Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Mar.,  1878.  J 
Varieties. 
i3S 
ing  the  sulphuric  acid.  The  addition  of  sulphuric  acid  alone  to  elaterin  gives  rise 
to  no  characteristic  color.1  The  elaterin  cakes  together,  dissolves  slowly  and  imparts 
a  yellow  color  to  the  acid.  If  the  carbolic  acid  is  now  added  the  reaction  is  obtained 
very  imperfectly.  The  reagents  should  therefore  be  added  in  the  order  stated  above. 
The  test  can  be  applied  direct  to  some  samples  of  the  elaterium  of  commerce 
(dried  sediment  of  the  juice)  if  they  are  reduced  to  fine  powder. 
Other  samples  may  require  the  powder  to  be  agitated  with  chloroform,  and  the 
solution  filtered.  A  few  drops  of  the  filtrate,  evaporated  to  dryness  by  blowing  on 
the  surface,  will  afford  a  residue  for  testing. —  Chem.  Ne<ws,  Jan.  25. 
Chrysophanic  Acid  in  Skin  Disease. — In  a  report  of  a  case  of  psoriasis  treated 
by  chrysophanic  acid,  in  the  "  Medical  Press  and  Circular,"  by  Dr.  J.  C.  O.  Will, 
of  Aberdeen,  he  remarks  : 
The  introduction  of  this  new  remedial  agent,  apparently  possessing  the  power  of 
effecting  a  cure  in  a  short  space  of  time,  seems  a  real  gain  5  and  if  more  extended 
trials  are  followed  by  equally  beneficial  effects,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
chrysophanic  acid  will  soon  be  regarded  as  the  most  reliable  and  quickest  method 
of  treating  psoriasis. 
It  has  one  disadvantage,  however,  which  renders  its  use  rather  objectionable  in 
private  practice,  viz.,  that  it  stains  the  clothing  of  the  patient  and  bed-clothes  a 
purple  color,  which  will  not  wash  out ;  but  it  may  be  reasonably  expected  that  some 
means  will  be  devised  by  which  this  may  be  overcome. 
When  prescribing  chrysophanic  acid,  it  is  a  wise  precaution  to  warn  the  patient 
against  allowing  it  to  come  in  contact  with  the  eyes,  as  it  gives  rise  to  intense  irrita- 
tion, accompanied  by  great  dilatation  of  the  pupils.  This  I  have  seen  thrice — once 
in  a  case  of  psoriasis  rupoides  (at  present  under  treatment),  and  twice  in  cases  of 
favus,  where  I  may  mention  that  the  acid  proved  useless.  The  irritation  subsides 
spontaneously  in  the  course  of  a  few  days. — Med.  and  Surg.  Reporter,  Jan.  12. 
Carbazotate  of  Ammonium — Dr.  Beaumetz,  of  Paris,  has  reported,  lately,  six 
cases  treated  with  this  substance.  Case  1.  Quotidian  ague  j  recovery  after  four  days' 
treatment  ;  daily  dose,  from  one  to  two  centigrams  of  the  substance  in  pills.  Case 
2.  Quotidian  ague  (sulphate  of  quinia  having  been  given  without  effect):  complete 
recovery  after  five  days  ;  five  pills  used.  Case  3.  Tertian  ague  5  recovery  after 
eight  days  5  two  pills  a  day.  Case  4.  Quotidian  ague  5  recovery  after  eight  days. 
Case  5.  Facial  neuralgia ;  speedy  recovery.  Case  6.  Tertian  ague  (sulphate  of 
quinia  has  been  administered  during  seventeen  days  with  no  result);  completely 
cured  after  the  administration  of  six  centigrams  (about  one  grain)  of  the  salt  for  two 
days.  Like  quinia,  carbazotate  of  ammonium  diminishes  the  state  of  the  pulse, 
and  brings  on  heaviness,  cephalalgia,  and  even  delirium,  and  is  eliminated  by  the 
kidneys.  These  experiments  have  again  been  repeated  by  Dr.  Dujardin-Beaumetz, 
with  similar  results. — Ibid.,  Jan.  5.  See,  also,  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.y  1873,  P-  221  and 
232. 
1  See,  however,  "Am.  Jour.  Phar.,"  1875,  p.  2. — Editor. 
