92 
Progress  in  Pharmacy . 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
I    February,  1902. 
Methyl  Alcohol. — Suggestions  that  have  been  made  from  time  to 
time  as  to  the  possible  use  of  this  compound  in  pharmacy  have, 
unfortunately,  been  adopted  by  a  class  of  dealers  that  are  always 
anxious  to  increase  their  profits  regardless  of  any  hazard  or  risk 
that  may  be  incurred  by  their  customers.  Not  alone  in  tincture  of 
iodine,  soap  liniment,  and  other  preparations  used  for  external  pur- 
poses, it  has  also  been  found  in  tincture  of  ginger,  essence  of 
peppermint,  and  other  drugs  and  flavoring  essences  usually  sold 
for  popular  consumption.  Wiirdeman  (Amer.  Med.,  1 901)  reports 
several  cases  of  blindness  resulting  from  the  use  of  this  compound, 
and  also  gives  a  summary  of  a  number  of  other  cases  that  have 
been  recently  reported.  Sieker  (Chem.  Zeitg.y  1901)  suggests  as  a 
reliable  test  the  reduction  of  cupric  oxide  by  vapor  of  methyl 
alcohol  and  the  production  of  formaldehyde,  readily  recognized  by 
its  peculiarly  pungent  and  penetrating  odor. 
Oleic  Acid. — Artault  [Rev.  Therap.  Med.  Chirurg.t  1 901)  suggests 
the  use  of  purified  oleic  acid  in  cases  of  hepatic  colic  due  to  gall- 
stones. He  gives  the  acid  in  doses  of  0-5  to  ro,  and  in  cases  where 
the  attacks  occur  at  intervals  of  a  month  or  more  he  suggests  giving 
the  remedy  for  from  ten  to  fourteen  days. 
Picric  acid  is  being  brought  forward  as  an  external  dressing  and 
a  remedy  in  affections  of  the  skin.  It  has  proved  itself  to  be 
especially  valuable  in  superficial  burns,  acute  eczema,  and  herpes 
zoster;  used  in  y2  or  I  per  cent,  solution. 
Phosphorated  oil,  as  a  substitute  tor  this  preparation,  when  it  is 
to  be  used  for  internal  purposes,  Escalle  (Zeitschr.  des  Allgemein. 
Oestr.  Apoth.  Verein,  1901)  proposes  glycerin  as  the  solvent.  He 
produces  a  I  per  cent,  glycerin-alcohol  solution  by  allowing  10* 
phosphorus  to  be  heated  under  1 00*  glycerin  until  melted,  then 
shake  until  cool,  add  400*  glycerin  and  500-  alcohol  96  per  cent.; 
keep  in  a  cool,  dark  place. 
Quinine. — Binz  [Therap.  der  Gegenwart,  1901)  recommends  large 
doses  of  a  quinine  salt  with  cold  baths  in  cases  of  typhoid  fever. 
He  thinks  that  quinine  is  an  active  poison  to  the  lower  organisms, 
and  gives  the  drug  in  doses  of  ro  every  other  evening. 
Salicylates, — Wolff  {Chem.  Zeitg.,  1901)  reports  that  freshly  pre- 
cipitated hydroxids  of  iron,  aluminum  and  copper  are  soluble  in 
solutions  of  sodium  or  ammonium  salicylate.  It  is  said  that  the 
copper  sodium  salicylate  reacts  similar  to  Fehling's  solution  with 
