VARIETIES. 
83 
Vitis  Vinifera — (Grape-vine.) — Dr.  Simmons,  of  Georgia,  recommends 
the  root  as  a  diuretic.  He  burns  it  to  ashes,  and  then  adds  two  table- 
spoonfuls  of  the  ashes  to  a  pint  of  boiling  water,  and  the  patient  drinks  of 
this  ad  libitum ;  or,  he  adds,  in  some  cases,  two  ounces  of  bitartrate  of 
potash.  He  has  cured  cases  of  anasarca  by  giving  the  above  quantity 
daily. — Memphis  Medical  Recorder. 
[Dr.  Simmons  can  hardly  mean  that  grape-vine  ashes  possess  any  pecu- 
liar effect  beyond  the  alkali  they  contain  ?  Will  not  hickory  ashes  and 
poke- weed  (Phytolacca)  ashes,  both  of  which  contain  much  potash,  answer 
equally  well  ? — En.  Am.  Pharm.  Jour.] 
Poisoning  from  siuallowing  Chloroform. — The  Philadelphia  Medical  Ex- 
aminer contains  an  intereresting  case  of  death  following  the  ingestion  of 
about  one  ounce  and  a  half  of  chloroform,  diluted  with  about  the  same 
quantity  of  water.  The  patient  was  an  intemperate  woman,  who  swallowed 
the  liquid  by  mistake,  supposing  it  to  be  sweet  spirit  of  nitre.  The  first 
symptoms  were  those  of  intoxication,  followed  by  insensibility,  stertorous 
breathing,  slow  and  feeble  pulse,  and  great  contraction  of  the  pupils.  She 
lived  for  about  thirty-six  hours,  and  died  asphyxiated,  having  recovered  her 
senses  for  several  hours  before  death.  The  stomach  was  paler  than  usual, 
except  in  streaks  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  width,  from  which  it  was  inferred 
that  the  organ  had  been  thrown  into  folds  by  the  irritation  of  the  chloro- 
form, so  that  only  a  portion  of  its  surface  had  been  acted  on.  The  mucous 
membrane  was  much  softened. 
Spender's  Chalk  Ointment  in  Ulcers  of  the  Leg. — Dr.  Patterson  has  col- 
lected 125  cases  of  chronic  non-specific  ulcers  of  the  leg,  in  which,  under 
this  mode  of  treatment,  the  cure  has  been  rapid  and  complete.  The  fol- 
lowing formula  he  prefers  :  R.  Cretge  preparatee,  4  lb. ;  adipis  suilli,  1  lb. ; 
olei  olivas,  3  oz.  Having  heated  the  oil  and  lard,  add  gradually  the  chalk, 
finely  powdered. 
The  ointment  and  a  bandage  being  once  applied,  it  is  left  until  the  cica- 
trix forms  and  becomes  firm. — Edinburg  Medical  Journal. 
Iodide  of  cadmium. — This  new  preparation  of  iodine  is  coming  into  gene- 
ral use  in  hospital  practice,  in  place  of  iodide  of  lead  and  iodide  of  zinc,  as 
it  makes  a  white  ointment  more  effectual  in  dispelling  glandular  enlarge- 
ments, and  not  so  like  paint  as  iodide  of  lead. — Assoc.  Med.  Journ. 
Squills  will  kill  Rats. — It  should  be  generally  known  that  powdered 
squills  is  destructive  to  rats.  Mixed  with  strong-scented  cheese  in  equal 
proportions,  it  is  said,  when  eaten,  to  kill  them  very  speedily. — Nashville 
Journal  of  Med.  and  Surg. 
