126    Advances  in  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy.     {  Amj^°"f  Igv?™' 
that  the  activity  of  the  seed  as  a  laxative  is  probably  due  to  this 
generation  of  hydrogen  sulphide  and  likely  to  the  carbon  dioxide 
which  is  also  formed  at  the  same  time,  both  of  which  are  known  to 
promote  peristalsis.  The  statement  is  made  that  this  also  explains 
the  cyanosis  in  cases  of  poisoning  by  this  seed.  When  this  gas  is 
readily  eliminated  by  the  lungs  there  is  no  untoward  action.  {Jour. 
A.  M.  A.,  1916,  1404.) 
The  Adsorption  Theory  in  Practical  Medicine. — The  power  of 
aluminum  hydroxide  and  aluminum  silicate  to  adsorb  albuminous 
substances  is  being  made  use  of  in  medicine  in  a  practical  way  in  the 
treatment  of  the  various  grastro-intestinal  disturbances.  In  order 
to  be  effective  it  is  necessary  to  give  extremely  large  doses.  So  far 
as  is  yet  known  no  untoward  results  have  occurred,  although  some 
observers  mention  the  fact  that  these  drugs  show  a  tendency  to  form 
concretions  in  the  bowel  and  therefore  may  be  the  means  of  more 
or  less  obstruction.  This  power  of  adsorption  exhibited  by  these 
drugs  resembles  in  a  manner  the  action  of  white  bole  in  the  treat- 
ment of  cholera,  and  likewise  the  adsorption  of  toxins  from  sera.  In 
view  of  the  work  done  by  Lloyd  in  this  country,  in  connection  with 
hydrous  aluminum  silicate  and  its  power  to  separate  alkaloids  from 
drugs  containing  them,  it  is  just  possible  that  many  of  the  patho- 
logical conditions  produced  in  the  gastro-intestinal  tract,  for  which 
hydrous  aluminum  silicate  has  been  used  with  apparent  good  effect, 
may  be  due  to  alkaloidal  bodies,  or  bodies  closely  resembling  them. 
(/.  Russ.  Phys.  Chem.,  Chem.  Abstr.,  1916,  10,  2659.) 
Rhodoform,  a  New  Dental  Antiseptic. — The  chemical  name  of 
this  drug  is  methylhexamethylenetetramine  thiocyanate,  and  is  said 
to  contain  37  per  cent,  of  thiocyanic  acid.  It  is  a  brown  powder, 
without  odor,  and  melts  at  1430  C.  It  is  said  to  be  of  value  as  an 
antiseptic  in  stomatology.  {Boll.  Chim.  Farm.,  Chem.  Abstr.,  1916, 
10,  2498.) 
Rapidity  with  which  Alcohol  and  Sugars  May  Serve  as  Nutri- 
ment.— It  is  stated  that  alcohol  commences  to  be  burned  within  five 
to  eleven  minutes  after  taken  on  an  empty  stomach.  Sucrose,  lsevu- 
lose,  begins  to  be  burned  as  soon,  and  probably  sooner.  Dextrose 
and  maltose  are  burned  not  quite  so  rapidly,  taking  at  least  from 
twenty  to  thirty  minutes  for  complete  combustion  and  utilization  in 
the  processes  of  metabolism.  It  is  also  stated  that  lsevulose,  and 
very  often  galactose,  has  a  tendency  to  change  into  fat  in  the  body. 
And  dextrose  tends  to  change  to  glycogen,  and  is  stored  as  such. 
{Amer.  J.  Physiol.,  Chem.  Abstr.,  1916,  10,  2591.) 
