284 
Barium  Sulphate  for  X-Ray  Work.  {Am^l 
amined  according  to  the  method  given ;  both  the  blood  (490  Cc.  of 
blood  being  used)  and  the  urine  (220  Cc.)  showed  methyl  alcohol 
but  no  formaldehyde. 
It  is  important  to  note  that  the  refined  wood  alcohol,  in  addition 
to  being  used  as  a  diluent  of  whisky,  is  frequently  used  in  the 
preparation  of  essence  of  peppermint,  Jamaica  ginger,  lemon  ex- 
tract, punch,  cologne,  liniments,  Florida  water,  bay  rum,  witch  hazel 
and  in  the  arts  in  lacquers,  varnishes,  etc. 
Physicians  and  health  officers  should  warn  the  public  of  the 
dangers  existing  in  the  preparations  of  the  kind  enumerated  above 
when  applied  to  or  introduced  directly  or  by  inhalation  into  the 
body.  European  authorities  have  shown  that  the  denatured  ethyl 
alcohol  serves  every  purpose  in  medicine  and  in  the  arts  as  well  as 
wood  alcohol  or  better.  We  suggest,  therefore,  that  legislation  be 
enacted  bringing  about  the  prohibition  of  the  sale  of  wood  alcohol 
for  domestic  purposes,  similar  to  laws  now  obtaining  in  England 
and  Germany. 
The  use  of  pure  barium  sulphate  for  X-ray  work  has  already 
been  referred  to  (see  Prescriber,  1917,  Feb.,  p.  52).  It  is  inex- 
pensive, being  much  cheaper  than  bismuth,  it  is  opaque  to  the  rays, 
and  if  perfectly  pure  there  is  no  danger  of  toxicity.  The  drawback 
is  its  density  and  consequent  tendency  to  fall  to  the  bottom  when 
suspended  in  any  liquid  or  semi-liquid  medium. 
A  formula  for  a  barium  meal  is  given  in  the  B.  P.  Codex  as 
follows : 
Barium  sulphate    150  Gm. 
Corn  flour   15  Gm. 
Sugar    15  Gm. 
Cocoa    20  Gm. 
These  ingredients  are  to  be  boiled  together,  and  if  the  mixture  is 
properly  made  the  barium  salt  is  well  diffused,  and  there  is  little  or 
no  risk  of  it  forming  a  deposit  in  the  stomach  or  bowel. 
Conclusions. 
BARIUM  SULPHATE  FOR  X-RAY  WORK.1 
Water 
500  Mils. 
1  From  The  Prescriber. 
