82 
VARIETIES. 
Solubility  of  Gallic  Acid  in  Glycerin.  By  Thomas  Weaver,  Pharmaceu- 
tist, Philadelphia. — I  notice  in  the  last  number  of  the  Reporter,  an  article 
headed  "  A  New  Astringent  Preparation  the  concluding  remark  of  the 
writer  is  as  follows :  "It  is  singular  that  glycerin  does  not  possess  the 
same  property  towards  gallic  acid"  (t.  e.  to  dissolve  it).  In  some  experi- 
ments that  I  performed  last  spring,  I  found  gallic  acid  to  be  soluble  in 
glycerin  to  the  extent  of  40  grains  to  the  ounce,  which  solution  may 
be  diluted  to  an  unlimited  extent  with  water  without  precipitating  the 
acid.  I  have  been  led  to  make  this  communication  from  a  belief  that 
such  a  solution  might  be  of  use  where  the  peculiar  chemical  effect  of  tannic 
acid  on  animal  tissue  might  be  objectionable. — Med.  mid  Surg.  Reporter. 
Cure  of  Itch  in  half  an  hour  by  use  of  Sulphur  in  a  liquid  form. — 
Dr.  E.  Smith  called  the  attention  of  the  Fellows  of  the  Medical  Society  of 
London  to  an  article  in  the  Gazette  Hebdomadaire,  by  Dr.  Bourguignon,  in 
which  is  a  confirmation  of  the  value  of  the  treatment  of  itch,  in  Belgium, 
by  sulphur,  combined  with  lime  in  a  liquid  form.  The  remedy  is  pre- 
pared by  boiling  one  part  of  quick-lime,  with  two  parts  of  sublimed  sul- 
phur, in  ten  parts  of  water,  until  the  two  former  are  perfectly  united. 
During  the  boiling  it  must  be  constantly  stirred  with  a  piece  of  wood,  and, 
when  the  sulphur  and  lime  have  combined,  the  fluid  is  to  be  decanted  and 
kept  in  a  well-stoppered  bottle.  A  pint  of  the  liquid  is  sufficient  for  the 
cure  of  several  cases.  It  is  sufficient  to  wash  the  body  well  with  warm 
water,  and  then  to  rub  the  liquid  into  the  skin  for  half  an  hour.  As  the 
fluid  evaporates,  a  layer  of  sulphur  is  left  upon  the  skin.  During  the  half 
hour  the  acarus  is  killed,  and  the  patient  is  cured.  It  is  only  needful  then 
to  wash  the  body  well,  and  to  use  clean  clothes.  In  Belgium,  the  treat- 
ment is  introduced  by  first  rubbing  the  body  for  half  an  hour  with  black 
soap,  but  this  does  not  appear  to  be  necessary.  The  only  essential  act  is 
that  of  the  careful  application  of  the  fluid  sulphur.  The  lime  is  of  no  im- 
portance in  the  treatment,  except  to  render  the  sulphur  soluble,  and  such 
would  probably  be  the  case  if  potass  or  soda  were  employed.  The  chief 
point  in  the  plan  thus  employed,  which  is  an  improvement  upon  the  mode 
of  application  of  sulphur  in  lard,  is  the  more  ready  absorption  of  the 
remedy,  and  consequently  the  more  certain  and  quick  destruction  of  the 
insect,  by  using  sulphur  in  a  fluid  form.  In  so  disgusting  a  disease,  it 
must  be  of  great  moment  to  be  able  to  cure  it  in  half  an  hour. — Med.  Times 
and  Gaz.,  March,  1856. 
