32 
POPULAB SOIEKCE KEWS. 
[February, 1S90. 
preferred to other*. The action of thymol is not 
verv rapid, but its use has no deleterious influence 
on "the teeth whatever. Salicjlic acid acts on the 
teeth. 
According to the Peoria Medical Monthly, stains 
produced by the explosion of gunpowder may be re- 
moved by first painting the slcin with a solution of 
biniodide of ammonium in an equal part of distilled 
water, then with dilute hydrochloric acid. 
Parasiticide Ointment. 
Salicylate of mercury, 16 grains. 
Vaseline, i ounce.— M. 
This makes not only an excellent ointment 
against the paratitic skin diseases, but against 
eczema, pityriasis, and syphilitic vegetations.— 
7y' Union Medicate. 
Ax excellent ointment for red hands {Pharm. Kra) 
is the following : 
R. Lanolin, 100 gm. 
Paraffin (liquid), ' 25 gm. 
Vanillin, o 01 gm. 
01. rosa:, ggt- j. M. 
The Parisians apply a thin coating of this at bed- 
time. 
<♦+ 
A UNIQUE PRESCRIPTION. 
A PAPER printed in Krausenburg, Austria, on the 
occasion of th« recent celebration of the centenary 
of Cardinal Haynald, relates the following story on 
the authority of one well acquainted with those who 
know the reverend gentleman and were familiar 
with the circumstances : 
Havnald, Bishop of Siebenburgen, stopped, on his 
return from a confirmation tour, at a small place 
named Torda, and, being detained a day longer than 
was expected, his secretary, Lonhart, found to his 
dismay that they had not enough money to pay the 
hotel bill. Now a bishop cannot very well run away 
without paying what he owes, nor does his sense of 
dignity permit him to plead even temporary pecuni- 
ary embarrassment. Still, the bishop managed to 
avoid either dilemma. He sent a waiter to the 
apothecary of the place, a Mr. Gabriel, with whom 
His Grace was acquainted, with the following 
recipe, which has since been preserved by the sev- 
eral successive proprietors of the establishment: 
R Kotain auttriaeam 
Numero 
Ducenia 
D. S. — For one day's use only. 
Dr. Haynald. 
The druggist's clerk, being somewhat; rattled by 
the sudden interruption of his sleep, tried in vain to 
understand the nature of the prescription, and after 
fruitless consultation of his works of reference, 
wakened his employer, who, after reading the recipe, 
sent his clerk again to bed, and said he would him- 
self prepare the prescription. He put 200 guilders 
in notes into a powder box, duly sealed, labelled, 
and inscribed, and sent it to the bishop, saying to 
the messenger that in case the powder should not be 
sufficient he would be glad to send a second dose. 
This, however, was not necessary, and the first 
dose, after "one day's use only," was returned with 
thanks.— j4»i. Druggist. 
MEDICAL MISCELLANY. 
Chinese Pills —Chinese pills are said to be just 
the size of crab apples, and are coated with a semi- 
transparent sugary substance covered with flowers 
and gilt letters. But it must take an uniKual 
amount of moral courage in -n Chinaman U, tackle a 
pill. 
An extensively advertised "Microbe Killer" is said 
by the Western Druggist to be composed of 4 
drachms of oil of vitrol, l drachm of muriatic acid, 
I ounce of red wine, and a gallon of water. The 
dangerous nature of this stuff is evident from the 
above formula. 
The turnkey of the Peoria jail, according to the 
Medical iroj-M, has a cure for delirium tremens. He 
rubs the patient with capsicum ; and in the enthusi- 
asm and singleness of purpose with which the latter 
scratches himself he has no time to think of «n«kes. 
One day of this treatment is sufficient for any ordi- 
nary case. 
New Use for Stale Bread. — A safe, sure, and 
certain cure for corns is said to be found in a poul- 
tice formed of stale bread soaked in strong vinegar. 
It should be applied at night on retiring. In the 
morning the soreness will be gone, and the corn 
can be picked out. Obstinate corns may require 
two or more applications. 
The Tendency of the Times.- "Who is your 
family physician, Freddy.'" asked Mrs. Hendricks of 
the Brown boy. "We ain't got none," said the boy. 
"Pa's a homcEopath, ma's an allopath, sister Jane is 
a Christian scientist, grandma and grandpa buy all 
the patent medicines going, uncle James believes in 
massage, and brother Bill is a horse doctor." 
A Novel Plant.— Miss Bacon (they have been 
discussing orchid.s) : "And now, professor, I w«nt 
you to tell me about the plant from which electricity 
is made." 
Professor Hohonthy (aghast) : "The which.'" 
Miss Bacon : "You certainly must have heard of 
it. Father says its high cost prevents the general 
use of electric lighting — I mean the electric plant." 
Cigarettes.— Mr.Willis G.Tucker, in his report 
to the New York State Board of Health, on the re- 
sult of his examination of various popular brands of 
cigarettes, says that careful analysis of tobacco and 
paper failed to reveal any poisonous ingredients, 
other than the tobacco itself, and that most cigar- 
ettes contain pure tobacco and good paper. The 
evils of cigarette smoking are due to the fact that 
cigarettes are cheap, convenient, and can be used 
in large and excessive quantities, that the smoke is 
usually inhaled, and that children and immature 
persons freely use them. 
