122     Advances  in  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy.     {  Am^™£  ^*rm- 
QUARTERLY  REVIEW  ON  THE  ADVANCES  IN  MATERIA 
MEDICA  AND  PHARMACY. 
By  John  K.  Thum,  Ph.G.,  Pharmacist  at  the  German  Hospital, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Solution  of  Magnesium  Hypochlorite. — The  so-called  Carrel  or 
Dakin  Solution,  which  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  the  well-known 
Labarraque  solution,  considerably  modified  as  to  chlorine  content, 
reduced  to  one  fifth  available  chlorine,  in  fact,  and  the  alkalinity 
very  much  decreased,  is  regarded  by  some  as  too  unstable.  Some 
surgeons  seem  to  think  that  it  gives  up  its  chlorine  too  readily  and 
consequently  its  antiseptic  action  is  soon  spent.  To  obviate  this  it 
has  been  suggested  that  a  magnesium  hypochlorite  solution,  because 
of  its  greater  stability,  would  be  eminently  more  desirable,  besides 
being  isotonic  with  the  blood-serum.  It  is  likewise  said  to  be  with- 
out harm  to  the  cells,  and  very  much  less  irritating.  But  it  is  also 
suggested  that  this  solution  be  warmed  to  95 0  F.,  before  using,  and 
that  is  the  great  disadvantage.  To  warm  the  solution  will  require 
great  care,  and  such  care  is  not  always  possible  where  many  cases 
are  dressed  within  a  certain  time,  as  must  be  the  case  in  the  great 
war  zone,  where  the  demand  for  antiseptic  solutions  is  urgent  and 
frequent.  The  use  of  the  Carrel-Dakin  Solution  is  becoming  quite 
general  at  the  present  time  in  this  country,  and  if  it  has  any  dis- 
advantages that  can  be  avoided  by  using  another  solution,  such  a 
solution  should  be  available.  The  magnesium  hypochlorite  solu- 
tion is  made  as  follows  : 
Chlorinated  lime    28.0  gm. 
Magnesium  sulphate    18.20  gm. 
Water    1000.0  mils. 
Put  the  chlorinated  lime  in  a  well-covered  container  with  900  mils 
of  water  and  stir  frequently  for  6  hours;  dissolve  the  magnesium 
sulphate  in  100  mils  of  water;  mix  both  solutions  thoroughly  and 
filter  rapidly,  taking  care  to  conduct  the  operation  with  as  little 
exposure  to  air  and  light,  as  possible.  Only  such  quantities  should 
be  made  as  will  be  used  within  a  short  time. 
The  Property  in  a  Prescription. — While  the  following  interest-, 
ing  case  was  decided  in  a  London  court,  yet  it  will  undoubtedly  be 
worth  while  to  bring  it  to  the  attention  of  American  pharmacists.  In 
