EDITORIAL. 
299 
dal Collodion, Cotyledon Umbilicus, Sulphuric Ether, Strong Chloric Ether, 
Compound Ether, Hura Braziliensis, Iberis Amara, Iodic Acid, Iodide of 
Chloride of Mercury, Powdered Iron, Citrate of Magnetic Oxide of Iron, 
Citrate of Iron and Magnesia, Sulphate of Iron and Alumina, Tannate of 
Iron, Valerianate of Iron, Nitrate of Lead, Lemon Juice, Citrate of Magne- 
sia, Salts of Manganese, Oleum Cadinum, Arsenite of Quinia, Hydriodate 
of Iron and Quinia, Sanicula Marilandica, and Sambul." The follow- 
ing items are quoted from the newer portions of the work. 
" Bismuthi Valerianas is formed by mixing a neutral solution of Nitrate 
of Bismuth with Valerianate of Soda, [also in solution^] washing the pre- 
cipitate with water, and drying with a gentle heat. It forms a white pow- 
der which is insoluble in water ; and has been recommended by Righini in 
gastrodynia, chronic gastralgia, and especially in neuralgia and nervous 
palpitation. 
The dose is from half a grain to two grains, three or four times a day, in 
the form of powder or pill. 
« Yerri et Alumina Sulphas, Sulphate of Iron and Alumina. This 
salt has been introduced, by Sir James Murray, of Dublin, as a valu- 
able addition to the class of astringent remedies. The bisulphate of iron 
and alumina — as he terms it — is readily made by treating bicarbonated so- 
lution of soft iron (/) and carbonated solution of pure washed alumina (/) 
with sulphuric acid, after separating the arsenic and other ingredients 
which are too often found in the vitriolic acid of commerce." 
One cannot but admire the very lucid language in which Sir James has 
couched his communication for the public benefit. It savors strongly of a 
quackish spirit, and possibly it will only be found that the preparation 
of Sir James possesses the marked curative powers attributed to the salt by 
him in chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera morbus, leucorrhoea, epistaxis, 
etc. etc. When men pretend to make known remedies, they should do it in 
the clearest expressions they are capable of using : the days of alchemical 
mystifications have passed away. 
We perceive among the " new remedies " Leucolein, an artifical alkaloid 
obtained from coal tar, and which has been shown to be identical with the 
Cincholeina or Quinoleina obtained from the alkaloids of cinchona by dis- 
tilling them with potassa. It is a colorless substance, having an oleaginous 
consistence, sp. gr. 1.081, is slightly soluble in water, and miscible in all 
proportions with alcohol ether and the essential oils. Wertheim pre- 
scribed it as a sulphate. Its most evident effect is on the pulse, which it de- 
presses, like conia, but under different circumstances. Its therapeutical 
powers have not been much investigated. 
Reasoning from what is already known of chemical remedies, the numer- 
ous new substances brought to light almost daily by the researches of chem- 
ists, will afford a wide field for the occupation of the experimental therapeu- 
tist. Personally we have no objection to the multiplication of new reme- 
dies, because, although they often give the apothecary trouble, and cause out- 
