1S7 
MISCELLANY. 

Opium. — At a late meeting' of the Royal Asiatic Society, Mr. Royle 
gave an account of the vegetable and mineral productions of India, and 
among other important information, stated that the Opium now produced 
in India was of a very superior quality, as was shown by the quantities 
of Morphia obtained by Dr. Smythan : — Bengal 3 ; Maliva 6 ; Turkey 
62, and some from Bareilly as high as London Med. Gaz. 
Freezing Mixture. — Four pounds of pulverized sulphate of soda, (not 
efflorescent) and three pounds of cold dilute sulphuric acid (seven parts 
of strong acid to five pounds of water, mixed the day before using.) 
Am. Journ. Sci. and Arts. 
To render Oil casks impermeable. — When the cask is new, and ready to 
receive the oil, pour into it a concentrated and hot solution of sulphate of 
soda, spread it well over the whole interior surface with a sponge or cloth, 
so that the wood may become thoroughly impregnated with the liquor. 
When it begins to grow cold, withdraw it, heat it again to boiling and 
renew the operation three or four times. Wipe off the superfluous salt 
with a coarse cloth, let it dry for a few hours, replace the head, the inner 
surface of which should have been treated in the same way, and it will 
be found that the pores have been effectually stopt by the salt, so as to 
prevent the oozing out of the oil. Ibid. 
Aceto-spiritous tincture of Cantharides. — D. S. Young, Esq. gives the 
following formula for this preparation. Concentrated acetic acid, nine 
ounces ; alcohol, three ounces ; cantharides, four ounces. The latter to 
be coarsely powdered and placed in a wide mouth bottle, having a glass 
stopper, and the liquids added. The whole is to digest for five days in a 
warm place, and then be strained through flannel for use; the quantity ob- 
tained will be about eight ounces. Mr. Young says that when this solu- 
tion is rubbed on the skin till a pricking sensation is felt, that a complete 
vesication will ensue in two or three hours. He also states that it does 
not cause stranguary. Several other surgeons confirm the efficacy of this 
application, both as a rubefacient and vesicatory, and add that the pain, 
though more severe than that from the blistering ointment, is less perma- 
nent. Am. Jour. Med. Sci. and Trans. Med. and Phys. Soc. Calcutta. 
VOL. II. — NO. III. 3o 
