232 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



21. Cute of Nasal Polypi. — Dr. Primus of Babenhausen asserts, 

 that the safFronised tincture of opium (of the Prussian Pharmaco- 

 poeia) possesses the property of gradually destroying nasal polypi 

 when applied to them. Certain cures, which have been thus ef- 

 fected, have already been published, and a striking one occurred in 

 January, 1826. A man, 46 years of age, had one in each nostril. 

 The tincture was applied several times a day to the bases of the 

 polypi, by means of a small hair-brush or lint roll. In eight days 

 the tumours had assumed a paler appearance, and lost a little in 

 volume ; a serous secretion from the nose, which had existed for a 

 long time, was diminished, and the pituitary membrane had ac- 

 quired a more lively tint, as if in a sub-inflammatory state. The 

 application was continued, the tumours continued to decrease, and 

 at the end of three weeks had entirely disappeared. — Mediz, Chi- 

 rurg. Zeitung^ 1826, p. 13. 



22. Bite of the Viper. — M. Jacopo Sacchi, of Barzio in Valsasina, 

 having had occasion to take charge of some cases in which injury 

 had been inflicted by the bite of a viper (Coluber Berus), trans- 

 ferred his observations upon them into the hands of Professor 

 Paletta. From these it appears that ammonia, recommended by 

 Dr. Mangili, in 1813, although an excellent remedy in many cases, 

 is by no means sufficient in all, but must occasionally be seconded 

 by every possible means. Although sometimes nature alone has 

 power sufficient to overcome the bite of a viper, yet, at other 

 times, the injury is so great and sudden as to resemble the effects 

 of hydrocyanic acid. In these cases he recommends that the 

 patient should be put into a hot bed covered with woollen clothes, 

 and the most powerful sudorifics with some tonics administered 

 internally. Friction should be applied all over the body, and at 

 the same time the wounds are to be enlarged, cupping-glasses 

 applied, and tow, dipped in ammonia, applied to the spot. 



23. Experiments on the Poison of the Viper. — M. Desaulx confirms 

 the fact that dogs can swallow with impunity even large quantities 

 of the poison of vipers. He observed also that when this poison 

 was withdrawn from the vesicles it soon lost in power, and after a 

 certain time became inert : a portion ten days old being introduced 

 into a fresh wound of a living animal, only caused slight tumefaction 

 on the part. Mangili, on the contrary, found it, when hermetically 

 sealed up, to retain its virulence for many months. The species of 

 viper from which M. Desaulx obtained his poison is not mentioned. 

 -^Bull. Univ^.Cxu 142. 



24. Destruction of Moles. — The following method of destroying 

 moles is asserted, by the Count de Boisseulh, to be excellent. 

 Grounds much infested by these animals have been perfectly freed 

 from them by means of it. A number of worms must be procured, 

 killed, and powdered with pulverised vomica-nut ; the whole is to 



