88 Notes from the Physiological Laboratory. 



drug in from forty to fifty minutes thereafter. The 

 possibility exists that the specific therapeutic impress 

 of salicylic acid may be obtained by inhaling an 

 atmosphere impregnated with this volatile salicylate. 

 We hope to report upon this point in the near future. 

 The obstacles which prevent the cutaneous absorp- 

 tion of drugs in aqueous solution are the resistant 

 epiderm, and, much more important, the secretion of 

 the sebaceous glands. A very simple and efficacious 

 method which we have devised for removing these 

 obstacles consists in the addition of a proteolytic 

 ferment to the solution of the drug used. Thus 

 trypsin (prepared by Kiihne's method) is added to 

 a strong solution of (e.g.) morphia. Absorbent cot- 

 ton is saturated with the mixture, placed upon the 

 skin, and covered over with waterproof plaster. 

 The natural warmth of the part induces the activity 

 of the ferment and the consequent solution of the 

 epiderrn, narcosis supervening in from one to two 

 hours. This method, when applied under the super- 

 vision of the physician, affords one advantage over 

 ordinary modes of medication, namely, that when 

 the desired therapeutic effect'is obtained, the further 

 absorption of the drug may be prevented by at once 

 removing the external application.] 



