PHARMACEUTICAL  GLEANINGS. 
115 
systems.  He  says  all  good  wines  contain  phosphoric  salts  in  dif- 
ferent quantities,  and  it  is  more  important  to  determine  the  rela- 
tive amounts  of  this  powerful  stimulant  than  to  ascertain  the 
proportions  of  alcohol,  extractive  matter,  &c,  as  we  may  expect 
the  most  positive  benefits  from  introducing  it  into  the  system  in 
all  adynamic  diseases,  ricketts,  scrofula,  &c,  as  well  as  in  slow 
convalescences  and  many  of  the  chronic  affections. 
According  to  tho  author,  the  preparation  of  phosphorus  in  1000 
parts  of  various  wines  is  for  Tokay  5,  Malaga  4,  Maderia  and 
Sherry  3 j,  Santorina  3J,  Cyprus  3 -J,  Chateau  Lafitte  2,  Rhenish 
wines  1J,  Champaigne  1J.  [As  the  phosphorus  is  in  the  form  of 
phosphates,  why  should  they  be  more  effective  in  this  form  than 
in  that  much  more  abundant  source  of  them,  the  cereal  grains  ? 
— Editor.] 
Deuto-chloro-bromide  of  Mercury. — This  new  compound  of 
mercury  has  been  suggested  as  a  therapeutical  agent.  (Jour,  de 
Ohim.  Med.,  Dec.  1855.)  It  is  prepared  by  putting  a  drachm  of 
chloride  of  bromine  in  a  half  pint  flask  with  three  fluidounces  of 
water,  and  then  adding  hydro-sublimed  calomel  in  small  portions 
with  agitation,  until  the  solution  becomes  colorless.  It  is  then 
filtered  and  evaporated  to  one-third,  and  the  salt  crystallizes  as 
the  solution  cools.  The  mother  water  yields  more  of  the  salt  by 
evaporation. 
Deuto-chloro-bromide  of  mercury  crystallizes  in  white  flat- 
tened needles,  is  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  has  an  acrid  and 
caustic  taste,  loses  some  water  of  crystallization  by  exposure  to 
the  air,  is  volatile  in  close  vessels.  It  forms,  with  lime  water, 
a  chestnut  brown  precipitate,  which  distinguishes  it  from  corro- 
sive sublimate. 
Gutta  Percha  Caustics. — Dr.  Maunoury,  of  Chartres,  (Eeper. 
Pharm.}  recommends  the  use  of  gutta  percha  as  a  means  of  ren- 
dering caustics  more  manageable.  The  following  is  his  process 
for  preparing  chloride  of  zinc. 
Take  of  Chloride  of  zinc,  two  parts, 
Gutta  percha,  in  powder,    one  part. 
Introduce  this  mixture  into  a  tube  or  porcelain  dish,  and  heat 
gently  over  an  alcohol  lamp.  Under  the  influence  of  heat  the 
gutta  percha  softens,  the  particles  cohere  in  a  spongy  mass, 
which  retains  tho  powdered  chloride  of  zinc,  and  may  be  made 
into  any  convenient  shape,  which  it  retains  on  cooling.  This 
