THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

18 disease much will depend as to the result upon the place provided for those who are under medical care. Experience has shown that the more formidable diseases to which patients are exposed-such as pyasmia. and hospital gangrene-are, under proper regulations, preventable. We commend to the thoughtful attention of those who are philanthropically endeavouring to ameliorate the condition of a very large class of our suffering fellow-creatures the enlarged experience and the thoroughly practical suggestions of Mr. Hawkins. Liberality in this respect may be happily combined with a judicious economy. As "prevention is better than cure," it is evident that any plan in the construction of public hospitals which is calculated to check the spread of preventable diseases, is fraught with advantages the importance of which it would be difficult to over-estimate.

Edinburgh, whose specimens we refer to, have acquired a great reputation for the production of this valuable anaesthetic agent in a state of purity, and they exhibit it here as produced from pure alcohol, and also from methylated spirit. Eighteen years ago chloroform was known only as an object of scientific innow it is manufactured upon a large scale for medical and other purposes. Much improvement has been effected inits manufacture, especially in its production from methylated spirit, some of the specimens of this being scarcely distinguish. able from that made from pure spirit. When applied as an anaesthetic agent, however, none but the purest and best ought to be

terest ;

employed. It is

only

amongst the important objects of the Exhibition,

to show the

existing

not state of the manufactures of this and

other countries, but to afford the means of comparing the products of such manufactures, and of indicating the progress which has been made in the improvement of the manufacturing arts THE and methods of production. We think there is evidence of a EXHIBITION. GREAT INTERNATIONAL general improvement in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. On looking carefully over the preparations exhibited, especially those in the extensive collection of the Pharmaceutical VIII. Society, where there are specimens contributed by a great number of pharmaceutists in London and throughout the CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS. we find indications of careful and skilful manipulation, AMONGST the chemical products displayed in the Eastern country, for which we might have sought in vain amongst the producAnnex there is a little group of specimens to which the attentions of an equal number of men similarly selected some twenty tion of those interested in the progress of chemical science or thirty years ago. The distilled waters, extracts, ointments, should be directed. These specimens are contained in a small and syrups may be especially referred to in corroboration of glass case, with neither name, nor number, nor place in the this statement. It used to be often said that syrups were never Catalogue. In fact, there is very little to attract the notice of made as they ought to be by English pharmaceutists-that we passers-by, unless it be a piece of paper in the case, on which I must go to France for good medicinal syrups; but this is comis painted the solar spectrum ; for the specimens are few in by pletely disproved the syrups of all sorts exhibited by Messrs. number, small in quantity, and unattractive in appearance. A. Bird; Blake, Sandford, and Blake; Brewer; Davenport; " " Spanish copper pyrites, containing thallium," Crude sulphur Great improvement is also manifest Wilkinson, &c. Squire; obtained from the pyrites," a few grains of a black powder, in some of the ointments, especially zinc ointment and citrine labeled " thallium," and three other specimens of similar deand lard, both simple and benzoated, as prepared by scription, make up the contents of the case. There is, however, ointment, J. Bell and Co. Those only who are engaged in the practice a history attached to these specimens which gives to them a of medicine can fully appreciate the importance of having these high degree of interest. What is thallium ? But the other in the highest possible state of perfection. It is day we knew not of the existence of such a body, and now it is preparations here and in similar preparations, which some persons may be added to the list of elements of which our globe is composed. to pass over as unworthy of notice, that we shall find It was discovered by Mr. Crookes, who exhibits it here in con- disposed the best evidence of the exercise and of the influence of skill in nexion with some of the sources from which it has been obtained. the art of pharmacy. The ingredients used, and the process Its detection was effected, not by chemical, but by physical the same in two operations, the products may On burning the sulphur with which it has been found adopted, being means. nevertheless differ as widely as may two dishes prepared, the associated, and passing the light of the flame through a prism, one by a good and the other by a bad cook. What is pharthe resulting spectrum presented a peculiarity which indicated as an art, but a system of refined cookery, in which the macy, the presence of some hitherto unknown body, and this proved of the products depends in great measure upon the efficacy to be the element thallium. By similar means two other eleskill of the operator ? Compare, for instance, the medicinal ments-namely, caesium and rubidium-were discovered by extracts, especially those made from green plants, such as hemBunsen in the waters of the Durkheim spring, although a ton lock, henbane, belladonna, &c., as produced and exhibited by of the water did not contain more than three or four grains of Bell and Co., Hooper, Squire, Watts, and others in the pharthe chlorides of the new metals. In the Austrian department maceutical collection, and elsewhere in the eastern annex, with of the Exhibition, near the western dome, there is a specimen, similar extracts in other parts of the Exhibition, and a striking difference will be observed. Extracts will be found in some of weighing several ounces, of the mixed chlorides of caesium and the collections in the Austrian department, and also in the rubidium, such a specimen as we believe has never before been large collection of medicines from Turkey, but they are very exhibited. This specimen is amongst the chemical products of deficient in the qualities indicating careful and skilful manipuWagenmann, Seybel, and Co., of Liesing, near Vienna, No. 166 lation. There are good extracts exhibited in the French dein the Catalogue. Since the Exhibition has been opened, we partment, especially by Menier, of Paris, and Berjot, of Caen. Those exhibited the latter are remarkable in appearance, understand that considerable quantities (as compared with the and we doubt notbyare possessed of a high degree of medicinal specimens previously prepared) of the element thallium have efficacy. They are made by evaporation iia vacuo; and being been obtained from the deposit found in the lead chamber of an reduced to perfect dryness while in the vacuum pan, they have oil of vitriol works, in which pyrites (probably copper pyrites] a light spongy condition somewhat resembling the state in Mr. Crookes’ col which tannin is usually prepared. But these extracts can only was burned for the production of the acid. be kept in this state while they are preserved in close vessels lection of thallium specimens will be found by the crystal excluded from the air. The vesicular condition thby are in trophy in the Eastern Annex. If it should be asked, What is while dry gives them a light colour very from that the use of thallium? we would refer the inquirer to some spe which they acquire on exposure to the air, when they rapidly cimens in a small case only a few yards off, No. 653, and desire absorb moisture, become soft-unduly soft if much exposed,and then they have the colour of extracts made from the same him to say what would have been the answer to a similar ques tion if asked sixteen or eighteen years ago with regard to the sourcesin the usual way. There are no exhibitors of extracts prepared in vacuo in the chloroform of which those specimens consist-now so importan British department; but this method of effecting the evaporaMessrs. Dancan, Flockhart, and Co., o tion of extracts was, we believe, first introduced by an English a medicinal agent.

