Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
January,  1920. ) 
Therapeutic  Uses  for  Chemicals. 
13 
Naturally,  the  majority  of  text  and  reference  books  have  defined 
"proof  spirit"  properly.  Where  the  subject  has  been  elaborately 
treated,  the  suggestion  is  made  that  the  term  "proof  spirit"  be 
abandoned  as  being  unscientific.  This  is  a  very  proper  and  timely 
suggestion,  and  especially  so,  inasmuch  as  the  coming  era  of  prohibi- 
tion will  lessen  the  amount  of  spirits  to  be  gauged.  Whiskey,  the 
liquid  for  which  the  gunpowder  or  "proof"  test  was  originally  de- 
vised, has  fallen  into  disrepute  and  with  it  should  go  the  term  "proof 
spirit." 
Finally,  "proof  spirit"  is  correctly  defined  as  containing  50  per 
cent,  by  volume  of  absolute  alcohol.  This  corresponds  to  42.7 
per  cent,  by  weight.  It  has  a  specific  gravity  of  0.9341  at  60"^ 
Fahrenheit. 
Che^micai.  Laboratory, 
Phii^adbivPhia  Coi.i.e;ge  oj'  Pharmacy, 
November  24,  19 19. 
NEW  THERAPEUTIC  USES   FOR  WELL-KNOWN 
CHEMICALS. 
By  B.  FulIvKRTon  Cook,  Ph.M., 
philadei.phia,  pa. 
Benzyl  Benzoate. — In  an  extensive  study  of  the  action  of  opium 
alkaloids,  David  I.  Macht,  M.D.,  of  the  Medical  Department  of 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  has  demonstrated  that  these  alkaloids 
divide  into  two  classes,  of  which  morphine  is  the  most  important 
of  those  belonging  to  the  pyridin-phenanthrene  group  and  papaverine, 
the  principal  representative  of  the  benzyl-isoquinoline  group. 
The  morphine  group,  including  codeine,  or  methyl-morphine, 
dionine  or  ethyl-morphine,  heroin  or  diacetyl-morphine,  apomor- 
phine,  apocodeine,  eucodine  or  methyl-codeine,  peracodine  or  di- 
hydrocodeine,  and  codeonal  or  codeine  diethyl-barbituiate,  all  tend 
to  stimulate  the  contractions  and  heighten  the  tonus  of  smooth 
muscles,  but  papaverine,  or  its  related  alkaloids,  narcotine,  narceine, 
and  hydra stine,  all  produce  an  inhibition  of  the  contractions  of 
smooth  muscles  and  lower  their  tonus. 
He  also  fully  proves  that  this  action  of  the  papaverine  group  was 
due  to  the  benzyl  portion  of  the  molecule  and  this  led  to  an  effort 
