562 
Practical  Notes. 
J  Am.. lour.  Pharm. 
\      Nov.,  1883, 
disappears  in  about  a  month.  No  curative  effects  upon  cancer  itself 
have  been  observed  from  the  remedy. — Rundschau^  Leitm.,  June  20, 
1883. 
Adulterated  verdigris  has  been  observed  by  Astre.  After  dissolving 
the  copper  salt  with  water  and  acetic  acid,  there  remained  an  insoluble 
residue  amounting  to  10*36  per  cent,  and  consisting  of  a  silicious  earth 
colored  with  Prussian  blue. — Jour.  Phar.  Chim.,  May,  1883,  p.  386. 
Substitution  for  verdigris. — Professor  N.  Gille  has  repeatedly  met 
with  verdigris  in  the  Belgian  market  which  was  a  blue-green  crystal- 
line powder,  almost  completely  soluble  in  water,  and  when  exsiccated 
by  heat  lost  about  10  per  cent,  of  water.  On  analysis  it  yielded 
cupric  oxide  44,  anhydrous  acetic  acid  41,  water  10,  and  impurities  5 
per  cent.  The  article  seems  to  be  the  product  of  a  special  process,  dif- 
fering from  that  by  which  ordinary  verdigris  is  prepared,  when  sheets 
of  copper  are  left  in  contact  with  grape  husks.  A  product  very  similar 
to  the  one  alluded  to  above  is  obtained  by  leaving  copper  in  contact 
with  cloth  saturated  with  vinegar ;  this  being  chiefly  normal  copper 
acetate,  it  should  be  remembered  that  its  action  is  far  more  energetic 
than  that  of  verdigris. — An7i.  Beiges  de  Medec.  Veter. 
Decomposition  of  oxalic  acid. — On  two  occasions  G.  Fleury  observed 
that  titrated  solutions  of  oxalic  acid  completely  lost  their  acid  reaction 
in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  a  considerable  quantity  of  cryptogamic 
vegetation  making  its  appearance  at  the  same  time.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  solution  containing  6*3  gm.  of  oxalic  acid  per  liter  did  not  show 
any  alteration  in  four  years. — Jour.  Phar.  Chim.,  May,  1883,  p.  387. 
Carbolic  acid. — From  the  results  of  a  series  of  experiments,  W. 
Meyke  arrives  at  the  following  conclusions:  1.  Pure  carbolic  acid 
should  be  colorless,  have  the  proper  boiling-point,  and  be  entirely 
volatilized  by  heat.  2.  The  congealing-point  is  of  secondary  import- 
ance. 3.  Carbolic  acid  is  colored  red  when  kept  in  glass  vessels  con- 
taining lead.  4.  The  best  vessels  for  keeping  carbolic  acid  are  made 
of  tinned  sheet-iron.— PAar.  Zeits.  Eussl,  1883,  425-432. 
Sulpho-carbolate  of  sodium  has  acted  admirably  in  cases  of  rheu- 
matic fever.  For  adults.  Dr.  Greenway,  M.  R.  C.  S.,  Plymouth,  pre- 
scribes 15  grains  every  six  hours  in  ^iss.  of  water.  Ordinary  precau- 
tions of  administering  an  occasional  aperient,  placing  the  patient 
between  blankets,  and  keeping  him  on  milk  diet  must  not  be  neglected. 
