534 
CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  TOXICOLOGY. 
such  a  one  was  thought  to  be  calcined  magnesia.  The  import- 
ance of  the  matter  and  the  certainty  with  which  the  efficiency 
of  magnesia  in  cases  of  poisoning  with  corrosive  sublimate  was 
spoken  of,  induced  Dr.  L.  Schrader,  of  Goettingen,  to  make  a 
series  of  experiments,  the  results  of  which  are  as  follows : — 
1.  Albumen  is  not  a  sure  antidote  to  corrosive  sublimate.  The 
combination  of  both  is  not  only  soluble  in  an  excess  of  albumen, 
but  also  in  the  albuminous  liquids  of  the  stomach  and  intestines, 
and  especially  in  the  acids  of  these  organs. 
2.  Albumen  is  only  useful  when  mixed  with  water ;  it  is  taken 
in  so  large  quantities  as  to  cause  vomiting,  which  may  also  be 
produced  by  tickling  the  throat. 
3.  Hydrate  of  magnesia  can  not  be  regarded  as  an  antidote, 
as  it  does  not  enter  into  a  harmless  combination  with  corrosive 
sublimate,  but  produces  red  oxide  of  mercury,  which  of  itself  is 
a  very  poisonous  substance.    (Deustehe  Klinik,  1854.) 
On  Powder  of  Nux  Vomica,  by  Norbert  Grille. 
A  druggist  in  Bruxelles  sold  pulv.  nuc.  vomic,  which,  instead 
of  being  gray,  had  a  yellow  color  and  a  greater  specific  gravity 
than  the  former.  On  inquiring,  it  was  ascertained  that  previous  to 
pulverizing,  the  nux  vomica  had  been  dried  in  a  stove. 
It  was  thought  that,  at  least,  partly,  the  alkaloids  and  lactic 
acid  must  have  been  altered.  To  ascertain  this,  200  grm.  of  nux 
vom.  was  divided  into  two  parts,  one  of  which  was  heated  in  the 
sand  bath  and  the  temperature  increased  until  the  color  was 
changed  to  that  suspicious  yellow  ;  the  nux  vomica  became  softer 
and  sent  forth  alkaline  vapors  even  under  100°  C.  On  extract- 
ing the  alkaloids,  it  gave  much  less  of  them  than  the  other 
portion,  which  had  not  been  exposed  to  the  action  of  heat. 
(Journ.  de  Pharm.  d'Anvers,  1854.) 
Iodine  against  poisoning  with  Belladonna. 
Suiz  Rioya,  in  "  Revue  de  Therapeutique  Med.  Chirurg.  1854, 
Fevr.,"  relates  a  case  of  poisoning  with  about  2  drachms  of  ext. 
belladon.  which  was  taken  by  mistake ;  the  case  was  cured  by  a 
solution  of  1  grm.  iodide  of  potassium  and  20  centigrm.  iodine 
in  750  grm.  distilled  water;  120  grm.  being  given  half-hourly. 
