Chapter XVI: Section 3: This Act shall not take effect until the first day of July, (13)

The recently prepared and soft aqueous extract of cantharides has been shown to be a powerful epispastic. Will this extract of the consistence of honey, associated with sufficient acetic acid, alcohol, or acetone, to preserve it, keep without the gradual separation of the cantharidin? If so, it will undoubtedly prove one of the very best blistering agents, as by simply applying a covering of it over the surface of waxed paper, or adhesive plaster, with a camel’s-hair brush, a perfect blistering plaster can be made quickly and neatly, and all tendency to change of aggregation by the action of the air on the menstruum avoided. This is a question now under trial, and should it result favorably, a formula will be published. The extraordinary tendency of cantharidin to crystallize, even under the most adverse circumstances, taken in connection with its insolubility, _per se_, has hardly received sufficient attention from pharmaceutists as a cause of the deterioration of {368} cantharidal preparations, and the discovery of a menstruum, that will retain that principle in solution for an indefinite period, is a problem yet to be solved, and worthy the attention of pharmaceutical investigators.

Philadelphia, September, 1852.

ON GELSEMINUM SEMPERVIRENS OR YELLOW JASSAMIN.

BY WILLIAM PROCTER, JR.

Considerable attention has recently been turned to the Yellow Jassamin of our Southern States, from the accidental discovery of certain remarkable effects produced by it when taken internally. A planter of Mississippi having suffered much from a tedious attack of bilious fever, which resisted the usual medicines employed in such cases, requested one of his servants to obtain from the garden a certain root, from which he intended to prepare an infusion for drinking. By mistake, the person sent collected a different root, and administered the tea to his master, who, soon after taking it, was seized with a complete loss of muscular power, being, in fact, so completely prostrated as to be unable to move a limb or to raise the eyelids, yet he could hear, and could appreciate what was occurring around him. After some hours, during which his friends were watching him with much anxiety and little hope, he gradually recovered his muscular control, and was astonished to find that the fever had left him. Having ascertained from his servant what plant he had collected, he subsequently employed it successfully on his own plantation as well as among his neighbors. The history becoming known to a quackish physician, he prepared from it a nostrum called the “Electrical Febrifuge,” in {369} which, it was disguised by oil of winter-green, (_Eclectic_ Dispensatory, page 186.)

The Gelseminum is not noticed by Dr. Griffith in his Medical Botany, nor in the recent edition of the United States Dispensatory, and so far appears to have been used chiefly by the “Eclectic” practitioners of Cincinnati and other parts of the Western States. The accompanying description of the plant is taken partly from a specimen sent from Memphis, Tennessee, where, in common with other parts of the south-western States, it is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant.

The Gelseminum belongs to the natural order Apocyneæ, so remarkable for the great activity of many of its genera, and the name of the genus, given by Jussieu, is one of the ancient names of the jessamine, and that of the species arises from its evergreen foliage.

GELSEMINUM belongs to Pentandria Digynia of Linnæus, and to the natural order Apocyneæ of Jussieu.

_Generic characters._—Regular, calyx five parted, (the sepals of this species being furnished with bract-like appendages) carolla funnel-form, border spreading, five lobed, nearly equal, capsule compressed, flat, two partible, two-celled, seeds flat and attached to the margins of the valves, (Eaton.)

_Specific characters._—The G. sempervirens is known at the South under the names yellow jasmine, wild jasmine, and woodbine. In Florida it flowers in March, and in Mississippi and Tennessee in May and June. Its stem is twining, smooth and glabrous; its leaves are opposite, perennial, lanceolate, entire, dark green above, paler beneath; with short petioles. The flowers, which are esteemed poisonous, are yellow, about an inch long and half an inch wide at the top, of a fine yellow color, and have an agreeable odor, which perfumes the air when they bloom. It grows luxuriantly, climbing from tree to tree, forming a delightful shade. According to Eaton, from whose botany we glean part of the above botanical notice, there is a variety called inodorum which has scentless flowers.

