726

pay ward Kov. 19th, labouring under fever, of which she hadbeen ill at least sixteen days, though not all that time in bed.Besides the usual symptoms she had a very rapid pulse, above130, and extensive bronchitis through both lungs. Her eyeswere much injected, and there was slight delirium, especiallyat night. The tongue was that of typhus. The lung affectionrequired special treatment. On the third day from admissionshe presented a well marked crop of rose-coloured spots, con-fined to the sides of the chest and abdomen, and fifteen innumber; but she had no other symptom of typhoid fever-nopain on pressure, no tympany, nor diarrlioea. About thetwenty-fourth day of the fever the crisis began by sweating,which, though not profuse, lasted three days, afer which shemade a rapid recovery. The case was sent in by Dr. Sinclair,and was seen, when the spots were at their height, by Dr.Moore.

These three cases, which all occurred in November, 1863,appear to me very important. I had seen similar cases informer years, and stated so in my paper brought before theRoyal Medical and Chirurgical Society of London in May, 1860.They appear to my mind to strike at the very foundation of theviews held in London and elsewhere, as connecting the rose-coloured spots, and in small numbers on the chest and abdomen,with an enteric lesion; for, beyond any question, nothing ofthis kind existed here, and yet the spots might in the two lastcases be taken as models. I am not quite sure but that similarcases have been described by others, though I cannot refer tothem now. With my own views these cases admit of the easiest ’explanation. But I must leave it to the gentlemen who holdfor a plurality of poisons to explain them on theirs.

Dublin, Dec. 1863.

THE

ANALYTICAL SANITARY

COMMISSION.

MEDICINES,THEIR

IMPURITIES AND ADULTERATIONS.

SPITRITUS ÆTHERIS NITRICI.

(SECOND REPORT.)

IN the report on Spirit of Nitric Ether published in THELANCET of November 14th, the results were given of the exa-mination of thirty-two samples of that article, purchased at theestablishments of various pharmaceutists and chemists residentin the metropolis.

It was shown that the weight or specific gravity of the varioussamples ranged between 834, the Pharmacopoeia! standard, and952,-a difference of no less than 118 grains,-due mainly, itwas affirmed, to admixture with water in various proportions.That the acidity also varied greatly, it ranging in each

thousand grain measures of the spirit from 45-100hs to 14’4grains.That a large proportion of the samples contained alde7ayde,

which was present in some of them in considerable amount.That nearly one half the samples, in place of being prepared

with vinous alcohol, were made with methylated spirit.The fact was also prominently referred to, that both Pereira

and Rodgers failed to separate the hyponitrous ether, believedto form an essential and distinctive constituent of spirit of nitricether, by means of a saturated solution of chloride of calcium,the method usually employed. This failure, it was suggestedby Mr. Rodgers, possibly arose from their having experimentedwith the spirit of nitric ether of the London in place of theEdinburgh Pharmacopoeia, the latter being prepared in an

essentially different manner.The samples experimented upon by Pereira were of Howard’.

manufacture, and had a specific gravity of 850; those fromwhich Rodgers endeavoured to separate the hyponitrous etheIwere obtained from some London chemists.

The foregoing are all highly important facts and data relatingto the composition and condition of a prime article of themateria medica. They do not, however, exhaust the subject,and we have therefore considered it desirable to pursue ourinvestigations.The points to which we have given special attention are the

specific gravity of spirit of nitric ether, the ptcsence of water,the presence or absence of hyponitrous ether, and the mann-facture of the article.Two methods were followed with a view to the separation

of the hyponitrous ether, to one only of which need we atpresent refer. The plan first employed was to pour into glass,tubes of suitable length and diameter a saturated solution ofchloride of calcium, prepared either from the dry or fused chlo-ride (it does not appear to matter which), and then to add tothis half its volume of the spirit of nitric ether w be tested ; ythe tubes were then hermetically closed, the contents well

agitated, and the tubes set aside at rest for some hours. If

hyponitrous ether is present in any amount beyond mere traces,the mixture, when shaken, assumes a milky appearance, whichremains for a short time, and which is in itself a sufficient indica-tion of the presence of the ether. When the amount is consider-able, usually the separation of the greater part of the ether takesplace in the course of a few minutes, and sometimes it is almostinstantaneous. When the sample is free from nitrous ether,the mixture, when agitated, speedily becomes as clear as water,provided the solution of chloride of calcium has been pre-viously filtered.We stated in our first report that the specific gravity of the-

