88 
EDITORIAL. 
such  ores,  then  introduced,  necessitated  the  loss  of  much  of  the  bismuth, 
and,  since  that  time,  we  have  been  chiefly  supplied  from  the  Saxon  and 
Bohemian  mines.  In  1845,  there  was  a  large  demand  for  a  composition 
to  make  rollers  for  calico  printers,  raising  the  price  for  a  few  months.  In 
1858,  the  supply  began  to  fall  off,  and  in  1861-2,  there  was  a  very  large 
extra  demand  for  medicinal  preparations,  which,  to  a  certain  extent,  still 
continues,  but  the  demand  for  mechanical  use  has,  since  that  time,  been 
very  trifling.  New  sources  of  supply  are  opening,  and  prices,  it  is  said 
on  good  authority,  are  likely  to  fall. —  Am.  Drug.  Circ,  from  Journal  of 
(he  Society  of  Arts. 
To  Keep  Eggs. — M.  Bournouf  recommends  in  Le  Belier,  a  French 
journal  of  commerce,  the  following  method  of  preserving  eggs  : — Dissolve 
in  two- thirds  of  warm  olive  oil  one- third  of  beeswax,  and  cover  each  egg 
completely  with  a  thin  layer  of  this  pomade  with  the  end  of  the  finger. 
The  eggshell,  by  degrees,  absorbs  the  oil,  and  each  of  its  pores  becomes 
filled  with  the  wax,  which  hermetically  seals  them.  M.  Bournouf  affirms 
that  he  has  eaten  eggs  kept  two  years  in  this  manner,  in  a  place  not  exposed 
to  too  great  extremes  of  temperature.  He  thinks  also  the  germ  may  in 
this  manner  be  preserved  for  a  considerable  time. — Am.  Drug.  Circ. 
(SMtorial  IB  ep  ailment. 
Poisonous  Calomel. — The  following  item,  cut  from  the  Missouri  Re- 
publican of  Nov.  19,  1865,  has  been  sent  to  us  fo/notice.  "We  are  so  ac- 
customed to  rely  upon  the  purity  of  calomel  as  made  by  Powers  &  Weight- 
man,  and  other  responsible  houses,  that  it  rarely  happens  that  calomel  is 
put  to  the  test.  Hence  the  damage  done  in  the  instance  above.  The 
manufacturer  must  have  been  very  careless  to  have  passed  such  "  calomel" 
into  the  market  for  consumption,  without  subjecting  it  to  the  usual  test 
of  ammonia  added  to  the  washings.  The  question  may  be  asked  how  did 
this  calomel  pass  the  Drug  Inspector  at  New  York  or  other  point?  pro- 
bably on  the  faith  of  the  label,  which  is  that  of  an  old  House.  This  oc- 
currence points  to  the  importance  of  apothecaries  themselves  looking  to 
the  real  character  of  the  drugs  and  chemicals  they  dispense  as  the  safest 
and  surest  means  of  protecting  the  community  from  such  catastrophes. 
"  Foreign  Medicines. — Not  long  agowe  reported  a  circumstance  occur- 
ring in  Randolph  County,  111.,  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  several 
persons  from  the  administration  of  English  calomel  bought  in  our  city. 
One  of  our  chemists,  becoming  interested  in  the  matter,  obtained  samples 
from  all  the  St.  Louis  druggists  for  the  purpose  of  examining  them.  The 
English  calomel  is  generally  imported  in  one  pound  bottles,  sealed,  and 
a  label  pasted  over  the  mouth,  so  that  it  cannot  be  opened  without  it 
being  noticed.  *  Druggists  sell  the  article  as  they  receive  it,  and  it  may 
pass  through  many  hands  before  it  reaches  the  practitioner  who  dispenses 
