Am'sipt^i887arm"}    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  443 
medicament  (15  drops  of  a  solution  of  1  to  100  of  the  aqueous 
extract  every  two  hours),  produced  a  diminution  in  the  frequence  and 
an  augmentation  of  the  force  of  the  cardiac  pulsations ;  increase  in 
the  quantity  of  urine  eliminated,  and  a  prompt  disappearance  of  the 
symptoms  of  n on- compensation.  In  two  cases  the  amelioration  was 
obtained  by  the  simultaneous  administration  of  the  infusion  of  helle- 
borus  viridis  and  that  of  adonis  vernalis,  though  neither  of  these, 
given  separately,  produced  the  desired  effect.  In  three  complicated 
cases,  two  with  nephritis  and  one  with  pleurisy,  the  medication  gave 
negative  results. 
Peganum  Haemala,  Lin.  (Nouv.  Rem.,  July  8th)  is  described  as 
an  "African  drug,"  although  it  grows  as  well  in  the  sands  of  Spain, 
the  Crimea  and  Siberia,  as  in  Ejrypt.  The  entire  plant  is  regarded 
as  sudorific  and  emmenagogue.  Dr.  Panclurel,  of  Bombay,  who  pre- 
scribed it  in  infusion  and  tincture,  regarded  it  a  powerful  emmena- 
gogue, determining  slight  toxic  effects  similar  to  those  of  Cannabis  in- 
dica.  The  dose  in  amenorrhoea  is  given  at  two  drachms  of  the  tincture. 
Egasse,  who  thinks  the  drug  merits  careful  study,  says  that  "the 
energetic  action  of  the  aqueous  or  alcoholic  preparations  is  explained 
by  the  fact  that  the  red,  resinous  coloring  matter  is  a  secondary 
product  formed  by  the  oxidization  of  the  harmaline.  For  account  of 
the  important  constituents  see  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1886,  p.  89. 
Hydriodate  of  Hyoscine  is  referred  to  in  Nouveaux  Remedes, 
Aug.  8th,  as  "the  best  of  the  brain  sedatives,"  as  hydrobromate  of 
hyoscine  was  found  (in  the  same  journal,  Aug.  15th,  1886,  Amer. 
Jour.  Pharm.,  1886,  p.  603),  to  be  a  hypnotic  in  mental  maladies. 
Its  information  concerning  the  former  seems  to  have  been  gained 
from  The  Provincial  Med.  Jour.,  Jan.,  1887.  Hypodermic  injections 
of  1  to  200  of  the  hydriodate  of  hyoscine  may  be  given.  Doses  by 
the  mouth  are  administered  in  from  Troth  to  2Uoth  of  a  grain.  Chloral 
is  stated  to  have  the  power  of  neutralizing  the  effects  of  hyoscine. 
Solanine. — In  a  long  study  (Bull.  Gen.  de  Therap.,  July  15th, 
1887),  Dr.  Gaignard  arrives  at  the  following  conclusions:  1.  Solanine 
is  a  glucoside  which  does  not  combine  with  acids  to  form  salts ;  under 
the  influence  of  acids  it  decomposes  into  solanidine  and  glucose.  2.  It 
is  absolutely  insoluble  in  water,  without  it  be  strongly  acidulated,  and 
is  sparingly  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether  and  the  oils.  3.  Solanine  cannot 
be  used  in  hypodermic  injections,  the  acid  solutions  being  too  caustic. 