nitre affords evidence of the absence or presence of surpluswater and of its amount. This statement, so far as it relates-to the spirit of nitric ether sold by the London chemists, wesee no reason to retract ; there are, however, of course, othermeans by which the amount of water in spirit of nitric ethermay be determined absolutely and directly. The method wehave pursued is the following :—Recently ignited carbonate ofpotash was placed in a tube of the proper size and length, andupon it a measured quantity of the spi1Ít to be tested waspoured. The quantity of potash and of the spirit must, in allcomparative trials, stand in strict relation to each other; usuallythe alkali should form one seventh or oite-eighth part of theweight of the spirit employed. If too much potash be used,the effect of the spirit upon it cannot be so readily seen andappreciated. The tube should then be hermetically closed, andthe contents well shaken from time to time. The effects inmost cases are at once more or less apparent, but in generalthey are best observed after the tubes have been standing atrest for three or four days. If the spirit of nitric ether be ofthe Pharmaoopoeial standard, or even within some few degrees.of it, the potash, in place of becoming soft and more or lessdissolved according to the amount of water present, swells up-and breaks into granules, so that it occupies frequently twiceits original space in the tube ; and in this condition it remains.The explanation of this increase in the bulk of the potash

appears to be this : that while there is water just sufficient inthe article to cause the particles of the potash to swell up, thereis not enough to exert any liquefying action. It is reallyextraordinary how delicate this method, is of determining thepresence of surplus water in spirit of nitric ether, and itsamount.We now state that in using, in our first report on !’pirit of

nitric ether, the expression " over weight," we of course meantover Pharmacopoeia,! weight, and by "surplus water" wemeant water in excess of that contained in the Pharmacopceialpreparation of the standard or authorized gravity-namely,834. or even within a few degrees of that standard.We will now procted to give some further results of the

examination of the samples noticed in our first report, as alsoof some other samples.RESULTS OF THE EXAMINATION OF NUMEROUS SAMPLES OF

SPIRIT OF NITRIC ETHER PURCHASED IN THE METRO-POLIS.

Sample lat.Purchased of-Mr. Squire, 2; 7, Oxford-street.

Specific gravity 8:33 2. Furnishes a thin tilm of hyponitrous et7teo. Carboiecete of potash, thoroughly dried. swells and

; breaks up into granules, and thus occupies a much larger,

space in the tube, showing the absence of surplus water.

Sample 2nd.Purchased of-Messrs. Bell and Co., 338, Oxford-street.

Specific gravity 839.0. Furnishes a thin film of hyponitrous ethe?-, the carbonate of potash swells up, and becomes.

) granular, as in the previous sample.

727

Sample 3rd.Purchased of-Mr. Dinneford, New Bond-street.

Specific gravity b57 ’0. Furnishes a thin film of hyponitrous etlter. Potash acted upon, and partially dissolved, show-ing the presence of surplus water, not exceeding 6 per cent.

Sample 4th.Purchased of-Messrs. Waush and Co., 177, Regent-street.

S’pecific gravity 843.1. No hyponitrous ether separated bythe solution of chloride of calcium. Potash a good dealacted upon.

Sample 5th.Purchased Of-Messrs. Savory and Moore, 220, Regent-street.

Specific gravity 858 -5. Furnishes a very thin film of hypo-nitrous ether. Potash a good deal acted upon, showing thepresence of about 7 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 6th.Purchased of-Mr. James Brown, 27, Aldgate, E.

Specific gravity 852.5. No Itypo:zitruus ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon, and in part dissolved,

, showing the presence of abuut. 5 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 7th.Purchased of-Mr. Good, 47, Minories.

Specific gravity 833 0. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash swelling up and breaking into granules, showingthe absence of surplus tt,,ate2-.

Sample 8th.Purchased of-Messrs. Whinfield Hora and Co., 58, Minories.

Specific gravity 86l.8. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash more than half dissolved, with a considerablestratum of water floating on the sarface, showing the pre-sence of fully 8 per cent. of surplus water.

. Sample 9th.Purchased of-Mr. Henry Metzler, 98, Minories.

Specific gravity 857 4. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon, partly dissolved, and witha thin stratum of water floating on the surface, showingthe presence of about 6 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 10th.Purchased of-Mr. F. Young. 137, Minories.

Specific gravity 858.4. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon and partly dissolved, show-ing the presence of surplus water, amounting to about 7per cent.

Sample 11 th.Purchased of-Messrs. Cook and Baines, 140, Minories.

Specific gravity 854.2. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon, and a portion dissolved,indicating the presence of about 5 per cent. of surpluswater.

Sample 12th.Purchased of-Mr. Fentiman, 4, Upper East Smithfield.

