At.  Jour.  Ptaarm. ) 
January,  1899.  J 
Pharmacological  Notes. 
39 
(b)  Podophylloresin  (podophyllinic  acid?). 
Both  of  which  act  as  excellent  laxatives  in  small  doses,  without 
secondary  constipation  or  other  objectionable  symptoms. 
Other  authorities  [vide  Proceedings  Amer.  Phar.  Asso.,  1895)  do 
not  agree  with  above,  but  state  it  to  be  unsatisfactory  and  not  an 
adequate  substitute  for  P.  peltatum.  C.  B.  L, 
SCOPOLAMINE  AND  ATROSINE. 
Otto  Meyer,  of  Breslau  (Klin.  Mon.  f.  Augenhl.,  Jan.,  1898),  as 
result  of  his  comparative  experiments  upon  these  two  drugs  in 
pathological  cases  states  :  That  i  per  cent,  solutions  of  atrosin  acted 
more  strongly  in  iritis  than  an  atropine  solution  of  the  same  strength, 
and  two  cases  of  synechia  yielded  to  it  which  had  previously  been 
treated  with  scopolamin  without  effect.  Both  drugs  cause  an 
increased  tension  and  slight  irritation,  and  the  effect  on  the  accom- 
modation is  about  the  same  in  both.  Occasionally  after  the  use  of 
either  drug,  slight  toxic  symptoms,  such  as  vertigo,  flushing  of  the  face, 
disturbance  of  the  pulse-rate,  dryness  of  the  fauces  and  an  uncertain 
action  on  the  accommodation,  were  noticed.  They  are  practically 
allied  drugs,  and  under  the  same  conditions  in  which  hyoscyamine 
is  converted  into  atropine,  scopolamine  is  converted  into  atrosine. — 
Boston  Med.  and  Surg,  your.,  November  17,  1898.       J.  L.  D.  M. 
RECOVERY  FROM  A  LARGE  DOSE  OF  HYDROCYANIC  ACID. 
Kolipinski  reports  a  case  of  recovery  from  hydrocyanic  acid.  A 
man  aged  42,  neurotic  and  melancholic,  took,  with  suicidal  intent, 
y2  ounce  of  the  official  acidum  hydrocyanicum  dilutum  U.S. P.,  con- 
taining 2  per  cent.,  or  4  8  grains  of  anhydrous  acid.  He  was  found 
twenty  minutes  later  lying  on  his  bed  in  a  deep  coma,  etc.  The 
treatment  consisted  of  a  subcutaneous  injection  of  ^  grain  sul- 
phate of  atropine,  10  grains  citrate  caffeine  by  enema,  and  4  or  5 
enemata  containing  each  a  teaspoonful  of  aqua  ammoniae  in  half  a 
cup  of  water.  Consciousness  returned  in  two  hours.  In  twelve 
hours  he  was  in  his  normal  condition,  outside  of  dysenteric  stools 
for  a  few  days,  the  result  of  the  ammonia  injections. — Med.  News, 
December  10,  1898.  C.  B.  L. 
THE  DOSAGE  OF  BELLADONNA  AND  NUX  VOMICA. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Manchester  Medical  Society,  Dr.  D.  J.  Leech, 
one  of  the  most  learned  of  British  pharmacologists,  related  some 
