426 
ON TOUBITE AND ITS USES. 
a single instance in whicli it failed to produce the desired effect. In cases of diarrhoea, 
from debility and relaxation, I have found it to be a most useful remedy, as also in 
dysentery after the stomach and bowels have been relieved by purgatives. . In these cases 
it seems to relieve by increasing the tonicity of the muscular fibres of the intestines, and 
correcting the depraved secretions. . , . „ _ . , , 
“The dose recommended in the ‘ United States Dispensatory is from five to ren drops, 
given every two or three hours; but I have given much larger doses, as will be seen by 
reference to my cases. (The author gives the particulars of several cases treated by him 
in the paper.— Ed.) Such heroic doses are hardly necessary, unless in very urgent.cases. 
Those in which I used it were already so much debilitated, by long-continued disease, 
that they were unable to stand such a large drain upon the sanguiniferous system ; taese 
doses were resorted to to check the haemorrhage, and offered a last hope for life. It may 
be given in a little water, to which a small quantity of sugar may be added, if the 
patient desires it. In cases of haemoptysis ten or fifteen drops may be placed on a hand¬ 
kerchief and inhaled, at the same time it is taken internally ; the same method will an¬ 
swer in epistaxis. In diarrhoea, fifteen drops, every four hours, until it is relieved, will, 
in most cases, be sufficient. In dysentery it is always best to precede its use b} a dose 
of castor-oil, to remove all irritating matter from the stomach and bowels, and, even then, 
I must confess, I have not obtained the gratifying results which some claim to have De¬ 
rived from its use in this affection. I have, however, in every case derived more or ess 
advantage from its use. In hsemorrhages and diarrhoea of debility, I know of no better 
remedy, and I trust the profession will give it a trial and let us know' the results. 
BRAIIEE SUGAR. 
Our readers will doubtless have had numerous inquiries for this so-called infallible 
remedy for rheumatism. Since the appearance, in the ‘ Lancet of December oO, or an 
anonymous communication, or at least, of a communication from one who was not anxious 
that his name should appear, relating a number of cases all of which were said to have 
been successfully treated by this remedy, but giving no dose, nor any indication of its na¬ 
ture, medical men have been anxious to try so remarkable aipagent. Applications for.the 
article w r ere repeatedly sent to Mr. T.Finlayson, Pharmaceutical Chemist, Leith, out wit - 
out success, when, in the ‘Lancet’ of January 13, appeared the following letter nom 
Mr. Finlayson, which throw's some light on the subject:— 
“ gxr ? —The gentleman at whose request I dispensed the preparation which he calls 
‘Brahee sugar’ having intimated to me that for the present he.prefers not to disclose its 
source and composition, and that he has made arrangements with a wholesale.house for 
its sale, I feel it needful in these circumstances to take this mode of expressing regret 
for my apparent neglect in not having replied to the numerous inquiries which have 
been addressed to me regarding it. These have all been handed to the introducer ot the 
substance, and I am assured will be immediately attended to. 
“ I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 
“ Leith, January 9 th , 1866.” ‘ £ Thos. Finlay sox, M.P.^. 
We have seen some of these pow'ders in packets, as a patent medicine, which have 
both the appearance and taste of sugar of milk. 
ON TORBITE (A NEW - PREPARATION OF PEAT) AND ITS USES.* 
BY D. K. CLARK, C.E. 
The writer had occasion a short time since to inspect professionally the w r orks at Hor- 
wich, in Lancashire, to manufacture fuel and charcoal from peat, and was so struck with 
all that came under his notice, and impressed with the importance of the results obtained, 
that he feels he cannot bring a more interesting subject before the meeting. 
The question of the manufacture of peat into fuel is in reality a question.of supple¬ 
menting the natural supplies of coal with a fuel which may be made superior to it in 
* Read before the British Association. 