Specific gravity 8609. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon, showing the presence ofsurplus water, the gravicy in this case being also in partdue to excess of free acid.

Sample I3th.Purchased of-Mr. Wills, 32, East Smi-hfield.

Specific gravity 857.3. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon, and indicating the presenceof about 5 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 14th.Purchased of-Dr. Belinfante, 44, St. George-street East.

Specific gravity 853.6. No hyponitrous ether s:parated.Potash dissolved to the extent of one-half, and coveredwith a thin stratum of water, indicating the presence ofabout 5 per oeut. of surplus water.

Sample 15th.Purchased of-Mr. Hingrose, 123, St. George-street East.

Specific gravity 888.0. No hyponiti-ous ether separated.Potash entirely dissolved, and a stratum of water separated,fully equal to 20 per cent,

Sample 16th.Purchased of-Messrs. Foulger and Son, 133, St. George-street

East.

Specific gravity 851-3. No hyponitrous ether separated..Potash partly dissolved, and covered with a stratum ofwater, indicating the presence of more than 4 per cent. ofsurplus water.

Sample 17th.Purchased of-Mr. Wood, 206, High-street, Shadwell.

Specific gravity 863 5. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash two-thirds dissolved, and covered with a stratum ofwater, indicating the presence of about 9 per cent. of water.

Sample 18th.Purchased of--Mr. J. T. Croucher, 223, High-street, Shadwell.

Specific gravity 8434. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash increased in bulk, showing that the excess of waterwas but very small in this case.

Sample l9th.Purchased of-Mr. G. Cru’cher, 226, High street, Shadwell.

Specfic gravity 917.4 No hztponitrous ether. Potash all dis-solved, and a column of water separated equal to 34 percent.

Sample 20th.Purchased of-Mr. Brooks, King David-lane, Back-road,

Sbarlwell.Specific gravity 8602. No hyponitrous ether separated.

Potash a good deal acted upon, indicating the presence ofabout 7 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 21st.Purchased of—Mr. White, corner of New-road, Commercial-

road East.S’pecific gravity 851 0. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash partly dissolved, but no stratum of water on thesurface, indicating the presence of about 4 per cent. ofsurplus water.

Mr. White, in the very straightforward and candid letterwhich we published in THE LANCE of November 21st, statedthat he kept two, bottles containing spirit of nitric ether, oneundiluted spirit,the other diluted with about 12 per cent. ofwater. We are satisfied that the sample obtained by us does notcontain anything like 12 per cent. of surplus water; we are there.fore led to believe that the article furnished to us was the un-diluted spirit of nitric ether. Perhaps Mr. White’s " poor feet"were so sore at the time that he took the first bottle of nitre thatcame to hand.

Sample 22nd.Purchased of-Mr. J. C. Dyke, 12, Northumberland-place,

Commercial-road East.Specific gravity 878.0. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash much dissolved, and covered with a stratum ofwater, indicating the presence of 15 per cent. of surpluswater.

Sample 23rd.Purchased of -Mr. W. Clarke, 22, Hereford-place, Commercial-

road East.Specific gravity 854.0. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon and partly dissolved, in.dicating the presence of 5 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 24th.Purchased of-Mr. J. W. Kay, 13, King’s-place, Commercial-

road East.S’pecific gravity 911.5. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash entirely dissolved, and covered with a stratum crcolumn of water fully equal to 30 per cent.

Sample 25th.Purchased of-Mr. Belcher, 3, New-road, Wellclose-square.

Specific gravity 871.4. No hyponitrous ether separated.Po(ash much acted upon, but scarcely to such an extentas to indicate the presence of 12 per cent. of surplus water, owing probably to the large amount of free acid which thissample contains.

Sample 26th.Purchased of-Mr. Hewitt, 1, Well-street, Wellclose-square.

Specific gravity 918’0. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash entirely dissolved, and replaced by a column ofwater about equal to 34 per cast. of surplus water.

728

Sample 27th.Purchased of-Mr. J. Loane, Dock-street, Leman-street.

Specific gravity 867.8. Yields a thin film of hyponitrous ethe7-. Potash two-thirds dissolved, and covered by astratum of water, indicating the presence of fully 10 percent. of surplus water.

Sample 28th.Purchased of-Mr. Blackman, High-street, Whitechapel.

Specific gravity 853’4. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash dissolved to the extent of a third, showing thepresence of about 5 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 29th.Purchased of-Mr. Stirling, 86, High street, Whitechapel.

