14  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {Am'£n.?Sarm' 
Unguentum  Potassii  iodidi,  free  from  crystalline  particles,  is  best 
obtained  by  using  a  solution  of  definite  strength  of  the  salt  in 
glycerin  instead  of  in  water.  According  to  Jour,  de  Phar. 
d'Anvers,  June,  1892,  such  a  solution  keeps  for  an  indefinite  length 
of  time.  This  practical  method  was  first  recommended  by  the 
Bulletin  de  Pharmacie  du  IVord. 
Strontium  bromide  has  been  found  useful  by  Dr.  Coronedi  [Rep. 
de  Phar.,  Octbr.,  1892)  in  persistent  vomiting  originating  from 
various  causes.  Given  in  two  or  three  daily  doses  of  1  gm.  after 
meals,  its  good  effects  are  observed  more  or  less  rapidly,  even  in 
obstinate  vomiting  of  pregnancy. 
Lithium  bcnzoate  in  rheumatic  gout. — Adone  {Jour,  de  Phar.  et  de 
Chim.,  Octbr.  1,  1892)  confirms  the  experience  of  Ure  and  Keller, 
that  under  the  influence  of  benzoic  treatment  the  conversion  of  uric 
acid  into  benzoic  acid  may  be  effected.  The  best  effects  were 
produced  by  the  prolonged  use  of  lithium  benzoate,  the  conversion 
becoming  so  complete  that  the  murexide  reaction  was  no  longer 
observable. 
Crayons  of  zinc  chloride. — Dumontpallier  (Rev.  invent,  techn. 
through  Monit.  pharm.,  1892,  1 1 19)  takes  20  gm.  of  zinc  chloride  in 
very  fine  powder,  adds  to  it  drop  by  drop  sufficient  water  to  make 
a  mixture  of  syrupy  consistency  and  then  incorporates  with  it  in 
small  quantities  40  gm.  of  rye  flour.  The  mass  is  then  divided 
into  quantities  of  4  gm.  each,  which  are  rolled  out  to  the  thickness 
of  5  mm.  and  to  15  cm.  in  length.  The  crayons  are  then  heated 
to  500  C.  to  give  them  a  certain  hardness  and  elasticity.  They  are 
kept  in  sterilized  lycopodium. 
The  effloresceJf.ee  of  crystallized  sulphates,  like  those  of  zinc, 
cobalt  and  iron,  according  to  A.  Baubigny  and  E.  Pechard  (Compt. 
rend.,  cxv,  171),  is  very  materially  hastened  through  the  presence 
of  small  quantities  of  uncombined  acid. 
Decomposition  of  bismuth  subnitrate  by  water. — On  heating  this 
bismuth  salt,  (Bi2Os)2N205,  with  water  to  200°  C.  for  about  90  hours, 
G.  Rousseau  and  G.  Tite  (Compt.  rend.,  cxv,  174)  obtained  the 
oxide  B203  in  crystalline  condition. 
Bismuth  subnitrate  in  infantile  diarrhcea. — Dr.  Zinnes  (Rev.  Ther- 
apeut.,  1892,  501)  uses  the  following  prescriptions  incases  of  greenish 
infantile  diarrhoea  where  the  stool  contains  numerous  pieces  of 
casein  and  where  it  is  attended  with  more  or  less  violent  abdominal 
