ADULTERATION  OF  FOOD  AND  DEu^S. 
29 
very  unpleasant  flavor  is  communicated  to  the  oil ;  so  much  so, 
as  to  form  a  serious  objection  to  its  use,  and  have  endeavored  to 
avoid  this  difficulty  in  the  following  manner  :  We  dissolve  the 
quinia  in  a  small  quantity  of  strong  alcohol,  of  sp  gr.  0-796, 
and  find  that  when  this  solution  is  mixed  with  the  oil  and  gently 
heated  in  a  water-bath,  the  quinia  is  dissolved  without  difficulty, 
as  the  alcohol  evaporates.  By  this  simple  method,  a  perfectly 
clear  liquid  is  obtained  free  from  the  strong  flavor  imparted  by 
the  ordinary  process. 
The  following  is  the  formula  we  have  employed,  obtaining  an- 
hydrous quinia: — 
Quinine  Disulpb.,  -i. 
Aq.  Ferventia  destill.,  Oij. 
Dissolve  the  quinige  sulph.  in  the  boiling  distilled  water,  then 
add  liq.  ammonige  in  slight  excess,  and  collect  and  carefully  wash 
the  precipitated  quinia.  This  should  be  dried  on  filtering  paper, 
and  fused  in  a  porcelain  dish,  in  a  sand-bath.  Thus  obtained, 
it  presents  the  appearance  of  resin,  being  of  a  dark  brown  color, 
translucent  and  soluble  in  almost  any  proportion  in  fixed  oils. 
We  have  generally  made  our  solution  of  the  strength  of  two 
grains  of  quinia  to  one  ounce  of  cod-liver  oil,  but  this  may  of 
course  be  varied  to  suit  the  pleasure  of  the  prescriber. 
A  solution  of  caustic  soda  might  be  substituted  with  some  ad- 
vantage for  liq.  ammonige,  as  quinia  is  slightly  soluble  in  excess 
of  the  latter,  causing  a  slight  loss,  which  may  be  avoided  by  using 
the  former  precipitant. 
We  remain,  Gentlemen,  yours  truly, 
S.  J.  Lyman  &  Co. 
Place  d'Armes,  Montreal,  July  Zlst,  1855. 
Pharm.  Joarn.,  Nov.,  1855. 
ON  THE  ADULTERATION  OF  FOOD  AND  DRUGS  IN  ENGLAND. 
In  July  last,  a  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons  was  in 
session,  "  to  investigate  the  subject  of  the  Adulteration  of  Food 
and  Drugs."  The  appointment  of  this  committee  appears  to  have 
grown  out  of  the  publication  in  the  "  Lancet,"  of  a  series  of  re- 
ports on  the  above  subject,  under  the  name  of  "The  Analytical 
Sanitary  Committee."  The  investigations  were  chiefly  micro- 
scopic in  their  character,  but  to  a  certain  extent  chemical,  and 
