Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  > 
April,  1881.  j 
Varieties. 
187 
species  on  the  French  and  Algerian  coasts,  and  to  protect  their  cultivation 
by  special  laws.  It  has  been  conclusively  demonstrated  that  sponges  may 
be  artificially  propagated  with  little  trouble,  and  with  successful  results,, 
from  cuttings  of  the  living  sponge,  so  that  no  serious  difficulty  would  be 
met  with  on  this  score ;  but  thus  far,  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  no  practical 
measures  of  this  kind  have  been  taken. 
The  sponge  fisheries  in  American  waters  are  by  no  means  insignificant,, 
the  principal  localities  of  the  industry  being  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Flor- 
ida Keys  and  the  Bahama  Banks.  The  quality  of  American  sponges,, 
however,  as  compared  with  those  of  the  Mediterranean,  is  inferior.  The 
annual  product  of  the  American  fisheries  is,  nevertheless,  very  consider- 
able. The  fine  Syrian  sponge  is  distinguished  by  its  lightness,  its  fine 
flaxen  color,  its  fineness  of  texture,  and  its  cup-shaped  form.  This  sponge- 
is  specially  employed  for  toilet  use,  and  commands  a  liigh  price.  The  fine- 
sponge  of  the  Grecian  Archipelago  is  scarcely  to  be  distinguished  from 
that  of  Syria,  though  generally  it  is  weightier,  not  so  fine  in  texture,  and 
the  holes  with  which  it  is  pierced  are  larger  and  fewer  in  number.  The 
sponges  of  American  waters  are  coarser  in  texture,  harsher,  and  wanting: 
in  flexibility. —  The  Manafaeturer  and  Builder^  March,  1881. 
YAKIETIES. 
Maize  and  Maizenic  Acid. — The  following  are  the  conclusions  drawn 
by  Dr.  Vauthier,  in  a  brochure  entitled  Etude  sur  le  Mais  (Zea  Mais)  e€ 
VAcide  Malzenique  ("Archives  MM.  Beiges,"  August,  1880) :  1.  The  action 
of  Zea  mais  is  always  favorable  in  all  affections  of  the  bladder,  whether 
recent  or  chronic.  2.  Maizenic  acid  is  the  active  principle  of  the  stigmata 
of  maize,  and  it  alone  contains  the  therapeutic  properties.  3.  The  diuretic 
action  is  not  constant ;  it  is  met  with  in  cases  of  acute  traumatic  cystitis^ 
and  in  cases  of  retention,  but  here  the  improvement  in  micturition  is  due 
to  the  recovery  of  the  affected  organs,  and  not  directly  to  the  action  of  the- 
maizenic  acid.  4.  The  best  results  are  observed  in  uric  and  phosphatic 
gravel,  in  acute  cystitis,  whether  simple  or  due  to  gravel,  and  in  mucous  or 
muco-purulent  catarrh,  5.  In  the  cases  observed  by  the  writer,  the  ordi- 
nary remedies  for  these  affections  had  already  been  employod  without  ben- 
efit, while  the  maize  never  failed  to  eff'ect  a  cure.  In  connection  with  the 
maize,  simple  and  medicated  vesical  injections  were  employed.  6.  Maiz- 
enic acid,  moreover,  has  the  power  of  dissolving  calculi  by  its  chemical 
action  ;  and  not  only  vesical  calculi,  but  also  all  the  other  calcareous  con- 
cretions that  are  met  with  in  the  human  system.  Hence  its  use  seems  indi- 
cated in  cases  of  gout  and  rheumatism,  as  well  as  in  affections  of  the  uri- 
nary organs.  The  preparations  used  by  the  author  were  the  infusion  (10' 
parts  of  corn-silk  to  100  of  boiling  water,  with  syrup  ad  libitum ;  dose,  a 
tablespoonful  every  two  hours),  the  extract  in  doses  of  one  and  one-half  to 
three  grains,  and  maizenic  acid  in  doses  ef  one-eighth  of  a  grain  in  pill  or 
mixture.— J/ed.  News^  March,  1881,  from  London  Med.  Record^  Jan.  15th- 
1881. 
