148 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



NEWER REMEDIES. 

 Abyssinin. 



Abyssinin, as first prepared by L, Brieger and j\L Krause from 

 the Bayamoyo species of the Acokanthera, is a reddish brown fluid 

 extract emitting a sweetish aromatic odor, yiekhng a copious lather, 

 and acquiring a syrupy consistency after losing about 20 per cent, 

 of water by drying in the exsiccator. It is present in the arrow- 

 poisons of the aborigines of German East Africa, and, as far as 

 our present knowledge of it goes, exercises an influence similar to that 

 of the digitalis and strophanthus bodies. As far as I am aware, the 

 preparation is not as yet obtainable commercially. 



R. Freund, having made comparative experiments with abyssinin, 

 digitalin and strophanthin on frogs and rabbits, has found that at 

 first abyssinin is in its action comparable to digitalis in that it 

 slows the pulse and slightly prolongs the systole. l)ut there is no 

 visible tonic action with respect to the heart. Moreover the systole 

 very soon becomes shorter, whilst the diastole lengthens. Further 

 doses have the effect of rendering the pulse irregular. During his 

 experiments on rabbits Freund found that 6 injections of a solution 

 of 0.025:200 grm. (gr. 2-5:02. 6 2-T,) were needed to produce a slight 

 retardation of the action of the heart, but there was no increase of 

 the blood-pressure. 



Aluminii Acetas. 



Aluminum acetate is supplied commercially under the name of 

 "Lenicet", which is said to conform to the formula Al, O:,. C, H4 

 O2 (?). According to Aufrecht's analysis it is, however, a basic 

 aluminum acetate, containing 2 molecules of acetic acid per 

 molecule of alumina and having the composition Ak (O H), 

 (C, H„ Oo)-!- It is a white powder and sparingly soluble in water. 

 Lengefeld recommends it for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, where 

 it exercises a prompt desiccating and deodorising influence. It may 

 be used by itself and also mixed with indifferent powders, such as 

 talcum and starch, also with glycerin, vaseline, etc. 



It is moreover said to be available for use in erythema, weeping 

 affections or others attended with the formation of blisters, also in 

 granulating wounds. — -Merck's Annual Report, 1905. 



