7 cases; with suppuration of the vessels, in 12 cases; and with all of the above alterations combined, in 16 cases. From the above tabular facts, it results, that in fatal puerperal fever, the uterus is rather more frequently affected than the peritoneum-that the two affections are, in a majority of cases, combined -but they are sometimes entirely isolated. The table also presents this remarkable fact, that in 134 cases, the venous or lymphatic vessels of the uterus contained pus. Whether this pus was formed in the vessels themselves, or carried thither by absorption from other parts, is a secondary consideration-for the danger is the same, in both cases, of a general contamination of the circulating fluid. That the pus is sometimes, at least, formed in the vessels themselves, appears to be proved by the fact, that in eight cases where pus was found in the veins, there was no other lesion whatever. This fact, the author thinks, may throw a doubt on the opinion that the pus is ever absorbed into the veins from other parts. The table in question may help to explain the great danger or mortality in puerperal fever; it may also tend to throw some doubt on the propriety of the term, puerperal peritonitis, or puerperal metritis, which has been so often applied to the disease. The designation "puerperal fever," is freer from objection than either of the above terms: it prejudges nothing.-Medico-Chirurg. Rev. July, 1830. MATERIA MEDICA. 19. Mode of Preparation of the Sirup of the Shoots of Asparagus. (Journal de Chimie Médicale, July, 1830.)-Our readers are aware that the asparaus has been recommended by M. Broussais as possessing the property of calming the action of the hear without irritating the stomach; but no formula was given for the preparation of the sirup, the form in which it is administered when the recent plant cannot be obtained. M. A. Chevallier has engaged in researches on the best mode of preparing this sirup, and reported the following to the Society of Medicine and Chemistry of Paris. He took a certain quantity of the young shoots of asparagus, separated the white from the green part, reduced the latter to a pulp in a marble mortar, expressed the juice, let it settle, and decanted it. Two pounds of the decanted juice was put into a dish, and four pounds of white sugar added, and the whole placed in a water bath; this was afterwards heated until the sirup began to boil, the operation was then stopped, the pellicle which formed on the surface of the sirup removed, and the sirup passed through a strainer. The sirup, thus prepared, had the perfect taste of the asparagus, and was not changed after it had been made two months. By trials made upon himself, in doses of from one to four ounces, M. C. says that he has shown, that the sirup is not a very powerful sedative, but it is an excellent diuretic. Wishing to know if the sirup prepared from the whole shoot (both the white and green parts) would possess the same taste and properties as that made from the green portion solely, M. C. made a sirup of the whole shoot, in the manner just described, and he found this sirup possessed the same properties as the other. It having been said, that the sirup of asparagus did not preserve its properties for a very long time, M. C. points out the following means by which it may be prepared at all times. Take the green of the asparagus, and hang it up to dry in the open air, in a garret. Ten parts of this dried asparagus are to be taken, and ninety parts of boiling water. The asparagus is to be contused, afterwards placed in a water bath, and boiling water poured below; the bath is then to be shut, and the asparagus left in for twelve hours. The liquid which the asparagus has absorbed, is then to be pressed out, and to ten parts of this liquid, twenty parts of white sugar are added; a sirup is made by submitting it at first to a moderate temperature, and gradually increasing it till the sirup begins to boil. It is then taken from the fire, and strained. This sirup has the same odor and taste as that prepared with the fresh plant. It is a good diuretic.-American Journal of Med. Sciences, for Nov. 1830. 20. Aromatic, or Spiced Sirup of Rhubarb. By ELIAS DURAND.Dr. Coxe, in the last edition (1830) of his American Dispensatory, has very judiciously observed, that this sirup, prepared agreeably to the Pharmacopoeia of the United States, possesses a defect which may be easily obviated, without changing the proportions of its ingre. dients. In fact, evaporating to one half an infusion of rhubarb and aromatic substances, is quite inconsistent with the present improve. ments in pharmaceutical manipulation; it is too well known that these articles lose by ebullition a great portion of their active properties. This fault, as well as many others which have crept in that national work, has not escaped the attention of our practical pharmaceutists. From the first time I had to compound the aromatic sirup of rhubarb, this defect struck me, and I amended the formula by the following, which undoubtedly affords a preparation very superior to the other, both in nicety and activity. I first prepare an alcoholic tincture with the rhubarb and the aromatic ingredients, and then form my sirup by the addition of a relative quantity of simple sirup.. parts lxiv. Bruise the ingredients, and macerate them for about a week. Aromatic Sirup of Rhubarb. R-Aromatic tincture of rhubarb Simple sirup of 35° part i. parts iii. Mix well. This sirup marks 28° on Baume's pèse sirup.--Journal of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, for October, 1830. 21. Formula for a Sirup of Gum Tragacanth.-M. Emile Mouchon, fils, Pharmacien at Lyons, has offered a recipe for the preparation of a sirup of gum tragacanth, in the Journal de Pharmacie for September, 1829. He directs-Gum tragacanth, pure, 3 oz. 5 gros: 24 grains. Pure river water, 9 lbs. The gum is to be deprived of all impurities, reduced to powder, and subjected to the action of cold water, for forty-eight hours, at a temperature of 20 or 25 degrees of Centigrade thermometer. The solution to be facilitated by frequently agitating the mixture with a large wooden spatula. He then adds simple sirup at 30°, discolored by animal charcoal, and strained, 24 lbs. The solution being perfectly homogeneous in all its parts, the half of the sirup, nearly cold, is to be incorporated in small portions, and with the greatest care; the mixture to be passed through linen, with slight expression, and the remainder of the sirup then added, constantly stirring it. The sirup loses five degrees of density by the addition of the gum, although the consistence of the mixture is greater than the sirup. These proportions give four grains of gum tragacanth for one ounce of sirup, and which, according to Bucholz, represents, if not in quantity, at least in consistence, one hundred grains of gum arabic.