different

, ,

’

19 Mr. Barry, a former partner in the house of Hanburys. ’jhe vacuum process has never been largely applied in this country, although it has been tried and

pharmaceutist, Allen and advocated

on

several occasions.

The fact is that the process of

evaporation in vacito, which presents great advantages when applied to a substance which remains fluid while under operation, and which is liable to be injured by heat or contact with atmospheric air, is not perfectly applicable in the form in which

the influence of different manures, so that two adjoining strips of the field, having been differen;ly treated, although bearing the same species of herbage, present very different appearances. Experiments of a similar description to those carried out by Mr. Lawes ought to be made for the purpose of determining the influence of soil and other conditions upon the properties of medicinal plants.

it has hitherto been employed for the preparation of medicinal extracts, as these lose their fluid condition long before the conDESCRIPTIONS clusion of the process. When they become thick and pasty, OF the circulation, which in a liquid is caused by the heat applied, ceases, and as the vacuum pan is necessarily closed for the exclusion of air, mechanical agitation cannot loe effected in the usual way; the extract, therefore, adheres to the sides of the INTRODUCED INTO THE PRACTICE OF pan where the heat is applied, and the heat accumulating in MEDICINE, the extract, which dries on this part of the pan, may cause into while the WITH THEIR that which is further removed from sides THERAPEUTICAL EFFECTS. jury it, of the pan remains still insufficiently inspissated. We are here assuming that the pan is heated, as it usually is, by steam apNo. VIII. plied to its external surface, which implies the application of a heat of at least 212°. In addition to other difficulties which IN the valuable communication on the fatal or useless haveyet to be overcome in applying the vacuum process for of digitalis in delirium tremens, from Dr. Morell employment the preparation of extracts, there is the costliness of the appain THE LANCET of March 8th, the followMackenzie, published ratus, which places it beyond the reach of many operators. It is even doubtful whether the products obtained by the vacuum ing passage occurs :-" Unfortunately the revival of faith (in process, conducted in the most approved manner, possess anyremedies) has not given birth to a genuine system of experidecided advantage over some of those which are made by eva-mental medicine based on the rational principles of the physioporation in open vessels, action of drugs, but has manifested itself by an Extracts are exhibited by English manufacturers which impotent empiricism, supported in some cases by a certain believe will bear comparison with any vacuum extracts in the of statistical evidence." If our readers have given any has extracts inspissated at low temExhibition. Mr. attention to our general remarks on new remedies, they will in a of and Co. current air. Bell have extracts J. dry peratnres the inspissatiou of which is effected in shallow earthen pans at not have failed to observe, that while we assert our present a temperature not exceeding 120°, with constant and active dependence on empirical experience in many cases in the agitation. In these cases the vegetable alhumen of the ex- adoption of remedies, we do not regard this with satisfaction. pressed juices of plants does not become coagulated, and the On the contrary, it is clearly a present defect in therapeutics, extracts retain in a high degree the qualities of the liquids from which they are made; but the processes are necessarily which, in the progress of the science, we hope to see removed. slow, and hardly applicable for operations on a large scale. The fact cannot, however, be disputed. On what else do we Mr. Scluire has some excellent extracts from which the albu- rely in administering quinine in periodic diseases, in treating men is removed, the other constituents of the liquids operated gout with colchicum, in giving iron in neuralgia, or the zinc upon being retained ; and these extracts are not liable to be- salts in chorea ? We are unacquainted with the physiological come mouidy. Allen and Hanburys, J. Watts and Co., and of many medicines which experience has incontestably action and also exhibit extracts which to be Francis, Wright appear in every respect good. In addition to these exhibitors there proved to be valuable remedies in the treatment