NOTES  ON  PLASMA. 
Salicine  (C26  H18  014.) 
1.  Salicine  appears  either  in  the  form  of  white  crystalline 
needles  and  scales  of  silky  lustre,  or,  where  the  crystals  are 
very  small,  as  a  powder  of  silky  lustre.  It  has  a  bitter  taste,  is 
readily  soluble  in  water  and  in  alcohol,  but  insoluble  in  ether. 
2.  No  reagent  precipitates  salicine  as  such. 
3.  If  salicine  is  treated  with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  it 
agglutinates  into  a  resinous  lump,  and  acquires  an  intensely 
blood-red  color,  without  dissolving  in  the  acid ;  the  color  of  the 
sulphuric  acid  is  at  first  unaltered. 
4.  If  an  aqueous  solution  of  salicine  is  mixed  with  hydrochloric 
acid  or  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  and  the  mixture  boiled  for  a  short 
time,  the  fluid  suddenly  becomes  turbid,  and  deposits  a  fine 
granular  crystalline  precipitate  (saliretin'e.) 
( To  be  Continued. ) 
NOTES  ON  PLASMA* 
By  Mr.  G.  F.  Schacht. 
Early  in  the  year  1858  a  paper  of  mine  was  read  before  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,  entitled  "  Grlycerine,  a  Proposed  Substi- 
tute for  Oils  and  Fats  in  Ointments.'1 
The  discussion  which  followed  the  reading  of  this  paper  (sup- 
posing the  report  of  the  Journal  to  have  been  correct)  appeared 
to  me  at  the  time,  as  it  appears  to  me  now,  by  no  means  charac- 
terized by  judgment  or  candor.  It  seemed  to  be  assumed  that 
the  proposed  substitute  "plasma,"  was  identical  with  a  certain 
something  else  that  had  been  tried  and  found  wanting,  and  that 
therefore  there  was  little  hope  for  plasma.  The  two  things, 
however,  were  not  alike.  Unfortunately,  I  was  unable  to  be 
present  on  the  occasion,  and,  as  no  defence  for  the  proposition 
was  volunteered  by  any  other  person,  a  verdict,  on  the  whole 
adverse,  was  delivered  by  the  learned  critics.  Notwithstanding 
this  damaging  circumstance,  certain  individuals,  both  in  my  own 
neighborhood  and  in  other  localities,  were  differently  impressed^ 
and,  having  given  the  preparation  something  of  a  trial,  arrived 
at  the  conclusion  to  continue  its  use.    And  so,  after  eight  years' 
*  Read  before  the  Pharmaceutical  Conference,  Nottingham  meeting. 
