90  Progress  in  Pharmacy 
uble  in  water  or  dilute  acids,  but  decomposed  by  dilute  alkaline 
solutions  (producing  a  solution  of  dark  violet-red  color).  It  prob- 
ably passes  the  stomach  unchanged,  decomposing  only  in  the  intes- 
tinal canal.  In  doses  of  o*5  it  is  said  to  produce  a  mild  evacuation 
of  the  bowel  in  from  twelve  to  eighteen  hours  without  griping.  It 
is  said  to  have  the  same  debilitating  effect  on  the  intestines  that 
has  been  noted  with  other  cathartics,  especially  rhubarb.  One 
peculiar  feature  connected  with  this  new  drug  is  the  fact  that  it 
imparts  to  the  urine  a  blood-red  color.  The  patient  should  be 
made  acquainted  with  this  fact  so  as  to  avoid  unnecessary  alarm. 
Stadelman  (Dentsch.  Aerzte  Zeitg.,  1 901)  says  that  the  dose  advised 
by  the  manufacturers  is  too  low,  and  that  2-00  is  nearer  a  normal 
dose. 
Silver. — Organic  salts  of  this  metal  threaten  to  increase  indefi- 
nitely, despite  the  fact  that  they  have  been  repeatedly  proven  to  be 
more  or  less  inert  and  ineffective.  So  far,  no  satisfactory  and 
reliable  substitute  for  nitrate  of  silver  has  been  offered. 
Uresin. — The  double  citrate  of  lithium  and  urotropin  is  being 
suggested  as  a  diuretic  and  urinary  antiseptic.  It  should  not  be 
mistaken  for  the  older,  though  not  popular  urosin,  a  combination 
of  lithium  and  quinic  acid. 
Urol. — A  chinate  or  quinate  of  urea  is  being  brought  forward 
as  a  remedy  for  uric  acid  diathesis.    Dose  from  2*0  to  4-0  grammes. 
Urotropin,  cystogen  and  formin,  under  which  names  various  firms 
are  marketing  hexamethylene  tetramine,  have  been  the  subject  of 
considerable  comment  and  discussion.  It  would  appear  from  the 
published  reports  that  this  compound  is  not  as  harmless  or  as 
reliable  as  the  earlier  reports  would  indicate.  Brown  {Brit.  Med. 
Jour.,  1 901)  reports  two  cases  of  hematuria  after  use  of  urotropin 
in  doses  of  o*6  three  times  a  day.  Many  other  reports  of  a  similar 
nature  have  since  appeared,  and  it  will  be  well  to  exercise  consider- 
able caution  so  as  to  prevent  any  possible  abuse  of  this  remedy  by 
self-medication. 
Apomorphine. — Douglas  (Wiener  Med.  Presse)  recommends  this 
drug  as  an  efficient  and  safe  hypnotic.  Hypodermatic  injections  of 
0-002  are  said  to  produce  sleep  within  five  minutes.  It  is  said  to 
have  the  advantage  of  not  producing  a  drug  habit,  as  in  larger  or 
repeated  doses  it  produces  nausea  and  vomiting. 
Caffeine. —  Ferraby  (La  Semaine  Medicale,  1901)  recommends  this 
/  Am.  Jour  Pharm. 
\    February,  1902. 