Specific g?’avity 854’0. No hyponitrous ether separated.Potash a good deal acted upon, and showing the presenceof about 5 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 30th.Purchased of-Mr. Comley, 71, High-street, Whitechapel.

Specific gravity 849’3. No hypozzitrous ether separated.Potash partially dissolved, and covered with a thin stratumof water, indicating the presence of fully 3 or 4 per cent.of surplus wate7’.

Sample 31st.Purchased of-Mr. Gorton, 144, High street, Whitechapel.

Specific gravity 904’3..N hyponitrous ether separated.Potash all dissolved, and replaced by a column of water,showing the presence of fully 23 per cent. of surplus water.

Sample 32nd.The article in this case was not obtained under circumstances

to admit of the name being given.Specific gravity 952 ’0. No hyponitrous ether separated

Potash entirely dissolved, and replaced by a columia ofwater fully equal to one-half the so-called spirit of nitricether.

It might possibly be objected to the above results, so far asthe hyponitrous ether is concerned, that the samples, having beenpurchased some few weeks, the ether which they might haveoriginally contained had disappeared by evaporation. In orderto meet this objection, we procured some fresh samples fromsources from which the best examples of spirit of nitric etherprocurable in the metropolis were likely to be obtained. Withtwo of the samples the names of the manufacturers weregiven us; but since these were not procured by us directfrom the makers, we refrain from giving the names, but willmerely observe that one of the firms manufactures a very largequantity of the article, and has a reputation for making thebest in the market. The other samples were procured fromthe following houses :--The Apothecaries’ Hall; the GeneralApothecaries’ Company; Messrs. Bell and Co.; Messrs. Corbyn,Holborn; Mr. Dinneford; Messrs. Savory and Moore; and Mr.Squire. The only one of these nine samples which furnishedeven the smallest evidence of the presence of hyponitrous etherwas that of Messrs. Savory and Moore, on which a distinct butthin layer of the ether, not amounting, however, to one percent., floated. The result of the examination of these samples,therefore, does away with the notion that the ether had dis-appeared ; although at the same time there is good reason tobelieve that it does gradually lessen in samples which are notwell secured.

But, again, it may be urged, that had we adopted othermethods of examination, possibly ether might have been sepa-rated. Although this objection is really unfounded, since, ifnitrous ether be present in more than mere traces, it mayalwa.ys-as will be shown presently-be readily separated bymeans of the saturated solution of chloride of calcium ; yet inorder to meet such an objection, another method of extractionwas resorted to. Phillips, in his translation of the Pharma-copcoia, states that hyponitrous ether may be separated fromthe alcohol, water, and uncombined acid by digesting limereduced to powder in it, and subjecting the mixture to dis-tillation. This proceeding was adopted with four of the

samples. Three of these samples were represented to us as madeby the two manufacturing firms already alluded to; and one wasa portion ef the original sample obtained from Messrs. Belland Co. Of each of these samples, after digestion with lime,a small portion only was distilled off and tested in the usualmanner for hyponitrous ether. In three of the samples, in.cluding that of Messrs. Bell and Co., a thin film of the ether

separated, which, however, did not amount to 4 I of a per-cent. It must be remembered that the small quantity ofthe spirit of nitric ether distilled off would contain whateverhyponitrous ether might be present in the whole quantity ofspirit digested with the lime and submitted to distillation,notwithstanding which the result of this proceeding standsthus : Before treatment with the lime in two of the samples,including that from Bell and Co., a pellicle of the ether formed ;while after distillation it appeared in three out of the foursamples.The fact, therefore, may be accepted as established, that the

ethers examined by us were, as stated, for the most part freefrom hyponitrous ether, or contained only sufficient to scentthem ; while in a few of the samples is was present in traces.only.A fact may now be mentioned to prove that by means of a

saturated solution of chloride of calcium the hyponitrous ethermay always be readily separated when present. Some samplesof spirit of nitric ether from Edinburgh were procured throughthe instrumentality of Mr. Rodgers. One, labeled Duncan,Flockhart, and Co., furnished, after it had been kept for sornertwo or three weeks, about 3 per cent. of hyponitrous ether; asecond, labeled J. F. Macfarlan and Co., gave about 1 percent.; while a third, bearing the name of James Robertson,yielded only a very thin pellicle of the ether. Probably thequantities found in these samples would have been greater hadthey been tested immediately on their arrival. It will be re-membered that in our first report we explained that the Edin-burgh spirit of nitric ether was made by adding the hypo-nitrous ether (.irect to the alcohol, so that it cannot fail, if pro-perly made originally, and if not subsequently spoiled, to con-tain more or less of the hyponitrous ether, which, it is stated,should amount to 12 per cent.

