MISCELLANY. 
235 
Novel application of Hydrochlorate of Morphine. By M. Ehrard. — It 
is well known that all kinds of neuralgia, and more particularly odon- 
talgia, are very difficult of cure, although they may be considerably 
modified by means of preparations of opium, and particularly hydro- 
chlorate of morphine. M. Ehrard believes, that if this last substance is 
not more efficacious, it is because it is not properly administered. 
In fact, hydrochlorate of morphine, according to M. Ehrard, should 
be applied to the gums by friction on the affected side. M. Ehrard 
asserts that this simple change in the mode of application will, in a 
short time, remove the most afflicting toothache. 
The author makes several observations which appear to be decisive. 
It is particularly in the case of those who are feeble, delicate, and ex- 
tremely nervous that this mode of treatment is successful, and in many 
cases the pain arising from carious teeth has disappeared as if by en- 
chantment. 
The following is the mode of proceeding adopted by M. Ehrard : — 
The first' day the patient takes 13 milligrammes of the medicament 
on one of his fingers, previously wetted, and he rubs the affected gum 
with it for the space of three minutes, he then holds his head on one 
side, taking care neither to spit nor swallow, to give time for the 
absorption of the salt; and afterwards he swallows his saliva 
At the end of two hours the operation is to be repeated. 
On the following day, if the disease continues, we increase the dose, 
if necessary, to 37 milligrammes. 
In frontal neuralgia, M. Ehrard employed hydrochlorate of morphine 
with the most marked success, by applying it to the mucous lining 
of the nostrils. — Ibid, from Jour, de Chir. 
New mode of preparing Adhesive and Strengthening Plasters from India- 
rubber. By William H. Shecut and Horace H. Day. of New York. — 
The articles we employ in the preparation of the said plasters, are 3^^^ 
those known in commerce as caoutchouc, or India-rubber pine gum 
(obtained from the southern yellow pine, commonly termed " long 
leafed" pine,) cayenne pepper, balsam of Peru, litharge, and spirits of 
turpentine. 
The proportions are five pounds TncUa-rubber, reduced to fine shreds, 
steeped in soft water for softening it, then put, with sufficient quantity 
of spirits of turpentine to cover the India-rubber, in a vessel ; the 
quantity to be increased as the gum soaks it up. When the rubber is 
sufficiently dissolved, it is pressed through a fine sieve. Four ounces 
of capsicum annuum, or cayenne pepper, is heated in a quart of spirits 
of turpentine. A portion of this tincture is ground with a pound of 
litharge and then mixed with the remnant of the tincture, and to it is 
