Am'junue^i889arm'}    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  289 
act  in  the  same  way. — Jour,  de  Med.  de  Bordeaux  ;  Repert.  de  phar., 
May  10. 
Iodoform  Poisoning  in  Children. — Dr.  Cazin  reports  two 
cases  of  children  who  had  toxic  symptoms  after  applications  of  iodo- 
form dressings  following  surgical  operations.  In  one  of  them  "  the 
symptoms  took  a  comatose  and  in  the  other  a  meningitic  form."  After 
a  modification  of  the  dressings  the  symptoms  disappeared.  Dr.  Cazin 
thinks  that  iodoform  should  be  used  with  the  greatest  caution  in 
dressing  open  wounds  of  children. — Repert.  de  phar.,  April  10. 
Beta  Naphthol  Dressings. — 1.  Weak  solution,  for  parts  in 
which  membranous  portions  are  exposed :  Naphthol  ft,  5  gm. ;  alco- 
hol at  60°,  1  litre.  2.  Ordinary  solution :  Naphthol  ft,  15  gm.;  alco- 
hol at  60°,  1  litre.  3.  Strong  solution,  for  touching  diseased  portions 
of  the  skin,  or  septic  excoriations;  Naphthol  A  15  to  500  gm.  per 
litre.  4.  Solution  for  interstitial  injections,  or  closed  septic  cavities : 
Naphthol  ft,  5  gm. ;  alcohol  at  90°,  33  gm. ;  hot,  distilled  water,  to 
make  100  ccm.;  filter  and  use  warm.  A  few  drops  may  be  injected 
into  indurated  glands  or  abscesses. — Le  Praticien,  A.pril  8. 
Beta  Naphthol  for  Internal  Use. — The  following  formula  is 
said  to  be  frequently  prescribed  by  Dr.  Dujardin-Beaumetz  in  cases 
of  dilatation  of  the  stomach,  or  to  combat  secondary  fermentation  in 
the  stomach  and  intestines  :  Beta  naphthol,  salicylate  of  bismuth  and 
calcined  magnesia,  aa  10  gm. ;  divide  in  30  cachets ;  one  before  each 
of  the  two  principal  meals — Jour,  de  Med.,  April,  1889. 
New  Reaction  of  Cupric  Salts. — This  is  based  upon  the  easy 
transformation  of  the  salts  of  copper  to  cupric  bromide,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  bromide  of  potassium,  and  upon  the  dehydration,  by  sul- 
phuric acid,  of  the  salt  produced,  this  being  manifested — with  bromide 
of  potassium  in  excess — by  a  fine  coloration  of  violet  red.  The  reac- 
tion is  very  sensitive,  and  may  also  be  produced  in  saline  solutions  of 
other  metals,  such,  for  instance,  as  nickel  and  cobalt.  To  2  ccm.  of  a 
cold,  saturated  solution  of  bromide  of  potassium,  1  ccm.  of  concen- 
trated sulphuric  acid  is  added,  and  the  mixture  is  agitated;  the  lower 
portion  becomes  yellow,  but  this  color  disappears  on  agitation  if  the 
bromide  be  free  from  bromate.  Then,  two  or  three  drops  of  the  solu- 
tion to  be  tested  for  copper  is  added.  However  small  may  be  the 
quantity  of  copper  present,  a  carmine  coloration  is  produced ;  this 
brightens  with  heat,  and  disappears  under  the  addition  of  water,  which 
hydrates  the  cupric  bromide.    The  same  action  is  produced  with  solid, 
