosphoretted  hydrogen.'  Vigier  and  Curie 
propose  the  following  formulas  : 
Pills  of  Phosphide  of  Zinc. — Phosphide  of  zinc  in  fine  powder  o*8o, 
liquorice  powder  0*30,  and  gum  syrup  0*90  grams  ;  for  100  pills,  sil- 
vered. Each  pill  contains  theoretically  2  milligrams  of  phosphorus,  or 
one  milligram  of  active  phosphorus.  Two  to  four  are  usually  admin- 
istered daily,  and  can  be  taken  without  other  inconvenience  than  allia- 
ceous eructations. 
Phosphide  of  Zinc  Powder. — Phosphide  of  zinc  in  fine  powder  0*40, 
starch  powder  5 "00  grams.  For  50  packets,  each  of  which  will  con- 
tain 1  milligram  of  active  phosphorus. — Fhar.  four,  and  Trans.,  June 
10,  from  I' Union  Phar.,  XVII,  p.  41. 
Phosphide  of  Zinc  was  first  prepared  by  Marggraf  in  1740.  Formerly 
it  was  made  by  fusing,  in  a  bath  of  iron  filings,  74  parts  of  pure  zinc, 
and  adding  gradually  in  small  pieces  26  parts  of  dry  phosphorus.  This 
process  gives  good  results  only  in  small  quantities  (10  to  20  grams).  A 
more  recent  process  (probably  by  Regnault)  is  to  pass  vapors  of  phos- 
phorus, in  a  current  of  dry  hydrogen  over  fused  zinc.  The  product  is  a 
spongy,  gray  mass,  of  metallic  appearance, containing  rhomboidal  crystals, 
and  resembling  somewhat  reduced  iron  when  powdered.  The  metal- 
lic particles  of  zinc  should  be  separated.  Its  spec.  grav.  is  472. 
When  triturated  a  phosphorous  odor  is  developed.  It  is  permanent  at 
the  ordinary  temperature,  but  at  a  red  heat  is  fusible  and  volatile,  and 
if  in  contact  with  air  burns  to  zinc  phosphate.    It  should  be  completely 
