MM. Devay and Guillermond, who, in their work, have been so just in their deductions, fail here, we think, in denominating syrup, injection, &c., of conicine, the various preparations of the fruits of the cicuta. It is only perhaps a matter of form, but it is important to avoid in materia medica a matter of form which may give rise to a false idea of things, which may in a word, induce error.
We have only occupied ourselves with the pharmacological part of the work of MM. Devay and Guillermond. The Bulletin de Therapeutique will soon offer an appreciation of its therapeutical portion.—Dorvault.—Bulletin de Therapeutique.
[The facts on which the preference of the seeds of conium to the preparations in ordinary use are founded, are by no means new. They have been long known and frequently commented on. From six lbs. of the fresh and nine of the dried fruit, Geiger obtained an ounce of conia, or, as the French chemists prefer to call it, conicine; while from 100 lbs. of the fresh herb, he procured only a drachm. The fresh dried herb exhibited only traces of it. The extract prepared from the herb partakes necessarily of its uncertainty and inactivity. Most of what is found in the shop is entirely inert; while the best, that of Tilden or of Currie, which are superior to the best English extract we have seen, possess comparatively little power. If conium is to be retained in the materia media, it is evident that we should employ that part of the plant in which the active principle is contained in the greatest quantity, and in a condition least liable to alteration. We are as yet, however, very imperfectly acquainted with the properties, either medicinal or poisonous of conium; and, as the continuation of the memoir of MM. Devay and Guillermond promises us a solution of the question, we await it with much interest.]—ED. NEW YORK JOURNAL OF PHARMACY.
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ON THE MANUFACTURE OF WRITING INKS.
In the manufacture of good writing ink, more nicety is required in the choice of materials, as well as greater skill in manipulation, than is generally bestowed upon it.
The proportion of the various ingredients used is a matter of considerable importance, affecting in a great degree the durability of the ink.
DR. LEWIS’S WRITING INK.—Dr. Lewis, who instituted a series of very careful experiments on the manufacture of writing ink, found that equal parts of sulphate of iron and of galls gave an ink, which, although of a good color when first used, became yellowish-brown when the writing was kept for a moderate length of time, and that in proportion to the quantity of the sulphate, the inks were less durable in color, and that those in which the galls were in excess, were most durable.
He, therefore, recommended the following proportions as best suited for the manufacture of good writing ink:—Powdered sulphate of iron, 1 oz.; powdered logwood, 1 oz.; powdered galls, 3 oz.; gum arabic, 1 oz.; white wine or vinegar, 1 quart.