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it must be equally dangerous, in hastening the formation of matter in the substance of the lungs, and of course the dissolution of the patient.

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The observations we have already made on the effects of the balsam of liquorice, in pulmonic affections, apply more forcibly to this preparation. An improved balsam of honey is advertised by a Mr. Cundell, but in what this improvement consists we have not been able to discover.-Every preparation sold under the title that we have had an opportunity of examining, are nothing more than tincture of tolu, or tincture of benzoin, which are as diametrically opposite in their properties to honey, as spirit of wine is to water.

It was our intention to have given some account of several nostrums, advertised as remedies for coughs, colds, and other complaints of the lungs,, under the fictitious titles of balsam of horehound, essence of coltsfoot, essence of horehound, balsam of liverwort, &c. which we find so similar to each other, that to have entered into their merits separately, would be a mere repetition of those observations we have already made on the balsam of liquorice, balsam of lungwort and honey, to which we refer our readers.

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PREPARED CHARCOAL,

AND

Concentrated Solution of Charcoal, prepared by Mr. LARDNER, Chymist, Piccadilly,

"For the purpose of cleaning the teeth, removing "the scurvy from the mouth and gums, and correcting fated breath.'

Charcoal powder has for many years been held in high estimation in the East Indies as a dentri

fice, where it was prepared from the betel or areka nut, and is no doubt an innocent and pleasant dentrifice, and for the purpose of cleaning the teeth, and rendering them white, more efficacious than any other preparation. Mr. Lardner has very laudably taken great pains in recommending its adoption in this country.-In his public addresses he expatiates largely on the antiseptic properties of charcoal, on the authority of the French and German writers. On examining Mr. Lardner's preparation, we however find it to consist principally of either a cretaceous or testaceous powder, rendered gray by the addition of a small quantity of charcoal or ivory black. How Mr. L. can make his eulogiums on charcoal applicable to a cretaceous powder, we are at a loss to conjecture-prepared chalk, or oyster shells, or any other cretaceous powder, cannot produce those chymical effects as a dentrifice, which he attributes to charcoal, and we presume, in its méchanical effects it must prove very hurtful, by abrading or wearing away the enamel of the teeth. The title of prepared charcoal, certainly signifies no other preparation than levigated or finely powdered charcoal, and as the proprietor's quotations are applicable to charcoal ONLY, a purchaser of the article would, of course, expect to find it pure, uņadulterated charcoal, and not a compound testaceous powder. Mr. Lardner does not decorate this preparation with a stamp, or in the language of quacks, with his Majesty's authority; we conceive, however, the article is, according to the late act of parliament, subject to duty, being

* The Areka Charcoal, brought into notice by Messrs. Pressey and Barclay, of Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, we find to be a pure and genuine carbon, and being prepared from a nut, we consider it as a dentrifice very superior to common charcoal, which, if not thoroughly calcined is often fibrous.

a compound powder, and in every sense of the word, an arcanum or nostrum, independent of its being advertised as a remedy for scurvy. Had the article been nothing more than prepared charcoal, we conceive it would not fall within the meaning of the late medicine act. We would therefore recommend Mr. Lardner to avail himself of the privilege of ornamenting his box with this badge of honor, the propriety of which we are persuaded no one will dispute.

Mr. Lardner warmly recommends his concentrated solution of charcoal, to accompany the use of his prepared charcoal, the advantages resulting therefrom he points out with perspicuity.

The word concentrated, we conceive misapplied in this title, a menstruum can only be saturated, and if an attempt be made to concentrate such solution, by evaporation, it will deposit on becoming cold, in proportion to the quantity of the menstruum dissispated. Mr. Lardner seems partial to the term, as we observed he applies it to a tincture of ginger and other articles. His solution of charcoal must make a very prominent figure in the discoveries of modern chymistry.-The learned and scientific chymists on the Continent will, no doubt, admire our ingenuity in the important discovery of a menstruum capable of dissolving burnt wood!!!

On examining this wonderful discovery, we find it, however, to be made with a spirituous menstruum, so strongly impregnated with myrrh, and the flavor of the rose, that we can discover in it nothing else. In what respect the properties of myrrh and roses resemble charcoal, we know not, and we cannot but express our surprise, that a person who styles himself a chymist and druggist, should be so indifferent to his reputation as to

advertise a preparation which is well known to every medical character cannot be made.-He must be aware, that by so doing, he exposes himself in the eyes of every chymist, for however a chymist or druggist may for a time succeed in storming, as it were, a business by repeated advertisements, or otherwise blaze himself into notice, we can, from observation, venture to predict, his success will be very temporary, unless his articles be of real merit, and his character respected by the medical profession. A retail chymist and druggist, if he wish to succeed in London, must endeavour to cultivate the good opinion of the faculty, by keeping the best drugs, and carefully attending to his preparations, which will ultimately insure him success: we therefore recommend Mr. Lardner to abandon all empirical pursuits, and confine his business to the sale of the best drugs and regular pharmaceutical medicines, which will tend more to his honor, and ultimately to his emolument. In hopes that he will follow this friendly advice, we shall wave the consideration of his other preparations.

CONCENTRATED ESSENCE OF JAMAICA GINGER,

"Invented and prepared by Samuel Oxley, late "Chymist in the Hay-Market, now a Vender of "Medicines, in Tavistock-street, Covent-Garden."

This preparation has been very industriously recommended by the proprietor, through the medium of the public prints, and by means of postingbills, in different parts of the town, as "a most

elegant and certain remedy for the relief and cure of nervous complaints, gout, bile, palsy, rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, dyspepsia, spasms, cramp in the stomach and bowels, flatulency, sick head-achs, and all nervous and hypochondriacal affections." Mr. Oxley has likewise published a short dissertation on the medicinal properties of ginger, and on the superior advantages of his concentrated essence over all other preparations of the root, which he has generously distributed gratis.-In evidence of the salutary effects of ginger in gout, he adduces the case of Sir Joseph Banks, as related by Mr. Stenhouse; it was, however, from the ginger powder and tea, and not from the concentrated essence or any quackish preparation that Sir Joseph derived the supposed benefit; our Author does not think proper to notice, or perhaps was not acquainted with the ill effects the Right Honorable Baronet experienced from the continued use of ginger. Mr. Oxley boldly asserts, both in his pamphlet and public advertisements, that the concentrated essence of ginger, has received the sanction and recommendation of the first physicians in the kingdom, viz. Dr. George Pearson, Sir George Baker, the late Dr. Currie of Liverpool, and many others, whose names he has not thought proper to mention.

We would ask Dr. Pearson what is meant by a concentrated essence, and if the word essence is applicable to a spirituous tincture? In the pharmaceutical acceptation of the word, we conceive it misapplied, and in this instance, an empirical title, which we should have supposed Dr. Pearson, being a chymical character, would not have sanctioned.

Ginger being free from an essential oil, is supposed to warn and invigorate the stomach, without producing the ill effects of those spices, whose

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