Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1898. 
Formaldehyde. 
195 
Various  dental  anodynes  are  in  use,  the  principal  ones  being 
tincture  of  opium,  oil  of  cloves,  carbolic  acid  and  cocaine;  they  all 
act  by  depressing  the  peripheral  terminations  of  the  sensory  nerves, 
opium  in  addition  imparing  their  conductivity.  Carbolic  acid  and 
cocaine  have  also  a  local  anesthetic  effect.  A  caution  should,  be 
given  about  the  free  use  of  cocaine,  as  various  untoward  effects 
depending  upon  some  peculiar  individual  idiosyncrasy  have  been 
numerous  of  late.  The  drug  in  small  doses  is  generally  a  heart 
stimulant,  but  sometimes  acts  as  a  heart  depressant.  Piscidia  eryth- 
rina  (Jamaica  dogwood)  in  the  shape  of  a  saturated  tincture  is  said 
to  be  also  an  excellent  anodyne,  it  can  also  be  given  internally  for 
its  hypnotic  effects.    Experiments  regarding  it  are  desirable. 
Dangerous  hemorrhage  after  the  extraction  of  a  tooth  is  not  fre- 
quent. In  several  cases  I  have  been  successful  after  others  had 
failed,  by  the  application  upon  moistened  absorbent  cotton  of  pow- 
dered subsulphate  of  iron  (Monsel's  salt)  with  continuous  pressure. 
Sometimes  the  cavity  is  so  great  that  there  is  no  way  of  packing  the 
cotton,  in  such  a  case  pressure  can  be  maintained  by  a  piece  of  cork 
placed  so  that  the  opposing  teeth  rest  upon  it,  the  jaws  being  after- 
wards tightly  bandaged.  Monsel's  solution  is  not  so  good  a  prepa- 
ration as  the  salt.  In  a  case  that  came  to  my  notice,  the  solution 
was  sold  by  a  pharmacist  with  a  caution  as  to  its  use ;  the  caution 
was  not  regarded,  and  the  customer's  mouth  and  tongue  were  badly 
constringed  and  blackened.  An  angry  interview,  in  which  consider- 
able damages  were  demanded,  followed.  A  quietus  was  put  on  this 
by  the  pharmacist,  who  announced  $1,000  for  defense,  but  not  one 
cent  for  damages,  but  he  lost  a  customer  whose  long  tongue  did 
him  all  the  damage  possible. 
"  FORMALDEHYDE. 
By  George  Iv.  Taylor. 
Known  also  as  formic  aldehyde,  formal,  formalin,  etc.,  is  the  gase- 
ous oxidation  product  of  wood  alcohol.  At  a  temperature  of  20°  C. 
this  gas  polymerises  and  by  the  reunion  of  two  of  its  molecules 
forms  para-formaldehyde;  a  white  semi-solid  body  of  a  soapy  con- 
sistency, soluble  in  water  or  alcohol. 
An  aqueous  solution  of  this  para-formaldehyde  forms  in  part  the 
commercial  article.   Another  commercial  product,  trioxymethylene, 
