314 
GLEANINGS — PHABMACEUTICAL,  ETC. 
and  press  off.  Digest  the  mass  with  half  a  pint  of  proof  spirit 
for  three  days,  press  off,  and  mix  the  two  liquids  to  form  the 
tincture  for  use. 
Corn  leaves  in  fever. — Dr.  Greenville  Dowell,  of  Texas,  states 
in  a  letter  to  the  Memphis  Recorder,  that  an  infusion  of  the 
leaves  of  Indian  corn  (Zea  mays)  possesses  an  anti-periodic 
power,  and  is  used  in  febrile  diseases  in  some  parts  of  the  South. 
The  Doctor  recommends  a  concentrated  tincture  given  with 
quinia  (!)  in  minim  doses.  The  tincture  is  made  with  half  a 
pound  of  dried  corn  leaves  to  a  gallon  of  alcohol,  macerated  two 
weeks  and  then  after  filtering  reduced  to  a  pint  by  evaporation. 
Any  anti-periodic  requiring  the  aid  of  quinine  deserves  not  to 
be  relied  upon. 
Silicate  and  Benzoate  of  Soda  in  gout  and  rheumatism. — 
Dr.  M.  Dowler,  of  New  Orleans,  has  given  a  condensed  account 
of  a  course  of  medication  pursued  by  Drs.  Socquet  and  Bonjean, 
of  France,  {Jour,  de  Conn.  Med.  Chir.,  Oct.,  1856)  in  gout, 
rheumatism  and  allied  diseases,  in  which  these  salts  are  the  chief 
agents  used,  and  which  he  calls  dialytic  preparations.  Their 
Silicate  of  Soda  is  made  by  infusing  one  part  of  pure  silica  and 
two  of  dried  carbonate  of  soda,  mixed  in  powder,  in  an  earthen 
crucible,  and  pouring  out  the  silicate  on  a  stone  slab  to  cool. 
This  is  then  pulverized  and  treated  with  boiling  water,  which 
only  partially  dissolves  it.  The  filtered  and  concentrated  liquor 
allows  the  salt  to  be  precipitated  in  an  imperfectly  crystallized 
state.  This  is  again  dissolved  in  water  at  100°  F.,  filtered  and 
by  concentration  affords  the  silicate  of  soda  in  the  desired  state. 
Benzoate  of  Soda  is  easily  prepared  by  saturating  benzoic  aGid 
with  crystallized  carb.  soda  in  hot  water,  concentrating  and  crys- 
tallizing. 
The  following  is  their  formula  for  dialytic  fills : — 
R.  Silicate  of  soda  375  grs. ;  Hydro-alcoholic  extract  of  Colchi- 
cum  240  grs. ;  Extract  of  Aconitum  napellus  one  ounce  ;  Benzo- 
ate of  soda  one  ounce  and  a  half ;  medicinal  soap  one  ounce  ; 
make  into  a  mass  and  divide  into  1000  pills  and  dry  them  well. 
The  dose  begins  with  one  daily  and  increased  to  three  or  four  daily, 
one-half  in  the  morning  the  other  at  night. 
The  dialytic  syrup  is  made  thus  : — 
p.  Silicate  of  soda  18  oz. ;  benzoate  of  soda  9  oz. ;  syrup  of 
