610  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.      {^°^  D^c.'i'iIS*'''^" 
used,  and  with  good  results,  as  a  healing  application  to  incised  and 
lacerated  wounds. 
Preparations  of  Pycnanthemum  linifolium,  Pursh. — Howard  T. 
Painter,  Ph.  G.,  found  the  fresh  herb  to  lose  on  drying  from  50  to  60 
per  cent,  of  weight,,  and  the  air-dry  herb  to  yield  6  to  7  per  cent,  of 
ash.  The  herb  is  known  in  some  localities  as  dysentery  weed  and  is 
used  for  dyspepsia  and  in  bowel  complaints,  and  in  hot  infusion  as  a 
diaphoretic.    The  following  preparations  are  suggested : 
Fluid  extract  of  ^pycnanthemum. — The  menstruum  used  is  a  mixture 
of  alcohol  1  part  and  water  3  parts.  The  fluid  extract  is  of  a  deep 
red  brown  color,  has  the  characteristic  odor  and  taste  of  the  drug,  and 
on  standing  for  some  weeks  deposits  a  slight  precipitate.  The  addi- 
tion of  5  per  cent,  of  glycerin  to  the  menstruum  does  not  prevent  the 
precipitate. 
Syrup  of  pycnanthemum,  prepared  from  the  fluid  extract  25  parts, 
and  simple  syrup  75  parts,  aflbrds  a  pleasant  form  for  administration. 
GLEANINGS  FROM  THE  GERMAN  JOURNALS. 
By  Feank  X.  MoERK,  Ph.  G. 
Antiseptic  Pastilles,  for  use  in  diphtheria,  are  made  by  incorporating 
boric  acid  and  borax,  each  20  gm.,  citric  acid  12*5  gm.,  sodium  ben- 
zoate  1  gm.,  oil  of  lemon  1*5  gm.,  oil  of  thyme  1  gm.,  oil  of  pepper- 
mint 0*5  gm.,  with,  glycerin  and  water  as  solvents,  and  gum,  sugar  and 
gelatin  as  basis,  and  dividing  into  500  pastilles. — Schmidt's  Jahrhuch, 
Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1888,  501. 
Helleborein,  the  glucoside  of  Helleborus  niger  and  Helleborus  viride, 
has  been  used  as  a  substitute  for  digitalis.  Victorio  and  Ehridia  have 
discovered  that  it  is  an  efficient  local  anaesthetic ;  when  used  in  one 
per  cent,  aqueous  solution,  three  or  four  drops  placed  in  the  eye  of  a 
dog  or  rabbit  produce  anaesthesia  of  the  cornea,  lasting  about  30  min- 
utes, without  producing  disagreeable  secondary  effects. — Apoth.  Ztg., 
1888,  793. 
Oleum  Theohromoe  has  been  re-investigated  by  Paul  Graf,  who  finds 
it  to  contain  small  quantities  of  free  fatty  acids  and  cholesterin.  The 
liberated  fatty  acids  on  distillation  gave  evidence  of  formic,  acetic  and 
butyric  acids;  oleic  acid  is  present,  and  after  its  separation,  arachic, 
stearic  and  lauric  acids  were  isolated  by  fractional  precipitations  with 