Leaving for the present the subject of byponitrous ether insweet spirit of nitre, a few additional observations may now bemade having reference to the presence of water therein.The evidence afforded by the llquefying action of different

spirits of nitric ether on thoroughly dried carbonate of potashis most satisfactory and conclusive, yet it will be useful to ad-duce some evidence of a different kind.A certain quantity of carbonate of potash was added to six

different samples, the specific gravity of which was previouslyascertained, and after a few hours the gravity of the severalsamples was again determined. The results of this proceedingare stated below.

Now, all the potash did in this case was to remove thegreater part, but by no means the whole, of the water, and toneutralize any free acid. It had no effect on any hypouitrouaether present, except to tend to free it, as shown by the fact thatit was obtained, as before, from Duncan, Flockhart, and Co.’ssample, while even a thin film of it appeared on the manufac-turer’s sample which previously had not exhibited any tracesof it. In this manner, also, aa well as by the solvent action ofthe water present on the potash, satisfactory evidence may beobtained of the presence of water and of its amount. It is

only necessary to remember, that VI here much free acid is pre-sent this will form with the potash a salt or salts according tothe acid or acids present, some of which may be held in solution-by the spirit, and so tend to increase the gravity.

Digestion with lime, and subsequent distillation, have muchthe same effect as the carbonate of potash, as will be apparenton an examination of the following figures:-

While, therefore, we have some important additional factsto communicate, we have nothing to alter or retract of ourfirst report. The rule that the specitic gravity shows theamount of water in spirit of nitric ether- ac least in Londonsamples, the only ones with which we have had to do-is onewhich we have not hitherto found to yield other than correct

729

indications. The only circumstance, so far as we are aware,which would, within certain narrow limits, tend to derangethis rule is, the presence of much hyponitrous ether or of

large quantities of free acid, which are more injurious than thewater.

If, indeed, as has been assumed, the spirit of nitrous etherof the London shops was invariably made with spirit of wineof gravity 83S ; if it always contained, as has been hithertopresumed, some 10 or 12 per cent. of hyponitrous ether; if itwere never subsequently treated with carbonate of potash; andif, finally, it were never redistilled, and one uniform process ofmanufacture were pursued, then the resulting compound woulddoubtless possess a higher specific gravity than that given in theLondon Pharmacopoeia: but then it so happens that each andall of those " ifs" stand in opposition to ascertained facts.

"If" the first is met by the fact that the spirit of wine usedis often of several degrees lower specific gravity than that ofthe Pharmacopoeia-namely, 838. "If" the second is answeredby the fact that the spirit of nitric ether sold in the metropolisis either wholly destitute of hyponitrous ether, or contains littlemore than traces thereof. " If " the third is negatived by thefurther fact that carbonate of potash is sometimes added to it ;and that spirit of nitric ether is even, in some instances, keptover potash, it serving the double purpose of removing waterand of neutralizing acidity. Lastly, in reply to " if thefourth, it may be stated that spirit of nitric ether is sometimestwice distilled ; that the distillation is conducted with variousdegrees of heat, and therefore with variable rapidity, and whichalone would occasion great diversity in the composition andgravity of the resniting distillate. Even supposing a largequantity of hyponitrous er,her and water to be present, the mereagitation with carbonate of potash would reduce the gravityeither to, or very close upon, the Pharmacopoeia! standard.We have now just one other remark to make respecting what

we have termed the extra or surplus water in the differentsamples of spirit of nitric ether examined. We have never

given utterance to a single word in either of our reports whichimplied, nor did we for a moment intend to imply, that thepresence of the smaller quantities of water noticed clependedupon intentional admixture, or was due to any other thannatural causes ; and yet certain writers have not scrupled toattribute to us such an unfounded statement.

Hitherto it has been pretty generally supposed that spirit ofnitric ether owed its more valuable and distinctive medicinal

properties to the hyponitrous ether which it was believed tocontain; but now, since that ether has been shown to be whollyundiscoverable in the majority of the samples, and, when pre-sent, to be so in quantities scarcely appreciable, are we justifiedin concluding that the nitric ether of the English Pharmacopoeiais little more than a mixture of alcohol, water, free acid, withsometimes more or less aldehyde, and with jnst such an infini-tesimal amount of hyponitrous ether as to impart to it a cha-racteristic odour ?-are we, in fact, to conclude that all that hasbeen said or written upon this article, so far as relates to theEnglish preparation, as sold by chemists, is imaginary, andhas no real foundation ? There is every reason to believe thatthis is really the case.We will now endeavour to state clearly and succinctly the

results to which our investigations have led ue, so far as theyrelate to the 32 samples of sweet spirit of nitre as purchased inthe metropolis.

