82 
VARIETIES. 
the  reader  that  vinegar  of  any  flower  may  be  prepared  in  a  similar  -way  to 
those  above  noticed ;  thus,  for  vinaigre  a  la  jasmine,  or,  for  vinaigre  a  la 
fluer  d'orange,  we  have  only  to  substitute  the  esprit  de  jasmine  or  the  esprit 
de  fluer  d'orange,  in  place  of  any  other  odor,  to  produce  orange  flower  or 
jasmine  vinegars  ;  however,  these  latter  articles  are  not  in  demand,  and  our 
only  reason  for  explaining  how  such  preparations  may  be  made,  is  in  order 
to  suggest  the  methods  of  procedure  to  any  one  desirous  of  making  them 
leading  articles  in  their  trade. 
We  perhaps  may  observe,  en  passant,  that  where  economy  in  the  pro- 
duction of  any  of  the  toilet  vinegars  is  a  matter  of  consideration,  they  have 
only  to  be  diluted  with  rose-water  down  to  the  profitable  strength  required. 
Any  of  the  perfumed  vinegars  that  are  required  to  produce  opalescence, 
when  mixed  with  water,  must  contain  some  gum-resin,  like  the  hygienic 
vinegar,  as  above.  Either  myrrh,  benzoin,  storax,  or  tolu,  answer  equally 
well. — Annals  of  Pharmacy. 
(To  be  continued.) 
On  the  Action  of  Gallic  and  Tannic  Acids  on  Iron  and  Alumina  Mordants* 
By  Prof.  Calvert. — The  author  drew  the  following  conclusions  from  the 
facts  contained  in  his  communication: — 1st,  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
tannic  acid  is  the  matter  in  tanning  substances  which  produces  black  with 
iron  mordants  ;  2d,  that  the  reason  of  gallic  acid  producing  no  black  die  is,, 
that  it  reduces  the  peroxide  of  iron  in  the  mordant,  forming  a  colorless  and 
soluble  gallate  of  protoxide  of  iron  ;  3d,  that  gallic  acid  has  the  property  of 
dissolving  hydrate  of  alumina,  and  also  of  separating  alumina  mordants 
from  the  cloth  on  which  they  are  fixed  ;  4th,  that  the  reason  of  extracts  of 
tanning  matter  losing  their  dyeing  properties  is,  that  the  tannin  is  trans- 
formed into  gallic  acid  ;  5th,  that  gallic  acid  possesses  the  property  of  dis- 
solving iron,  and  thus  lays  claim  to  the  character  of  a  true  acid,  whilst 
tannin,  not  having  this  action,  appears  to  be  in  reality  a  neutral  substance. 
—  Chem.  Gaz.,  Nov.  15,  1854,  from  Athenaeum. 
Viviparous  Fish. — Dr.  Bennet  Dowler  has  recently  discovered  in  the  vici- 
nity of  New  Orleans  a  small  osseous  fish,  which  proves  to  be  viviparous, 
having  no  less  than  twenty-two  well-formed  young  in  its  body  at  the  time 
of  examination.  Dr.  D.,  however,  yields  the  priority  of  description  to  Dr. 
Gibbons^  who  found  them  in  California. — Southern  Med.  and  Surg.  Journal. 
Depilatory.     By  M.  Boudet. — 
Formula : — Sulphuret  of  Sodium  or  Cryst, 
Hydro-Sulphate  of  Soda,  3  parts. 
Quick  Lime,  (powdered)      .        .        .10  " 
Starch,   '  18  " 
«  Moistened  with  a  little  water  this  becomes  so  powerful  a  Depilatory 
that,  if  removed  in  one  or  two  minutes  with  a  wooden  spatula,  it  leaves  the 
