62 
AMBLYOPIA  PRODUCED  BY  OSMIC  ACID. 
MUDAR,  A  SUBSTITUTE   FOR    IPECACUANHA    IN  THE 
TREATMENT  OF  DYSENTERY. 
Mr.  J.  J.  Durant  states  (Indian  Med.  Gazette,  May,  1866), 
that  he  has  found  the  powder  of  the  bark  of  the  root  of  mudar 
(Calotropis  gigantea)  an  excellent  substitute  for  ipecacuanha  in 
the  treatment  of  dysentery  amongst  the  native  population.  In 
every  acute  case  in  which  he  prescribed  mudar  it  either  effected 
a  complete  cure  in  a  few  days,  or  at  once  changed  the  character 
of  the  disease  from  bloody  and  mucous  to  bilious  diarrhoea.  He 
administers  it  in  similar  doses  to  what  are  usually  given  of 
ipecacuanna,  never  beginning  with  less  than  one  scruple,  and 
seldom  going  beyond  one  drachm.  He  usually  gives  it  alone, 
but  when  a  weak  stomach  is  suspected  in  the  patient  he  combines 
it  with  carbonate  of  soda,  creasote,  bismuth,  prussic  acid,  &c. 
Like  ipecacuanha,  mudar,  in  large  doses,  is  a  reliable  cholagogue ; 
it  is  also  a  sedative  to  the  muscular  fibres  of  the  intestines,  par- 
ticularly of  the  rectum  and  colon,  rapidly  allaying  all  pain,  ten- 
esmus, and  irritation,  and  putting  a  stop  to  dysenteric  action. 
Its  most  marked  effect  is  the  production  of  a  copious  flow  of  bile, 
which  follows  its  use  in  about  twenty-four  hours. — Amer.  Journ. 
Med.  Set.,  Oct.,  1866. 
AMBLYOPIA  PRODUCED  BY  OSMIC  ACID. 
Dr.  Henry  D.  Noyes  records  (New  York  Medical  Journal, 
July,  1866,)  the  following  case  of  this  : — 
"In  June,  1863,  Dr.  P.,  assistant  in  a  chemical  laboratory, 
came  into  my  office,  stating  that  he  had  been  suddenly  made 
blind  in  the  left  eye  in  the  following  manner :  He  was  heating 
in  a  crucible  a  compound  of  iridium  and  osmium.  He  took  out 
a  piece  of  the  metal  with  a  pair  of  forceps  for  closer  inspection, 
and,  though  aware  of  the  poisonous  properties  of  the  fumes,  in- 
cautiously held  it  near  the  left  eye.  Immediately  struck  with 
a  sharp  pain,  he  shut  the  eye  and  drew  back.  In  ten  minutes 
he  came  into  my  office.  The  lids  were  spasmodically  closed, 
light  very  distressing,  and  pain  in  the  globe  severe.  The  con- 
junctiva and  sclera  were  intensely  injected,  and  lachrymation 
profuse.    Pupil  of  natural  size  and  activity.    Sight  dim,  viz., 
