cess is once repeated, and the final chloroformic solution, after being shaken with ammoniated water, is drawn off, and evaporated; the residue is dried at 100° C., and weighed.

In their investigation as to the best menstruum, the authors arrived at the following results, being the average of 11 samples:

The results of the proper process for making the tincture:

1.02

.90

-77 .67

.64

Extractive p. c.

.48- .84
.52-1.02

.54- .82

Continuous percolation (U. S. Ph.

process

.022-.027

.46- 1.00

They recommend, therefore, a 60 to 70 per cent. alcohol as the best menstruum, and either the Ph. Br. or the U. S. Ph. process as the best process.

The results obtained by A. B. Lyons (Manual of Practical Assaying), showing about the same alkaloidal strength in the seeds and the leaves, coupled with the fact that the tincture of the seeds almost invariably becomes turbid, and deposits when kept, induced the authors to examine the leaves in the same way, both as to best menstruum and process, with the following results, being the average of three samples :

Hence they recommend, by preference, a tincture of the leaves made

with a 50 per cent. alcohol, as being more elegant than a tincture of the seeds. Pharm. Jour. Trans., Jan. 1892, 569-573.

Homeopathic Tinctures--Strength.--According to an article on homoeopathy, which appeared in the New England Medical Gazette, the unit of the tinctures has of late been decided to be the dry crude drug; this must, however, not be understood to mean that the tinctures have to be made from the dry drug--they are all made from the fresh green drug, the plant moisture to be regarded as part of the menstruum. Being made of the uniform strength of 10 per cent., they will also be the first decimal attenuation.--Am. Drug., 1891, 330.

TROCHISCI, ETC.

Tablet Machine.-J. R. Witzel has devised a tablet machine, which, it is claimed, is more perfect than any yet brought out. The frame is one solid casting; the hand machine weighs about 125 pounds, occupies a counter space of 10x17 inches, and stands 91⁄2 inches high; power ma

chines have an additional stand to give clearance for the large fly-wheel. The capacity is from 55 to 95 tablets per minute, and is increased in proportion to the number of plungers in operation. The pressure can be regulated to any desired degree, is direct, and comes to bear between the cams which impart the desired motions to the sliding blocks.

Ample provision is made for taking up lost motion from wear of moving parts. The dies and moulds can be easily changed from one size to another, and the regulations being few and simple, they are readily under

stood and easily manipulated. The working parts being inclosed, accumulation of dust is prevented, wearing of the parts is lessened, and foreign matters are not rubbed into the mould for compression; hence the tablets are kept clean and unobjectionable for hypodermic medication.

Tablets are formed by the following motions: When the plungers are below the hopper, they receive the proper amount of material, which is conveyed under cover into the mould; one plunger is held stationary, while the other advances and compresses the material into the shape desired; then both dies recede, thus loosening the tablet in the mould and bringing it to the end of the mould, where it is ejected by the wiper.-Am. Journ. Pharm., 1891, 575

Lozenges-Medicated.--F. Davis draws attention to the easily verified fact that the medicated lozenges turned out by large manufacturing firms vary not inconsiderably in the weight of each lozenge, and, what is of more importance, also in the quantity of active ingredient contained in each lozenge. He therefore suggests that pharmacists make their own lozenges, or that lozenges be omitted altogether from the Pharmacopoeia, or that the exact weight of each lozenge be stated.-Chem. Drug., Aug. 1891, 295.

Syrup of tolu sufficient to make a mass, which form into 100 troches.— Pharm. Record, 1892, xiii., 122.

Trochisci Magnesia cum Creta.-Attfield proposes the introduction of the following antacid lozenges into the British Pharmacopoeia:

Mix the powders, and add the mucilage and rose water to form a proper mass, which is to be divided into 720 lozenges. Dry in a hot air chamber at a moderate temperature. Each lozenge contains 31⁄2 grains of carbonate of calcium and 21⁄2 grains of magnesium carbonate.-Chem. and Drug., Aug. 1891, 245.

Soda-Mint Tablets.-F. W. Haussmann recommends to substitute men

thol for the oil of peppermint; this would prevent the brown discoloration of the tablets.-Am. Journ. Pharm., 1892, 188.

Peppermint Lozenges.-The flavor is improved by shaking the plain sugar lozenges with a solution of the oil of peppermint in pine-apple essence instead of in alcohol.-Pharm. Post, 1891, 987..

Make into pastilles with chocolate.-Pharm. Record, 1891, xii., 262. Rennet Pastilles.-A mixture of 10 parts of tartaric acid, 15 of potassium bitartrate and 50 of milk-sugar is made into troches weighing about 30 grains each. One troche will curd about one pint of milk at 60° C.Pharm. Post, 1891, 987.