1st. That the specific gravity of the samples ranged between833, one grain below the Pharmacopoeial weight, and 952, or118 grains above that standard, the difference of weight beingmainly due to water.

2nd. That the acidity of the various samples ranged between45-l00ths of a grain per thousand grain measures and 144grains-a wide variation.

3rd. That aldehyde was present in nearly all the samples,the amount being large in many.

4th. That 27 of the 32 samples contained icater over andabove that found in the two samples which were of the weight Iprescribed by the Pharmacopoeia, and also in those which mostnearly approached that weight-namely, that of Messrs. Belland Co., which had a specific gravity of 839. and of Mr. Croucher, the gravity of which was .43’4. The water, or ratherexcess of water, varied from some 3 or 4 per cent. to fully 50 per cent., or over half the article.

’5th. That a large proportion of the samples had the smell ofmethylated spirit of nitre.Such were the conclusions to which our examinations of the

article led us, and which were made known in our first report Ion the subject. IThe above 32 samples, as well as of many others, have, as we f

have seen, been re-examined more especially for hyponitronsether and for water, the results being-

1st. That as regards the hyponitrous ether of the 32 samplesoriginally examined, in 5 only, those of Messrs. Bell, Dinneford,Loanp, Squire, and Savory, was a thin film of the ether sepa-rated, not nearly equal to even half a per cent. of the wholearticle ; while not a trace of ether was discoverable in the re-maining 27 samples.

2nd. That as respects the matpr, the correctness of the con-clusions originally arrived at is fully established.We now turn to another branch of the subject, and will

endeavour to determine whether the condition of the articlewhen first manufactured serves to explain the state in whichit is met with in the establishments of pharmaceutical chemistsof even the first repute.With this view, we have ourselves made several samples of

the spirit of nitric ether of the London Pharmacopoeia. Oneach occasion the ingredients used were of the exact specificgravity prescribed-the spirit 838, and the nitric acid 1420.The quantity made was one-third that ordered in the Pharma.copoeia.Of the first quantity made the distillation was conducted at

a temperature of 10S° F. The distillate was divided into twoportions:The first-3 ounces-had a greenish tinge, and the odour,

not strongly developed, of spirit of nitric ether. Its specificgravity, owing to a little water having accidentally got into thereceiver, was 861 6. It was free from acidity, contained a littlealdehyde, and furnished only a trace ofhyponitrous ether.The second portion-6 ounces 2 drachms 2 scruples-was

less coloured ; ic had more the odour of spirit of nitric ether;its specific gravity was 837’9; its acidity was equal to 1 00grain of carbonate of soda per 1000 grain measures ; it containeda trace only of aldehyde ; and it furnished a decided film ofhyponitrous ether - very much less, however, than wouldamount to even per cent.The residue in the retort had a specific gravity of 981 ; it

was not tested at the time for hyponitrous ether, but about afortnight subsequently, when it was found to contain no lessthan 20 per cent. of that ether. Its nearly complete absencein the second portion of the distillate is sufficient to show thatthe ether was formed in the bottle in the period between thedistillation and its subsequent examination for hyponitrousether.The two portions mixed together yielded only a thin pellicle

of the oily-looking ether.The distillate of the second quantity made was divided into

four portions. The distillation, as before, was conducted overa water bath ; and the temperature at which the first two por-tions were distilled was 196° F., and the second two portions200° F.The first portion-3 ounces 3 drachms-was slightly tinted ;

bad only faintly the odour of spirit of nitric ether ; its specificgravity was 839 ; its acidity equal to 75-100this of a grain ofsoda per 1000 measures; it contained a little aldehyde ; andit did not furnish any evidence of the presence of hyponitrousether.The second portion-3 ounces 2 drachms-also having slightly

the odour of spirit of nitric ether, was of specific gravity 837’5;its acidity was equal to 1 ’00 gr. of soda per 1000 measures; itcontained a little aldehyde; and it furnished only a trace ofhyponitrous ether.The third portion-1 ounce 6 drachms-was nearly colour-

less ; had the orlour, but by no means strongly developed, ofspirit of nitric ether; its specific gravity was 843 ; its acidityequal to 25 grs. of soda per 1000 measures; it contained rathermuch aldehyde ; and it did not afford any evidence of the pre-sence of hyponitrous ether.The fourth portion-7 drachms-was tinted ; had the odour

strongly of spirit of nitric ether, with the peculiar smell andpungency characteristic of the presence of hyponitrous ether;its specific gravity was 854’0 ; its acidity was equal to 10 grs.of carbonate of soda to 1000 measures of the spirit ; it con-

tained much aldehyde ; and it furnished full 12 per cent. ofhyponitrous ether.

