Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
Dec,  1884.  / 
Varieties. 
647 
broncho-pneumonia,  and  whooping-cough.  Considerable  benefit  has  been 
obtained  in  early  phthisis,  and  striking  results  in  chronic  bronchitis,  and 
especially  in  whooping-cough.  In  all  cases  helenin  diminished  the  attacks 
of  cough,  and  relieved  the  dyspnoea  and  pains  of  the  chest,  without  causing 
any  symptoms  of  narcotism.  The  expectoration  diminishes  and  becomes 
almost  gelatinous.  It  also  has  a  decided  tonic  action  in  the  digestive 
organs,  and  improves  markedly  the  appetite  in  phthisis. — Quarterly  The- 
rapeutic Review. 
Aseptol. — A  phenol  compound,  termed  orthoxyphenylsulphurous  acid, 
has  been  recently  introduced  into  therapeutics  under  the  name  of  "  aseptol," 
this  title  having  been  given  to  it  on  account  of  its  remarkable  germicide  quali- 
ties, which  excel  those  of  carbolic  and  salicylic  acids.  Aseptol  is  an  amber- 
colored  fluid,  of  a  density  1,400  ;  it  has  a  slight  odor,  but  is  more  pleasant 
to  the  smell  and  is  less  poisonous  than  carbolic  acid.  Last  November  Drs. 
Leroy  and  Van  den  Shrieck,  of  Antwerp,  studied  the  therapeutic  appli- 
cations of  aseptol,  and  reported  most  satisfactory  results  as  an  antiseptic. 
It  has  the  following  advantages  over  antiseptics  in  common  use  : 
1.  It  is  very  soluble  in  water. 
2.  It  is  very  slightly  caustic. 
3.  It  is  free  from  irritative  qualities,  and  may  be  applied  for  a  long  time 
to  the  skin,  the  eyes,  the  bladder,  etc. 
4.  Finally,  its  slight  toxicity,  which  permits  its  use  internally  in  consider- 
able doses,  and  also  the  application  of  concentrated  solutions  in  diphtheritic 
pharyngitis  and  laryngitis. — La  France  Medicale;  Med.  Times,  Nov.  1, 
1884. 
Santonin. — Kuechenmeister  has  shown  that  lumbrici  lived  in  a  mixture 
of  albumen,  santonin  and  water,  but  they  succumbed  in  a  few  minutes  in 
an  oily  mixture  containing  santonin.  Powder  or  troches  are  not  a  good 
way  of  administration,  for  the  santonin  is  then  mostly  absorbed  in  the 
stomach.  The  only  rational  preparation  is  an  emulsion  which  is  slowly 
absorbed  in  the  intestines.  In  any  other  mode  it  has  a  toxic  effect  with 
many,  but  given  with  castor  oil  it  is  not  disagreeable,  and  very  efficient. — 
Revue  de  Science  Medicale. 
Fluid  Extract  of  Green  Coffee.— Like  tea,  coffee  can  also  be 
readily  obtained  of  excellent  quality  and  uniform  prices. 
In  the  trials  of  the  fluid  extract  of  coffee  an  amount  containing  1*95  grains 
of  caffeine  produced  the  same  results  as  three  grains  of  pure  caffeine  or  two 
grains  of  caffeine  as  it  exists  in  tea,  and  about  2*58  grains  as  it  exists  in 
guarana. 
The  method  of  comparing  these  agents  by  a  physiological  test  is  not 
offered  by  Dr.  Squibb  as  "  a  method  of  precision  or  as  worthy  of  any  great 
trust,  and  it  is  especially  guarded  against  being  received  for  more  than  it  is 
worth.    It  is  only  a  practical  plan,  carried  out  with  much  pains  and  care 
