THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 113 
Cocaine in the form of a 4 per cent, solution of the hydrochlorate has 
been found useful in checking infantile diarrhoea due to the irritation caused 
by teething. The solution is rubbed on the gums at intervals of half an hour 
( Ther . G-az., p. 789). The value of cocaine in the cure of the morphine habit 
has been confirmed by Schmidt and Hank. They find that it must be given 
in increasing doses while the morphine is decreased, the cocaine being injected 
subcutaneously in a 5 per cent, watery solution. The dose is \ grain, but 
may be increased to 1J grain, but 3 grains should never be exceeded. — 
Pharmaceutical Journal. 
Being desirous of clearing up the conflicting statements respecting the 
capability of zinc to decompose water, AT. L’Hote specially prepared some 
chemically pure zinc for the test by treating some precipitated zinc oxide with 
lamp black previously heated to redness and distilling (Comptes Rend ., ci., 
1153). He found that this pure zinc when heated with water in a flask 
arranged so as to collect disengaged gas over mercury gave rise to no evolution 
of hydrogen even when the boiling was prolonged, and further, that it was 
unattacked by dilute sulphuric acid. But the chemical properties of the metal 
were completely modified by the introduction of the most minute quantity of 
iron. It was sufficient for this purpose simply to stir with an iron rod the 
fused zinc before granulating it; for although on trituration with dilute perman- 
ganate solution the zinc then showed only two or three parts per thousand of 
iron, it decomposed boiling water, with evolution of hydrogen gas, and was also 
attacked by dilute sulphuric acid. The presence of a minute quantity of arsenic 
or antimony was found to have an effect similar to iron in modifying the 
properties of zinc, and M. L’Hote makes the significant remark that all 
commercial zinc decomposes water when boiled with it. M. L’Hote suggests 
that this observation might be utilised in cases where, in using the Marsh 
apparatus, the zinc is attacked with difficulty ; instead of adding a little metallic 
salt, which might introduce arsenic, he would prefer to re -melt the zinc and 
stir it with an iron rod. — Pharmaceutical Journal . 
The practice of inoculation with virus as a preventive of hydrophobia is 
claimed by the German medical journals to have been discussed by them as far 
back as 1849. 
Attention has recently been called to the curative properties of the 
albumen of hens’ eggs in severe diarrhceal affections. Two cases of chronic 
enteritis and diarrhma are related which, having resisted all treatment, speedily 
made complete recoveries under the use of egg albumen. The same diet is 
strongly recommended in the diarrhoea accompanying febrile cachexia, and in that 
of phthisis. In two cases of diarrhoea dependent upon tertiary syphilis, it was 
found of no avail, but diffuse amyloid degeneration of the arterioles of the villi 
was found in these cases on post-mortem examination. The whites of eight or 
ten eggs are bekten up and made into an emulsion with a pint of water. This 
is to be taken in divided quantities during the day. More may be given if 
desired. The insipid taste can be improved with lemon, anise, or sugar. In 
case of colic, a few drops of tincture of opium may be added. 
The Revue Scientifique states that a mixture of perfectly dry permanganate 
of potassium with two or three parts of concentrated sulphuric acid is a most 
powerful oxidizing agent, owing to the separation of permanganic acid, and 
its immediate decomposition with the liberation of the oxygen. Volatile oils are 
violently affected by this mixture if about ten drops are placed in a little dish 
and then touched with a stout glass rod previously dipped into the mixture. 
The following produce explosions, often violent ones: Oils of thyme, mace, 
turpentine (rectified), spike, cinnamon, origanum, rue, cubebs, and lemon. The 