-Journal of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, for July, 1830. 22. Dover's Powders.-The following formula for this ancient and celebrated powder, is from the French Codex. R.-Sulphate of Potassa Nitrate of Potassa Liquorice in powder each 4 grammes, or 617 troy grains each 1 gramme, or 15 troy grains It is recommended in the pharmacopoeia of Swediaur, to melt the nitrate and sulphate of potash together in a crucible, and then unite them to the other powders. The dose is directed to be twelve grains. Journal of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, October, 1830. CHEMISTRY. 23. Test of Morphium and its Acetate.-M. Serullas states, that when iodic acid is added to a fluid containing morphium or its acetate, the peculiar odor and color of iodine is instantly manifested; and this is the case when the menstruum is large, and the quantity of morphium as small as one tenth of a grain. M. S. further states, that the quinine, cinchonine, veratrine, strychnine, brucine, or narcotine, have no action upon the iodic acid. After very judiciously observing, that the indications furnished by re-agents never are sufficient to enable us to decide positively on the presence of bodies in medico-legal researches, except in a few cases, but that they are auxiliary means which should always be had recourse to, as furnishing lights which may lead us to more positive research, he says-I point out, then, the iodic acid, and the acid iodate of potash, as extremely sensible re-agents to detect the presence of morphium, or its acetate, not only when by itself, but also in mixture with other vegetable alkalies, the latter having no action upon the iodic acid.-Journ. Général, May, 1830. 24. Salicine, or active principle of Willow Bark. (Journal de Chimie Medicale, &c. for June, 1830.)-We noticed, in the num ber of our Journal for April, 1830, the discovery of a principle in willow bark, by M. Leroux, supposed by him to be alkaline. MM. Gay Lussac and Magendie were appointed by the Royal Academy of Sciences to examine the nature of this product. They satisfied both themselves and the discoverer, that so far from being alkaline, salicine is decomposed by acids, and the latter destroy its property of crystallization. It is evident, therefore, that sulphate of salicine could not exist. Salicine is destitute of azote: when pure, it is in white crystals, very delicate, and of a pearly aspect, and very soluble in water and alcohol, but not in ether. Its taste is intensely bitter, and its aroma resembles that of the willow bark. Process. To procure the salicine, boil three pints of the willow bark, (salix helix,) dried and reduced to powder, in fifteen pounds of water, charged with four ounces of carbonate of potash. Filter and add to it, cold, two pounds of liquid subacetate of le d. Filter again, treat it with sulphuric acid, and pass through it a current of sulphuretted hydrogen, to separate all the lead. Saturate the excess of acid by carbonate of lime, filter again, concentrate the liquor, and neutralize it by the addition of dilute sulphuric acid. Decolorize it by animal charcoal, filter while boiling, crystallize twice, and dry it, protected from the light. This operation, which M. Leroux will simplify, in all probability, furnished about one ounce of salicine from three pounds of bark. This remedy has been employed as a substitute for sulph. quinia, in the cure of intermittent fever, and has been found to answer exceedingly well. MM. Magendie, Miquel, Husson, Bally, &c. have exhibited it, and all agree, that from twenty-four to thirty grains are sufficient to arrest the paroxysm of intermittent fever completely-which proves it to be nearly if not quite equal to the sulphate of quinia.-Journal Philad. College of Pharmacy. 25. Whether the putrefaction of Animal Matter is attended with an elevation of temperature. By Dr. JOHN DAVY.-It seems proved, that those parts which undergo rapid change, as the fibrin of blood, brain, muscular fibre, and the parenchymatous substance of glandular structures, give off a good deal of heat in being converted from the solid into the liquid form; and, as the other parts undergo a similar change, and are ultimately reduced to a liquid or pultaceous state, and, as in most of them there is some elevation of temperature, may it not be fairly inferred, that the apparently inferior degree of heat generated by them is merely owing to the slowness of the change; and, accordingly, whatever accelerates the progress of decomposition, seems to promote increase of temperature. Minute mechanical division has this effect in a remarkable manner, as has been witnessed in the instance of the fibrin of the blood, and that of muscular fibre; and the effect is probably owing to the very ex tensive surface exposed to the action of atmospheric air. The presence of maggots, too, has the same effect very strikingly, and I believe in the same way. They tend to separate the parts, to agitate the surface, and to introduce air beneath the surface. It is curious to watch the progress of these animals in their growth, and still more so in their operations. When their food is very nutritious, the almost microscopic ova in forty-six hours are converted into large maggots. When they have nearly attained their full size, they feed with extraordinary voracity, as if aware that their lives depended upon their activity. The whole of a numerous brood, side by side, erect, with one extremity in the ammoniacal pultaceous mass, pump up nourishment, and with the other and longer extremity in the atmosphere, the orifice of its canal dilated, seem to pump down air; and thus, by the difference of the specific gravities of the two fluids, the perpendicular position of the larvæ is maintained; and probably by the action of the one or the other, a com. pound is formed fit for assimilation, and for forming a part of the new animal, and at the same time the putrefactive process is accele. rated. It appeared probable at first view, that the larvæ themselves might generate and possess a comparatively high temperature; but, on the whole, the observations which I have made to endeavor to determine this point, are not in favor of the notion. When the larvæ are distended with putrid matter, exhaling ammonia, and rapidly undergoing change, then their temperature, as might be expected, is always above that of the atmosphere; but when they are free from putrid matter, internally and externally, although collected together in large number in a small space, as in a phial, a delicate thermometer placed in the midst of them did not rise, did not indi |