Chemical Preparations and Drugs. 93 



its odour proved to us that this case was not a question of cinnamein from Peru 

 balsam, we believe at least however to have a mixture of benzylbenzoate and benzyl- 

 cinnamate before us. This supposition proved on further examination to be erroneous; 

 on the contrary, the preparation consisted in the main of phthalic ester which had 

 been perfumed with the aid of little artificial musk. As only 2 ccm. of the oil were 

 at our disposal, it was not quite easy to prove this and especially it was not possible 

 to determine if the preparation contained other compounds besides those already 

 mentioned. The high ester value (499; ethyl phthalate has an ester value of 504.5), 

 permits of drawing the conclusion that the quantity of such admixtures can only have 

 been quite irrelevant. 



Peruol, a substitute for Peruvian balsam, already recommended as such in time 

 of peace, consists of a solution of peruscabin (benzylbenzoate) in castor oil. According 

 to F. Curschmann's *) advice, vaseline oil has latterly been substituted for the castor 

 oil without diminishing the effect of the preparation. 



Pollantin. W. Gaehtgens 2 ) publishes an ample treatise on hay-fever and its treat- 

 ment, in which he takes into consideration older publications as well as the most 

 recent investigations. Hay-fever, which was already known in former centuries, has 

 found its definite explanation only in the last decades. It has not always, in medical 

 circles, met with the attention to which it undoubtedly has a claim. As is known, 

 it occurs every year at a definite period in spring with certain predisposed persons. 

 The symptoms, known most likely to many of our readers, are graphically described 

 by the author. The full outbreak of the illness is generally preceded by a preliminary 

 stage of 1 or 2 weeks' duration. There is at first a slight irritation of the eyes with 

 an itching in the inner corners, and sometimes sneezing fits are noticed during a 

 prolonged stay in the open air. This stage is followed on a determined day by the 

 full outbreak of the illness. The itching of the eyes increases so far as to become 

 unbearable, the conjunctiva is highly reddened and cedematous, the eyes burn and run. 

 The nose is affected in no lesser degree. The continuously increasing itching leads 

 to long and violent sneezing fits; large quantities of a clear liquid are ejected, the 

 mucous membranes of the nose are red and swollen, and it is impossible to breathe 

 through the nostrils. In the further course, similar symptoms make themselves felt 

 in the mouth; the mucous membranes start itching, and especially the palate is 

 affected by a tickling sensation which may continue through the Eustachian tube right 

 into the ears. In some cases, as the process goes on, serious breathing troubles 

 occur which may even last through the night and often give the whole illness a rather 

 threatening aspect. Finally, some of the patients feel a most troublesome itching of 

 the skin. There is no fever, generally speaking, but the persons affected suffer to 

 such an extent from depression and stupor, headache and irritability that they are 

 compelled to give up their professional activity for days or even weeks. 



The symptoms are not always of equal intensity, but occur in the form of more 

 or less lasting fits of varying strength. These are specially disagreeable, above all in 

 the open air, on hot, sunny days in windy weather, whereas the patients remain almost 

 unmolested on rainy days. This state lasts 6 to 8 weeks on an average; the attacks 

 lessen gradually in number and force, and disappear completely in the end. In northern 



J ) Deutsche med. Wochenschr. 43 (1917), 110; Chem. Zentralbl. 1917, I. 526. — 2 ) Zeitschr. f. cirztl. Fort- 

 bildung 14 (1917), 292. 



