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208
was made to an obsolete Pharmacopœa published in 1721,
and in which sulphuric acid was unwittingly ordered,
although in every Pharmacopœa issued since that date
hydrochloric acid has been ordered for the precipitation of
sulphur in order to obviate the contamination of the product
with a precipitate of lime. It was also urged that sulphur
thus contaminated with lime would mix more readily with
water. This is quite true, and the answer is that if the
"milk of sulphur" were wholly plaster of Paris it would
mix still more readily with water. The answer also is that
milk of sulphur is never taken in water, but always in milk
or in treacle, and that with either of these vehicles it mixes
perfectly.
The pretence that the public require their milk of sulphur
to have the satiny appearance conferred by the mixture of
lime is refuted by the fact that eleven druggists out of thirteen
sold pure sulphur when asked for "milk of sulphur."
In none of the samples was any poisonous ingredient
discovered.
No money or consideration other than the stipend paid by
the Yestry has been received by me in connection with these
analyses.
I have the honour to remain,
Rev. Sir and GcntlemeD,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES EDMUNDS.
8, Grafton Street, Piccadilly.