SOCIETY AIEETINGS. 
627 
_.with other agents used for the same condition. I think it is 
certainly a treatment that every city practitioner should try. 
Dr. Campbell :—It seems to me that as soon as the capsule 
in which the charcoal is administered gets wet, the charcoal 
■ gets wet also, and it would not have the desired effect. 
Dr. Merillat :—As charcoal absorbs 400 times its volume 
of gas, as stated before, one ounce would be enough to have 
the desired effect if it did not moisten in the stomach, but in¬ 
stead he administers a much larger amount, so that while a 
portion of it gets moist, the balance remains dry and absorbs 
the gas. 
Dr. Quitman :—Regarding the action of eserine, I am very 
much pleased to hear of the experiments that Dr. Merillat has 
made, inasmuch as it bears out my idea from a theoretical stand¬ 
point. We know that some drugs have the power of paralyzing 
the inhibitory without paralyzing the motor nerves. I worked 
it out in the same way. In regard to its indications and use, I 
would dislike very much to be without it, as I am usually suc- 
. cessful with it. We have to select our cases. To administer it 
where there is paralysis of the bowels seems useless.^ Some¬ 
times you get g'ood action even then by giving it in small 
repeated doses. I get eserine in one and a half grain sealed 
tubes. It becomes moist on instant exposure, therefore I buy it 
' in one-dose tubes, so as to keep it fresh. The tablets, I think, 
are worthless, because such a drug cannot be entirely protected 
from the atmospheric moisture. 
Dr. Hawley :—This discussion recalls to my mind a certain 
case, and it does not bear out the theory of Doctors Merillat or 
Quitman. In 1891, while I was assistant to Dr Hughes at the 
Chicago Veterinary College, a horse, weighing about 1200 
pounds, was brought to the college. It was apparently a case 
of ordinary impaction. I do not remember all of the treatment, 
but I do remember that he received first a pint of linseed oil, 
and this was followed by half a pint every four hours for 
eleven days. Dr. Hughes was at that time very much opposed 
P to my administering eserine, but he finally consented. A grain 
■band a half of eserine was injected hypodermically and we had a 
violent action of the bowels, presumably one-half bushel of 
K. faeces, and the horse finally recovered. 
' Dr. Merillat :—I think this is a nice case that demonstrates 
® the theory of Dr. Quitman’s and myself. Dr. Hughes prob- 
{ ably had the horse in a good condition to get the action of 
eserine. The treatment Dr. Hughes had given previously 
iir- 
