424 
Varieties. 
Am,  Jour.  Pharm. 
Aug.,  1891. 
Sulphonal  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  reliable  and  safest  hypnotics  ;  but 
that  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  danger,  was  shown  by  Dr.  Bresslauer,  of 
Vienna  {Lancet,  April  4,  1891).  The  patients  were  lunatics,  and  had  been 
taking  the  drug  for  a  considerable  time  in  good  doses,  and  borne  it  well  until 
symptoms  of  disturbance  set  in,  these  being  great  constipation,  dark -brown 
urine,  slow,  or  in  some  cases  rapid  but  feeble  pulse,  discolored  patches  resem- 
bling purpura  on  the  limbs,  and  great  prostration.  In  several  cases  which 
ended  fatally,  the  cause  of  death  was  heart-failure,  with  oedema  of  the  lungs. 
Retinol,  a  product  of  distillation  from  resin,  seems  likely  to  prove  of  service 
in  the  treatment  of  skin  diseases.  It  dissolves  many  antiseptics  :  Salol,  i'io  ; 
iodol,  1*50;  naphthol,  1*50;  aristol,  1*50  ;  camphor,  1*20;  chrysophanic  acid, 
1*40;  cocaine,  1*30;  codeine,  1*40.  It  mixes  with  fats,  oils,  petrolatum, 
lard,  lanolin  or  glycerin.  Combinations  of  convenient  density  are  :  Retinol, 
ten  parts  ;  white  wax,  four  parts  ;  cacao  butter,  six  parts.  Retinol,  eight  parts  ; 
resin,  eight  parts  ;  lanolin,  five  parts  ;  or  of  each  five  parts. — F.  J.  Vigner, 
British  Journal  of  Dermatology,  May,  1891. 
Cactine,  the  active  principle  of  Cereus  grandiflorus,  has  been  isolated  by 
F.  W.  Sultan,  and  its  physiological  action  examined  by  O.  M.  Myers  (N.  Y. 
Bled.  Jour.,  June  13,  1891),  who  states  that,  locally,  it  is  absolutely  non-irritant 
and  that  in  therapeutic  doses  it  is  a  powerful  cardiac  tonic  stimulant,  useful  in 
functional  cardiac  and  circulatory  disturbances  and  in  organic  heart  disease, 
except  mitral  stenosis,  for  which  digitalis  is  preferable. 
Nutrient  enemata. — Huber  (Corres.  Bl.fiir  Schweizer  Aerzte),  recommends 
that  1  gm.  of  chloride  of  sodium  should  be  added  to  each  egg  which  is  given  as 
a  nutrient  enema.  In  this  way,  he  thinks,  about  12  per  cent,  is  absorbed.  An 
enema  should  contain  two  to  three  eggs  and  should  be  given  two  or  three  times 
daily.  An  hour  before  it  is  given  the  bowels  should  be  washed  out  with  warm 
water. 
Phenylut ethane  (euphorin)  is  strongly  recommended  by  Adler  (  Wien.  Med. 
Wochenschr.,  No.  17)  for  its  analgesic  and  antirheumatic  action  ;  hardly  any. 
unpleasant  after-effects  were  noticed,  increased  diaphoresis  and  a  feeling  of 
warmth  being  observed  in  one  case.  (See  also  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1890,  pp. 
389,  584). 
Iodoform  in  Tuberculosis. — Flick  regards  its  curative  powers  as  being  limited 
to  those  cases  in  which  the  circulation  has  not  yet  been  cut  off  from  the  deposit. 
It  is  dissolved  in  cod  liver  or  olive  oil,  and  is  given  by  injunction  ;  the  prepa- 
ration should  last  for  several  weeks.  —  University  Med.  Mag.,  August  1891, 
p.  727.  ■ 
Aristol,  used  by  freely  dusting  the  powder  on  the  affected  parts,  has  pro- 
duced almost  magical  relief  in  a  case  of  rhus  poisoning  which  had  reached  the 
vesicular  stage  and  was  attended  with  much  swelling  and  burning. --Dr.  J.  J. 
Levick. — Med.  News,  July  25,  1891. 
The  cholagogue  property  of  salicylate  of  sodium  was  made  known  by  Ruther- 
ford, but  has  not  received  much  attention.  Professor  Germain  See  now  reports 
{London  Lancet)  that  he  has  found  it  to  be  the  most  efficient  of  all  cholagogues 
in  promoting  the  expulsion  of  gall-stones. 
