128  GLEANINGS  FROM  AMERICAN  JOURNALS. 
from  the  death  of  plaintiiF's  wife,  as  alleged  by  malpractice  on 
the  part  of  the  defendant.  Sometime  in  October,  1867,  Mrs. 
Webster  sent  her  daughter  to  Mr.  Kennedy  for  "  something  to 
make  her  sleep,''  as  she  had  lost  much  rest  by  an  attack  of  dumb 
ague.  Mr.  Kennedy,  it  is  alleged,  sent  her  back  with  two  grains 
of  morphia  in  one  paper,  and  remarked  that  if  that  did  not  have 
the  desired  effect  nothing  would.  The  daughter  administered  the 
dose  and  the  mother  died  the  next  day. 
A  suit  had  been  brought  on  two  other  occasions,  the  jury  in 
both  cases  disaD-reeing.  In  this  instance  the  defendant  did  not 
appear.  Medical  testimony  showed  that,  although  the  ordinary 
dose  of  morphia  was  from  one-sixth  to  one-third  of  a  grain, 
much  larger  doses  were  given  when  the  patient  was  accustomed 
to  it.    The  damages  were  laid  at  $5000.  • 
In  the  absence  of  testimony  from  the  defendant  it  would  not 
be  just  to  comment  on  this  case  further  than  to  educe  it  as 
another  evidence  of  the  impropriety  and  risk  of  counter  practice 
by  apothecaries  in  cases  where  the  physician  only  should  decide, 
and  especially  in  the  absence  of  the  sick. 
Neiv  uses  of  Carrageen. — In  our  last  volume  we  gave  a  long 
article,  by  Hubert  Bates,  on  the  carrageen  collection  and  trade 
in  New  England,  (see  page  417,  vol.  39, 1868).  According  to  the 
American  Exchange  and  Review^  the  present  high  prices  of  glue 
and  isinglass  have  caused  carrageen  to  be  used  as  a  substitute 
and  added  greatly  to  the  demand  for  it.  It  is  also  said  to  be 
used  in' lieu  of  eggs  for  clearing  coffee.  Its  most  important  use  is 
as  sizing  in  the  paper,  cotton  cloth,  felt  and  straw  hat  industries. 
The  poorer  qualities  are  bought  for  size.  The  second  quality 
of  moss  is  sold  to  the  brewers  for  clarifying  their  beer  when  sent 
out  new.  Carrageen  in  this  country  takes  the  place  of  isinglass, 
which  it  substitutes  without  any  preparation. — Druggists'  Circu- 
lar, Feb.  1869. 
Tincture  of  Pyretlirum  Roseum. — In  the  last  number  of  this 
Journal  we  published  a  notice  of  the  value  of  this  preparation 
for  destroying  insects,  especially  those  infecting  the  person. 
Prof.  Maisch  informs  us  that  in  two  instances  where  it  has  been 
used  its  application  has  been  followed  by  a  vesicular  eruption 
analogous  to  that  caused  by  Rhus  toxicodendron. 
