Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
September,  1904.  J 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
445 
Iodylin. — Iodo  salicylate  of  bismuth  is  a  stable,  light-gray  powder 
that  has  been  recommended  as  an  odorless,  non-toxic  and  non-irri- 
tating substitute  for  iodoform.  The  preparation  is  said  to  be  useful 
in  suppurating  and  granulating  wounds,  as  a  dusting  powder,  and  is 
not  followed  by  any  of  the  untoward  results  that  frequently  accom- 
pany the  use  of  iodoform.    {Phar.  Post,  1904,  page  292.) 
Isopral. — Trichlor-isopropyl  alcohol,  a  crystalline  body  freely  sol- 
uble in  water.  It  is  said  to  be  an  efficient  hypnotic,  resembling  in 
this  respect  chloral  hydrate,  chloretone  and  trichlor-ethyl  alcohol. 
Isopral  is  said  to  be  more  efficient  and  less  toxic  in  its  action  than 
chloral  hydrate.  It  may  be  given  in  doses  of  -50  to  '75.  {Phar. 
Post,  1904,  page  292.) 
Lecithiii. — This  name  is  applied  to  a  number  of  organic  combina- 
tions of  phosphorus  that  occur  in  animal  as  well  as  in  plant 
structures,  usually  as  more  or  less  complex  derivatives  of  glycerino- 
phoshoric  acid.  Lecithin  occurs  in  the  blood  of  animals,  in  the 
yolk  of  eg-gs,  in  the  sperm  of  mammals  and  in  the  milt  of  fish;  also 
in  a  number  of  seeds  of  plants — particularly  in  those  of  the  Grami- 
naceae.  The  commercial  varieties  of  lecithin  are  most  frequently 
prepared  from  the  yolk  of  eggs.  It  usually  occurs  as  a  white, 
hygroscepic  substance,  more  or  less  soluble  in  alcohol,  chloroform, 
or  ether,  but  insoluble  in  water.  It  has  been  prepared,  and  may  be 
given,  in  a  number  of  ways,  and  is  indicated  in  all  affections  where 
the  use  of  phosphorus  would  be  of  advantage.  The  literature  on 
lecithin,  particularly  in  Germany,  is  quite  extensive,  and  is  rapidly 
accumulating. 
Lactucon. — This  substance  has  been  isolated  from  lactucarium ;  it 
is  odorless  and  tasteless,  and  is  insoluble  in  hot  or  cold  water.  Lac- 
tucon is  soluble  in  ether,  benzol,  benzine,  chloroform,  carbon  disul- 
phide  and  hot  alcohol,  but  only  slightly  soluble  in  cold  alcohol.  It 
has  a  melting  point  of  1840  C,  and  occurs  in  small  acicular  crystals. 
According  to  E.  Sperling,  it  has  the  chemical  formula  C^H^O.^ 
{Phar.  Zeitg.,  1904,  page  310.) 
Maretin,  methylated  acetanilid.-—This  occurs  as  a  white  crystalline 
compound,  melting  at  1830  or  1840  C.  It  is  soluble  in  1,050  parts 
of  water,  and  only  slightly  soluble  in  ether,  chloroform  or  alcohol. 
Maretin  possesses  antipyretic  properties,  and  may  be  given  in  doses 
of  -20  three  times  a  day.   {Slid.  Deut.  Apoth.  Zeitg.,  1904,  page  432.) 
Oxalic  acid  as  an  expectorant ;  V.  Poulet  has  used  oxalic  acid  as 
