Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 1 
September,  1902.  / 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
443 
particularly  in  cases  of  enteric  fever  or  phthisis,  in  both  of  which 
conditions,  sudden  collapse  and  other  untoward  complications  have 
been  observed. 
From  the  German  journals  it  appears  that  Acetyl  salicylic  acid  is 
being  made,  and  sold  in  Germany,  by  several  of  the  large  manu- 
facturing chemists,  as  Acetyl  salicylic  acid. 
Guaiacum  has  been  investigated  by  several  investigators,  among 
them  Schaer  (Archiv.f.  Exp.  Path.  u.  PharmakoL,  1902)  who  thinks 
that  the  antisyphilitic,  diaphoretic  and  antiarthritic  properties  of 
guaiac  are  due  to  the  contained  saponin.  It  has  been  suggested  that 
this  be  isolated  and  compared  with  other  known  forms  of  saponin, 
especially  as  to  its  chemical  as  well  as  therapeutic  properties. 
Koryzaphylla  is  a  trade  name  for  a  paper  handkerchief  that  is 
being  introduced,  especially  in  Germany,  for  use  by  patients  suffer- 
ing from  pulmonary  tuberculosis,  grippe,  or  any  other  affection  of 
the  mucous  surfaces  of  the  nose  or  throat.  They  have  been  recom- 
mended by  practitioners  as  a  hygienic  measure  to  prevent  possible 
infection,  by  burning  the  used  handkerchief. 
Magnesium  Dioxide. — According  to  an  editorial  in  a  recent  num- 
ber of  the  Medical  Record,  vol,  62,  p.  139,  a  process  for  the  manu- 
facture of  this  compound  has  been  evolved  by  Dr.  Friederich  Elias, 
of  Berlin.  The  preparation  itself  is  claimed  to  be  capable  of  emit- 
ting a  large  amount  of  oxygen  throughout  the  system. 
Biogen  is  a  trade  name  for  what  is  claimed  to  be  magnesium 
dioxide.  This  is  being  put  on  the  market  by  an  American  firm. 
Whether  or  not  it  corresponds  to  the  substance  referred  to  above,  the 
writer  of  this  notice  is  unable  to  say. 
In  this  connection,  however,  it  may  be  interesting  to  note  that 
from  three  to  five  parts,  by  weight,  of  solution  of  hydrogen  dioxide, 
may  be  added  to  one  part  by  weight  of  light  calcined  magnesia 
without  decomposition.  The  resulting  mixture  may  be  dried  and 
subsequently  powdered,  retaining  from  60  to  80  per  cent,  of  the  con- 
tained oxygen.  The  resulting  powder  retains  the  oxygen  without 
any  appreciable  loss.  Some  specimens  of  this  mixture,  made  upward 
of  four  months  ago,  still  give  the  characteristic  blue  coloration  on 
the  addition  of  dilute  sulphuric  acid  and  solution  of  a  bichromate 
salt. 
Hydrogen  Dioxide  in  a  crystalline  form  has  been  obtained  by 
W.  Staedel  (Zeitschr.  f.  angw.  Chem.t  1902)  by  cooling  a  95  or  96 
