584  3Iinutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  {^'^■^^Z'ms^'"'- 
Silicofluoride  of  sodium  as  an  antiseptic. — After  an  extensive  and  varied  trial 
of  salufer,  Dr.  Robson  {Brit.  Med.  Jour.,  May  19),  has  arrived  at  the  follow- 
ing conclusions  : 
1.  "  Salufer"  is  an  efficient  antiseptic. 
2.  The  powder  is  a  strong  irritant,  even  acting  as  a  caustic  if  dusted  on  a 
raw  surface. 
3.  A  solution  of  one  grain  to  an  ounce  of  water  is  quite  strong  enough 
for  ordinary  purposes,  being  apparently  unirritating  in  that  strength. 
4.  A  solution  of  ten  to  twenty  grains  to  a  pint  (imperial),  may  be  safely 
used  to  syringe  out  closed  cavities. 
5.  The  solution  is  unirritating  to  the  hands. 
6.  The  solution  acts  on  the  glaze  of  porcelain  after  long  use,  and  corrodes 
steel  instruments,  but  sponges  are  unaffected  by  it.  The  addition  of  bicar- 
bonate of  sodium  to  the  solution  of  "salufer"  diminishes  its  action  on 
steel. 
7.  A  very  convenient  and  comfortable  antiseptic  poultice  may  be  made 
by  soaking  Gamgee  tissue  or  absorbent  wool  in  a  hot  solution  (ten  grains 
to  the  pint),  wringing  it  free  of  excessive  moisture,  applying  it  to  a  wound, 
and  covering  with  gutta-percha  tissue. 
8.  Although  for  ordinary  surgical  work  he  will  still  employ  perchloride 
of  mercury,  in  all  cases  where  there  is  danger  of  absorption,  as  in  syringing 
out  cavities,  he  will  employ  "salufer." 
9.  "  Salufer  "  will  prove  to  be  of  great  use  to  obstetricians,  it  being  both 
safe  and  efficient. 
10.  It  acts  very  efficiently  as  a  deodoriser  to  the  hands. 
Amylene  Hydrate. — Dr.  Lares  [Med.  News ;  Berl.  klin.  Woch.,  May  21,  1888), 
presents  the  following  conclusions  : 
1.  Amylene  hydrate  is  a  very  useful  hypnotic,  which  may  be  given  in  two 
or  three  times  as  large  a  dose  as  chloral  hydrate. 
2.  It  operates  somewhat  less  certainly  than  chloral  hydrate  and  morphine. 
3.  Unpleasant  accidents  (excitement,  slight  drunken-like  stupor)  were 
very  seldom  observed.    Grave  accidents  were  never  observed. 
4.  A  tolerance,  relative  to  diminution  in  efficiency,  was  not  noticed 
within  three  months. 
5.  The  deep  and  refreshing  nature  of  the  sleep  obtained  was  praised 
oftener  than  in  the  case  of  any  other  sleep-producing  means. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  PHAEMACEUTICAL  MEETING. 
Philadelphia,  October  16, 1888. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  present  series  of  meetings  was  held  this  day,  and 
was  organized  by  calling  Mr.  Wm.  B.  Webb  to  the  chair.  The  minutes  of 
the  last  meeting  having  been  published  in  the  American  Journal  of  Phar- 
macy, it  was  moved  that  the  reading  of  them  be  dispensed  with. 
