THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
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recourse to these drugs themselves, and to use their authority with patients in 
condemnation of a demoralising and disastrous practice. The victims of the abuse 
must not simply be counted by those who die of it, but by those who are left to 
drag out miserable lives, the victims of “ cravings ” and nameless and numberless 
sufferings which morphia, chloral, bromid — now cocaine — and a host of insidious 
poisons are the active agents in producing. 
Peofessob Huxley ox Smoking. — At a certain debate on smoking among the 
members of the British Association, Professor Huxley told the story of bis struggles 
in a way which utterly put the anti-tobacconists to confusion. “Forty years of my 
life,” said he, “ tobacco had been a deadly poison to me. (Loud cheers from the 
anti- tobacconists.) In my youth, as a medical student, I tried to smoke. In vain ! 
At every fresh attempt my insidious foe stretched me prostrate on the floor. 
(Repeated cheers.) I entered tbe navy. Again I tried to smoke, and again I met 
with defeat. I hated tobacco. I could have almost lent my support to any institution 
that had for its object the putting of tobacco smokers to death. (Vociferous cheer- 
ing.) A few years ago I was in Brittany with some friends ; we went to an inn ; 
they began to smoke and looked very happy ; and, outside, it was very wet and 
dismal. I thought I would try a cigar. (Murmurs.) I did so. (Great expectations.) 
I smoked that cigar — it was delicious ! (Groans.) From that moment I was a 
changed man, and now I feel that smoking in moderation is a comfortable and 
laudable practice, and is productive of good. (Dismay and confusion of the anti- 
tobacconists. Roars of laughter from the smokers.) There is no more harm in a 
pipe than there is in a cup of tea. You may poison yourself by drinking too much 
green tea, and kill yourself by eating too many beefsteaks. For my own part, I 
consider that tobacco, in moderation, is a sweetener and equaliser of the temper.” 
(Total rout of the anti-tobacconists, and complete triumph of the smokers.) — 
Medical and Surgical Reporter. 
Pasteub’s Hydeophobia Pbactice. — At a recent meeting of the Academy of 
Sciences, Paris, M. Pasteur announced that he had treated the following number of 
people from different countries for bites from mad dogs : — France 505, Algeria, 40, 
Russia 75, England 25, Italy 24, Austro-Hungary 13, Belgium 10, North America 9, 
Finland 6, Germany 5, Portugal 5, Spain 4, Greece 3, Switzerland 1, Brazil 1. This 
makes a total of 726. 
Smokees may be pleased to know that an antidote has been discovered which 
will enable them to enjoy their pipes or cigars without any fear of being poisoned by 
nicotine. It would appear that the water-cress destroys the toxic principle of 
tobacco, preserving at the same time its aroma. It is sufficient to wet the tobacco 
with the juice of the water -cress, which will completely deprive the tobacco of 
its deleterious principles. — American Practitioner and News. 
Db. E. N. Liel, of New York, reports a case of poisoning from eighteen 
grains of citrate of caffeine, which was relieved by hypodermics of atropia, and 
dram doses of whisky. 
Pyeophosphate is recommended for the removal of ink stains. It is 
claimed for this salt that it does not injure vegetable fibre. First apply tallow 
to the ink spot, then wash in a solution of pyrophosphate until both tallow and 
ink have disappeared. 
Accobding to the Medical Abstract the discovery has been made in 
Columbia of a shrub which exudes a juice having so powerful an effect in 
arresting the flow of blood that large veins may be cut with a knife and 
smeared with it without causing hemorrhage. The plant is called “ aliza ” by 
the natives. 
