238         ROMAN  CHAMOMILE  IN  SERIOUS  SUPPURATIONS, 
Heat  causes  dextrine  to  lose  water  and  converts  it  into  pyro- 
dextrine.  At  the  same  time,  the  saturating  power  is  diminished. 
The  equivalent  of  dextrine  contains  12  equivalents  of  carbon: 
that  of  pyrodextrine  contains  48.    Its  formula  is  : — 
C48H36  0  36?HO# 
Pyrodextrine  appears  to  be  the  only  soluble  colored  substance 
which  can  be  produced  by  the  action  of  heat  on  dextrine, 
When  we  heat  the  former  a  little  above  230°  C.  (446°  F.)  the 
temperature  at  which  it  begins  to  be  altered,  it  is  converted 
directly  into  insoluble  black  products. 
Pyrodextrine  is  found  in  abundance  in  bread  crust  and  pastry, 
in  roasted  coffee,  in  brewers'  malt,  and  in  all  matters  rich  in 
fecula  which  have  been  submitted  to  the  action  of  a  rather  strong 
heat. 
Such  is  the  substance  of  the  two  memoirs  which  M.  Ge'lis  has 
presented  to  the  Academy.  They  enrich  science  with  several 
new  products.  They  show  that  the  different  neutral  organic 
substances  may  give  various  compounds  when  they  are  submitted 
to  the  action  of  regulated  heat. 
The  author  has  given  proof  of  much  skill  and  perseverance  in 
these  difficult  researches.  We  have  the  honor  to  recommend  the 
insertion  of  these  two  memoirs  in  the  Recueil  des  Savants 
Etr  angers. 
This  recommendation  was  adopted  by  the  Academy. — London 
Chemist,  March,  1858,  from  Comptes  Rendus,  Dec.  14,  1857 
ON  THE  EFFICACY  OF  ROMAN  CHAMOMILE  IN  SERIOUS  SUP- 
PURATIONS. 
By  M.  Ozanam. 
The  Roman  chamomile  (anthemis  nobilis},  long  disdained  by 
therapeutists,  is  only  mentioned  in  their  treatises  on  materia 
medica  as  fit  for  soothing  stomach-aches,  gastric  derangements, 
and  for  improving  the  appetite.  Lemery  calls  its  flowers  emol- 
lient, digestive,  carminative,  resolutive,  alleviating  and  strength- 
ening. All  these  properties  are  very  vague,  and  no  one  to  my 
knowledge  has  discovered  the  great  and  precious  virtue  of  camo- 
mile— that  of  preventing  suppurations,  when  the  evil  has  not 
