Progress  in  Pharmacy.  289 
Eserine  Oil  Solutions. — Emil  Wild  suggests  the  use  of  eserine  in 
olive  oil  as  a  desirable  substitute  for  aqueous  solutions.  The  advan- 
tage of  the  oil  solution  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  they  are  active, 
sterile,  perfectly  stable  and  non-irritating.  The  writer  uses  physos- 
tigmine  salicylate,  dried  at  ioo°  C,  and  subsequently  dissolved  in 
olive  oil  at  a  somewhat  higher  temperature.  (Phar.  Zeitg.,  1905, 
page  208.) 
Calomelol. — This  is  a  white  or  grayish-white  powder  that  is  prac- 
tically odorless  as  well  as  tasteless.  In  50  parts  of  cold  water  it  is 
soluble  or  rather  miscible  to  a  permanent  opalescent  mixture.  Calo- 
melol is  also  soluble  in  dilute  solutions  of  sodium  chloride,  solution 
of  albumen  and  in  other  similar  solutions.  It  is  insoluble  in  alcohol, 
ether  or  chloroform. 
Calomelol  is  said  to  consist  of  75  per  cent,  of  mercurous  chloride 
and  25  per  cent,  of  soluble  albuminoids.  It  is  used  externally  as  a 
dusting  powder  and  also  in  form  of  an  ointment.  (Apothek.  Zeitg., 
1905,  page  227.) 
Lentin. — This  is  said  to  be  metaphenylendiamin  hydrochlorate, 
and  is  recommended  to  be  used  in  cases  of  acute  dysentery.  Dose, 
for  adults,  o- 1  to  0-3  gramme  three  times  a  day.  (Apothek.  Zeitg.f 
1905,  page  156.) 
Neuronal. — This  is  diethyl  brom  acetamide,  a  white  crystalline 
powder  having  a  camphoraceous  odor  and  a  bitter,  cooling  taste.  It 
melts  at'66°  to  670  C.  Neuronal  is  soluble  in  about  120  parts  of 
cold  water,  and  is  decomposed  by  boiling  water ;  it  is  freely  soluble 
in  alcohol,  ether  and  the  fatty  oils.  Hot  or  boiling  solutions  of  an 
alkali  decompose  neuronal  with  the  formation  of  hydrocyanic  acid 
as  one  of  the  products  of  decomposition. 
This  formation  of  hydrocyanic  acid  is  said  to  take  place,  even  at 
ordinary  temperatures,  and  with  dilute  solutions  of  an  alkali.  (Phar. 
Centrk.,  1905,  page  68.) 
Perugen. — This  is  a  trade  name  for  a  synthetic  balsam  of  Peru 
made  in  Germany.  Perugen  is  said  to  have  the  consistency  of 
syrup,  to  be  brownish  red  in  color,  and  to  have  a  specific  gravity 
of  1-141.  It  is  also  said  to  have  the  agreeable  characteristic  odor 
of  balsam  of  Peru,  and  to  be  soluble  in  all  proportions  in  absolute 
alcohol  and  in  chloroform,  but  not  readily  miscible  with  the  fatty  oils. 
Alcoholic  solutions  give  an  acid  reaction  with  litmus  paper.  Peru- 
gen conforms  very  closely  to  the  German  Pharmacopoeia  require- 
ments for  balsam  of  Peru.    (Phar.  Zeitg.,  1905,  page  307.) 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  3905. 
