THE JOURNAI, OF PHARMACOLOGY. 257 



To the 23 cc. filtrate add 2 cc. of a 10 per cent, sol basic lead ace- 

 tate which precipitates all albuminoid matter, the filtrate is then treated 

 in the usual manner with Fehling's Solution for the estimation of 

 sugar, 



5. Ash : — The filters are ignited in a tarred crucible ash weighed, 

 and after deducting the filter ash we obtain the weight of the insoluble 

 inorganic salts. On adding to this the weight of soluble salt (4) we 

 obtain the total ash. 



6. Albumin and Casein : — By deducting the butter fat, lactose, 

 soluble salt and ash froni the total solids (2) we obtain Casein and 

 Albumin. 



Alcohol as a Stimulant to Natural Resistance to Infec- 

 tion. Buchner {Munch. Med. IJ'och.) gives directions for utilizing 

 the Imctericidal power of normal blood, which, he believes, depends 

 upon bactericidal alexines or proteolytic cell-enzymes. Constantly 

 changed dressings soaked in 96 per cent, alcohol, as recommended by 

 Salzwedel in the treatment of lymphangitis, cellulitis, whittows, fur- 

 uncles, mastitis, etc., are the best means for bringing this bactericidal 

 power into action, since they irritate the vessels directly, cause their 

 dilation, and produce an increased flow of blood to the diseased part. 

 The alcohol, which the writers experiments show to be by far the 

 most powerful local vaso-dilator, should be used liberally. In most 

 cases of dental caries the disease can be arrested or cured by brushing 

 the teeth twice a day with a 45 per cent., or, if the gums are tender, 

 a weaker alcoholic solution. The softened dentine regains its hard- 

 ness and loses its tenderness, and occasionally even fresh dentine repla- 

 ces the old and diseased. In fact dental caries heals under alcohol in the 

 same way as an abscess or a cellulitis. Buchner has also tried the treat- 

 ment in tuberculosis arthritis. Of 10 cases 2 were rapidly and com- 

 pletely cured, and the rest were greatly improved. It is certain that 

 the local vaso-dilator action of alcohol penetrates to some depth below 

 the surface, and alcohol bandages round the neck might possibly be 

 useful in laryngeal tulierculosis. Since the axillary and inguinal lym- 

 phatic glands are obviously the usual and chief stations in which the 

 plague bacillus multiplies, Buchner recommends that directly jilague 

 begins, the axillze and inguinal regions should be enveloped in alcohol 

 dressings, both for prophylaxis and treatment. Since the cases which 

 recover do so because the natural resistance of the organism is suffi- 

 ciently strong, it is only rational to aid this resistance in all cases by 

 means of local vaso-dilation. 



