340  Varieties.  fAm.  Jour.  Pharin. 
\       June,  1884. 
E.  L.  Meyer  ("  Berichte"  [4],  121)  obtained  by  the  action  of  moderately 
concentrated  sulphuric  acid  on  a  nitro-coinpound  which  he  had  obtained 
by  passing  a  strong  current  of  nitrous  anhydride  into  water  in  which 
morphine  was  suspended. — Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  May,  1884,  p.  616;  from 
Annalen,  vol.  222. 
VARIETIES. 
Alumex  Ustum  in  Inpermittent  Fever.—  Schidowski,  (  Wratsch)  : 
Burnt  alumen  has  long  been  known  as  a  febrifuge.    S         does  a  large 
country  practice,  being  alone  in  a  district  of  70,000  inhabitants,  and  he  had 
only  three  pounds  of  quinine  at  his  disposal  for  a  whole  year.  He  resorted 
to  alum  with  good  results.  Two  doses  of  eight  grs.  each,  one  to  three  hours 
before  the  recurrence  of  the  fever,  effected  the  object.  The  powder  is  given 
dry  and  water  is  drunk  copiously  after  it.  He  also  saw  enlargement  of  the 
spleen  reduced  by  it.—  Amer.  Med.  Digest,  May  15. 
Sulphide  of  Calcium  for  Scabies. — Dr.  Dolan  ("Brit.  Medical  Jour. 
nal")j  says  that  sulphide  of  calcium,  known  in  Poorlaw  service  as  golden 
lotion,  is  more  effectual  in  the  treatment  of  itch  than  conventional  sulphur 
ointment.  It  may  be  made  by  the  following  formula  :  Flowers  of  sulphur, 
100  parts;  quick-lime,  200  parts;  water,  1,000  parts.  Boil  the  whole  for 
some  time,  stirring  occasionally  until  the  substance  become  incorporated, 
allowing  the  liquid  to  cool,  and  decant  into  hermetically  sealed  bottles.  It 
should  not  be  made  in  a  metal  vessel. 
It  is  applied  as  follows :  The  patient  is  first  put  into  a  warm  bath ;  he  is 
then  painted  with  a  brush  dipped  in  the  solution  and  placed  in  bed,  either 
in  blankets,  or  a  flannel  nightgown.  After  a  short  time,  owing  to  the 
deposit  of  sulphur,  the  patient's  body  is  almost  the  color  of  a  guinea.  The 
beneficial  effects  are  speedily  manifested ;  the  itching  ceases,  and,  as  a  rule, 
in  simple  cases,  after  another  warm  bath,  the  patient  may  be  discharged 
cured. — Amer.  Med.  Digest,  May  15. 
Incompatibility  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine  and  Iodide  of  Potas- 
sium.—In  a  communication  to  the  Biological  Society,  M.  Rabuteau  calls 
attention  to  the  ill  effects  of  iodide  of  potassium  and  sulphate  of  quinine, 
when  administered  together  or  at  short  intervals.  These  effects  are,  on  the 
part  of  the  digestive  organs,  anorexia,  nausea,  epigastric  pain,  colic,  and 
sometimes  vomiting ;  on  the  part  of  the  general  system,  malaise,  slowing 
and  feebleness  of  the  pulse,  pallor,  and  a  sense  of  fatigue.  These  results 
are  due  to  the  decomposition  of  the  iodide  and  the  liberation  of  free  iodine. 
This  decomposition  takes  place,  not  alone  in  the  stomach,  but  goes  on  in 
the  intestine  also.  The  same  result  occurs  from  the  use  of  an  iodide  sophis- 
ticated with  an  iodate  of  potassium.  Iodine  is  set  free,  and  to  the  action  of 
this  is  to  be  referred  the  local  and  systemic  effects  above  mentioned. — 
Med.  News ;  Lancet  and  Critic,  March'  1. 