The Gelseminum is indigenous to the Southern States, and its beauty has caused its introduction into the gardens. {370}

_Medical properties and uses._—The root is the part used, and the tincture is the preparation most usually employed, and, as made, must be a saturated tincture. The roots, in a green state, well bruised, are introduced into a suitable vessel, and covered with whiskey, or diluted alcohol. After standing two weeks, the tincture is separated by expression and filtered. It has a dark red color, and a pleasant bitter taste. The dose is from ten to fifty drops. The following account of its medical properties and effects is taken from a paper in the “Eclectic Medical Journal,” August, 1852, page 353, by F. D. Hill of Cincinnati:

“Gelseminum is stimulant, tonic, and anti-spasmodic. By its relaxing effect it produces gentle diaphoresis, and is said to be _narcotic_. Its effect in large doses, or doses too frequently repeated, is extreme relaxation, and general prostration of the whole muscular and nervous system. It will suspend and hold in check muscular irritability and nervous excitement with more force and power than any known remedy. It is of a pleasant bitter taste, and performs its wonder-working cures, in all febrile diseases, without exciting either nausea, vomiting, or purging. When enough has been given to produce its specific effect, the eye is dimmed, the vision clouded and double, the head light and dizzy. When these effects follow the administration of this remedy, no more should be given until the patient has entirely recovered from its influence. ‘It maybe used in all species of fevers, nervous and bilious headache, colds, pneumonia, hemorrhages, leucorrhea, chorea, ague-cake, asthma, and many other diseases: but its efficacy has been most admired in all forms and grades of fevers.’ It should always be used with great care and caution. The root is said to possess a resinous principle, which, when extracted by pure alcohol, will produce death in very small doses. But no such effect need be expected from the proper dose of the common tincture. There is danger of carrying it to such an extent as to suspend involuntary muscular action, and when this is the case, death must ensue. ‘It is incompatible with no known substance, and may follow any _preceeding treatment with perfect safety_.’ The dose is forty drops for an adult, and children in proportion to age and temperament. It is given either with or without quinine. It has been used alone for _chronic rheumatism_, in doses of forty drops, three times a day, with marked effects. Three or four doses, with a mild cathartic, will remove the redness and swelling attending inflamed sore eyes. Special attention should be directed to the general health and constitution of the patient before giving gelseminum. If the bowels be constipated they should be moved by a gentle aperient, and kept in a relaxed condition. It requires double the quantity to produce the effect on some that it does on others; and should the practitioner ever produce too great a degree of relaxation, he should lose no time in stimulating and toning up his patient.” {371}

The alleged effects of this plant on the human system, taken in connection with its medico-botanical relations, mark it out as being probably one of the most valuable of our indigenous remedial agents, and render it well worthy of the investigation of regular physicians.

ON THE MANUFACTURE OF WRITING INKS.

(_Concluded from page 316._)

Prussian blue, that has not undergone digestion in acid in the way above pointed out, will require a much larger proportion of oxalic acid, from twice to three times its weight; and even then it will be greatly liable to precipitation after standing; but when treated in the way described, it is not liable to precipitate, but remains a permanent solution.

STEPHENS’ RED INK.—Stephens’ red ink is prepared as follows:—Take a quantity of common soda, potash or carbonate of ammonia, to which is to be added, at intervals, twice its weight of crude argol in powder.

When the effervescence, arising from this combination, has ceased, pour off the solution, or filter it from the insoluble matter; to this, add by measure half the quantity of oxalate of alumina, or oxalo-phosphate of alumina, prepared by adding to precipitated alumina or phosphate of alumina, in a damp state, as much oxalic acid as will dissolve. Into this mixture, put, when cold, as much cochineal, first bruised or powdered, as will give it a fine red color, varying the quantity according to the shade of color required; and after letting it stand for the space of forty eight hours, strain it off for use.

PROFESSOR RUNGE’S WRITING FLUID.—One of the least expensive formulas for the manufacture of a writing ink, is that given by Professor Runge, who says: “I have for some time {372} endeavored to find a black fluid possessing the properties of forming no deposit, of adhering strongly to the paper, of being unaffected by acids, and lastly, what is of great importance, not acted upon by steel pens.

“After many experiments, I have succeeded in obtaining a composition of the kind required, very simple in its preparation, containing nothing but logwood, chromate of potash, and water, and free from vinegar, gum, copperas, blue vitriol, and even nutgalls. The low price of this writing fluid is also in its favor. It is prepared by simply adding one part of chromate of potash to 1000 parts of decoction of logwood, made by boiling twenty-two pounds of logwood in a sufficient quantity of water to give fourteen gallons of decoction; to this decoction, when cold, the chromic salt is gradually added, and the mixture well stirred. The addition of gum is injurious. In the preparation of this ink, it must be remembered that the yellow chromate and not the bi-carbonate of potash is employed, and great care is required to ensure due adjustment of the relative proportions of the ingredients used. The best way is to make a decoction of logwood, and _gradually_ add to it, well stirring the mixture, as much solution of chromate as will give the shade required.

