288 Botanic Drugs 



and from the sugar beet. It is nutrient, demulcent, 

 and antiseptic; it is slightly diuretic. Eaten freely 

 it interferes with alcoholic intoxication, probably 

 owing to its retarding gastric absorption. It is 

 stated that the eating of candy helps an alcohol 

 addict to overcome the habit. Dr. Bernard Fantus 

 has recently written a very practical book on "Candy 

 Medication" (C. V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, 

 Mo.), giving a wealth of formulae, some of which 

 are designed to cover the taste of vegetable drugs. 

 He uses certain special sugars. 



Cane sugar is used pharmaceutically to an im- 

 mense extent as a sweetening and preservative agent. 

 Mixed with iron it is a protective against oxidation. 



Sugar is sometimes used as a surgical dressing; 

 it is markedly antiseptic. It is also used in scrub- 

 bing the hands preparatory to surgical operation. 

 Molasses is, in emergency, a suitable application 

 to burns. Also, in emergency, sugar is a good 

 styptic. 



Crude sugar and molasses are mild laxatives, 

 and in catarrhal affections of the air passages sugar 

 has a soothing effect. The vapor of boiling cane 

 juice allays bronchitis. Hiccough in nursing infants 

 is frequently stopped by giving sugar. Syrup of 

 lime is one of the antidotes to phenol poisoning. 



SUGAR OF MILK is official also. It is used in "hu- 

 manizing" cows' milk in infant feeding. Changes 

 in the lactose of milk, by fermentation, are the 

 basis of Koumiss, Kephir, and like products. For 

 details see "New and Nonofficial Remedies," pub- 

 lished by the American Medical Association. Also 

 see, in this book, "Bacillus Bulgaricus." 



Sugar of milk stimulates the mammary gland 



