466 
NEWS AND SUNDRIES. 
phylloxera. Carbon bisulphide, as first produced, is about as foul 
smelling a compound as it is possible to find ; but it is capable of 
purification till all offensive odor is removed, and it is sufficiently 
pure in smell almost to mix with a perfume .—Scientific American. 
The Antipyretic Action of the Alkaloids of Quebracho.— 
At the recent meeting of the French Association for the Advance¬ 
ment of Science at Blois, a paper was presented by Drs. Huchard 
and Eloy on this subject (Le Progres Medical , October 4, 1884). 
There are many alkaloids of this drug, no less than six having 
been already isolated. Numerous experiments upon rabbits having 
demonstrated the antipyretic action of these alkaloids, the authors 
were led to make trial of them in the human subject. In a 
certain number of patients with typhoid fever, to whom quinine 
had been given with out effect, a notable reduction of tempera¬ 
ture was obtained by the hypodermic injection of the muriate 
of aspidospermine in doses of one and a half to three grains. 
This latter amount should never be exceeded. The authors noted 
especially the rapid reduction of temperature following the exhi¬ 
bition of these several alkaloids, and also remarked upon the 
changes occurring in the blood after their administration. The 
blood is changed in color in a way very similar to what occurs 
after poisoning by carbonic oxide .—Medical Record. 
Aseptol. —A phenol compound, termed orthoxyphenylsulphu 
rous acid, has been recently introduced into therapeutics under 
the name of “ aseptol,” this title having been given to it on ac¬ 
count of its remarkable germicide qualities, which excel those of 
carbolic and salicylic acids. Aseptol is an amber-colored fluid, of 
a density of 1,400; it has a slight odor, but is more pleasant to 
the smell and is less poisonous than carbolic acid. Last Novem¬ 
ber, Drs. Leroy and Van den Shrieek, of Antwerp, studied the 
therapeutic applications of aseptol, and reported most satisfactory 
results as an antiseptic. It has the following advantages over anti¬ 
septics in common use : 1. It is very soluble in water. 2. It is very 
slightly caustic. 3, It is free from irritative qualities, and may 
be applied for a long time to the skin, the eyes, the bladder, etc. 
4. Finally, its slight toxicity, which permits its use internally in 
considerable doses, and also the application of concentrated solu- 
