Working botanists have so often been poisoned by Rhus Toxicodendron that many of them have come to regard it as their special bane. In the five seasons commencing with 1868, I was particularly careful not to touch this poisonous plant, not to pluck a specimen growing in its immediate vicinity, nor to receive from the hands of another person a freshly-gathered plant, for fear it might have come in contact with Rhus. In spite of these precautions, in the latter part of May or first of June in each year, I was poisoned so severely as to be confined to my room for several days. In June, 1872, after gathering many specimens of Cypripedium spectabile, I observed that my hands were stained with the purplish secretion of the glandular hairs with which its stem and leaves are densely clothed, and shortly after experienced a peculiar irritation about my eyes. The next day my whole face presented the appearance of a severe case of Rhus poisoning. On reviewing my notes of the previous years, I found that in each season the poisoning had appeared on the day after I had collected Cypripedium spectabile or C. pubescens. In 1873 and 1874, I collected more extensively than ever before, but suspecting that my previous sufferings had been caused by these two species of Cypripedium rather than the Rhus, took no unusual pains to avoid the latter, but refrained from touching either of the former with the bare hand. The result was what I had expected, for I escaped entirely the poisoning that I had begun to regard as inevitable, and am now convinced that upon myself, at least, Cypripedium spectabile and C. pubescens are capable of producing effects similar to those caused by Rhus Toxicodendron. Is it not possible that others, also, have wrongly attributed to Rhus the annoyance caused by these plants hitherto considered inoffensive? A decisive answer, either affirmative or negative, must depend upon the results of future experiment. Who will undertake it? CHICAGO, Dec. 15. PHARMACAL ITEMS. BY ALBERT C. WHERLI. In continuing the subject of Pharmacal Items, it is with a view of considering a few features which occasionally must present themselves to the observing pharmacist, in the various manipulations and operations of the shop. It devolves upon all desirous of becoming thorough in the art of pharmacy, that the practical operations be mastered with skill, neatness and dexterity. Simple theoretical knowledge on the subject is of little avail, to insure good results, where a skillful use of the implements is required. As many operations are performed by the agency of different processes and utensils, it is necessary to ascertain which are best suited for the purpose. On the same principle that one employs percolation instead of the old process of maceration, in making tinctures, etc., should we be actuated to use the best means to insure the best possible result, not slow to see wherein an advantage could be gained by any observation we might make, and no one should be so adverse to his own improvement but that from time to time he may observe them. In the preparation of prescriptions the dispenser is often obliged to supply that which is necessary to its proper preparation. This is, to a large extent, the case in making pills, where the compounder is often allowed to exercise his own judgment in selecting some excipient which, with or without the addition of moisture, will form a suitable mass. It is right here that not a small amount of discretion can be exercised in preparing a pill mass, so that it may be of the proper consistence, at the same time easy of solution by the organs of digestion. As a drying excipient, a powder is usually employed best calculated to perform this duty, such as liquorice, marshmallow root, etc.; but the purity of these powders, and their advantage over some cheaper or simpler article, is questionable. These powdered roots are generally derived from worm-eaten or otherwise damaged material, which unfit the same for sale in the whole state, but in this comminuted condition pass the usual inspections, and thus are utilized in what may be considered a harmless way, although if we exercised the usual consideration for the stomach of those suffering from sickness, we would refrain from the use of such material. As a suitable substitute for these powders is common wheat flour, against this every-day article no possible objection can be made on account of impurity, price or indigestibility, and therefore it is in every way superior to the inert powders generally used for the purpose of regulating, in pill-masses, the excessive amount of moisture which is frequently so great an annoyance to the dispenser. The division of a pill-mass is merely a mechanical operation, usually performed by the aid of a pill-tile or pill machine. The latter has the claim of advantage in facilitating the speedy and accurate division of the mass, and but little can be suggested as an improvement to this time-honored implement, excepting it were that instead of having twenty-four grooves it be arranged in greater harmony with the decimal system of numerals, in having thirty grooves. This number, or a multiple, or a division of which is at the present time more frequently ordered than was formerly the practice by one or more dozen. At the same time each groove should be distinctly marked with a numerical, which can easily be done on the platform before each groove. These additions would be a useful improvement to this pharmacal instrument. Long practical experience is not always essential for the attainment of a certain degree of skill and competency in the performance of the numerous acquirements of pharmacy, but when with it is combined close observation, analyzing thoroughly the advantages and disadvantages under which we, as well as others, may frequently labor, this only will lead to an acquisition of skill and dexterity, which we otherwise fail to obtain. Especially is dexterity an object in the performance of the various duties of extemporaneous pharmacy, which should be cultivated by every one connected with the shop, so that as little time as possible may be consumed in dispatching the wants of our patrons. As a general rule, customers are impatient, and can not fully appreciate the importance of the necessary time required for the proper preparation of the remedies. Therefor, any thing that will expedite our operations, without endangering accuracy, is a desideratum. It is a known fact that different localities have need of, or at least demand, a certain class of remedies in preference to others. This want depends chiefly on the character, etc., of the neighborhood. In these circumstances a little foresight on the part of the pharmacist can be of great service in utilizing his spare time, in selecting those most frequently prescribed and called for, and having them ready for use. But there are instances where this feature is objectionable, on account of the liability of articles to deteriorate when thus kept ready prepared. Where