PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTICES. 
299 
also  restored  litmus  paper  after  being  reddened  by  sulphuric  acid 
(SO3).  The  cause  of  the  formation  of  these  crystals  I  believe  is 
due  to  the  alkalinity  of  the  nux  vomica.  I  had  a  very  small 
quantity  left,  and  examined  it  to  see  the  amount  of  strychnia 
present,  and  found  it  to  contain  about  2  per  cent.,  thus  proving 
that  the  specimen  was  very  rich  in  strychnia.* 
Yours  respectfully, 
Geo.  W.  Kennedy. 
Pottsville,  Pa.,  May  16,  1870. 
PHARMACKUTICAL  NOTICES. 
Chlorinated  Lime. 
Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy: 
Sir, — Every  druggist  has  been  more  or  less  annoyed  by  his 
chlorinated  lime  getting  moist  (quite  semi  fluid  sometimes),  and 
consequently  unsaleable. 
Allow  me  to  recommend  (after  six  months'  trial)  to  keep  the 
lime  in  WhitalV  s  patent  fruit  jars  (410  Race  St.,  Phila.)  The  lid  is 
made  to  close  air-tight,  being  kept  down  on  a  gum  elastic  ring  by 
means  of  a  clamp  and  screw.  I  filled  ajar  six  months  ago,  and 
opened  it  daily,  in  order  to  expose  the  chlor.  lime  to  the  air  as 
much  as  that  kept  in  the  usual  way.  I  found  it  two  weeks  ago 
nearly  as  dry  as  when  I  filled  it  in,  and  the  smell  just  as  strong. 
I  think  the  same  class  of  jars  would  be  just  the  thing  to  keep 
carbon,  ammonia  in. 
These  jars  are  to  be  had  in  three  sizes,  viz.,  pints,  quarts, 
half-gallons — sufficiently  large  for  the  quantity  daily  sold. 
*  The  author  does  not  say  to  what  the  alkalinity  of  the  nux  vomica  was 
due,  but  leaves  us  to  infer  that  it  was  owing  to  the  strychnia.  As  strych- 
nia only  occurs  in  the  saline  state,  it  is  probable  that  the  particular  lot  of 
nux  vomica  treated  had  previously  become  mixed,  accidentally,  with  al- 
kaline matter  (potassa,  soda,  or  ammonia)  before  he  bought  it,  which  dis- 
placed the  strychnia  and  brucia.  The  greater  solubility  of  the  latter 
will  readily  account  for  its  absence  from  the  crystals.  If  the  author  has 
any  of  the  drug  left,  he  might  verify  or  disprove  this  suggestion. — Editor 
Amer.  Jour.  Pharm. 
