422 
Varieties, 
j  Am.  .lour.  Pharm:. 
1       Aug.,  1881 
about  one  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half  back.  The  end,  so  far  as  the  cuts  run 
back,  is  again  dipped  into  water  and  heated.  The  strips  of  bark  made  by 
the  cuts  are  lifted  from  the  wood,  care  being  taken  not  to  break  them  from 
their  attachment  at  their  base.  They  are  again  dipped  and  heated,  when 
they  can  be  bent  back  at  right  angles,  to  allow  the  end  of  the  wood  to  be 
cut  off  nearly  as  far  back  as  the  bark  is  slit  up.  The  end  of  the  wood  is. 
trimmed  to  a  conical  shape.  It  is  again  dipped  and  heated,  and  with  a 
strong  twine  the  bark,  now  a  hollow  cylinder,  is  wound  down  firmly  to 
the  conical  end  of  the  wood,  and  beyond  it  into  a  solid  cylindrical  tip. 
When  thoroughly  dry,  the  tip  is  rounded  and  the  whole  surface  of  the  root, 
finished  with  sand-paj^er.  It  is  ready  for  use  by  soaking  about  five  min- 
utes in  carbolized  water. 
"  If  it  be  desirable  to  use  the  same  dilator  again,  it  is  to  be  wiped  imme- 
diately after  using,  and  when  dry  finished  again  with  sand-paper.  This 
can  be  rei)eated  so  long  as  the  tip  remains.  The  smaller  sizes  can  be  bent 
when  seasoned,  by  wetting  and  heating,  but  not  so  readily  as  when  green. 
The  roots  are  almost  perfectly  cylindrical,  and  are  found  of  any  size  from 
two  inches  in  diameter  down." 
An  Exhilarating  Mixture.  —  Professor  Luton,  of  Rheims,  relates 
("Bulletin  de  Therapeutique  ")  that  having  administered  to  a  patient  a 
mixture  of  tincture  of  ergot  and  of  phosphate  of  sodium,  he  was  greatly  sur- 
prised to  find  it  after  a  while  produce  the  most  exhilarating  effects,  excit- 
ing loquacity  and  irresistible  laughter,  which  lasted  for  several  hours  and 
much  resembled  the  slight  intoxication  produced  by  light  wines  and 
champagne.  The  mixture  was  tried  on  some  other  persons,  always  with 
the  same  effects,  these  being  producible,  however,  onlj"  in  women,  espe- 
cially those  of  a  nervous  temperament.  Men  resist  its  effects,  probably 
requiring,  as  the  author  supposes,  stronger  doses-  in  consequence  of  their 
being  more  accustomed  to  alcohol.  The  formula  employed  in  the  production 
of  these  curious  effects  was  for  a  medium  dose,  in  a  person  sufficiently  excit- 
able, as  follows  :  Tincture  of  ergot  five  grams,  and  solution  of  phosphate 
of  sodium  (at  one-tenth)  fifteen  grams.  This  is  poured  into  a  little  sugared 
water  and  taken  fasting.  As  a  therapeutical  agent,  Prof.  Luton  suggests 
that  it  might  prove  useful  in  some  cases  of  hypochondriasis  and  in  the 
algidity  of  hysterical  subjects  and  those  who  are  very  liable  to  spasm.  The 
algidity  of  the  early  stage  of  fever  or  cholera  might  also  be  favorably  infiu- 
enced.  So  also  in  various  cases  of  anemia  and  adynamia,  the  mixture,  in 
reduced  doses,  so  as  not  to  excite  excessive  hilarity,  might  j^rove  useful. — 
Med.  Times  cind  Gazette;  Louis.  Mecl.  News,  June  18. 
Fumigation  in  Asthma.— 
R    Potassii  nitratis. 
A  thimbleful  of  the  powder,  placed  on  a  plate,  is  joinched  into  a  conicaL 
shape  and  lighted  at  the  top.  It  is  then  held  near  the  patient,  who  inhales, 
the  fumes.  This  is  a  celebrated  London  "  anti-asthmatic  powder." — Med., 
and  Surg.  Rep.,  July  9. 
Pulv.  anisi, 
Pulv.  stramoii.  fol.,- 
M. 
