110 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
ART. XIX. — PHARMACEUTICAL NOTICES. NO. XIV. 
Mel Rosx* The following is recommended in a late French 
publication as giving a very astringent preparation, of a good 
colour and consistence: 
Petals of red roses 1£ pounds, 
Rose water 8 pounds. 
These are to be mixed, and placed in a still, heat applied, 
and the distillation continued until about twelve ounces of a 
very aromatic fluid has passed over. The residue is to be 
subjected to pressure, and the fluid obtained, filtered. This 
filtered liquid is to be mixed with ten pounds of well clarified 
syrup of honey, and evaporated till it marks 31°, when the 
twelve ounces of distilled fluid is to be added, and the whole 
strained. 
Peroxide of Gold. The preparation of the peroxide of 
gold, for medicinal purposes, is variously advised by different 
authors. Thus Christien directs [Jinn. Soc. Med. de Mont. 
xxii. 166,) the hydrochlorate of this metal to be precipitated 
by means of subcarbonate of potash, taking care to avoid any 
excess. This process, however, is attended with many diffi- 
culties, as part of the gold is reduced and precipitated with 
the oxide, &c. 
Majendie recommends the use of barytes, and other che- 
mists the oxide of zinc, but neither of these agents, it would 
appear from some late experiments on the subject, will afford 
as large or pure a product as calcined magnesia. M. Cot- 
tereau states that the following mode of operating will be 
found advantageous in every respect. 
An excess of magnesia is to be boiled with a diluted solu- 
tion of hydrochlorate of gold, till the solution loses its colour; 
the whole is then to be filtered and the precipitate well wash- 
ed, the result, which is aurate of magnesia, is to be treated 
