34 
Cocaine  and  its  Salts. 
Am  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1885 
its  usual  sensibility  continued  for  several  hours.  Twenty  to  thirty 
minutes  after  the  introduction  of  the  solution  of  cocaine  hydrochlorate 
the  pupil  became  enlarged,  returning  after  some  hours  (at  longest  appa- 
rently after  twelve  hours)  to  its  normal  condition. 
A  slight  diflficulty  in  accommodating  the  two  eyes  to  each  other, 
which  could,  however,  be  easily  overcome  by  an  effort,  was  the  only 
abnormal  symptom  observed  during  this  period ;  otherwise  the  func- 
tions of  the  eye  remained  intact. 
Which  of  the  cocaine  salts  is  preferable  for  the  purposes  of  eye  sur- 
gery remains  to  be  proved,  and  will  probably  be  positively  ascertained 
very  shortly.  It  remains  to  observe  that  the  experiments,  the  results 
of  which  have  been  detailed  in  the  foregoing  were  without  exception 
made  with  the  cocaine  hydrochlorate;  but  it  seems  beyond  doubt  that 
the  effects  of  other  cocaine  salts  agree  with  the  observations  made  in 
the  case  of  cocaine  hydrochlorate. 
Dr.  von  Hoffmann,  of  Baden-Baden,  an  ophthalmologist,  recom- 
mends cocaine  salicylate  for  ophthalmic  purposes. 
Cocaine  citrate  has  been  successfully  used  by  dentists  for  the  purpose 
of  anaesthising  the  dental  nerves.  This  salt  can  be  readily  formed  by 
kneading  into  pills,  which,  after  being  wrapped  in  wadding  and  mois- 
tened, are  placed  in  the  hollow  tooth,  which  can  then  be  cleaned  or 
extracted  comj)aratively,  or  even  totally,  without  pain. 
Cocaine  splits  up  with  concentrated  hydrochloric  acid  into  ecgonine, 
benzoic  acid  and  methyl  alcohol.  Experiments  are  now  being  made 
us  to  the  physiological  action  of  ecgonine.— P/iar.  Jour,  and  Trans. j 
November  29,  1884,  p.  426. 
Administration  of  Quinine  by  the  Rectum. —Dr.  E.  Peck 
states  that  quinine  may  be  easily  administered  to  children  in  the  form 
of  suppositories,  and  that  the  drug  is  not  only  rapidly  and  promptly 
absorbed  in  this  way,  but  that  also  far  larger  doses  may  be  given  than 
per  OS.  He  made  use  of  from  16  to  24  grains  of  the  muriate  of 
quinine  at  a  single  dose,  adding  about  30  grains  of  butter  of  cacao 
and  a  small  quantity  of  simple  cerate  as  mass  for  the  suppository. — 
Deutsche  Med.  Wochenschrijt,  1884. 
