558  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {AmmS^mTtil' 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
The  Sugar  Tree,  or  mahwa,  of  Hindostan,  Bassia  latifolia,  Boxb., 
was  stated  some  months  since  by  the  scientific  press  to  be  capable  of 
producing  200  kilos  of  sugar  annually.  Recent  analyses,  however, 
show  it  to  possess  an  insignificant  quantity  of  sugar.  The  results 
give:  honey,  42*03;  cane  sugar,  1*04;  ash,  2*32;  cellulose,  etc., 
42*20  ;  water,  12*41  =100.  Such  sugar  can  be  used  only  for  making 
alcohol,  and  the  Hindoos  use  the  flowers  for  that  purpose.  (See 
analysis  by  Prof.  Church  in  Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  1886,  p.  250), 
Terpin  is  so  often  prescribed  (M.  Vigier,  Arch,  de  Pharm.,  Oct. 
5),  in  doses  of  1  to  2  gm.  per  diem,  that  he  thinks  the  elixir  of  Garus, 
of  which  a  tablespoonful  will  dissolve  but  25  cgm.,  should  be  replaced  by 
one  of  the  following  preparations :  terpin,  50  cgm. ;  alcohol  95  percent., 
2  gtn. ;  glycerin  of  30°  B.,  4  gm.  This  keeps  indefinitely,  its  amount  of 
alcohol  is  small,  and  its  doses  divide  nicely  into  teaspoonfuls.  An  elixir 
containing  50  cgm.  of  terpin  to  the  tablespoonful  may  be  made  as 
follows  :  terpin,  50  cgm.  *  glycerin,  7  gm. ;  alcohol  95  per  cent.,  7  gm. ; 
honey,  7  gm. ;  vanillin,  2  mgm.  Honey  is  preferable  to  simple  syrup, 
because  it  does  not  form  crystals,  and  the  vanillin  gives  the  prepara- 
tion an  agreeable  flavor. 
The  Stings  of  Insects  may  be  properly  treated  by  the  intelligent 
pharmacist  without  laying  him  open  to  the  imputation  of  being  "  a 
counter  prescriber."  Dr.  Tillot,  (Jour,  de  med  et  de  chir.  prat,  Sept.) 
proposes  that  these  painful  lesions,  whether  caused  by  bees,  wasps, 
gnats,  ants,  or  other  insects,  be  treated  with  a  strong  solution  of  coca- 
ine applied  on  cotton  held  in  place  with  a  bandage.  The  pain  ceases 
at  once,  and  there  is  no  tumefaction.  M.  Tillot  reports  success  in  "a 
large  number  of  cases." 
Suppositories  are  easily  and  quickly  made  by  a  process  proposed 
by  M.  Leboutte  in  the  Jour,  de  Phar.  et  de  Chim.  for  September. 
The  cacao  butter  in  thin  slices  is  bruised  in  a  mortar  with  the  medi- 
caments, to  which  are  added  a  small  quantity  of  medicinal  soap  and  a 
few  drops  of  water.  The  mass  readily  becomes  homogeneous,  and  the 
suppositories  retain  the  necessary  consistency. 
Antrophores  de  Francke. —  The  various  compositions  used  in 
this  species  of  medicated  bougie,  which  has  the  excellent  qualities  of 
suppleness  and  elasticity,  united  to  the  rigidity  necessary  for  use  in 
tortuous  canals  and  fistulas,  are  thus  given  in  the  Jour,  de  Phar.  oV  Als.- 
