24 
Advances  in  Pharmacy. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
January,  1920. 
tissues  in  which  the  infection  exists;  (2)  lack  of  irritation  of  the  drug 
to  tissues;  (3)  high  germicidal  activity;  (4)  ready  solubility  in  water 
and  stability  of  the  solution;  (5)  freedom  from  precipitation  in 
urine;  (6)  sufficiently  low  toxicity  to  avoid  systematic  effects  from 
the  small  amount  of  the  drug  that  may  be  absorbed. 
Mercurochrome  is  obtained  by  substituting  one  atom  of  mer- 
cury in  the  molecule  of  dibromfluorescein.  Chemically  it  is  dibrom- 
oxymercuryfluorescein,  or  its  sodium  salt.  It  contains  about  26 
per  cent,  of  mercury.  The  free  acid  is  a  red  powder  insoluble  in 
water  but  readily  soluble  in  sodium  hydroxid  solution,  with  the 
formation  of  a  deep  cherry-red  color.  Its  solutions  show  fluores- 
cence on  dilution.  The  dry  salt  forms  iridescent  green  scales, 
slightly  hygroscopic  and  readily  soluble  in  water.  The  solution  is 
stable  and  is  not  affected  by  moderate  heat  or  exposure  to  the  air. 
Strongly  acid  urine  gives  a  slight  precipitate  of  the  free  dye.  There 
is  entire  freedom  from  precipitation  when  a  one  per  cent,  solution  of 
the  drug  is  mixed  with  an  equal  volume  of  medium  rich  in  protein 
such  as  hydrocele  fluid.  The  solution  stains  the  skin  a  bright  red 
color,  but  this  can  be  removed  by  rubbing  first  with  a  2  per  cent, 
solution  of  potassium  permanganate,  and  then  with  a  2  per  cent, 
solution  of  oxalic  acid.  In  actual  practice  it  has  been  found  that 
this  tendency  to  stain  is  annoying  to  patients  in  that  extraordinary 
care  must  be  taken  in  regard  to  underclothing,  sheets  and  toweling, 
as  it  is  impossible  to  remove  the  stains.  A  i  :  1000  solution  of 
the  drug  will  kill  B.  coli  and  Staphylococcus  aureous  in  urine  in  one 
minute.  It  has  practically  50  times  the  germicidal  strength  of  acri- 
flavine  in  urine  medium  for  exposures  of  one  hour.  Solutions  of 
cne  per  cent,  can  be  held  in  the  human  bladder  for  from  one  to  three 
hours  without  irritation.  The  drug  has  proved  to  be  of  great  value 
in  the  treatment  of  chancroids  and  as  a  dressing  after  incision  of 
buboes.  It  promises  to  be  of  great  value  in  the  treatment  of  gon- 
orrhea. Its  use  in  chronic  affections  of  the  bladder  gave  remarkable 
results,  purulent  cystitis  disappearing  in  a  surprising  manner  with 
freedom  of  pus  and  bacteria  in  a  few  days. — Jour.  A.  M.  A.,  Vol.  73, 
No.  20,  1919. 
Fixed  Oil  of  Fenugreek. — Besides  an  essential  oil,  fenugreek 
seeds  contain  about  7  per  cent,  of  a  fatty  oil,  color  golden,  and  with 
a  characteristic  unpleasant  smell  and  taste.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
0.9471  at  15°  C,  saponification  value  189.5,  ^.nd  iodine  value  132.8. 
