14:1 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[September, 1890. 
their work was less important than that of the 
hospitals which developed in Rome and elsewhere 
as the result of the spread of Christianity. 
Cresalol. — The salicylate of cresol, or cresalol, 
is analogous with salol, or the salicylate of phenyl, 
(Jour. Am. Med. Asso.) It is crystalline, insoluble 
in water, sparingly seluble in alcohol, tasteless, and 
having a pleasant odor, resembling somewhat that 
of salol. Its antiseptic properties seem to be about 
the same as salol, but has a therapeutic preference 
over the latter in that it is relatively harmless, 
especially in the antiseptic treatment of the ali- 
mentary canal. 
Cactus Grandiflorus in Heart Disease. — 
Dr. Orlando Jones publishes his experience of cactus 
grandifiorus, which he claims is likely to prove a 
useful adjunct to our resources, especially in asthenic 
conditions of the heart. Digitalis, strophanthus, 
and convallaria are not always reliable in the varied 
conditions of the heart with which we daily meet. 
The action of digitalis is not infrequently disap- 
pointing when we are dealing with a feeble heart, 
especially if that feebleness is excessive and of long 
duration. In such instances cactus grandifiorus 
may fill a gap where other remedies appear to be 
lacking. The action of this remedy seems to be 
the very opposite of that of digitalis, that is, in the 
final stage it strengthens the heart. — Brit. Med. Jour. 
LuDERiTZ has lately demonstrated by a series of 
experiments at the Berlin Institute of Hygiene, 
{Berlin Klin. Woch.), that coffee (infusion) has very 
decided antiseptic properties. Several kinds of bac- 
teria were experimented upon, and it was found in 
all cases that their growth was interfered with by 
adding a small quantity of the infusion of coffee to 
nutrient gelatine, while in the pure infusion all bac- 
teria were rapidly destroyed. It is not yet known 
to what constituents of the coffee the antiseptic 
action is due. The caffein, certainly, is but slightly 
active. The tannic acid is more so, but probably 
the substances which are most active are those 
formed during the roasting. It is an interesting 
fact that a cup of coffee left standing in a room 
remains almost free from micro-organisms for a 
week or more. 
Choice of Hypnotics. — Prof Germain See gives 
{Med. Age) the following classification of hypnotics, 
according to the cause of the insomnia : 
1. Insomnia from pain: Morphine, or antipy- 
rin, acetanilid or phenacetin ; sometimes bromides. 
If visceral, opium or belladonna. 
2. Digestive insomnia : Hot, alkaline water 
laxatives, regulation of digestion. 
3. Vascular, cardiac, and dyspnoeic insomnias : 
Secure ventilation, relieve asthma, by iodides, ethyl 
or pyridin; morphine, if iodides fail. Amylen, 
chloralamid, and especially sulphonal are safe; not 
chloral and bromides. In cardial lesions urethan 
and sulphonal may suffice ; probably not, but they 
are safe. In angina they are dangerous. 
4. Cerebro-spinal insomnia: Sulphonal, amy- 
len, and chloralamid can be advantageously alter- 
nated in agitated and persistent insomnias of 
organic diseases or insanity. Functional affections 
have insomnia from cerebral ana;mia. Hypnotics, 
if given, must be watched. 
5. Physical insomnia : Sulphonal, paraldehyde, 
chloral succeed best if the loss of sleep be due to 
worry. 
6. Genito-urinary insomnia : Rare. Use io- 
dides, cold douches, antipyrin, and hypnotics 
rather than narcotics ; with proper regimen. 
7. Febrile, auto-toxic infectious insomnia : Often 
diagnostic. Treat cause ; antipyrin in diabetes. 
Correspoiideijce. 
Ilrief commwiirations upon subjects of scientific interest 
will be welcomed /mm any quarter. The editors ilo not neces- 
siirily indorse alt views and statements presented by their 
correspondents. 
AUTOGRAPHISM. 
Editor of Popular Science News : 
I NOTICE in the August number an article headed 
" Autographism." I think the doctor's explanation 
rather wide of the mark. I can produce it on my 
own skin at times. I have since childhood been 
greatly troubled with "urticaria" from deranged 
stomach. When I begin to feel the premonitory 
itching that always precedes the irruption, marking, 
as with my nails, is followed by a red mark, much 
brightened by applying a solution of soda bicarb., 
which relieves the irritation almost instantly. 
Experience taught me to use it. I should have 
been spared nights of torture — I am not exagger- 
ating — had I known its virtues years ago. I con- 
sulted several doctors, — Valentine Mott, late of New 
York, being one of them,— but none spoke of soda. 
I would be at such times in almost robust health, 
taking much exercise; but as soon as I fell asleep — 
oh! the misery! Now, with a cup of saturated 
solution of soda bicarb, by my bedside, and a bit 
of sponge, I am sure of not more than a few 
minutes of what amounts to nothing more than 
inconvenience. I have found it equally efficacious 
with my patients. Believe me. 
Yours sincerely, 
Geo. T. Bingay. 
Westport, Nova Scotia, August 7, 1890. 
MEDICAL MISCELLANY. 
The following advertisement lately appeared in 
an Irish daily : " Wanted, a gentleman to undertake 
the sale of a patent medicine. The advertiser guar- 
antees it will be profitable to the undertaker." 
Economy Down East.— A woman in Saco, Me., 
recovered too rapidly, and had half a bottle of medi- 
cine left of the prescription ordered by the attending 
physician. Having been brought up to believe that 
wastefulness was a sin, and the druggist refusing to 
refund anything on the offer to return the half bot- 
tle, she gave it to her pet dog which seemed to be 
ill. The dog died. 
Reunion of Cut-off Fingers.— Dr. S. W. San- 
ford tells a story said to have happened to an old 
physician many years ago— long before antiseptic 
surgery was practiced. A man, with a finger cut 
off, came to him, bringing the finger. The doctor 
was drunk, and sewed the finger back. It united 
nicely. But lo ! the doctor had sewed it on with the 
palm surface turned the wrong way. The doctor, 
after sobering up, wanted to amputate the finger 
and try to put it back right; but the patient 
declined, and the doctor was annoyed many years 
by having his mistake constantly exhibited as a 
great curiosity. 
Prof. Billroth in a Business Transaction. — 
An e.\change notes the manner in which a thrifty 
member of a class noted for its thrift got ahead of 
Prof. Billroth. It seems that he stipulated to per- 
form an operation on a Russian Jew, in a small 
town, for 5,000 marks. On making the journey he 
was informed that the Jew was dead, but, to render 
him some equivalent for his loss, an offer was made 
him to treat five hospital patients at 1,000 marks 
each. He accepted the offer, and before starting 
homeward learned that one of the patients whom he 
had just treated was the supposed dead man, who 
had received the professor's services for one-fifth of 
the original fee. 
a 
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Publisljers' Colunji]. 
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The specialties advertised by the old established house of T. 
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ointments. 
Starch foods, such as Irish potatoes and breads, have often 
been regarded as the immediate and irritating cause of infantile 
enteric disorders. In part this may be true, and yet these 
starch foods were the very ones the lacteals and absorbents 
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