“It appears astonishing what a small quantity of the chrome salt is required to convert a large quantity of decoction of logwood into a black writing fluid; the fact is however certain, and care must be taken not to allow the proportion of chrome salt to exceed half a part for each 500 parts of decoction of logwood, as a larger quantity exercises a prejudicial effect in destroying the coloring matter of the liquid, whilst in the proportion above mentioned, a deep blue black writing ink is formed, which, unlike the ink made with tannogallate of iron, is perfectly fluid, forming no deposit. This writing fluid possesses another advantage; the paper which has been written upon with it may be washed with a sponge, or be left twenty-four hours under water, without the writing being effaced. Weak acids do not destroy the writing, nor do they even change the {373} shade, whilst that made with gallnuts is effaced, and the ink prepared with logwood and copperas is turned red.

“New steel pens are coated with a greasy substance, which prevents the ready flow of the ink; this should, therefore, be removed previous to use by moistening the pens with saliva, and then washing them in water. The application of an alkaline solution is still preferable to remove this greasy matter. The cleansing of the steel pens is absolutely essential in the case of using the ink above mentioned. I have used this ink upwards of two years, and my steel pens are not in the least degree affected. No rust is formed on the pens, so that after years of service the only wear experienced is that from constant use on the paper, thus rendering unnecessary the use of pens tipped with iridium and other hard substances.”

ON THE GROWTH OF VARIOUS KINDS OF MOULD IN SYRUP.

Professor Balfour, the Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh, has read a valuable paper on this subject, at the Botanical Society in that city, in which he states that mould of various kinds, when placed in syrup, has a tendency to spread out and form a flat, gelatinous, and leathery expansion. This he shows by experiments, as follows:—Mould that had grown upon an apple was put into syrup; and in the course of two months there was formed upon the syrup a cellular, flat, expanded mass, while the syrup was converted into vinegar.

Mould that had grown upon a pear was also put into syrup, and the same result was produced. He also experimented in the same manner with various moulds that were growing upon bread, tea, and some other vegetable substances; the effect {374} produced, in most cases, was to cause a fermentation, resulting in the production of vinegar. In another experiment, a quantity of raw sugar, treacle, and water, were put into a jar, without any mould being introduced. When examined, after a lapse of four or five months, a growth like that of the vinegar plant was visible, and vinegar was formed. This plant was removed, and put into fresh syrup, which was followed again by the production of vinegar. It appears that, when purified white sugar only is used to make syrup, the plant, when placed in it, does not produce vinegar so speedily; the length of time required for the changes varying from four to six months. Dr. Balfour thinks this may possibly be owing, to the presence of some ingredient in the raw sugar and treacle, which may tend to promote the production of vinegar.

In connection with this subject, I may refer to the _Vinegar Plant_, which is considered by some eminent botanists to be an unnatural and peculiar form of some fungus. This plant, which has a tough gelatinous consistence, when put into a mixture of treacle, sugar and water, gives rise to an acetous fermentation. The vinegar, which is the result of this acetous fermentation, is of a syrupy nature; and when evaporated to dryness, a large quantity of saccharine matter is left. Various conjectures have been hazarded as to the origin of this vinegar plant; some stating that it came from South America, or other distant regions; and others that it is a spontaneous production. Dr. Lindley is of opinion that it is a peculiar form of _penicillum glaucum_, or common blue-mould. The general opinion appears to be, that it is in an anomalous state of mould, or of some fungus: and the peculiar form and consistence it assumes on different occasions, seems to depend upon the nature of the material in, or upon which, it makes its appearance.

{375}

CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION.

_Whereas_, The advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge and the elevation of the professional character of apothecaries and druggists throughout the United States are objects that are dear to us in common with all well disposed pharmaceutists; and, _whereas_, a large portion of those in whose hands the practice of pharmacy now exists, are not properly qualified for the responsible offices it involves, chiefly by reason of the many difficulties that impede the acquirement of a correct knowledge of their business;―

_Therefore_, We, the members of a Convention now met at Philadelphia, composed of apothecaries and druggists from different sections of the Union, and from all the Colleges and Societies therein existing, with the object of deliberating on the condition of our profession, _do_ hereby resolve and constitute ourselves into a permanent asociation, to meet annually at such times and places as may hereafter be determined, for more effectually accomplishing the objects for which we are now assembled; and do now adopt the following CONSTITUTION: