630 
Varieties. 
(Am.  Jour:  Pharm. 
I      Dec,  1882. 
S ALIO yIj ATE  OF  SoDiUM  FOR  SoRE  THROAT. — After  a  large  number  of 
observations  Dr.  Robt.  N.  Hormazdji,  of  Cheltenbam,  has  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  in  all  acute  cases  of  tonsillitis  salicylate  of  sodium  is  a  speci- 
fic, while  in  chronic  cases  it  seems  to  possess  no  effect  whatever.  He  recom- 
mends about  15  grains  of  the  remedy  every  hour,  till  the  most  urgent 
symiDtoms  are  relieved,  when  only  half  the  dose  is  administered.  At  the 
same  time  he  employs  a  gargle,  consisting  of  about  10  grains  of  the  salicy- 
late of  sodium,  1  ounce  of  glycerin  and  3  ounces  of  water.  He  found  the 
remedy  especially  specific  in  its  effect  in  very  acute  and  severe  cases,  as 
also  in  the  angina  of  scarlatina,  and  of  erysipelas. — Med.  and  Surg.  Bep.^ 
Oct.  28. 
Resorcix  in  Cholera  Infantum.— Dr.  M.  Cohn,  in  his  inaugural  the- 
sis at  Stuttgart  ("  Centralbl.  f.  d.  Med.  Wissen.,"  1882,  p.  512)  speaks  of  the 
effect  of  resorcin  in  cases  of  cholera  infantum.  He  made  use  of  a  solution 
of  0'3  (5  grains)  resorcin,  6  dracJmis  of  water  and  about  two  drachms  of 
simple  syrup.  He  observed  no  disagreeable  side  effects,  and  of  35  children 
who  had  suffered  from  summer  complaint  30  rapidly  regained  their  health. 
These  observations  wei^e  made  at  the  University  clinic  for  diseases  of  chil- 
dren, in  Stuttgart.  In  no  case  was  noted  any  bad  results,  and  Cohn  con- 
siders this  remedy  almost  a  specific  in  catarrhal  inflammatory  conditions 
of  the  alimentary  canal  in  children.  He  found  it  also  uniformly  success- 
ful in  all  cases  of  stomatitis,  ai^hthee,  etc. — 3Ied.  and  Surg  Bep.^  Oct.  28. 
Astragalus  Mollissimus. — Among  the  plants  destructive  to  cattle  in 
the  "West  ("  Weis  Remedies,"  1882)  is  the  Astragalus  Mollissimus,  whose 
physiological  action  has  been  recently  studied  by  Dr.  Isaac  Ott,  of  Easton, 
Pa.  He  summarizes  it  as  follows :  It  decreases  the  irritability  of  the 
motor  nerve,  greatly  affects  the  sensory  ganglia  of  the  central  nervous  sys- 
tem, preventing  them  from  readily  receiving  impressions.  Has  a  s]3inal 
tetanic  action.  It  kills  mainly  by  arrest  of  the  heart.  Increases  the  callo- 
ary  secretion.  Has  a  stupefying  action  on  the  brain.  Reduces  the  cardiac 
force  and  frequency.  Temporarily  increases  arterial  tension ,  but  finally 
decreases  it.    Greatly  dilates  the  pupil.— CViic.  Med.  Beview,  Oct.  15. 
Hyoscine,  prepared  by  Ladenburg,  and  crystallizable  by  hydriodic  acid, 
has  proved  to  possess,  if  dropj^ed  into  the  eye,  a  remarkably  rapid  mydri- 
atic effect,  and  surpasses  in  this  respect  atroj^ia  in  a  high  degree.  But  the 
solution  should  be  only  a  half  per  cent,  one,  as  stronger  solutions  (one  and 
a  half  per  cent.)  cause  already  general  symptoms,  as  unconsciousness,  dis- 
turbances of  articulation,  vertigo,  and  dryness  of  the  throat.  It  may  be 
mentioned  that  this  preparation  seems  to  be  well  tolerated  by  the  conjunc- 
tiva, even  if  kept  a  long  time  in  contact  with  it. — Medical  Press;  Louisv. 
Med.  News^  Nov.  4. 
Strychnine  in  Alcoholism.— According  to  M.  Luton,  of  Rheims, 
("Bulletin  de  Therapeutique"),says  the  "Medical  Record":  One  may  observe 
in  alcoholics  a  veritable  excito-motor  inertia  of  the  spinal  cord,  capable  of 
lessening  the  generally  so  marked  effects  of  strychnine.  Thus  in  individu- 
