MISCELLANY.^ 
267 
The dose of indigo is regulated by the irritability of the stomach. It 
is best to begin with grains, and rise gradually to drachms, or even seve- 
ral ounces daily. Dr. Roth gives the preference to the form of electuary, 
with proportional additions of the aromatic powder, or Dover's powder, 
as correctives. In the formula employed in the Hospital of the Charite, 
at Berlin, half an ounce of powdered indigo, rubbed up with a few drops 
of water, is mixed with half a drachm of aromatic powder, and one ounce 
of simple syrup, and to be taken in divided doses in the course of the day. 
Many even take from a half to two ounces, twice and four times daily for 
the space of several months. 
In what manner indigo operates, and to what class of medicines it be- 
longs is very difficult to determine, and certainly cannot be inferred from 
its constituent parts. Probably its active principle is seated in the pecu- 
liar colouring matter. Though in many respects the operation of indigo 
is similar to that of tartar emetic, yet this attacks more forcibly the energy 
of the organism. In all the patients, after the use of indigo the spasms 
were at first more frequent and more intense, but shorter in duration ; but 
after some weeks their intensity was manifestly abated, and at length 
they entirely disappeared. All the patients cured by indigo laboured un- 
der idiopathic epilepsy, that is, epilepsy without symptoms of organic le- 
sion. Among those who were improved were several idiopathic and 
symptomatic cases. In one case of epilepsy, which ensued after a re- 
markable contusion of the head, after the employment of indigo, a mode- 
rately long intermission took place. A boy of 16 years of age, who had 
laboured for eight years under St. Vitus's dance, and then was attacked 
with epileptic spasms, was cured of all the symptoms by the use of indi- 
go for six weeks. Of twenty-six epileptic patients treated by means of 
indigo, there recovered — four males and five females ; three males and 
eight females were improved ; and four males and two females remained 
uncured. In confirmation of the foregoing inferences, the author com- 
municates the history of two cases, in which the treatment by means of 
indigo operated beneficially, after other means had been unavailing. 
Edinburg Med. & Surg. Journal, from Neue Wissenchofiliche Annalm. 
Mode of Detecting Acetate of Morphia. — Drantz, Laine and others, recom- 
mend for the detection of this salt in the intestines, that the latter should 
be macerated in distilled water, the liquid filtered, and evaporated to the 
consistence of syrup. This extract, when treated by alcohol, gives up 
acetate of morphia, which may be obtained in the state of crystals by evapo- 
ration. — Journal de Chim. Med. 
Iodide of Quinine. — This is formed by precipitating sulphate of quinine 
by means of hydriodate of potash. It is a yellow precipitate, soluble 
