256 
ON  SCAMMONY. 
With  glycerine  thus  obtained,  and  a  little  care,  beautiful  re- 
sults are  obtained. 
I  must,  however,  mention  one  imperfection  to  which  these 
preparations  are  liable — namely,  a  tendency,  after  three  or  four 
months'  existence,  to  lose  more  or  less  their  original  fine  con- 
sistence, and  become  softer.  This  is  an  unfortunate  quality, 
but  I  think  it  is  one  for  which  experience  will  be  able  to  suggest 
a  remedy. 
Samples  of  the  more  important  of  these  preparations  will  be 
placed  upon  the  table  for  inspection — Pharm.  Jour.^  Feb.  1858. 
[The  employment  of  glycerine  in  combination  with  amylace- 
ous substances  as  a  basis  for  ointments  was  introduced  ten  or 
twelve  years  ago  by  Mr.  Startin.  In  a  paper  by  that  gentle- 
man, On  the  Introduction  and  Therapeutic  Uses  of  Glycerine 
(Journ.  Soc,  Arts,  March  7,  1856),  the  following  formula  is  re- 
commended : — Gum  Tragacanth,  \  oz.  ;  Glycerine  1  oz. ;  Lime 
Water,  2  oz.  ;  Rose  Water,  enough  to  form  a  soft  jelly.  This 
is  an  elegant  material,  and  appears  to  be  less  deliquescent  than 
Mr.  Schacht's  Plasma, 
Another  compound  of  the  same  character,  introduced  by  Mr. 
Startin,  consists  of  a  thick  paste  or  jelly  formed  by  boiling  rice 
flour  with  a  little  water  and  glycerine.  This  affords  an  excel- 
lent basis  for  some  ointments,  but  we  are  informed  Mr.  Startin 
has  discontinued  the  use  of  such  applications. — Ed.  Ph.  Journ.~\ 
ON  SCAMMONY. 
By  Dr.  Franz  Keller. 
The  author  first  of  all  purified  commercial  scammony,  by  dis- 
solving it  in  alcohol  and  adding  animal  charcoal  to  it  whilst  boil- 
ing. This  solution  was  mixed  with  water  until  it  became  turbid, 
and  again  treated  once  or  twice  with  animal  charcoal  until  it 
became  colorless. 
The  alcohol  was  then  distilled  off,  the  residue  mixed  with  water, 
and  evaporated.  By  this  means  the  resin  separates  in  a  soft  state, 
and  when  drawn  out  into  threads  acquires  the  most  beautiful  silky 
lustre.   The  resin  was  boiled  several  times  with  water,  by  which 
