^"^'ATJt'"-}  Pharmaceutical  Notes,  407 
pilular  mass  can  be  made.  Some  one  may  possibly  object  to  the  use 
of  soap  on  account  of  soda  present,  forming  benzoate  of  soda,  but 
but  when  the  small  amount  formed  is  considered  the  objection  will  be 
seen  to  be  too  trifling  to  notice. 
Elixir  of  Valerianate  of  Ammonia, — 
R 
Ammonias  valerianatis, 
.    3iii  gr.  xii 
Syrupi, 
f^iii 
Alcoholis, 
.  f^i&5vi 
Tr.  cardam.  comp., 
f5iss 
Ext.  aurantii  cort.  recentis, 
.              .  f3i 
Liq.  ammonias, 
q.  s. 
P.  cocci, 
.  3i 
Aqu£e, 
q.  s.  ut  fiat  f^xii 
The  difficulty  of  making  an  agreeable  elixir  is  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  valerianate  is  nearly  always  acid,  and  it  is  necessary  that  it^be 
accurately  saturated.  This  is  accomplished  by  dissolving  the  salt  in 
about  3  ozs  of  water  and  adding  solution  of  ammonia,  and  determin- 
ing neutrality  by  means  of  litmus  paper,  using  both  the  red  and  blue 
paper.  When  thus  neutralized  it  is  filtered  through  paper  or  cotton, 
then  the  rest  of  the  ingredients  added,  and  again  filtered. 
To  Deodorize  Benzin. — If  to  each  gallon  of  benzin  3  ozs.  of  pow- 
dered quick  lime  are  added,  and  well  shaken,  a  great  deal  of  the  pecu- 
liar sulphuretted  odor  will  be  removed,  and  articles  that  have  been 
washed  in  it  will  have  no  disagreeable  smell.  This  is  no  small  advan- 
tage. The  addition  of  freshly  burnt  charcoal  may  also  be  made  with 
advantage. 
Colors  for  Shop  Windows. — ^A  very  beautiful  amethystine  color  can 
be  produced  by  dissolving  5  grains  of  salicylic  acid  in  a  little  solution 
of  ammonia,  mixing  this  with  two  gallons  or  enough  water  to  fill  the 
show  bottle.  To  this  is  added  a  few  drops  of  solution  of  chloride  of 
iron,  and  afterwards  a  few  drops  of  muriatic  acid. 
Emerald-green  color,  of  great  beauty,  can  readily  be  produced  by 
dissolving  a  few  five  cent  nickel  pieces  in  equal  parts  of  nitric  acid  and 
water,  then  diluting  with  sufficient  water. 
How  to  Purify  Muddy  Water. — The  excessive  muddiness  of  the 
water  supplied  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  and  the  difficulty  expe- 
rienced in  filtering  it  clear,  led  me  to  make  several  experiments,  with 
the  object  of  obtaining  transparent  water,  free  from  impurities.  After 
many  fruitless  or  only  partiality  successful  efforts,  I  found  the  following 
