126 
GLEANINGS  FROM  AMERICAN  JOURNALS. 
Inhalation  of  Nitrous  Oxide  with  Oxygen, — Dr.  H.  M.  Lilly, 
in  a  communication  to  the  Philadelphia  Med.  and  Surg.  Reporter, 
recommends  inelastic  gas  bags,  rather  than  elastic  ones,  for  hold- 
ing this  gas,  as  less  wasteful  and  more  agreeable  to  the  patient. 
He  also  endorses  the  recommendation  of  Prof.  Andrews  in  the 
Chicago  Med.  Examiner,  for  Nov.,  to  mix  the  gas  with  oxygen 
before  using  it  in  the  proportion  of  half,  third,  or  fifth,  and  finds 
the  ansesthetic  effects  are  produced  without  the  discoloration  of 
the  skin  or  lips  incident  to  the  use  of  the  pure  gas.  He  thinks, 
however,  that  a  less  proportion  of  oxygen  will  suffice  and  pro- 
poses one-sixth.  In  view  of  this  association  of  gases  it  would  be 
w^ell  that  chemists  should  study  the  influence  of  time  and  mois- 
ture on  such  a  mixture,  as  to  whether  there  is  a  tendency  to  oxid- 
ation that  will  result  in  the  presence  of  even  a  minimum  of 
a  higher  oxide  of  nitrogen. 
Carbolic  Acid  as  a  Poison.  Prof  Joseph  Gr.  Pinkham,  M.  D.,  in 
a  long  communication  to  the  Phila.  Med.  and  Surg.  Reporter, 
sums  up  the  toxicological  points  of  carbolic  acid,  as  follows : 
It  is  a  dangerous  poison  ;  it  is  rapidly  absorbed  into  the  system  ; 
it  is  rapidly  eliminated,  chiefly  by  the  kidneys;  its  local  action  is 
caustic,  irritant  and  sedative  ;  its  general  action  is  that  of  a  pow- 
erful neurotic,  causing  trembling,  convulsions,  giddiness,  head- 
ache, insensibility,  a  cold  clammy  surface,  a  feeble,  intermittent, 
rapid  pulse,  great  prostration,  and  death.  Recovery  in  non-fatal 
cases  is  speedy  and  complete  when  there  has  been  no  serious  lo- 
cal lesion.  The  post-mortem  appearances  are  neither  constant 
nor  distinctive  ;  there  is  no  known  chemical  or  other  antidote  of 
value.  In  treatment  the  chief  reliance  must  be  placed  upon 
measures  of  evacuation  and  stimulation.  Aside  from  the  actual 
detection  of  the  poison,  the  preservation  of  the  body  is  the  most 
important  medico-legal  evidence  of  poisoning  with  carbolic  acid. 
The  extensive  medical  and  hygienic  use  of  carbolic  acid  points 
to  the  necessity  of  seeking  an  antidote,  and  its  importance  ap- 
peals strongly  to  the  chemist. 
Medical  Botany  in  Canada.  The  Canadian  Pharmacutical 
Association  has  issued  a  circular,  dated  Sept.  15,  1868,  signed 
by  its  Secretary,  ^^H.  J.  Rose,  offering  prizes  "  for  collections 
of  indigenous  medical  substances  of  vegetable  origin."  Three 
