AmkSch  i^iz™')    Advances  in  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy.  i2y 
Influence  of  Methyl  Salicylate  on  the  Production  of  Bile. — It 
has  been  shown  by  experimentation  on  guinea  pigs,  that  methyl 
salicylate,  given  either  by  mouth  or  hypodermatically,  causes  an 
increased  secretion  of  bile,  and  simultaneously  an  increase  in  the 
total  solids  of  that  secretion.  A  number  of  experiments  on  animals 
on  standard  diet,  and  under  treatment  with  this  drug,  while  showing 
greater  output  of  bile  and  its  products,  yet  did  not  show  any  loss  of 
body  weight.    (Jour.  A.  M.  A.,  1916,  p.  1403.) 
■Chlorosis  in  Plants. — The  author  of  this  interesting  paper  states 
that  while  the  commonest  form  of  chlorosis  in  plants  is  due  to 
deficiency  in  iron,  this  is  not  the  only  cause.  A  lack  of  manganese, 
magnesium,  or  sulphur  may  bring  about  the  same  condition.  It  is 
stated  that  lack  of  iron  is  generally  due  to  large  amounts  of  chalk 
in  the  soil,  which  has  a  tendency  to  keep  back  the  absorption  of  iron. 
Chlorosis  induced  by  a  lack  of  iron  is  readily  cured  by  the  applica- 
tion of  a  solution  of  an  iron  salt  to  the  soil.  When  caused  by  a 
lack  of  magnesium  the  condition  is  not  so  readily  corrected. 
Chlorosis  is  also  caused  by  the  exudations  from  diseased  plant  cells. 
(Comptes  rend.  Soc.  biol.,  Chem.  Abstr.,  1916,  2500  by  P.  Maze.) 
Incompatibility  of  Sodium  Bicarbonate  with  Bismuth  Salicylate, 
and  Magnesium  and  Lithium  Salicylates. — The  formation  of  carbonic 
acid  gas  when  dispensing  a  mixture  of  sodium  bicarbonate  and 
bismuth  salicylate  has  been  noticed  by  many  workers,  therefore  this 
incompatibility  is  no  new  thing.  It  is  stated  that  if  a  neutral  sodium 
carbonate  is  used  there  is  no  effervescence.  The  same  reactions  occur 
with  magnesium  and  lithium  salicylates,  and  the  benzoates  have  a 
similar  reaction.    (Jour.  Pharm.  Chim.,  1916,  353.) 
Thromboplastin  Solution  as  a  Hemostatic. — This  solution  is  a 
very  fine  suspension  of  ox-brain  in  physiological  salt  solution,  pre- 
served with  0.3  per  cent,  of  tricresol.  It  is  said  to  be  of  great  prac- 
tical value  in  haemorrhage  but  must  be  applied  to  the  site  of  bleeding. 
It  is  also  claimed  to  be  of  great  value  in  cases  of.  true  haemophilia,  in 
fact,  stated  to  be  a  real  specific  for  this  most  distressing  condition. 
If  this  is  so,  a  wonderful  discovery  has  been  made,  and  it  should  be 
promptly  brought  to  the  attention  of  all  the  physicians  of  the  world. 
(Jour.  A,  M.  A.,  p.  1717,  1916.) 
A  Report  of  the  Council  on  Pharmacy  and  Chemistry. — We 
cannot  help  but  feel  that  the  following  report  from  the  Council  on 
Pharmacy  and  Chemistry  of  the  American  Medical  Association  will 
prove  of  interest  to  many  pharmacists,  and  develop  a  more  lively 
