VARIETIES. 
183 
was  made  to  enter.  This  is  then  a  sort  of  martial  preparation  of  copaiba. 
The  doses  are  stated  as  follows : 
When  there  is  neither  pain  nor  inflammation,  five  saccharated  capsules 
are  taken  three  times  per  diem.  One  capsule  more  is  then  given  with  each 
dose  every  subsequent  day,  the  doses  being  thus  increased  until  purging  is 
produced.  Where  there  is  pain  or  inflammation,  these  should  first  be 
treated  by  the  surgeon  in  the  manner  he  thinks  the  most  advisable,  and 
the  copahine  is  to  be  commenced  when  acute  symptoms  have  abated.  It 
has  been  noticed  that  the  martial  capsules  have  effected  a  cure  when  the 
simple  preparation  has  failed. — American  Jour n,  Med.  Science,  Jan.,  1853. 
Chromic  Acid  as  an  Escharotic. — This  acid  is  recommended  by  Dr.  Hel- 
ler, a  German  physician,  as  a  useful  escharotic  in  severe  cases,  when  pro- 
perly and  judiciously  used.  According  to  his  experiments,  all  organic 
compounds  are  soluble  in  the  readily  deoxidizable  chromic  acid  ;  the  smaller 
animals,  such  as  mice  and  birds,  were  so  completely  dissolved  by  chromic 
acid  in  the  space  of  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes,  that  no  traces  even  of  their 
bones,  skin,  hair,  claws,  or  teeth  could  be  discovered  ;  so  that  it  would 
appear  that  this  metallic  acid  is  not  only  both  a  safe  and  gradual  escharotic, 
but  furnishes  us  with  another  rapid  and  efficient  solvent  for  organic  animal 
matter. — Annals  of  Pharm.,  June,  1852. 
Results  of  Experimental  Investigations  on  the  Antidotal  Properties  of 
Nitrous  Oxide.  By  Geo.  J.  Zeigler,  M.  D.  [of  Philad.]  Dr.  Zeigler  after  de- 
tailing at  length  the  results  of  his  experiments  arrives  at  the  following  con- 
clusions. 
"  Firstly,  That  nitrous  oxide  or  protoxide  of  nitrogen  is  a  powerful  and 
direct  arterial,  nervous  and  cerebral  stimulant. 
Secondly,  That  it  exerts  a  direct  chemical  influence  on  the  blood,  by  sup- 
plying the  essential  elements  for  the  arterialization  of  that  fluid,  and  to  a 
certain  extent  by  inducing  that  process,  thus  producing  in  it  similar  changes 
to  those  effected  by  the  atmospheric  air,  as  proved  by  the  effect  on,  and  cha- 
racter of  the  re-established  respiration. 
Thirdly,  That  it  is  in  these  various  modes  antidotal  to  the  effect  of  certain 
narcotizing  agents. 
Fourthly,  That  where  vital  excitability  is  not  completely  destroyed,  this 
remedy  has  the  power  of  sustaining  and  increasing  it  rapidly,  and  sufficient- 
ly to  preserve  life  in  numerous  instances  in  which  it  would  otherwise  be 
destroyed. 
Fifthly,  That  it  will  re-establish  life-action  even  after  all  the  usual  evi- 
dences of  its  existence  have  failed,  such  as  innervation,  respiration  and  cir- 
culation ;  provided,  firstly,  that  the  muscular  contractility,  or  vis  insita  of  the 
heart  and  other  tissues  is  not  lost ;  secondly,  that  the  blood  has  not  coagulat- 
ed or  deteriorated  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be  insusceptible  of  arterialization 
and  revivification  ;  thirdly,  that  there  is  no  organic  lesion  of  any  vital  part 
