156 
Varieties. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I     March,  1886. 
distinct  reaction  with  the  boric  acid  test,  and  all  except  No.  8  contained  large 
quantities  of  chalk.  The  results  in  reference  to  extractive,  etc.,  reveal  nothing 
that  has  not  been  known  before.  Wynter  Blyth,  who  gives  the  only  analysis 
of  annatto  I  have  been  able  to  find,  states  that  the  composition  of  a  fair  com- 
mercial sample  (which  I  take  to  mean  the  raw  article)  examined  by  him,  was 
as  follows:  water,  24*2;  resin,  28'8;  ash,  22'5,  and  extractive,  24'5;  and  that  of 
an  adulterated  (which  I  take  to  mean  a  manufactured)  article :  water,  13*4 ;  resin, 
irO;  ash  (iron,  silica,  chalk,  alumina  and  common  salt),  48"3,  and  extractive, 
27'3.  If  this  be  correct,  it  appears  that  the  articles  at  present  in  the  market,  or 
at  least  those  which  have  come  in  my  way,  have  been  wretched  imitations  of 
the  genuine  thing,  and  should,  instead  of  being  called  adulterated  annatto,  be 
called  something  else  adulterated,  but  not  seriously,  with  annatto.  I  have  it 
on  the  authority  of  the  farmer  previously  referred  to,  that  \  of  an  ounce  of  No. 
4  is  amply  sufficient  to  impart  the  desired  cowslip  tint  to  no  less  than  60  lbs.  of 
butter.  When  so  little  is  actually  required,  it  does  not  seem  of  very  serious  im- 
portance whether  the  adulterant  or  preservative  be  flour,  chalk,  or  water,  but 
it  is  exasperating  in  a  very  high  degree  to  have  such  compounds  as  Xos.  3  and 
6  palmed  off  as  decent  things,  when  even  Nos.  1,  2  and  5  have  been  rejected  by 
dairymen  as  useless  for  the  purpose.  In  conclusion,  I  may  be  permitted  to 
express  the  hope  that  others  may  be  induced  to  examine  the  annatto  taken 
into  stock  more  closely  than  I  was  taught  to  do,  and  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
doing,  namely,  to  see  if  it  had  a  good  consistence  and  an  odor  resembling  black 
sugar,  for  if  so,  the  quality  was  above  suspicion. — Pliar.  Jour,  and  Tram.,  January 
30,  1886,  p.  645. 
VARIETIES. 
Nitroglycerin  has  been  successfully  employed  by  Dr  O-  T.  Shultz,  of 
Mount  Vernon,  Ind.,  in  a  severe  ca-e  of  hiccough.  One  drop  of  a  one  per 
cent,  solution  of  nitroglycerin  was  given  every  hour  at  first,  the  time  being 
gradually  extended.  On  the  second  day  after  commencing  this  treatment 
permanent  relief  was  obtained  — Amer.  Practitioner,  1885. 
Cannabis  Indica  is  recommended  by  Dr.  H.  L.  Jones  as  a  hypnotic  in  cases 
where  sleeplessness  is  accompanied  by  delirium.  The  extract  is  given  in 
pills  in  doses  of  2  or  3  grains  every  four  or  six  hours.  Frequently  one  dose 
was  found  to  be  sufficient.  Hallucinations  were  complained  of  only  in  one 
case. — Amer.  Practitioner,  1885. 
Oil  op  Sassafras,  in  teaspoonful  doses,  has  been  found  serviceable  by  Dr. 
T.  J.  Miller,  of  Roanoke,  Va.,  in  neuralgia,  the  patients  also  becoming  cheerful 
and  exhilarated. —  Va.  Med.  Monthly,  Jan.,  1886. 
Dr.  J.  Bartlett,  of  Chicago  {Chic.  Med.  Jour,  and  Exam.,  Dec,  1885),  directs 
attention  to  the  oxytocic  effects  of  sassafras  tea,  and  to  the  narcotic  action  of 
excessive  doses  of  oil  of  sassafras. 
Cocaine  in  Whooping  Cough. — Dr.  Moncorvo  recommends  mopping  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  larynx  first  with  a  one  per  cent,  solution  of  resorcin,  and, 