The mixture of these several portions had a specific gravityof 841 ; and which, when shakeii mith carbonate of potash,was reduced to 827, the potash being increased in bulk and notsoftened, and partially dissolved ; it contained rather muchaldehyde ; its acidity was equal per 1000 grs. measures to 2 60 grs.of soda ; and it furnished merely a film of hyponitrous ether.The residue in the retort had a specific gravity of 95S, and

it furnished a decided film of hyponitrous ether-not, however,amounting to near 1 per cent.

730

The ctistillate of the third and last quantity made was alsofractionized i::=o four pordons. The distillation was conductedon a chloride of calcium bath, and of course at a higher tem-perature than in the previous cases-namely from 208° to217° F.

The, 6rst portion-3 ounces-was distilled at 212° F. ; it wasof a greenish colour; had the smell of spirit of nitric ether;its spec.ti.; gravity was b37 ; its acidity was equal to 1 ’00 gr.of soda per 1000 grain measures of the spirit; it contained atrace of aldehyde ; and it furnished. a very thin film of hypo-nitrous ethtr.

The second portion-2 ounces 5 drachms-was distilled at2080 F., the heat having been checked for a few minutes bythe addition to the bath of some solution of chloride of calcium ;it was nearly colourlews ; the odour of spirit -of nitric etherbeing scarcely distinguishable; its specific gravity was 837; itsacidity equal to 1’CO gr. of soda per 1000 grain measures; itwas free from aldehyde; and it did not furnish a trace of

hyponitrous ether.- The thr’d portion-3 ounces 2 drachms-was distilled at a

temperature of 217° F.; was nearly colourless; possessed butlittle odour ; had a specific gravity of 843 ; its acidity wasequal to 2.5 grains of soda to 100t) grain measures of the spirit;it contained a trace of a!dehyde ; but it did not afford any e?i-dence of the presence of hyponitrous ether.The fourth portion-4 drachms-was pale ; had the odour

but ffd’it!y of spirit of nitric e’.her; its specific gravity was 852;its acidi’y was equal to 4’00 grains of the soda; ir, containedrather much of the aldehyde; and it did not furnish any evi-dence of the presence of hyponitrous ether.The mixture of these four portions had a specific gravity of

83S, and which on agination with a small quantity of potashwas reduced to 822, the potash being increased in bulk; itcontained a little aldehyde; its acidity was equal to 1’80 grs.per 1000 grain measures; and the ether separated formed onlya very thui rilm.

These four portions make up the whole quantity which thePharmacopoeia directs should be distilled off. However, as upto this pzzint only a trace of hyponitrous ether had been dis"covered, the distillation was continued, and two other smallportions were fractiouized.

’The lirst portion--5 drachms-was of a greenish tint, pos- ’sessed strongly the odour of spilit of nitric ether, and containeda not inconsiderable :ble amount of hyponitroas ether; its spe-cific gravity was 859; its acidify equal co 9 grains per 1000 gra:nmeasures of the spirit; it contained much aldehyde, and it fur-nished over 4 per cent. of hyponitrous e:her.The second portion-4 drachms-resembled the last in colour

and smell, but was less fragrant and ethereal ; its specificgravity was 874; its acidity equal to 16 5 grains of soda; itcontained very much aldehyde, and it furnished 3 per cent. ofhyponitro:ls ether. At this point the distillation had to bediscontinued, as a highly inflammable vapour began to bethrown off in great abundance.Th-se results are highly important, and serve to explain

why it is that the spirit of nitric ether of the London Phar-macopoeia., as sold in the metropolis, is usually either des’-ituteof, or contains so little, hyponitrous ether.

It hits thus been shown that ia the distillation of a mixtureof spirits of wine and nitric acid in the proportion to form spiritof nitric ether of the London Pharmacopoeia at. any tempera-ture between 196° F. and 217°, the hyponltrons ether onlyappears towards the end of the distillation, and then but insuch small quantity that, when diffused through the whole ofthe distillate, it does not amount to anything like a single per-centage. It has been shown also that it may even fail to beformed until after the full quantity directed to be distilled hasbeen drawn off,The formation of the hyponitrous ether at the end of the

process, and even in the residue after its removal from the

retort, seems to show thn.t if the process were modified, verymuch better results would be -ectred.