UNGUENTA.

Ointments-Use and Preparation.-Dr. L. D. Bulkley has published a practical and suggestive article on the above subject, of especial value to physicians, which does not admit of abstraction. He enjoins the practitioner to frequently inspect the ointments, and to test them by the odor, feeling, rubbing on the skin, etc. For particulars, the reader is referred to Am. Drug., 1891, 318, from Therapeutic Gazette.

XXV.

Pastes and Ointments.-Among the remedies prescribed by Dr. Lassar, the following are quite frequently used: Pasta salicylica ("white paste"): Salicylic acid 2.0, zinc oxide, starch, of each 24.0, yellow vaselin 50.0. Unguentum rubrum sulfur. ("red ointment"): Mercuric sulphide 1.0, sublimed sulphur 25.0, yellow vaselin 74.0, oil of bergamot gtt. xxx. Unguentum contra Perniones ("frost ointment"): Carbolic acid 2.0, lead ointment, lanolin, of each 40.0, olive oil, 20.0, oil of lavender gtt. Unguentum Diachylon carbolisatum ("lead ointment"): Lead plaster, yellow vaselin, of each 50.0, carbolic acid 2.0. Pasta oleosa zinci ("zinc oil"): Zinc oxide 60.0, olive oil 40.0. Linimentum picis ("tar"): Beechwood tar, birchwood tar, of each 40.0, olive oil, dilute alcohol, of each 10.0; this preparation can be diluted with oil. Pasta Naphtholi ("scale paste"): -Naphthol 10.0, precipitated sulphur 50.0, yellow vaselin, green soap, of each 20.0. Pasta Resorcini mitis (“mild resorcin paste"): Resorcin 10.0, zinc oxide, starch, of each 25.0, paraffin oil 40.0. Pasta Resorcini fortior ("stronger resorcin paste"): Resorcin, zinc oxide, starch, of each 20.0, paraffin oil 40.0.-Am. Journ. Pharm. 1892, 189, from Apoth. Zeitg., 1892, 105.

Pasta Cerata.-C. L. Schleich has succeeded in converting bees-wax into a cream-like substance which mixes readily with water, and also with

vaselin. It keeps well in closed containers, dries on exposure to the air, does not decompose or become fancid, and is non-irritating.-Zeits. Oesterr. Apoth.-Ver., 1891, 698, from Deutsch. Med.-Zeitg.

Andree communicates the following process for making a paste closely resembling the original one of Schleich. Melt bees-wax on a steambath, and emulsify with water, using as little carbonate of potassium as possible. After allowing it to cool and settle, the finely divided wax is transferred to a filter, and well washed out. A small quantity of carbolic acid water (or corrosive sublimate solution) will serve to make it keep. It forms a pasty mass, which can be applied with a brush, and, of course, is easily washed off.-Deutsch-Amerikan. Ap.-Zeitg., Jan. 1892, 143; from Apoth.Zeitg.

R. Tittelbach and E. Kiegel recommend also to imitate it by saponifying the wax partially with potassium carbonate. Schleich himself, however, denies that he uses any alkali whatever.-Pharm. Zeitg., 1892, 114, 128, 131.

Lead Paste. According to Hebra, 50 parts of litharge are boiled with 80 parts of vinegar to the consistence of a paste, and then mixed with 10 parts of linseed oil.-Schweiz. Woch., 1892, 8.

Ceratum in Intermittent Fever.-According to the Lancet, intermittent fever is stated to have been cured with inunctions of simple cerate along the spine.-D.-A. Apoth. Zeitg., July 1891, 67.

Unguentum Boroglycerini.-George M. Beringer uses the following:

Solution of boroglyceride (50 per cent., in glycerin)..
Petrolatum

Oil of rose or geranium q. s. Mix.

25 parts.

.75 parts.

-Am. Jour. Pharm., 1892, 6.

Unguentum Diachylon.-According to Dieterich the addition of about 5 per cent. of water gives a much more tractable ointment than by strictly following the officinal formula.-Pharm. Centralh., 1891, 615.

It is again recommended to make it directly from the ingredients, and not from lead plaster. Boil together I part of litharge with 4 parts of olive oil in the presence of water, exactly as lead plaster, wash out the glycerin and evaporate the incorporated water, stirring until cold. The ointment obtained in this way will keep unaltered for many weeks.-Apoth. Zeitg., 1891, 357.

Unguentum Hydrargyri Oleati.-B. Ph. C.

Oleate of mercury
Simple ointment.

Mix without heat.

I OZ.

..I OZ.

-Pharm. Jour. and Trans., July 25, 1891, 70.