VARIETIES. 
81 
tory  disease.  It  is  extremely  applicable  in  some  forms  of  cuta- 
neous disease,  chilblains,  &c.  There  is  besides  every  reason  to 
suppose  that  the  absorption  of  cadmium  into  the  system  would 
not  be  attended  with  any  injurious  consequences,  as  it  appears  to 
be  closely  allied  to  zinc  in  its  action  upon  the  animal  economy. 
I  believe  that  since  I  first  made  use  of  the  iodide  of  cadmium 
as  an  external  remedy,  several  physicians  and  surgeons  have 
employed  it,  and  I  am  inclined  to  introduce  it  with  some  confi- 
dence to  the  notice  of  the  profession. — London  Pharm.  Jour.) 
Nov.  2,  1857. 
i3  arte  tics, 
Basford's  Compound  Percolator. — J.  K.  Basford,  druggist,  in  this  city, 
claims  to  have  invented  an  entirely  new  and  valuable  Percolator  for  the 
purpose  of  making  solutions,  decoctions  and  fluid  extracts,  such  as  are  used 
"by  the  medical  profession.  The  apparatus  may  be  appropriately  called 
"  Basford's  Compound  Percolator."  This  Percolator  consists  of  a  double 
tin  cylinder,  or  a  cylinder  within  a  cylinder,  so  soldered  together  that  there 
is  a  space  of  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  between  them,  in  which  it  is 
intended  to  keep  water  and  generate  steam  for  heating  purposes.  The 
lower  end  of  the  cylinders  narrow  down  into  a  funnel  shape,  so  as  to  go 
into  the  neck  of  a  bottle  or  receiver.  On  the  upper  end  of  the  double 
cylinder,  there  fits  tight  a  tin  can  or  reservoir  designed  to  hold  and  heat 
the  alcohol  or  water,  or  other  liquid  with  which  the  extract  is  to  be 
made.  This  can  has  a  bottom  above  the  point  at  which  it  fits  to  the 
cylinder  part  of  the  apparatus.  In  this  bottom  there  is  a  valve,  opened 
and  shut  by  a  screw  on  the  outside,  and  also  a  tube  fixed  in  the  bottom, 
and  reaching  up  nearly  to  the  top  of  the  can,  intended  to  let  off  whatever 
steam  may  arise  in  this  reservoir  during  the  heating  of  the  liquid  in  it, 
and  allow  it  to  pass  below  into  the  cylinder  part  of  the  apparatus.  On  the 
outside  of  the  lower  part  of  this  can  there  is  a  rim  of  tin,  so  constructed 
that  between  the  rim  and  the  side  of  the  can  there  is  a  space  which  will 
hold  burning  alcohol  and  allow  the  flames  to  play  around  and  heat 
the  sides  of  the  can.  There  is  also  a  rim  of  the  same  kind  and  for  the 
same  purpose  at  the  funnel-shaped  part  of  the  cylinder  portion  of  the 
Percolator. 
The  apparatus  may  now  be  supposed  to  be  placed  in  position  and  ready 
for  use.  The  cylinder  is  placed  with  the  funnel  part  downwards,  and  fixed 
in  a  bottle  to  receive  the  extract.    The  end  of  the  funnel  is  closed  with  a 
6 
