'""  ocZxE^o""  }  Pharmaceutical  Notes.  487 
While  on  the  subject  of  antidotes  to  arsenic,  I  was  induced  to  try 
the  efficacy  of  the  hydrate  of  magnesium  recommended  as  an  antidote 
by  Bussy,  though  disapproved  by  others  (U.  S.  Dispensatory,  14th  ed., 
p.  30).  The  National  Dispensatory,  2d  ed.,  p.  887,  states  :  As  an 
antidote  to  arsenious  acid  freshly  precipitated  magnesia  ranks  next  in 
value  to  freshly  prepared  sesquioxide  of  iron»"  I  dissolved  about  an 
ounce  of  sulphate  of  magnesium  in  a  little  water,  gently  warming  the 
mixture.  Water  of  ammonia  was  then  added  in  slight  excess  and  the 
mixture  placed  on  a  filter  and  allowed  to  drain.  A  portion  of  the 
magma  left  on  the  filter  was  mixed  with  a  solution  of  arsenic;  as  in 
the  experiment  with  the  sesquioxide  of  iron,  after  stirring  the  mixture 
and  filtering.  Marsh's  test  gave  not  the  slightest  evidence  of  arsenic  in  the 
filtered  liquid,  thus  showing  that  the  hydrate  of  magnesium  freshly 
prepared  is  an  excellent  antidote  to  arsenic,  and  possesses  also  the 
advantages  claimed  by  Dr.  McCaw  for  the  sesquioxide  of  iron,  viz.:  that 
the  ingredients,  epsom  salts  and  hartshorn  are  not  only  on  hand  in  the 
apothecary  shop  but  are  frequently  kept  in  the  family,  thereby  insuring 
the  preparation  of  the  antidote  in  time. 
Nenvcojnersto^n^  O.,  August  20th,  1880. 
PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES. 
By  R.  F.  Fairthorne,  Ph.G. 
Duhoisina^  Eserina^  Pilocarpina. — Thinking  that  perhaps  a  concise 
account  of  these  alkaloids,  derived  from  various  journals,  personal 
observation  and  other  sources,  might  be  of  some  interest,  I  have  col- 
lected as  much  information  as  I  could  concerning  them. 
Duboisina  is  obtained  from  an  Australian  tree-like  shrub  of  the 
natural  order  solanaceae,  an  order  furnishing  several  powerfully  poison- 
ous and  narcotic  active  principles.  It  bears  a  close  resemblance  to 
atropia  and  hyoscyamia,  yet  differs  from  them  in  several  particulars. 
According  to  Mr.  Gerrard  it  possesses  greater  neutralizing  power  than 
atropia  and  is  more  soluble  in  water.  When  heated  with  strong  sul- 
phuric acid  a  disagreeable  odor  results,  resembling  butyric  acid,  whilst 
atropia  treated  in  the  same  manner  yields  a  pleasant  aroma.  The  sul- 
phate is  the  salt  most  used  and  is  deliquescent.  The  alkaloid  as  obtained 
at  present  is  a  viscous  extract-like  mass,  apparently  uncrystallizable. 
Its  therapeutic  effects  are  similar  to  those  of  atropia,  but  more  quickly 
appear  and  disappear.    Dilation  of  the  pupil  is  quickly  produced  by 
