Chemistry and Pharmacy. IN CHARGE OF PROF. ALBERT B. PRESCOTT, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. ANALYSIS OF ELEVEN SPECIMENS OF THE NATIVE SULPHIDE OF ANTIMONY," SOLD IN PHARMACY. By WM. C. SHEFFIELD, Ph. C.* These samples of "black antimony," or "black sulphur," as it is often called, were obtained at as many different retail drug stores, in four cities in Ohio and Michigan. They were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analyses, and the following per centages obtained: No. II....... Very nearly pure antimonious sulphide, with a trace of arsenic. These results may be of interest to some one curious to know whether any dispensing pharmacist ever makes all his antimonial preparations as provided by the "Pharmacopoeia." Pharmacopoeia.” Also, they may be of interest to Mr. Bergh, of New York. *Taken with the two next following articles from "Contributions from the School of Pharmacy of the University of Michigan, communicated by Prof. Albert B. Pres cott," in the September number of AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY, p. 389. VALUATION OF EIGHT SAMPLES OF PRECIPITATED SUL PHUR, ALIAS MILK OF SULPHUR, AS FOUND IN THE These samples were obtained at different dispensing pharmacies, six in Grand Rapids and two in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They were all sold as Precipitated Sulphur, or Lac Sulphur-the distinction between these terms which the law has enforced in Great Britain not being regarded here. No. I contained 43.6 p. c. of calcium sulphate. No. 5 contained 477 p. c. of calcium sulphate. No arsenic, no free sulphuric acid and no other impurity, save a third of a per cent. of silicate in Nos. 3 and 4, was found in any of the samples. Evidently six of the eight specimens were manufactured by precipitating the lime solution with sulphuric instead of hydrochloric acid (a process having older than centennial authority') and, therefore, represent that useful article (having all the virtues of sulphur in a more eligible form, etc.) which our better regulated British cousins in pharmacy are permitted by their rigorous magistrates to sell as milk of sulphur, but not as precipitated sulphur. I "The London Pharmacopeia" of 1720. ANALYSIS OF SIX NOSTRUMS SOLD AS AGUE-CURES. By O. L. CHURCHILL, Ph. C. Five of these articles were found to contain one or more of the cinchona alkaloids (chiefly the cheaper alkaloid); the remaining one contained no alkaloid. None contained arsenic, strychnia, or mercury. The quantitative determination of the alkaloids, from well known difficulties, is presented as only approximate. The following was the general plan of separation, modified in several particulars as found necessary for each mixture. From a weighed portion of the mixture, the alcohol, if any, was evaporated; the residue diluted with acidified water and filtered (more than once if need be); the filtrate precipitated by a slight excess of caustic soda; in most cases, the precipitate dissolved in acidified water, the solution concentrated and dissolved with strong alcohol, the filtrate evaporated and the residue dissolved with water. Care was taken to avoid loss, by well washing the residues of extraneous matter, and not washing the precipitates of alkaloid at all or but slightly. Taking a final precipitate by caustic soda, the alkaloids were then approximately separated from each other by use of ether as a solvent, potassium iodide to precipitate quinidia potassium sodium tartrate to precipitate cinchonidia, etc.1 1. "Ayer's Ague-Cure." Each box contains six fluidounces of a dark red syrupy liquid, with a very slight white sediment. Taste, very bitter and slightly peppery, with a slight taste and odor of winter-green oil. An alcholic extract (tincture) of cinchona bark, with additional and amorphous cinchona alkaloids (chinoidin), heavily saccharine and slightly aromatized. It contains a resin which presented the physical properties and gave apparently the physiological effects of podophyllum resin, but it was not so far separated from cinchona constituents as to be povitively determined. It has free and combined sulphuric acid and the white sediment is calcium sulphate (from the calcium salts of the bark.) In one fluidounce: Amorphous alkaloids (Chinoidin), Cinchonidia, Quinia, Quinidia, Total, 3*2 grains. 3°0 The cost of a bottle will not exceed 35 cents-the price being at wholesale, 65 cents, and at retail $1. "Wilhoft's Antiperiodic Fever and Ague Cure." The bottle contains four fluidounces of a thin, dard red liquid, with the odor of cinchona bark, a very bitter and acid taste, and acid reaction. It consists essentially of an infusion of cinchona bark made with water containing aromatic sulphuric acid (like those of the U. S. P.), and probably with an addition of quinia sulphate. One fluidounce contains 30 grains of quinia and 5'4 grains of free and combined sulphuric acid (15 grains free). Cost of a bottle, not over 25 cents; price, $9 per dozen, $1.50 per bottle. 3. "Christie's Ague Mixture." A bottle contains seven fluid ounces of a very dark, syrup liquid one-fourth filled with sediment, and having a very bitter and peppery taste and an odor of common molasses. The sediment was powdered capsicum and a little resinous matter. The solution consists of a tincture of cinchona bark (the alcohol being 30 per cent. by weight), with cinchonia sulphate, and common molasses. Cost, not over 25 cents per bottle; price, at wholesale, 62 cents; at retail, $1.00. 4. "Peterman's Michigan Ague Cure." Each bottle contains five fluid ounces of a red, syrupy liquid, with much resinous sediment, a very bitter taste, and odor of cinchona. Contains an alcoholic extract of the bark, with chinoidin as the chief medici. nal agent, and with a little sulphuric acid and syrup. Cost, complete, not over 25 cents per bottle; price, at wholesale, 60 cents; at retail, $1.00. 5. "Jayne's Ague Mixture." In each bottle, seven and a half fluid ounces of a mixture having an odor and taste of rhubarb, dandelion and common molasses. It contains quinia sulphate and traces of other cinchona alkaloids, but not enough to render the mixture very bitter. The alkaloids were, with some difficulty, separated by benzene in pressence of alkali; other means having failed. Cost, about 35 cents; price, at wholesale, 60 cents; at retail, $1.00. 1 Fluchiger & Hanbury's Pharmacographia, 327. 6. "Rhodes' Fever and Ague Cure, or Antidote to Malaria." In each bottle, twelve fluid ounces of a black turbid liquid havOn standing, the sediment sediment is charcoal. The ing a sweet and astringent taste. filled one-third of the bottle. The solution contains a little tincture of chloride of iron, partly reduced to ferrous salt by sugar, which is present; also a trace of sulphuric acid, (a trifle of ferrous sulphate may have been added). Nothing more. "Bottle to be well shaken," etc.; "one tablespoonful three times a day." "Most people could take three times the amount without any uncomfortable feelings." "Persons who find it to bring on unwished-for actions, should place the contents of two or more bottles in an open dish in their sleeping apartments." Price, at retail, $1.00. Selections and Translations. SALICYLIC ACID AS ANTIPYRETIC. Dr. C. A. Ewald of Charity Hospital, Berlin, writes as follows in the Practitioner concerning salicylic acid : ed for this purpose. Salicylic acid is a most valuable antipyretic when administerIt is necessary that each dose be a large one, as small or divided doses have little or no effect. Generally speaking the minimum dose required to reduce the temperature is five grammes (77 grains). Should such a dose have no effect one may after four or five hours, with safety, give a second, or indeed even a third similar dose. I have seen cases in which 15 or 20 grammes have been given during twenty-four hours without any ill effect. The salt is readily soluble in water, and is taken by most patients without complaint. In those rare cases in which malatise or vomiting occur three or four drops of chloroform is sufficient to remove them. I have collected the results of one hundred single doses in cases of typhoid, of nearly equal |