296 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica. 
( Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t.       June,  1886 
which  has  the  odor  of  wine,  and  which  contains  alcohol,  carbonic  acid, 
lactic  acid,  casein,  etc.,  and  which  is  identical  with  the  imported  kefir. 
The  range  of  temperature  within  which  the  fermentation  occurs  is 
between  48°  and  70°  F.,  the  best  results  being  obtained  at  59°  F. 
The  bottle  used  should  be  strong  and  should  be  but  two-thirds  filled. 
It  must  be  at  least  thrice  daily  corked  and  vigorously  shaken,  then 
opened  and  laid  for  ten  minutes  as  nearly  horizontal  as  practicable, 
in  order  that  the  carbonic  acid  evolved  shall  escape,  for  fermenta- 
tion is  checked  in  the  presence  of  an  excess  of  gas.  One  part  of  the 
resultant  kefir  is  sufficient  to  induce  the  appropriate  fermentation  in 
four  parts  of  fresh  milk.— Med.  News,  May  1,  1886. 
Salicylated  Gelatin. — Salicylic  acid,  10;  glycerin,  10;  gelatin,  30; 
water  30.  Dissolve  by  the  aid  of  heat.  It  is  recommended  by  Dr. 
Schwimmer  in  vesicular  eczema. —  Wien.  Med.  Presse. 
Glycerite  of  Alum. — Dissolve  with  the  aid  of  a  gentle  heat  1  part 
of  alum  in  5  parts  of  glycerin.  Dr.  P.  W.  Parker  recommends  this 
as  a  powerful  astringent,  less  disagreeable  than  tannin,  and  quite 
compatible  with  iron  salts.  This  preparation  has  been  admitted  into 
the  new  British  Pharmacopoeia;  likewise  the  following: 
Glycerite  of  Subacetate  of  Lead. — Take  of  acetate  of  lead,  5  oz. ; 
oxide  of  lead  in  powder,  3 J  oz. ;  glycerin,  1  pint  (imperial) ;  distilled 
water,  12  fluid  ounces.  Mix,  boil  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  filter  and 
evaporate  until  the  water  is  dissipated. 
GLEANINGS  IN  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
By  the  Editor. 
The  Histology  of  Indian  Sandal  Wood  has  been  investigated  by 
Wm.  Kirkby,  F.  R.  M.  S.  The  wood,  which  is  the  undoubted  produce 
of  Santalum  album,  is  heavy  and  hard,  but  splits  comparatively  easy. 
It  is  reddish  brown,  darker  at  the  centre  than  at  the  periphery,  and  is 
marked  with  darker  concentric  zones.  With  a  lens,  the  medullary 
rays  and  wide  vessels  are  fairly  well  seen.  The  taste  is  aromatic,  and 
the  agreeable  odor  characteristic  and  persistent.  The  wood  consists  of 
tracheides,  interspersed  with  solitary  pitted  vessels,  and  traversed  by 
narrow  medullary  rays  (Fig.  1).  The  wood  wedges  vary  in  breadth 
from  25  to  294  micromm.,  the  average  being  145  micromm.  The 
