644 
Varieties. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1884. 
taken  from  the  middle  of  the  stem  were  counted  16  hemipterous  and  1  cole- 
opterous, and  on  the  lower  surface  112  dipterous  and  5  coleopterous  insects, 
insects  with  a  few  living  aphides,  in  different  stages  of  development.  This  is 
the  number  from  one  ordinary  leaf,  and  it  is  very  easily  seen  that  a  few  of  these 
plants  in  a  garden  must  necessarily  rid  it  of  countless  numbers  of  these, 
apparently,  creatures  of  detestation,  and  render  man  an  unseen  service  of 
good.  Some  of  these  thus  caught  were  too  minute  to  specify,  and  others 
comparatively  rare ;  such  were  a  male  and  female  Halictus.  Phyllobreta 
dilaticornis  was  very  frequent;  Ascogaster  basalis  quite  numerous,  and 
Haltica  fuscula  was  very  well  represented.  It  was  noticed  that  the  Halic- 
tus, in  its  flight  to  the  flowers,  frequently  came  to  its  death  on  the  glands 
beneath. 
From  these  few  facts  we  are  safe  at  least  in  pronouncing  Martynia  an 
entomophilous  plant,  an  insecticide,  and  in  all  probability  insectivorous, 
worthy  of  considerable  attention,  more  than  I  have  had  time  to  bestow, 
and  from  two  partial  afternoon  associations  with  it. 
The  investigation  of  species  was  assisted  by  Prof.  Ezra  T.  Cresson  and 
Mr.  Aaron,  of  the  Academy  at  Shannonville,  Pa.  ' 
VARIETIES. 
Chloral  Hydrate  as  a  Vesicant. — Dr.  A.  M.  Fauntleroy  recom- 
mends powdered  chloral  sprinkled  on  adhesive  plaster  and  melted  by  a 
gentle  heat  (not  more  than  enough  to  cause  the  plaster  to  adhere  to  the 
flesh),  it  is  applied  while  warm  to  the  part  where  the  blister  is  wanted ; 
within  a  few  minutes  a  gentle  heat  is  felt,  increasing  in  intensity  for  a  short 
time,  then  gradually  easing  off,  and  at  the  end  of  about  ten  minutes  the 
part  is  free  from  pain,  and  effectually  blistered.  Thus  within  about  ten 
minutes  the  work  of  an  old-fashioned  blister  is  accomplished,  with  many 
advantages  over  the  latter,  (1)  rapidity  of  action,  (2)  the  ease  of  application, 
(3)  the  none-occurrence  of  strangury,  and  (4)  farther,  it  may  never  be  taken 
off  to  have  the  blister  dressed,  but  may  be  allowed  to  remain  until  the 
plaster  loosens  and  comes  off  itself.  The  blistered  surface  in  the  mean- 
while healing  kindly. — Southern  Clinic. 
Amyl  Nitrite. — Dr.  Richardson  gives  the  following  formula  for  the 
administration  of  amyl  nitrite  by  the  mouth  :  Amyl  nitrite,  pure,  minims 
xxxvi;  ethylic  alcohol  (sp.  gr.  830),  drachms  vi ;  glycerin  to  one  and  a 
half  ounces.  One  fiuidrachm  to  be  taken  in  a  wineglassful  of  warm  water. 
In  asthma  this  method  is  specially  recommended. —  Weekly  Medical  Re- 
view. 
Kola  Nut. — M.  Dujardin-Beaumetz  showed  a  specimen  of  the  fruit  of 
the  Sterculia  acuminata,  a  tree  indigenous  to  Central  Africa,  at  a  recent 
meeting  of  the  Paris  Societe  de  Therapeutique  (Progr.  Med.),  and  remarked 
