A  August,"  i9i?m'}  Petrolatum  Liquidum,  U.  S.  P.  VIII.  361 
gravity  that  will  show  no  separation  of  paraffin  when  the  oil  is  sub- 
jected to  a  temperature  of  at  least  o°  C. 
None  of  the  samples  showed  an  admixture  of  fixed  oils  or  fats, 
either  animal  or  vegetable.  The  test  is  one  that  must  be  carefully 
applied,  or  an  accident  will  follow.  The  neutralizing  of  the  alkali 
with  strong  sulphuric  acid,  after  digestion,  is  violent  unless  it  is 
added  very  slowly. 
The  results  of  the  sulphuric  acid  test  are  most  interesting,  show- 
ing almost  every  shade  of  brown,  and  in  several  cases  the  only  layer 
became  opaque  and  colored  and  not  conforming  to  the  requirements 
of  the  pharmacopoeia  or  the  standard  as  given  in  the  British  or 
German  Pharmacopoeias. 
As  to  the  internal  administration  of  paraffin  oil,  a  number  of 
specialists  of  this  city  have  used  it  for  several  years.  The  principal 
method  followed  by  them  is  to  administer  from  15  to  50  Cc.  at  bed- 
time; in  obstinate  cases  of  constipation  15  Cc.  administered  about 
one  hour  before  meals,  so  as  to  avoid  interfering  with  the  process 
of  digestion.  With  these  methods  of  administration  good  results 
have  been  produced.  There  are,  however,  many  cases  where  com- 
plaints have  been  made  that  the  oil  will  pass  out  of  the  intestinal 
tract  involuntarily,  very  much  to  the  discomfort  of  the  patient,  even 
when  given  in  very  small  doses.  This  trouble  seems  to  be  more  fre- 
quent with  the  administration  of  one  of  the  popular  brands  of  the 
market  which  shows  a  specific  gravity  of  less  than  .860.  To  a  certain 
extent  this  may  account  for  the  growing  demand  for  heavier  paraffin 
oils. 
Paraffin  oils  of  a  specific  gravity  of  .880  or  more  are  rather  more 
difficult  of  administration  than  those  of  .870  to  .875 ;  they  adhere  to 
the  mouth  very  closely,  and  to  some  are  disagreeable  and  suggestive 
of  castor  oil. 
An  oil  aromatized  or  flavored  with  some  essential  oil  or  combina- 
tion of  oils  seems  to  be  growing  in  demand.  I  submit  ten  samples, 
all  of  which,  no  doubt,  to  some  would  be  agreeable.  Personally, 
peppermint  seems  to  be  the  most  pleasant  and  agreeable ;  cardamon 
a  close  second.  No  doubt,  many  would  prefer  spearmint,  owing  to 
the  chewing-gum  craze. 
The  flavoring  of  paraffin  oils  must  be  done  with  care.  From  5  to 
25  drops  of  an  essential  oil,  according  to  which  is  used,  will  be  found 
sufficient  for  500  Cc.  While  this  small  amount  may  not  give  a  pre- 
dominant odor,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  dose  administered, 
