514  Kefir,  a  New  Koumiss.  {A™'oX/m£aTm' 
chloral  hydrate  and  paraldehyde.  In  common  with  these  drugs  it 
has  the  disadvantage  that  its  action  is  uncertain  when  pain  is  present. 
In  rabbits  it  is  excreted  in  combination  with  glyconuric  acid.  In 
man,  as  in  dogs  also,  it  seems  for  the  most  part  burnt  up  as  alcohol  is. 
v.  Mering  gives  several  forms  for  its  administration  : — 
R.  Amylene  hydrate   7  gm. 
Aq.  destil   60  " 
Extr.  liquiiit    ]0  " 
M.  D.  S.    Half  to  be  taken  in  the  evening  before  going  to  bed. 
It  can  be  given  as  an  enema  in  the  following  form  : — 
R.  Amylene  hydrate   5  gm. 
Aq.  destil   50  " 
Mucil.  gum.  acac   20  " 
If  pain  be  present  it  may  be  combined  with  morphine  as  follows  : — 
R.  Amylene  hydrate   6  gm. 
Morph.  hydrochlor   0  02  " 
Aq.  destil....,   60 
Extr.  liquirit   10  " 
M.  D.  S.   Half  at  bed  time.  - 
The  drug  is  also  sold  in  capsules,  each  capsule  containing 1  about 
fifteen  minims.  If  impure  it  may  cause  headache,  vomiting,  and 
other  unpleasant  consequences. 
KEFIR,  A  NEW  KOUMISS.1 
Kefir  can  be  made  from  the  milk  of  different  animals,  but  it  is 
generally  made  from  cow's  milk.  Fermentation  is  excited  by  the 
presence  of  the  kefir,  which  is  a  species  of  mush-room,  white  when 
fresh,  and  yellow  when  old  and  dry,  compact,  elastic,  and  about  one- 
fiftieth  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
Chemically  it  is  composed  of  water,  fat,  peptone,  and  nitrogenous 
material. 
Examined  microscopically  it  is  composed  of  the  rods  and  cells  of 
beer-yeast. 
It  is  found  in  the  mountains  of  northern  Caucasus  near  the  snows. 
The  natives  believe  that  it  is  produced  by  the  bushes  which  grow  upon 
the  mountain-tops.    It  is  probable  that  the  first  origin  is  in  the  great 
1  LePractique  Med.,  No.  10  ;  reprinted  from  Medical  News,  Aug.  27.  See  also 
Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1884,  p.  196,  and  1886,  pp.  295  and  388. 