this is the case, we should not alone display dexterity, but devise ways by which such extemporaneous operations will be performed in the shortest possible time. As an illustration of an instance of this kind, the solution of citrate of magnesium can be cited: This preparation, when made according to the officinal formula, is one of the "bugbears" of the conscientious pharmacist. The difficulty of stability can be overcome by the following change in the formula, which is to be followed in the spirit as well as the letter, until the point is reached, where it says, "Then add the bicarbonate of potassium and enough water to nearly fill the bottle, which must be closed with a cork, secured with twine." All of this is to be observed and followed, excepting the addition of the bicarbonate of potassium; this is to be omitted until the solution is called for, when the same is added, the cork secured with twine and the mixture shaken and delivered to the customer. The advantage is obvious. First, the solution thus prepared does not so readily deposit basic magnesia, due to the excess of the citric acid; secondly, the freshness of the preparation, due to the large amount of carbonic acid which is liberated when the bottle is opened for use, at the same time adding to the palatableness of the solution. To avoid any unnecessary delay in thus furnishing what is usually found ready for delivery when called for, the following simple arrangement we have found of great aid in facilitating the operation: A dozen long wooden pill boxes (Jayne's style), into each of which place the required quantity of bicarbonate of potassium (coarsely powdered) for each bottle; and these boxes can be placed in a rack cheaply constructed, by taking the cover of a one ounce morphine box (P. & W.'s), and fit into it a piece of tinned iron, perforated with a dozen holes, in which the boxes are placed. The piece of tin should be about eight and one-half inches long, so that an inch at each end can be turned down as a support for the rack. The covers of the wooden boxes can be marked with a figure, so that when emptied the box is returned to the rack with the bottom up, which will avoid any unnecessary delay in search of the box containing the potassium salt, and show which of them are empty. These thoughts, as I have jotted them down for the readers of the PHARMACIST, may seem trifles, but I can say that they have proved themselves of value to me, and I give them, hoping that they may benefit others who, like myself, may be but students and not teachers in the noble profession and art of pharmacy. AN ADDITIONAL METHOD OF TESTING GLYCERIN. BY DR. RICHARD GODEFFROY, Professor of Practical Chemistry in the Vienna School of Pharmacy. As is known, pure glycerin should be free from color and smell, neutral, of specific gravity 126 to 127, capable of mixing with alcohol and water in all proportions, and free from all foreign substances. The methods published for the examination of the purity of glycerin are somewhat tedious, for the glycerin must be tested not only with regard to its specific gravity, but also by means of all possible reagents for finding out of impurities which might be present. I believe that now I have found a method by means of which some of the testing operations are much simplified. If pure glycerin be placed in an open platinum or porcelain crucible, and heated up to 150° Celcius, it will begin to boil. It can now be ignited, and will continue to burn quietly with a blue and not very luminous flame, without diffusing the least smell or leaving behind it the least residue. When the glycerin has a specific gravity below that of pure glycerin, it will boil under 150° Celsius, but at the moment of boiling it cannot be ignited. If metallic salts be mixed with the glycerin, they will remain as residue in the dish; the same would be the case when more highly organized combinations are present; these remain in the cup as a black, charred, or soot-like residue. I may mention that glycerin can be ignited very easily by means of a cotton wick, and continues to burn without smell; on extinguishing the flame there is no smell. The ordinary commercial glycerin, of specific gravity 1.249 to 1256, can easily be ignited by means of cotton. It is not necessary in this mode of ignition that the glycerin be anhydrous.—London Phar. Journal. NEW METHOD OF PREPARING SALICYLIC ACID, AND ITS PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.* BY PROFESSOR KOLBE. Artificial oil of gaultheria, in which the percentage of salicylic methyl ether is very variable, is too costly for the preparation from it of any considerable quantity of salicylic acid. Professor Kolbe experimented, therefore, whether a method formerly described by Lautemann and himself, for the preparation of artificial salicylic acid (C,H,O,) from carbolic acid by the joint action and carbonic anhydride and sodium, could be simplified and improved so as to allow of salicylic acid being obtained at a more reasonable cost. This object he has succeeded in attaining. After numerous experiments, Professor Kolbe finally adopted the following method: In a strong crude soda-liquor of known strength is dissolved a sufficiency of previously melted crystals of carbolic acid to saturate the caustic soda. The solution is then evaporated in an iron capsule, and by means of stirring brought to a dry powder. The sodium carbolate so obtained is gradually heated in a retort to a temperature of from 220° to 250° C. in a continuous current of dry carbonic anhydride. The reaction is ended when at the above mentioned temperature no more carbolic acid passes over. It might have been expected that, the reaction going forward in this manner, a molecule of carbonic anhydride would be introduced into the molecule of sodium carbolate, and thus a molecule of sodium salicylate be formed: CHO Na+CO,C,H2O COO Na. This, however, is not the case, only half of the sodium carbolate being converted into salicylate. The reaction proceeds according to the following equation: CH2ONa C&H2ONa+CO2=CH;ONa COO Na+C,H2OH. In two molecules of sodium carbolate under the influence of carbonic anhydride an interchange of H and Na takes place, so that on the one hand carbolic acid and on the other side disodic carbolate result, which latter then combines with the carbonic anhydride to form disodic salicylate. CH2ONa+C,H,ONa C,H,NaONa+C,H,OH 2 From this salt the salicylic acid is separated by means of hydrochloric acid. The special physical and chemical properties of salicylic acid are well known, but its physiological action almost not at all. The knowledge that salicylic acid could be so easily prepared form carbolic acid and carbonic anhydride, and that it could be again decomposed by heat into the same bodies, led Professor Kolbe to think that, similarly to carbolic acid, salicylic acid might stop or entirely prevent fermentative and putrefactive * Archiv der Pharmacie [3], vol. v., p. 445, from the Journal fur practische Chemie. |