April;  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  179 
oils  augmentation.  3.  It  always  induced  contraction  of  the  uterus 
and  its  appendages.  Under  the  influence  of  an  aqueous  extract  of 
hydrastis  the  most  intense  contractions  took  place  in  cases  of  advanced 
pregnancy,  or  soon  after  delivery  ;  the  contractions  were  weakest  in 
the  virgin  uterus.  4.  Large  quantities  of  the  extract  may  induce 
premature  delivery  in  the  second  period  of  pregnancy.  As  clini- 
cal results,  the  author  concludes:  1.  Hydrastis  is  an  excellent 
means  to  combat  uterine  hemorrhages  due  to  inflammation  or  false  po- 
sitions of  the  organ,  as  also  against  hemorrhages  following  the  cata- 
menial  period,  and  in  the  case  of  too    abundant  mensual  losses. 
2.  Uterine  contractions  produced  by  hydrastis  are  less  intense  than 
those  from  ergot  of  rye.  3.  Its  use  produces  no  untoward  effect  upon 
the  organism.  Even  when  taken  for  a  prolonged  period  it  causes  no 
gastro-intestinal  troubles,  and  often  ameliorates  dyspepsias  which  have 
previously  existed. 
Strophanthus  Seeds  of  Commerce. — Mr.  R.  Blondel  {Jour, 
de  Phar.  et  de  Chimie,  March  1,  1888),  putting  aside  several  sorts  as 
having  a  purely  botanic  interest,  finds  that  the  four  principal  species 
of  strophanthus  seeds  now  in  the  market  consist  of:  1.  Strophanthus 
of  the  Niger,  which  most  resembles  the  S.  hispidus  of  the  museums, 
though  it  sensibly  differs  from  it  in  the  form  of  the  seed  and  the 
length  and  the  abundance  of  the  hairs.  2.  Kombe  strophanthus, 
which  has  longer  hairs,  and  seed  of  a  green  instead  of  a  brown  color. 
3.  The  Gaboon  strophanthus,  whose  seeds  are  brown,  thin,  and  perfectly 
smooth.  4.  The  Zambesi  strophanthus,  whose  seeds  are  of  a  greenish 
gray  color,  thickly  covered  with  long,  soft  and  shining  hairs.  The  two 
first  are  less  plentiful  in  the  market  than  the  others,  and  the  third  is 
still  somewhat  rare.  This  one — from  the  Gaboon — appears  to  be  re- 
markably active.  This  is  the  sort  used  by  Polaillon  and  Carville  for 
their  first  researches,  and  later  by  Hardy  and  Gallois  for  the  extrac- 
tion of  strophantin.  It  is,  therefore,  the  seed  which  physiologists  have 
thus  far  called — though  wrongfully — Strophanthus  hispidus,  De  Cand. 
The  fourth, .the  woolly  seed  of  Zambesi,  though  rare  in  France,  ap- 
pears to  have  been  much  used  in  England,  where  it  enters  wholly  or  in 
part  into  the  preparation  of  Fraser^s  tincture. 
Naphthol  as  an  Antiseptic. — Maximo vitch  (Compt.  rend..  Jan. 
30,  1888,)  has  concluded  experiments  which  seem  to  justify  his  con- 
clusion that,  as  an  antiseptic,  a  naphthol  is  superior  to  /9  naphthol. 
The  author  has  also  determined  the  toxic  energy  of  a  naphthol. 
