ON  LEPTANDRIN. 
507 
portion  of  it,  and  aqua  ammonia  added  perfectly  dissolves  it, 
leaving  the  ether  floating  above  it  of  a  light  reddish-yellow  color. 
It  is  lighter  than  chloroform  and  insoluble  in  it.  Spirits  of  tur- 
pentine takes  up  a  small  portion,  forming  a  dirty  white  liquid ; 
acetic  acid  likewise  dissolves  a  small  portion.  None  of  the  above 
agents  have  been  tried  with  heat.  Nitric  acid  turns  Leptandrin 
of  a  brownish-yellow  color,  muriatic  acid  a  light  yellowish-green, 
and  sulphuric  acid  reddish-brown.  Heat  semiliquefies  it,  and  it 
burns  with  a  bright  light  flame,  giving  out  a  sweet  balsamic  and 
rather  agreeable  odor,  somewhat  resembling  balm  of  Gilead  buds 
when  burned  as  incense.  This  valuable  agent  was  first  prepared 
and  introduced  to  the  profession  by  W.  S.  Merrel,  of  Cincinnati. 
Properties  Leptandrin  is  a  powerful  cholagogue,  with  but 
slight  laxative  influence  ;  except  given  in  very  large  doses,  its 
cathartic  powers  are  but  very  feeble.  It  is  one  of  the  most  effi- 
cacious and  important  agents  among  those  peculiar  to  eclectic 
practice,  being  the  only  known  medicine  that  efficiently  stimu- 
lates and  corrects  the  hepatic  secretions,  and  functional  de- 
rangement of  the  liver,  without  debilitating  the  system  by  copi- 
ous alvine  evacuations.  It  may  be  safely  and  efficaciously  em- 
ployed in  the  treatment  of  diarrhoea,  cholera-infantum,  some 
forms  of  dyspepsia,  typhoid  fever,  and  all  diseases  connected 
with  biliary  derangements.  Combined  with  podophyllin  it  is  a 
prompt  and  effectual  remedy  in  epidemic  dysentery,  often  effect- 
ing a  permanent  cure  in  from  12  to  18  hours  :  in  dysentery  with 
irritable  bowels  it  may  be  used  alone  with  advantage,  or  com- 
bined with  camphor,  as  in  such  cases  its  union  with  podophyllin 
is  contra-indicated.  In  intermittents  it  renders  the  action  of 
quinia,  when  united  with  it,  more  certain,  and  prevents  the  lia- 
bility to  the  return  of  the  disease,  at  least  for  the  season,  and  is 
likewise  very  beneficial  in  infantile  remittent  fever,  and  in  pe- 
riodical diseases  generally,  of  an  obstinate  character,  in  which 
quinia  alone  seems  to  produce  little  or  no  result.  It  may  also 
be  used  in  many  other  combinations  with  much  advantage,  as 
with  hydrastin  or  with  beef's  gall,  in  some  dyspeptic  affections, 
jaundice,  piles,  etc.,  or  with  iridin,  baptisin,  corydalin,  caulo- 
phyllin,  and  other  active  principles,  in  various  forms  of  the  dis- 
ease.   Dose  of  Leptandrin,  from  one-half  to  five  or  six  grains 
