VARIETIES. 
Si 
has  for  some  time  been  accustomed  to  give  ether  in  capsules  in  nervous  affec- 
tions. After  several  years  of  observation,  by  himself  and  others,  he  concludes 
that  ether,  when  introduced  in  a  known  dose,  pure,  and  without  loss,  into 
the  stomach,  has  an  effect  which  was  totally  unknown  until  the  preparation 
of  the  ether  pearls  (perles  d' ether).  According  to  the  old  plan,  the  ether  be- 
came partly  volatilized  before  passing  half-way  down  the  oesophagus  ;  ana 
what  arrived  in  the  stomach  was  dissolved  in  water,  and  in  a  state  favorable 
to  rapid  and  sudden  volatilization.  M.  Clertan  has  several  times  seen  neural- 
gia, hemicrania,  and  gastralgia  arrested  instantaneously  by  from  one  to  three 
of  these  capsules ;  while  ether  draughts,  andether  in  syrup,  had  been  largely 
given  without  any  effect. 
The  editor  of  the  Union  Medicate  for  April  12,  in  noticing  M.  Clertan;s 
preparation,  states  the  ether  capsules  are  already  employed  extensively  by 
M.  Trousseau,  M.  Pidoux,  and  other  practitioners  in  Paris.  The  advantages 
of  the  capsules  are  : — 
1.  The  ether  can  be  administered  in  a  known  dose — each  capsule  con- 
taining four  or  five  drops. 
2.  The  capsules  are  inodorous  -  so  that  ethercan,  without  their  knowledge 
be  given  to  persons  to  whom  its  smell  is  repulsive. 
3.  The  capsules  permit  neither  evaporation  nor  decomposition  of  the  ether 
they  may  be  kept  a  year  at  least,  or  indefinitely,  according  to  INI.  Clertan. 
4.  The  ether  arrives  in  the  stomach  without  irritating  the  membrane  of 
the  mouth  or  pharynx,  or  producing  cough  :  and  it  produces'its  sedative  ac- 
tion by  its  rapid  absorption. — American  Journal. from  Assoc.  Med.  Jov.rn.  Sept, 
2,  1853. 
Ferruginous  Collodion. — Having  observed  the  utility  of  the  saits  of  iron  in 
erysipelas,  M.  Aran,  to  facilitate  their  application,  combined  them  with  col- 
lodion, forming  a  preparation  which  united  the  compressive  and  astringent 
effects.  It  consists  of  equal  parts  of  collodion  and  Bestuchefs  tincture  (ethe- 
real tincture  of  perchloride  of  iron).  Spread  on  the  skin,  it  forms  a  some- 
what thinner  pellicle  than  ordinary  collodion,  but  it  is  much  more  supple  and 
resisting,  so  that  the  limb  can  be  moved  in  any  direction  without  the  crack- 
ing which  takes  place  when  collodion  alone  is  used.  Its  adhesion  is  also 
more  prolonged. — Brit,  and  For.  Med.-Chir.  Rev.  July,  1853,  from  Evil,  de 
Therapeutique,  t.  xliv.  from  American  Journal. 
Valerianate  of  Atropia — Moris.  Micheahas  communicated  an  article  to  the 
Academy  of  Medicine,  in  Paris,  on  the  therapeutical  employment  of  this 
substance,  which  contains  the  active  principles  both  of  valerian  and  of  bel- 
ladonna. Without  going  into  detail  on  the  medicinal  action  of  the  valerian- 
ate of  atropia,  or  atropine,  the  particulars  of  which  we  leave  for  our  contem- 
poraries, the  medical  journals,  it  maybe  stated  that  M.  Michea  recommends 
it  strongly  as  a  remedy  in  many  of  the  spasmodic  or  convulsive  diseases,  in 
which  he  affirms  it  has  been  given  with  great  success,  beginning  with  an  ex 
icemely  small  dose— a  milligramme  daily  for  an  adult.    It  is  preferable  to 
6  ' 
