336  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.    {Am  jfi^JS*™- 
animal,  the  ferrocyanide  of  potassium  had  no  toxic  effect,  and  no 
influence  upon  respiration,  circulation,  temperature,  or  the  nervous 
system.  In  dogs  the  continued  use  of  the  drug  caused  intestinal 
disturbances.  In  doses  of  80  cgm.  per  kilogramme  it  gave  rise  to 
vomiting.    Light  doses  caused  diuresis  in  the  smaller  animals. 
Tannicated  Syrup  of  Iodine. — For  this,  L  Officine  gives  the 
formula  of :  Iodine,  2  gm. ;  ext.  krameria,  8  gm.  ;  simple  syrup, 
q.  s.  to  make  1  kilogramme.  M.  Demandre  [Bull,  de  la  Soc.  des 
Phar.  de  la  Cote  d'Cr),  proposes  a  shorter  method  than  that  of  the 
Codex,  and  one  in  which  the  iodine  "  enters  into  integral  combina- 
tion with  the  tannin  without  loss."  He  dissolves  iodine,  2  gm.,  in 
alcohol,  24  gm.,  and  mixes  this  tincture  with  a  solution  of  ext. 
krameria,  8  gm.,  in  chemically  pure  glycerin,  16  gm., adding,  finally, 
950  gm.  of  simple  syrup.  This  he  heats  slowly  in  a  water-bath  for 
two  hours  to  a  temperature  of  1490  to  1 5 8°  F.  "  The  syrup  thus 
obtained,"  says  the  author,  "  may  be  diluted  with  pure  water,  or 
with  starch-water,  without  giving  any  reaction  ;  it  has  a  fine  red 
color,  is  limpid  and  keeps  well."    Re'pert.  de  Phar.,  June  10. 
Distilled  Water  in  Metallic  Containers. — M.  Kauffeisen,  ot 
Dijon,  made  a  preparation  of  orange-flower  water,  50  gm. ;  syrup  of 
codeine,  15  gm. ;  and  tr.  digitalis,  10  drops.  On  the  next  day  he 
found  the  mixture  almost  as  dark  as  though  it  had  consisted  chiefly 
of  digitalis.  He  found  that  the  distilled  water  used  by  him  had 
been  brought  to  the  pharmacy  in  an  iron  vessel.  The  water  had 
not  remained  long  in  the  receptacle  but  the  pharmacist  found  it  to 
contain  nearly  1  cgm.  of  iron  to  the  litre.  When  the  water  is 
known  to  contain  iron,  the  author  thinks  this  may  be  removed  by 
stirring  in  a  small  quantity  of  carbonate  of  magnesia  and  filtering. — 
Bull,  de  la  Soc.  des  Phar.  de  la  Cote  a"  Or. 
Reaction  of  Saliva  upon  Calomel  in  Iodoform  Poisoning. — M. 
Burlureaux  observed  a  scarlatinaform  eruption  in  a  patient  whose 
arm  had  been  treated  topically  with  iodoform.  The  patient  was 
asked  to  take  a  piece  of  silver  into  his  mouth,  and  soon  perceived 
the  alliaceous  taste  characteristic  in  such  cases.  A  small  quantity 
of  the  patient's  saliva  was  then  treated  with  calomel.  It  gave  the 
greenish-yellow  reaction  of  protiodide  of  mercury. 
Calomel  Plaster — As  used  by  Dr.  Quinquaud  in  the  treatment 
of  syphilis,  this  consists  of :  Calomel,  10  parts;  diachylon  plaster,  30 
parts ;  castor  oil,  3  parts.    The  ointment  is  spread  upon  muslin  cut 
