598 
Varieties. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t       Nov.,  1884. 
isatropic  acids.  It  is  therefore  possible  that  "  belladonine  "  is  a  mix- 
ture of  atropine  and  oxyatropine,  C17H23N04;  further  investigations 
are  in  progress. — Jour.  Qhem.  Soc. 
Detection  of  picric  acid  in  iodoform. — Dr.  J.  Biel  reports  a  sophisti- 
cation of  iodoform  with  picric  acid,  for  which  purpose  it  is  adapted, 
owing  to  its  yellow  color,  crystalline  structure,  melting  point,  solubility 
in  alcohol  and  ether,  and  its  cheaper  price.  On  trituration  in  a  mortar 
it  is  apt  to  explode.  On  agitating  iodoform  with  distilled  water  and 
filtering,  the  filtrate  should  be  colorless,  not  yellow,  and  on  the  addition 
of  solution  of  potassium  cyanide  no  change  should  be  produced,  while 
in  the  presence  of  a  trace  of  picric  acid,  the  liquid  acquires  within  ten 
minutes  a  brown  red  color,  due  to  the  formation  of  isopurpuric  acid,  and 
subsequently  a  brown  red  precipitate  of  sparingly  soluble  potassium 
isopurpurate. — Phar.  Zeitschr.f  Russl,  1884,  p.  301. 
VARIETIES. 
New  Anesthetic  Mixture. — Dr.  Byrd,  of  Quincy,  111.,  recommends  a 
mixture  composed  of  bromide  of  ethyl,  one  part  (by  measure),  chloroform, 
three  parts,  alcohol,  four  parts.  It  must  be  inhaled  together  with  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  air. — Med.  and  Surg.  Rep. 
The  Use  of  Chloral  as  a  remedy  for  obstinate  singultus,  or  hiccough, 
is  recommended  by  Dr.  G.  C.  Kingsbury.  A  dose  of  thirty  grains  is  said 
to  have  proved  sufficient  to  stop  a  persistent  hiccough  with  which  the 
patient  had  suffered  incessantly  for  twelve  days. — Brit.  Med.  Jour. 
Subnitrate  of  Bismuth. — Dr.  J.  F.  Morse  regards  this  saltan  excel- 
lent surgical  dressing,  which  produces  a  peculiar  change  in  the  difference 
of  the  granulations  filling  a  wound,  and  in  the  secretions  which  escape 
from  the  wound,  providing  it  be  a  fresh  one. —  Western  Lancet. 
The  Compatibility  of  Sulphate  of  Quinine  and  Iodide  of  Potas- 
sium.— It  having  been  suggested  that  when  these  drugs  are  prescribed 
together,  or  one  a  short  time  after  the  other,  owing  to  their  incompatibility, 
that  they  will  produce  anorexia,  nausea,  even  vomiting,  or  colic.  William 
Martindale  writes  to  the  "  Brit.  Med.  Jour.,"  July  5,  1884,  that  such  a  mix- 
ture, with  the  addition  of  compound  powder  of  tragacanth,  is  a  favorite 
with  a  physician  in  large  practice,  yet  he  never  heard  any  complaint  about 
its  effect.  Chemically,  their  incompatibility  will  depend  upon  whether 
the  normal  sulphate  of  quinine  is  dissolved  by  diluted  sulphuric  acid  added 
to  the  mixture  or  not.  No  decomposition  will  occur  if  the  two  neutral  salts 
be  mixed  with  water  in  a  fairly  diluted  condition  ;  in  an  ordinary  dose/ 
