Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
January,  1920.  ) 
Advances  in  Pharmacy. 
23 
the  impression  that  they  were  receiving  arsphenamin  medication 
in  conjunction  with  the  inunctions. 
An  analysis  of  the  results  show  that  there  was  practically  never 
any  improvement  in  primary  lesions  when  these  inunctions  were 
used.  The  lack  of  salivation  was  in  startling  contrast  to  results 
after  the  use  of  the  old  reliable  blue  ointment.  They  conclude  that 
calomel  inunctions  are  almost  completely  inefficient  against  primary 
and  secondary  syphilis.  Furthermore,  such  inunctions  very  rarely 
produce  salivation  or  gingivitis.  This  means  poor  absorption  and 
explains  its  chnical  inefficiency.  The  calomel  also  produces  derma- 
titis. The  investigators  strongly  urge  the  discontinuance  of  the  use 
of  calomel  ointment  for  the  treatment  of  syphilis. — Jour.  A.  M.  A., 
p.  1408,  1919. 
A  New  Ge;rmicidh  for  Usk  in  the  Gknito-Urinary  Tract: 
"Mercurochromk,  220." — Drs.  Young,  White  and  Swartz,  of 
the  Brady  Urological  Institute  of  Baltimore,  have  been  making  a 
study  of  antiseptics  with  the  end  in  view  of  discovering  something 
particularly  applicable  to  the  genito-urinary  tract.  Noting  the 
results  of  the  use  of  the  flavines  in  the  treatment  of  venereal  diseases 
they  became  impressed  with  the  possibilities  of  using  dyes  as  a  basis 
for  the  development  of  germicidal  and  therapeutic  compounds, 
their  object  being  to  obtain  drugs  that  would  possess  the  penetrating 
qualities  of  dyes  and  at  the  same  time  be  destructive  to  germs  and 
comparatively  non-toxic  and  non -irritating.  This  research  resulted 
in  a  number  of  compounds  and  from  among  them  the  substance  men-  , 
tioned  above  was  selected  for  extensive  study.  In  "Mercurochrome. 
220,"  the  investigators  assert  they  have  evolved  a  drug  of  demoil- ;'  . 
strated  germicidal  value.  The  rapidity  with  which  some  old  in- 
fections of  the  bladder,  kidney  and  pelvis  have  been  cleared  up  after 
its  use  is  striking,  and  they  lay  special  stress  on  its  absence  of  ir- 
ritating and  toxic  qualities,  and  the  ease  with  which  the  patient 
may  retain  a  one  per  cent,  solution  for  hours  without  discomfort. 
This,  they  say,  is  more  than  sufficient  to  establish  the  possibilities 
of  the  drug  in  these  conditions.  They  state  this  is  the  first  time  that 
a  drug  has  been  developed  having  great  germicidal  strength  and 
which  can  be  borne  or  tolerated  in  the  human  bladder  for  several 
hours.  This  is  an  ideal  which  has  long  been  striven  after.  In 
synthesizing  this  drug  they  had  in  mind  the  production  of  one  that 
would  have  the  following  properties:    (i)  Ready  penetration  of  the 
