Am'/ug.?imrm'}  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  425 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Amorphous  and  Crystallized  Digitalins. — The  Societe  de 
Pharmacie  de  Paris  has  appointed  a  commission  to  examine  into 
the  composition  and  decide  as  to  the  relative  strength  of  the  digit- 
alins, a  matter  which  has  long  remained  in  a  confused  condition. 
At  the  seance  of  May  7,  M.  P.  Vigier  said:  "  Recent  researches 
which  appear  to  establish  that  amorphous,  chloroformic  digitalin, 
and  the  crystallized  digitalin  of  the  Codex,  have  the  same  physio- 
logical activity,  can  only  create  uncertainty  among  pharmacists,  for 
they  know  that  the  Codex  allows  one  mgm.  as  the  dose  for 
amorphous,  and  one-quarter  mgm.  as  the  dose  of  crystallized  digit- 
alin. The  recent  researches  were  made  with  an  amorphous,  chloro- 
formic digitalin  of  a  manufacture  not  indicated  ;  and  it  is  certain 
that  all  makers  do  not  produce  an  amorphous  digitalin  which  is  as 
active  as  the  crystallized  drug."  M.  Vigier  approved  of  the  appoint- 
ing of  the  commission  referred  to,  and  thought  that  crystallized 
digitalin  should  alone  be  admitted  into  the  Codex. 
Is  Exalgine  a  Dangerous  Remedy  ? — In  a  long  article  m  the 
Rev.  m'ed.  de  la  Suisse  rom.,  Prof.  Prevost  made  the  following 
remark:  "  Methylacetanilid  is  a  more  dangerous  substance  than 
antipyrine.  It  is  also  more  dangerous  than  acetanilid,  its  solubility 
considered,  and  it  is  well  to  be  circumspect  in  its  use,,  especially 
until  a  riper  experience  has  more  definitely  decided  as  to  the  kind 
of  accidents  to  which  it  may  give  rise."  To  this,  Dr.  Bardet  replies 
(Noiiv.  Rem.,  June  24\  that  in  the  single  case  of  poisoning  cited  by 
Dr.  Prevost  the  symptoms  were  caused  by  the  prolonged  use  of 
exalgine  in  doses  of  40  cgm.,  3  times  a  day,  and  the  obstinate  con- 
stipation of  the  patient.  Dr.  Bardet  wrote  to  Dr.  Lloyd  Jones  (who 
attended  the  case)  and  learned  that  the  doctor  attributed  the  result 
to  "an  abnormal  constipation."  He  said,  furthermore  :  "  I  have 
frequently  recommended  exalgine  and  have  a  very  favorable  opinion 
as  to  its  analgesic  qualities."  M.  Bardet  added  that  exalgine  had 
now  been  in  use  for  eighteen  months  and  the  accident  cited  was  the 
only  one  to  be  found  in  medical  literature.  Like  all  active  medica- 
ments it  should,  of  course,  be  used  prudently ;  but  if  we  are  to 
renounce  it  as  dangerous,  we  must  also  give  up  the  use  of  all 
medicaments  capable  of  producing  toxic  effects. 
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