640 
Varieties. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1890. 
the  different  results  obtained  from  its  use.  In  eye  diseases,  Braunschweig  found 
it  to  cause  great  damage  ;  Kolliker  observed  no  benefit  from  it,  and  Mauthner 
considers  it  useless.  Victoria-blue,  which  closely  resembles  methyl- violet,  has 
no  action  on  microbes  whatever.    See  also  this  volume,  p.  295. 
Aletris  farinosa  as  a  Cathartic. — The  rhizome  is  administered  in  the  form  of 
a  powder,  in  doses  of  o-6  gm.,  as  a  simple  bitter  tonic.  In  larger  doses,  it 
possesses  cathartic,  emetic  and  somewhat  narcotic  properties.  It  has  been 
employed  with  good  results  in  colic,  dropsy  and  chronic  rheumatism.— Journal 
de  Medecine,  September  7,  1890. 
The  diuretic  action  of  milk  sugar  observed  by  Professor  See  (Am.  Jour. 
Phar.,  1889,  p.  417)  has  been  recently  confirmed  by  Dr.  Zawodski  {Deutsche 
Med.  Ztg.)  who  employed  it  in  a  severe  case  of  dropsy,  with  excellent  results  ; 
he  made  no  change  in  the  diet  of  the  patient  and  allowed  him  to  take  fluids. 
The  dose  was  from  12  to  18  grams  a  day,  given  with  a  considerable  quantity  of 
milk  that  contained  at  least  50  grams  of  milk  sugar.  The  author  thinks  that 
this  substance  is  to  occupy  a  prominent  place  among  the  diuretics,  as  it  is 
easily  administered,  agreeable  in  taste  and  of  low  cost. 
Tellurate  of  potassium,  according  to  La  Medecine  moderne,  October  21,  1890, 
has  been  found  by  Neusser  to  be  valuable  in  the  suppression  and  diminution  of 
night-sweats.  He  employs  one-third  of  a  grain,  in  pill-form.  After  the  patients 
have  taken  this  dose  for  a  short  time,  it  may  be  doubled  without  unfavorable 
results  and  with  a  good  effect  in  reducing  the  quantity  of  sweat,  provided  the 
first  dose  has  not  been  sufficient  to  control  it.  In  rare  cases,  the  drug  may 
produce  dyspeptic  symptoms.  As  a  general  rule,  however,  it  has  a  favorable 
effect. — Medical  News,  Nov.  1,  1890. 
The  Uses  of  Keratin. — Drs.  Unna  and  Beirsdorff  recommend  that  drugs 
which  irritate  the  gastric  mucous  membrane,  such  as  digitalis,  squill,  salicylic 
acid,  iodide  of  iron,  etc.,  be  given  in  the  form  of  pills  coated  with  keratin,  or 
in  capsules  of  the  same  substance.  Drugs  which  diminish  the  activity  or 
which  neutralize  the  acidity  of  the  stomach,  such  as  tannic  acid,  nitrate  of 
silver,  and  alkalies,  should  be  given  in  the  same  way.  A  coating  of  keratin  is 
also  desirable  when  prescribing  drugs  that  are  required  to  act  on  the  intestinal 
mucous  membrane  alone,  and  is  especially  valuable  in  the  use  of  drugs  which 
are  given  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  intestinal  worms,  but  which,  if  intro- 
duced into  the  stomach  in  the  ordinary  way,  are  absorbed  to  such  an  extent  as 
to  cause  toxic  symptoms,  or  to  reduce  their  germicidal  activity.  Keratin  is 
obtained  by  treating  shavings  of  horn  with  ether,  alcohol  and  an  acid.  It 
possesses  the  peculiar  property  of  being  insoluble  in  the  stomach,  but  freely 
soluble  in  the  intestines. — Lancet,  October  18,  1890. — See  paper  by  E.  Bour- 
quelot  in  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1889,  p.  421. 
