480 
Varieties. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I       Sept.,  1890. 
bian  University  in  Washington,  standing  first  in  his  class  and  receiving  the 
highest  prize  of  the  college.  He  next  accepted  a  responsible  position  in  the 
Children's  Hospital,  which  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  institu- 
tion. In  June,  1889,  he  was  called  to  the  more  responsible  post  as  physician  to 
-the  Government  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  St.  Elizabeth,  where  he  remained 
faithful  to  his  charge  until  after  an  illness  of  18  days  his  promising  career  was 
terminated. 
John  B.  Metzger,  Ph.G.,  class  1881,  died  at  Williamsport,  March  16,  1890,  of 
gastric  catarrh,  aged  43  years.  His  graduating  thesis  was  on  elderberries  ;  an 
abstract  of  it  was  published  in  this  journal  in  188 r,  p.  553. 
Chas.  Fred.  Wm.  Pleibel,  Jr.,  Ph.G.,  class  1879,  died  suddenly  in  Philadel- 
phia, August  12,  1890.  He  had  learned  the  business  with  his  father,  Dr.  F. 
Pleibel. 
VARIETIES. 
Bad  Effects  of  the  New  Antipyretic. — Excluding  the  effect  of  heroic  doses 
and  considering  only  those  which  are  ordinarily  regarded  as  medicinal,  Dr. 
Goldmann  is  led  to  the  following  conclusions  : 
Antifebrin. — Individual  susceptibility  to  this  drug  differs  widely.  Even  the 
smallest  doses  are  capable  of  giving  rise  to  dangerous  symptoms.  Especial 
caution  is  necessary  in  using  it  among  children.  Its  continued  administration 
begets  a  cumulative  action.  Collapse,  cyanosis,  vomiting,  and  profuse  sweat- 
ing not  infrequently  result. 
Antipyrin. — Neither  may  any  absolute  dose  be  stated  of  this  substance.  It 
also  needs  to  be  used  with  prudence  among  children.  It  also  possesses  a  cumula- 
tive power.  Exanthems,  collapse,  cyanosis,  dyspnoea,  vomiting,  and  excessive 
perspiration  are  often  its  effects.  That  death  sometimes  follows  the  exhibition 
of  comparatively  small  quantities  admonishes  us  to  prudence. 
Phenacetin. — Eruptions  and  copious  sweats  are  not  infrequently  occasioned 
the  latter  especially  in  persons  predisposed  to  free  perspiration.  Cyanosis  and 
collapse  are  of  less  common  occurrence.  It  should  be  given  cautiously  to 
children. 
Without  expecting  it  to  take  the  place  entirely  of  the  other  two  bodies, 
phenacetin  ma}-  well  be  preferred  to  them  in  many  cases,  especially  in  regard 
to  the  fact  that  it  is  less  liable  to  create  embarrassing  and  dangerous  mani- 
festations.— Med.  Bulletin. 
Ammonium  Bromide  Inhalations  are  recommended  in  asthma  by  Dr.  Th. 
Maxwell  {Lancet,  May  10).  Strong  hydrobromic  acid,  spec.  grav.  17,  may  be 
used  together  with  ammonia  water.  But  since  it  is  difficult  to  thus  obtain 
absolutely  neutral  fumes  with  the  ordinary  inhalers,  an  apparatus  was  con- 
structed in  which  the  ammonium  bromide  is  simply  vaporized  by  heat  and 
drawn  through  a  wash  bottle  before  being  inhaled. 
The  antiseptic  action  of  iodoform  appears  to  be  very  feeble.  According  to 
the  observations  of  many  investigators,  it  does  not  prevent  the  growth  of 
micro-organisms,  although  it  may,  perhaps,  be  decomposed  by  the  secretions 
of  wounds  so  as  to  set  free  the  iodine,  and  thus  exert ^an  antiseptic  action. — 
four.  Amer.  Med.  Assoc.,  May  10,  p.  686. 
