Am.  .lour.Pharm  \ 
August,  1882.  J 
Varieties. 
42r 
widening  of  the  puj^il,  dryness  of  the  throat,  etc.  The  maxininin  dose  is; 
gr.J  to  gr.i  by  injection. — Med.  Record ;  Ariier.  Med.  Digest^  May. 
Agaricus  in  the  Treatment  of  Niciht-sweating.— Dr.  Wolfenden 
finds  that  atropia  yields  excellent  results  when  given  in  doses  of  of  a 
grain.  It  is,  however,  a  dangerous  drug  to  use,  on  account  of  its  poisonous 
properties.  Dr.  Wolfenden  therefore  prefers  to  employ  agaricus,  which  is 
of  equal  value  to  atropia,  while  it  is  quite  harmless,  since  ten  grains  too- 
much  or  too  little  produce  no  toxic  eflects.  Agaricus  is  a  light,  bulky,, 
brown  powder,  of  very  bitter  taste,  and  is  best  administered  in  the  form  of 
a  confection,  with  a  little  jam.  Twenty  grains  are  usually  quite  sufficient 
given  at  bedtime,  though  thirty  grains  may  be  necessary  to  check  the 
sweating  completely,  the  only  inconvenience  attending  the  administration 
of  large  doses  being  the  great  quantity  of  the  powder.  Patients,  liowever^ 
make  no  objection  to  the  bitter  taste,  etc.,  when  they  find  how  much  benefit 
they  receive  from  its  use.  Dr.  Wolfenden  has  administered  it  in  nearly 
forty  cases  of  phthisis  with  complete  success.  The  only  ill  effects  which 
have  been  noticed  are,  first,  sickness,  which  stops  on  elimination  of  tlie 
dose ;  secondly,  diarrhoea,  which  can  be  averted  by  combination  with  one 
or  two  grains  of  Dover's  powder. — Glasgow  Med.  Journal. 
Dr.  Young  uses  a  tincture  and  a  crystalline  principle  obtained  from 
agaricus.  He  confirms  the  above  statements,  and  finds  in  addition  that 
cough  is  relieved,  sleep  induced,  and  temperature  lowered  by  the  drug. — 
Med.  Times  and  Gazette  ;  Louisv.  Med.  News,  May  27. 
Amyl,  Nitrite  for  Ague. — Dr.  Saunders,  of  Indore,  India,  reports  iiii 
the  "Indian  Medical  Gazette"  a  number  of  cases  of  ague  successfully 
treated  with  amyl  nitrite.  He  asserts  that  in  every  instance  the  disease 
yielded  quickly  and  permanently  to  the  amyl  treatment.  He  mixes  the 
drug  with  an  equal  volume  of  oil  of  coriander,  to  make  it  less  volatile  and 
to  cover  its  odor,  and  administers  it  as  follows  :  Four  drops  of  the  mixture 
are  poured  on  a  small  piece  of  lint,  which  is  given  into  the  hands  of  the 
patient  for  him  to  inhale  freely  ;  he  soon  becomes  flush,  and  both  his  pulse 
and  respiration  are  much  accelerated,  and  when  he  feels  warm  all  over, 
the  inhalation  is  discontinued,  as  the  symptoms  continue  to  increase  for 
some  time  afterward  ;  a  profuse  perspiration  now  sets  in,  which  speedily 
ends  the  attack,  though  in  some  cases  the  cold  stage  merely  passes  off'  with- 
out any  hot  or  sweating  stage. —  Therapeutie  Gazette;  Cincinnati  Lancet 
and  Clinic,  April  8. 