Other methods of proceeding, the employment of higher tem-peraturps and the distillation being consequently more rapidlyconducted, would, no doubt, be followed ay certain madifica-tion.5 in the result; thus the gravity would probably varyaccording us the distillation is conducted in a water bath at a

temperature of 200° F. or 2i2° F., in a sterm jacket with highpressure at 230 or more degrees, over a steam jet, or over thenaked flame ; all which methods of proceeding it is stated are

employe i in the manufacture. Sill we do not doubt that thedistillation as conducted by the majority of manufacturerswould furnish results pretty closely approximating with thosearrived at by ourselves. It is true that the framers of the

Pharmacopoeia do not state how the distillation is to be con-ducted, or at what temperature ; but they expressly declare,in order to prevent deviations in I be character of the product,that it should be of the gravity of 834, and to come as near aspossible to the prescribed weight ought to have been the endea-vour of manufacturers. To accomplish this object no difficultywhatever need be experienced, even supposing the spirit to con-tain several per-centages of hyponitrous ether. All that isrequisite, as we have shown, is that the spirit of nitric ethershould be agitated with a little well dried carbonate of potashor with chloride of calcium; indeed the Edinburgh College ex-pressly orders that the free acid of their hyponitrous ethershould be removed by milk of lime, and the surplus water bychloride of calcium.That the expectation above expressed is really well founded

we have already obtained some proof. Having ascertained thatMr. Squire made his own spirit of nitric ether, we applied tohim for permission to he present when the article was tnanufac.tured, in accordance with the formula given in the Pharmaco-poeia. This he readily gave. The distillation was conducted inan earthenware still, placed in a steam jacket with 3lbs. pres-sure to the inch; consequently the temperature would be 222° F.Forty parts (by measure) of the spirit and 14 of acid, of theproper Pharma,copceial strength, were placed in the still, and2S parts distilled off in six successive portions, this being theproportion ordered in the Pharmacopoeia. The distillation was,however, continued, and 12 par’s more were drawn off in threeportions, leaving but little in the still. The distillate in eachof the nine bottles thus obtained was tested separately forhyponitrous ether. The liquids in the first six bottles werefree, or nearly so, from ether ; that is, no hyponitrous ether,beyond traces, was separable from the whole quantity officiallyordered to be drawn off. The first portion (7) of overdrawnspirit was also nearly free from ether ; the second (8) iurnished22 per cent. of hyponitrous ether, and the third (9) no less than35 per cent. of the ether.The mixture of the first six portions had a specific gravity of

838 5, reduced by potash to 822, while the gravii-ies of thethree overdrawn samples were respectively 855, 881, and 905.The acidity of the four samples in the order referred to were,per 1000 measures, = 1 30, 6 -20, 31.20, and 54 -50 grains of an-hydrous carbonate of soda. These results, therefore, entirelyconfirm those arrived at from an examination of the samplesmanufactured by ourselves. We may mention that Mr. Squirewas fully alive to the imperfections of the Pharmacopoeial pro-cess, from which, in some particulars, he finds it necessary todepart. He keeps in view, however, the object of obtaining aproduct of the gravity prescribed by the Pharmacopoeia.

It now only remains to observe that the interest and import-ance of these inquiries will by no means C8ase with the publica-tion of the long-promised British Pharmacopoeia.

New Inventions.ELASTIC INSTRUMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF

DRY COLD AND DRY HEAT IN SURGERY.

MR. HOOPER, of Pall-mall East, has manufactured severalkinds of instruments for effecting the above purposes. Theyare of different forms and sizes according to the object for which

they are required. The material of which they are composedis prepared on the same principle as that used for his watercushions. It maintains its elasticity and softness under alltemperatures, from zero to 212° Fahrenheit, not becoming rigidor otherwise impaired. The specimens which Mr. Hooper hassubmitted to us are-an oblong bag for applying ice to thespine ; one of a circular form for the general application of ice;the third is of the same form, with a tube to draw off the meltedice without removing the instrument; a fourth is a hot-airbottle for dry fomentation, and the application of dry heatgenerally. The instruments altogether promise to be of greatuse in the practice of medicine and surgery.

THE PHYSICIAN’S, SURGEON’S, AND GENERAL PRAC-TITIONFR’S VISITING LIST, DIARY, ALMANACK, A‘:D BOOK OFENGAGEMENTS For, 1864 (Smith and Co., Long acre).-Thisvaluable little publication well sustains the reputation it hasso long and deservedly enjoyed. It contains some informationthat will he found of service, and should be the companion ofevery member of the profession in active practice.