74 
METHOD  OE  DRYING  GLUTINOUS  SUBSTANCES. 
climates,  where  the  ordinary  collodion  frequently  boils  as 
it  is  poured  on  the  plate.  In  conclusion,  I  have  made  no 
satisfactory  experiments  upon  the  physiological  effects  of  the 
patent  wood-spirit  nor  the  ethers  prepared  from  it  upon  the 
human  system.  I  think  there  is  a  large  field  here  open  for 
the  investigations  of  the  physician,  for  undoubtedly  some  of 
them  will  prove  to  be  most  powerful  agents  in  the  treatment  of 
diseases. 
Wilton,  near  Salisbury,  August  21,  1865. 
Mr.  Tuck  said  that,  since  his  paper  was  written,  the  authori-  • 
ties  had  stopped  the  manufacture  of  Eschwege's  patent  wood 
naphtha,  but  it  was  to  be  hoped  that  perhaps,  under  certain 
regulations,  its  production  would  be  continued. 
This  was  also  the  general  opinion  of  the  meeting. — British 
Pharm.  Confer,  in  Land.  Pharm.  Jour.,  Oct.  1,  1865. 
ON  A  METHOD  OF  DRYING  GLUTINOUS  SUBSTANCES. 
A  large  number  of  substances,  like  gum,  &c,  have,  as  is 
well  known,  the  property  of  conglomerating,  upon  drying, 
into  amorphous  masses,  more  or  less  solid  and  translucent,  by 
which,  on  the  one  hand,  the  original  appearance  of  the  freshly  - 
made  preparation  is  lost,  and,  on  the  other,  complete  dessi ca- 
tion rendered  very  difficult.  In  order  to  obviate  this  adhesion 
of  the  elementary  particles  occurring  during  the  drying  of 
such  substances  under  ordinary  circumstances,  Reischauer  has 
proposed  to  carry  on  this  operation  out  of  contact  with  the 
atmosphere,  and  by  the  aid  of  a  suitable  ethereal  medium. 
The  apparatus  employed  for  this  purpose  is,  in  its  simplest 
form,  a  well- closed  glass  vessel  filled  with  ether  or  a  similar 
liquid,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is  placed  the  chloride  of  cal- 
cium, quicklime,  calcined  sulphate  of  copper,  &c,  intended  to 
absorb  the  water.  A  shallow  vessel  is  placed  below  the  sur- 
face of  the  liquid  for  the  reception  of  the  substance  to  be 
dried.  The  modus  operandi  is  now  a  very  simple  one.  The 
ether  continually  yielding  its  water  to  the  chloride  of  calcium, 
constantly  withdraws  it  in  turn  from  the  substance  to  be  dried, 