A Bull in a Chemist's Shop. — Recently, says 
the Liverpool Courier, the inhabitants of the usuall_!^ 
quiet suburb of Fairfield were treated to a sensation 
of a novel description. About one o'clock in the 
afternoon a herd of cattle were being driven from 
Liverpool to Stanley, via Prescott Road. By Elm 
Park a huge specimen of the bovine species bolted, 
and evidently feeling unwell, rushed into the nearest 
chemist's shop— kept by Mr. R. Jones. Once inside 
the shop his bullship commenced a number of acro- 
batic feats which, in the ring of Hengler's Circus, 
would have made a fortune for its owner, but which 
in the circumscribed arena of a druggist's establish- 
ment, although, doubtless, somewhat entertaining 
to the other onlookers, was not quite appreciated by 
the proprietor of the shop. Having upset three 
tables, smashed about two hundred bottles contain- 
ing eau de Cologne, paregoric, castor oil, spirits of 
nitre, St. Jacob's Oil, and other ingredients, the bull 
rushed at another case which contained a number 
of drugs, amongst others a large bottle of acetic 
acid, and another of nitric acid. These he likewise 
knocked on the ground, upsetting the contents. 
Some of the nitric acid got on the. bull's nose and 
feet, which caused him to beat a speedy retreat into 
the street, where 
published monthly by the 
Popular Science News Company, 
B Somerset Street. Boston. 
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR IN ADVANCE. 
SETH C BASSETT, 
Manager. 
SPECIAL NOTICE. 
The Publishers of the NEWS e.irnestly request that sub. 
scribcrs will make their remittances either by draft on Bos- 
ton or New York, or by a po.st:il order. If it is absolutely 
necessary to mail money, it should be sent onJy in a registered 
letter. The publishers decline to assume the risk ol money 
mailed in unregistered letters. 
Remittances will be duly credited on the printed address 
label of the paper; but if they are received after the 15th of the 
month, the change in the label c.innot be made until a month 
later. If a formal receipt is desired, a two-cent stamp or a 
postal card should be enclosed with the remittance. 
Publisliers' ColunjR. 
One cannot be always going into the sublime, but if you 
must write that way an Estekbrook Easy Writer Pen is a 
valuable help. 
The use of the Buffalo Lithia Mineral Water is said 
to have accomplished some remarkable cures of gravel and 
similar affections of the kidneys and bladder. 
Thayer's Nutritive combines the properties ot a tonic, 
stimulant, and food, and the name of the firm manufacturing it 
is sufficient guarantee of its purity and reliability. 
A GLANCE at the catalogue of Messrs. E. A. Jackson & 
BRO.will show the great variety of styles of their Ventilating 
Grate, and will convince one of their many points of excel- 
lence and economy over the old-fashioned fire-place or grate. 
The phenomenally mild winter is likeJy to cause a total 
failure of the ice crop in many localities this season. The Ice 
Machines of David Boyle will produce an abundant supply 
in the hottest weather, and at a cost little exceeding that of cut- 
ting and storing the natural product. 
The preparations of the Health Food Co. arc admirably 
adapted to weak and enfeebled stomachs, as they are readily 
digestible, and contain much nutriment in a concentrated form. 
Preparations are supplied for diseases (such as diabetes, etc.) 
which require special forms of food. 
The Wells Rustless Iron Water Pifes are the best 
carriers of water in use. They do not load the water with oxide 
of iron, to the staining of clothing, and the' rapid destruction of 
the pipe itself; neither do they l^nd any metallic contamination 
to the water, as is often the case with pipes made of lead, gal- 
vanized iron, and other. poisonous metals. 
The well-known nutritive properties of malt extract, and the 
case with which it is assimilated, render it a valuable agent in 
the treatment of diseases due to defective nutrition. The 
Maltine Manufacturing Co. offer a very superior article, 
which is highly recommended by physicians of national repu- 
tation, and which can be obtained either by itself, or combined 
with any of the therapeutical agents which are compatible 
with it. 
The following is a correct analysis of Colden's Liqj_'iD 
Beef Tonic by Artlmr Hill Hassell, M.D., F. R.S., President 
of the Royal Analytical Association, London: 
30 per cent, saccharine matter 20 
35 per cent, glutinous or nutritious matter obtained in the 
condensation of the beef _. 2^ 
25 per cent, spirits rendered non-injurious to the most deli- 
cate stomach by the extraction 6f tht fusel oil 25 
30 per cent, of an aqueous solution of several herbs and 
roots, among which are most discernible Peruvian and 
Calisaya barks 30 
Total 1 00 
Since the date of the above analysis, and by the urgent 
request of several eminent members of the medical profcs.sion, 
cntually he w»* raptured bv aix ! ^^ Colden has added to each wineglassful of this preparation 
men, and dragged off to Stanley cattle market. 
two gmins of soluble cititte of iron. 