of diseases. are two others who deserve to be particularly no iced. These If we limited our materia medica to those substances the are, Mr. Holland of Market Deeping, and Mr. Ransom of rationale of whose action can be unequivocally assigned, our Hitchin, both of whom devote themselves to the preparation resources would be scanty indeed. We hail with pleasure of extracts on a large scale, and also to the cultivation of the to connect the physiological influence of remedies attempts from in which are The these made. they plants preparations collections are remarkably good, including the dried medicinal with their therapeutic action, even when the 1oalionale offered plants and essential oils which form parts of them. The point, is disputable. Thus the suggestion of Dr. Garrod that scurvy however, to which we wish particularly to advert, in reference and some forms of rheumatism are dependent on a deficiency of to these collections, is the influence of cultivation on the propotash salts in the system, and that the known remedial effects pertiesof medicinal plants. Is this sufficiently studied? That of lemon-juice and fresh vegetables arise from the presence of the nature of the soil in which such plants are grown will exert readily assimilable forms of potash, although not generally an influence upon their properties there is every reason to believe. Most of the vegetables cultivated in our gardens for use accepted, has been received with respectful attention. We do as food are materially altered from their original wild condition not, as therapeutists, ignore or despise the teaching of science, the influence of cultivation ; and is it not probable but we hold that it is at through present inadequate ; and while we that similar effects may he produced in medicinal plants when its it is to avail ourselves of empirical exawait wise advance, grown in soil differing from that in which they are found in the wild st ,te? The correspondence which Ins recently ap- perience—to listen to and sift the testimony offered to us. It is quite true that the " numerical method" has been but peared in the Dublin Medical Press, and which is copied into We should be glad the Pharmacetical Jouriaul, with reference to the doses of imperfectly applied to the subject. tincture of henbane, shows how important it is that the efficacy in all cases to be in possession of the per centages of sueand power of medicines should not be taken too much upon cess and failnre of alleged remedies. There is a tendency to credit, but should bn frequently tested by carefully-made ex- record successful experiments, and t. pass by in silence failures. periments. The henbane now in use may perhaps he different In this point of view Dr. Mackenzie’s cases of delirium tremens most valuable. in its action from that upon which the established character of A priori, and with our knowledge of the the remedy was founded. Should such a difference have arisen depressing effects of digitalis, it would not to many of us in the to prumise any advantage in delirium tremens; but of the plant, may it, not be referred to the influence of cultivation and soil ? The manure applied to a this prepossession we had to set the positive testimony field may be made to materially alter the character of the of several practitioners, and now we have the opposing facts herbage in it. Of this there are someery interesting illus- alluded to. In the absence of clearly relaterl cases of f.ilure, trations on the experimental lands of Mr. Lawes of lothim- it is not, however, safe to contradict statements of the beneuse of any remedy. No subject within our sphere gives stead. In a grass field originally all of the same soil and herbage, different parts havebeen differently manured. Where rise to more diverse or conflicting opinion than the rationale of ammoniacal salts have been freely applied, clover and legumi- the action of remedies, and if by "physiological action" is nous plants have entirely disappeared, while sorrel and other ’ meant their influence on the system in health, we are greatly allied plants have become abundant : where fixed alkaline salts in need of well-established facts to guide our inferences. But have been used, there is abundance of clover and no sorrel. i we have many remedies for diseases which ei.her produce no Even the ordinary grasses have altered their characters under known effects on the healthy body, or which so act as to render

N E W

welogical

Hooper

kind

are

properties

appear

against ficial

R E M E D I E S