102 
Varieties. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Feb.,  1887. 
"  I  have  performed  some  experiments  with  the  tinctures  of  the 
seeds,  pods,  and  hairs,  and  I  find  them  all  active ;  but  that  obtained 
from  the  hairs  is  the  weakest,  and  that  from  the  seeds  is  the  strong- 
est in  arresting  the  movements  of  the  frog  heart.  They  are  also  all 
of  them  powerful  muscle  poisons,  particularly  the  pod  tincture,  but 
of  course  to  decide  this  more  experiments  would  be  necessary." — Phar. 
Jour,  and  Trans.,  Nov.  20, 1886,  p.  411. 
VARIETIES. 
Agaricus  albus  has  been  successfully  used  by  Dr.  A.  Peter  (Med.  News)  for 
relieving  the  sweating  of  consumptives.  Ten  grains  given  at  bed  time  had  a 
cathartic  effect ;  but  given  in  five  grain  doses  no  such  effect  was  observed,  and  in 
about  a  week  all  sweating  ceased.  When  a  return  of  the  night  sweats  is  threat- 
ened relief  is  again  afforded  by  the  remedy,  which  has  no  effect  upon  the  cough. 
Agaric  acid  in  doses  of  j\  to  }  grain  has  been  similarly  employed. 
Quinine  Kash. — Dr.  M.  A.  Veeder,  of  Lyons,  N.  Y.,  observed  a  case  of  quinine 
rash  in  which  the  condition  of  the  skin  closely  resembled  that  existing  in 
scarlatina.  The  patient  had  been  taking  quinine  in  small  doses  for  some  slight 
disorder,  supposed  to  be  malarial ;  but,  becoming  alarmed,  medical  advice  was 
sought,  and  the  taking  of  quinine  was  forbidden.  The  rash  disappeared 
promptly,  but  returned  again  when,  as  an  experiment,  quinine  was  adminis- 
tered in  small  doses. — N.  Y.  Med.  Record. 
Hydrogen  Dioxide  in  Catarrhal  Affections. — Dr.  John  N.  Mackenzie  di- 
rects attention  to  the  use  of  hydrogen  dioxide  in  four-per-cent.  solution  for  ca- 
tarrhal affections  attended  by  profuse  muco-purulent  discharge,  used  in  doses  of 
a  fourth  to  half  an  ounce  three,  four,  or  even  six  times  a  day ;  for  topical  use 
he  prefers  a  six-per-cent.  solution.  By  some  persons  even  weaker  solutions 
cannot  be  used,  on  account  of  their  irritating  effect  upon  the  air-passages.  A 
marked  improvement  in  the  gastric  functions  was  incidentally  observed  during 
its  administration.  Indeed,  so  striking  has  been  its  effects  in  this  regard  that 
it  is  worthy  of  more  extended  trial  in  obstinate  stomachic  derangement. — Phil. 
Med.  Times,  Jan.  8, 1887,  p.  268. 
Charcoal  and  Camphor. — A  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  camphor  and  animal 
charcoal  is  recommended  by  Barbocci  for  preventing  the  offensive  odor  and 
removing  the  pain  of  old  excavated  ulcers.  The  camphor  is  stated,  to  act  as 
a  disinfectant,  and  the  charcoal  absorbs  the  offensive  odors. — British  Med.  Jour. 
Solarine. — Dr.  Geneuil  {Bull.  gen.  Ther.)  has  given  the  hydrochlorate  in  doses 
of  one  half  a  grain,  repeated  three  or  four  times  a  day,  in  cases  of  neuralgia, 
rheumatism,  obstinate  vomiting,  spasmodic  nervous  affections,  asthma,  and 
bronchitis,  and  believes  that  the  remedy  will  prove  to  be  of  great  value  in  the 
treatment  of  these  and  similar  affections.  The  following  are  his  conclusions  : 
(1)  Solanine  is  a  poison  to  the  terminal  motor  plates.  It  narcotizes  the  me- 
dulla and  spinal  cord,  causing  a  paralysis  of  the  terminal,  sensory,  and  motor 
