180  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  {^"'Apru;^*''"'" 
Using  an  alcoholic  solution  of  this  naphthol,  he  found  that  in  order  to 
kill  an  animal  with  it  he  was  obliged  to  inject,  hypodermically,  u 
quantity  containing  from  3  to  5  gras.  of  the  substance,  a  JN'aphtho], 
he  says,  is  therefore  three  times  less  toxic  than  /?  naphthol,  while  it  is 
seven  times  less  toxic  than  the  mercuric  iodide.  The  dose  necessary 
to  kill  a  man  weighing  65  kilos,  would  be  about  585  gms.  Nouveaux 
Bemedes,  of  Feb.  24,  1888,  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  author 
thus  introduces  a  body  which  is  antiseptic  without  being  extremely 
toxic.  "This  is  an  extremely  remarkable  phenomenon,'^  says  the 
writer,  "  and  until  now,  no  one  has  been  able  to  find  an  antiseptic  sub- 
stance aside  from  those  which  are  extremely  toxic.  In  order  to  kill 
the  microbe  we  have  been  obliged  to  take  the  risk  of  killing  the 
patient ;  it  will  now  be  possible  for  us  to  use  substances  which  shall 
be  toxic  for  the  microbe  while  having  but  a  slightly  active  influence 
upon  man.'' 
Danger  in  Antipyrtne? — At  the  Acddemie  de  Medecme,  Feb. 
14,  1888,  Prof.  Ball  reported  a  case  of  intoxication,  observed  by  Dr. 
Jennings  in  a  woman,  set.  67,  suffering  from  nodular  rheumatism. 
The  patient  had  been  taking  antipyrine  for  eight  days  in  the  quantity 
of  2*50  gm.  per  diem,  when  vaso-motor  troubles  appeared,  first 
characterized  by  erythematous^  spots  on  the  face,  and  swelling  of 
the  eyelids.  Conjunctivitis  and  a  generalized  rash  followed, 
and  these  symptoms  were  supplemented  by  anorexia,  vomiting, 
tinnitus,  torpor  and  refrigeration.  The  symptoms  disappeared 
readily,  however,  after  the  administration  of  a  few  drops  of  the  tinc- 
ture of  belladonna.  Mr.  Jennings  thought  antipyrine  should  be  used 
circumspectly  in  the  cases  of  aged  or  impressionable  subjects.  Drs. 
See  and  Dujardin-Beaumetz  thought  this  statement  would  serve  to 
warn  the  public  of  the  untoward  symptoms  to  which  antipyrine — 
whose  use  was  abused  at  present — might  give  rise.  They  thought, 
however,  that  the  symptoms  were  not  those  of  intoxication,  properly 
so  called,  and  did  not  justify  the  use  of  belladonna,  still  less  of  atro- 
pine. They  had  sometimes  observed  gastric  troubles  following  the 
giving  of  antipyrine,  but  thought  these  were  due  to  impurities,  as  the 
medicament  often  contains  benzene.  Re-crystallized  antipyrine  was 
recommended  ;  but  if  gastric  symptoms  persisted,  they  should  be  com- 
bated, the  professors  thought,  with  bicarbonate  of  sodium  and  Seltzer 
water.    Arch,  de  pharm.,  March  5,  1888. 
Chloride  of  Sodium  in  Migraine. — Batom  (Euccoglitore  med. 
