OBSERVATIONS ON COLLODION. 
295 
such a fabric be suggests water-proof mantles might be 
made so light and compact as to be carried in the pocket, 
and drawn forth when required to protect the person and 
clothing from the rain. 
In the last number of this journal will be found some 
excellent observations on the uses of collodion, by Chas. S. 
Rand. Its employment in connection with Venice turpentine 
as a varnish for labels, protecting them against the action of 
hot and cold water and alcohol, suggested by him, promises 
to be one of its most valuable applications. 
In Pharmacy, collodion is used for coating pills, and as a 
vehicle for other external applications. The manner of 
coating pills is to dry them perfectly, and placing each pill 
on the point of a needle, to dip them into the solution, and 
withdraw them immediately, allowing them to dry, and 
repeating the operation. In this way, pills may be 
deprived of taste without detriment to their medical pro- 
perties. 
The following process is recommended by M. F. Ilisk, of 
St. Petersburg, for forming a convenient vesicant: 
" Collodium CanlharidalP 
Take of Cantharides 1 pound. 
Sulphuric ether - " 
Acetic " - - 3 fluid ouuces. 
Mix the ethers together, and treat the cantharides by the 
displacement process. Then to 2 fluid ounces of this tinc- 
ture add 25 grains of prepared cotton. 
This is to be applied by painting it over the parts. 
