490  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.    {Am' oct^imarm' 
Canadol  is  described  by  Dr.  Pliouchkine  (Bull.  Med.,  Aug.  21),  as 
a  hydro-carbon  from  American  naphtha,  transparent,  very  volatile, 
having  an  odor  of  benzin,  and  as  being  insoluble  in  water  and  alcohol. 
Using  it  as  a  local  anaesthetic1  he  obtained  the  desired  effect  in  one 
minute ;  unlike  the  effect  obtained  from  ether,  the  sense  ot  coldness 
lasted  for  several  minutes.  He  was  thus  able  to  use  it  in  enucleations 
and  minor  surgical  operations.    The  cost  is  very  moderate. 
Canth abides  of  a  worthless  nature — the  active  constituents  having 
been  removed  by  ether — are  said  by  the  Bull.  Soc.  Phar.  Bruxelles, 
to  be  met  with  in  the  market.  The  article  looks  well  and  has  the 
characteristic  odor,  but,  pressed  between  the  fingers  it  lacks  substance. 
An  ethereal  tincture  of  good  cantharides  is  of  a  greenish-yellow  color. 
The  extract  is  thick,  of  a  greenish-yellow  color  and  contains  crystals 
of  cantharidin ;  applied  to  the  skin  it  produces  a  blister.  Ethereal 
solutions  of  the  fraudulent  article  are  nearly  colorless.  The  extract  is 
brownish-yellow ;  there  is  no  trace  of  crystals  in  it,  and  it  will  not 
blister. 
Lantanine  as  a  Substitute  for  Quinine.  In  Nouveaux 
Remedes,  Aug.  24,  lantanineis  described  as  an  alkaloid  of  Lantana  bra- 
siliensis.  Like  quinine,  it  is  said  to  act  upon  the  circulation,  retard 
nutrition  and  lower  the  temperature.  It  is  supported  by  the  most 
delicate  stomachs.  According  to  M.  Buiza  (Lima),  intermittent 
fevers,  which  are  rebellious  to  quinine,  give  way  to  the  influence  of 
two  grammes  (sic)  of  lantanine.  Its  antipyretic  powers  are  obtained 
by  giving  one  or  two  grammes  in  twenty-four  hours  in  pill  form,  each 
pill  containing  ten  cgm.  In  intermittent  fevers  lantanine  should  be 
given  immediately  after  the  attack,  and  in  ninety-nine  cases  out  of 
one  hundred,  so  says  the  author,  it  will  not  return.  The  medicament 
is  given  in  pill  form  on  account  of  its  very  bitter  taste.  (See  also 
American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1886  p.  611). 
Pyridine  for  Asthma. — Germain  See,  according  to  Nouveaux 
Remedes,  Aug.  24,  recommends  that  it  be  inhaled  three  times  a  day 
for  twenty  minutes,  from  a  warm  saucer  into  which  a  teaspoonful  of 
the  pyridine  has  been  poured.  After  each  sitting  the  patient  should 
take  a  tablespoonful  of  the  following :  Syr.  tolu  and  syr.  papaveris,  of 
each  250  gm. ;  pot.  iodidi,  25  gm. 
1  This  is  probably  identical  with  rhigolene  mentioned  in  this  Journal  in  1866 
p.  363  ;  1868  pp.  349,  350,  and  1885  p.  206 —Editor. 
