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2

[[preprinted]]
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
UNDER DIRECTION OF
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
WASHINGTON
[[/preprinted]]

indispensable for the writing of labels. 

In accordance with your valuable suggestions relating to the preservation of drugs and communicated to me by letter which was duly received, I have concluded to make some experiments, with the view of ascertaining the applicability of bichloride of mercury to this end. The application of arsenious acid seems to me plainly inadmissible for reasons which you have already mentioned in your letter. It is also clearly impossible to apply the bichloride of mercury either in solution in water or alcohol, since both these substances are the chief solvents by means of which the active principles are extracted from drugs and consequently would largely tend to alter both their chemical