6o 
Current  Literature. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
January,  1920. 
for  oil  of  theobroma,  and  to  economize  the  use  of  spermaceti,  which 
is  now  difficult  to  obtain,  a  mixture  of  one  part  of  that  substance 
melted  in  three  parts  by  weight  of  olive  oil  may  be  used.  This  basis 
melts  at  37.2°  C.  It  is  stated  to  be  quite  satisfactory  for  supposi- 
tories made  by  the  warm  method,  but  is  not  applicable  for  those 
made  by  pressure  by  the  cold  method.  (Pharm.  Post.,  51 :  562,  1918; 
Chem.  Abstr.,  Amer.  Chem.  Soc,  13:  1041,  1919.) 
Extract  of  GivYcyrrhiza. — For  her  thesis  at  Montpelier,  Miss 
G.  Pichard  undertook  a  study  of  the  different  methods  of  preparing 
extract  of  licorice.  The  extracts  prepared  by  the  use  of  warm 
water  possess  a  bitter  taste,  due  to  the  content  of  resin  present  in 
the  bark  (10-14  P^^  cent.),  which  is  almost  insoluble  in  cold  water. 
In  addition,  the  glycyrrhizin  undergoes  partial  hydrolysis,  so  that 
this  method  should  be  rejected.  She  comes  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  method  of  the  U.  S.  P.  gives  the  highest  yield  of  glycyrrhizin 
percolation  with  the  addition  of  solution  of  ammonia  producing  a 
content  of  8  per  cent,  of  this  glucoside,  compared  with  4.5  per  cent, 
obtained  by  percolating  with  cold  water  only.  (From  The  Chemist 
and  Druggist,  October  4,  19 19.) 
Benzyl  Bknzoate:  in  Protozoai^  Dysentery. — The  authors 
have  employed  benzyl  benzoate  in  the  treatment  of  eight  cases  of 
endamebic  dysentery  uncomplicated  by  bacillary  infection,  and  have 
seen  markedly  good  results  in  every  case.  All  the  cases  were  of  the 
acute  type  and  varied  in  severity.  No  ill  effects  on  the  alimentary 
or  excretory  tracts  followed  the  administration  of  benzyl  benzoate. 
In  no  case  has  the  drug  unfavorably  altered  the  course  of  any  case. 
On  the  contrary,  its  administration  has  always  been  accompanied 
by  a  marked  alleviation  of  both  the  objective  and  subjective  symp- 
toms of  the  disease.  It  gives  the  patient  much  needed  rest  and  per- 
mits him  to  sleep  at  night.  Under  the  administration  of  the  drug 
the  endamebas  disappeared  from  the  stools  in  nearly  every  case  as  the 
general  symptoms  subsided.  The  benzyl  benzoate  we  administered 
in  a  small  amount  of  cold  water,  three  times  a  day,  after  meals. 
The  doses  employed  varied  from  20  to  30  drops  of  the  20  per  cent, 
alcoholic  solution.    (From  Jour.  Amer.  Med.  Assoc.,  Oct.  25,  19 19.) 
Significance  of  Small  Amount  of  Sugar  in  Urine. — If  with  hyper- 
