M. MATERIA MEDIC A, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 5 91 



tain a moderate quantity of gas that is nearly pure nitrogen. 

 This appears to he secreted hy the mucous membrane of the 

 stomach and intestines, and, in excessive amount, is one of 

 the most troublesome kinds of flatulence. The other kind 

 arises from fermentation or putrefactive change of the food, 

 and contains carbonic acid, and sometimes sulphurated hy- 

 drogen as well as nitrogen. Both these forms of flatulence 

 are best treated by using pure vegetable charcoal finely pow- 

 dered taken in the first case with each meal, and in the sec- 

 ond as soon as the symptoms appear. The dose may be a 

 tea-spoonful, and its use should be continued for some time. 

 This will usually correct constipation as well as looseness of 

 the bowels, besides relieving the disease itself. 18 A, Septem- 

 ber 15,1871,651. 



IODIZED COTTON IN SUEGERY. 



M.CMehu, in discussing the ordinary method of applying 

 iodine in cases of glandular swelling, goitre, etc., finds that 

 the use of solutions is, in many cases, attended with incon- 

 venience, and proposes to apply carded cotton, which, when 

 impregnated with iodine in a special manner, is equally effi- 

 cacious as a remedy, and unattended by any serious disad- 

 vantages. The iodized cotton is prepared in the following 

 manner: A quantity of perfectly dry cotton, of good quality, 

 is introduced into a stoppered flask of one-liter capacity, to- 

 gether with about one tenth of its weight of finely powdered 

 iodine, in such a manner as to distribute the iodine pretty 

 evenly throughout the mass of cotton. The flask is then 

 partially closed, and gradually heated in a sand-bath to ex- 

 pand the air. After a short time it is firmly stoppered, and 

 the heat raised until the flask is filled with the vapor of io- 

 dine ; this latter slowly combines with the cotton, causing it 

 to assume a deep yellowish-brown color. As soon as the 

 whole of the iodine is fixed on the textile fibre, and the vio- 

 let vapor is no longer visible, the operation is terminated ; 

 the whole process, if well conducted, being effected in about 

 two hours. Twenty grains of cotton wool will be found suf- 

 ficient for one liter; it is also unadvisable to exceed the pro- 

 portion often per cent, of iodine, since, for general purposes, 

 a cotton of half this strength is sufficiently active. 



Although cotton can be made to absorb in this manner so 



