556 
Current  Literature. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
^     August,  19 19. 
that  suprarenal  insufficiency  is  the  determining  factor  in  the  produc- 
tion of  certain  reactions  following  administration  of  arsenobenzol, 
and  gives  one  Mg.  intramuscularly  ten  minutes  before  the  intra- 
venous injection.  In  cases  presenting  marked  nitroid  crisis  he  does 
not  hesitate  to  give  double  that  amount. — T.  S.  (The  Prescriber, 
May,  1919.) 
Arsenobenzol:  Decomposition  of  Solutions  (Jour.  Lab.  and 
Clin.  Med.,  1919,  4,  181;  Jan.). — J.  B.  Rieger  says  that  arsphenamin 
(American  arsenobenzol  or  salvarsan)  may  contain  an  arseniuretted 
methyl  compound,  which  decomposes  with  liberation  of  cacodyl-like 
substance.  Some  preparations  give  a  garlic-like  odour  when  dis- 
solved, others  develop  it  after  standing  in  solution  for  some  time. 
According  to  the  amount  of  this  that  may  have  accumulated,  along 
with  other  factors,  a  reaction  may  occur  after  injection,  marked  by 
fall  in  blood  pressure,  dyspnoea,  and  cyanosis.  The  author  sug- 
gests that  the  use  of  methyl  alcohol  in  its  preparation  should  be 
avoided. — T.  S.    (The  Prescriber,  May,  191 9.) 
Copper  Sulphate  in  Dermatology. — Several  formulae  for  the 
use  of  the  copper  sulphate  in  various  skin  diseases  are  given  by  De 
Herain  (Presse  med.,  Oct.  31,  1918).  For  parasitic  affections  he 
recommends  a  strong  ointment: 
Copper  sulphate   2 
Zinc  oxide   15 
Lanolin   10 
Soft  paraffin    73 
For  milder  complaints,  such  as  acne,  eczema,  etc.,  a  weak  ointment 
containing  only  0.2  per  cent,  of  copper  sulphate  is  prescribed.  A 
dusting  powder  containing  0.2  (weak)  or  2.0  (strong)  per  cent,  of 
copper  sulphate  in  talc  may  be  used.  In  eczema  he  uses  a  lotion 
containing  0.01  per  cent,  of  the  salt  dissolved  in  water,  and  after 
cure,  to  avoid  relapses,  continues  with  a  solution  0.0025  per  cent. 
(The  Prescriber,  May,  1919.) 
Constipation. — J.  Ritchie  gives  the  following  formula  in  an 
article  on  the  subject  (Edin.  Med.  Jour.,  1918,  21,  253;  Nov.)  : 
$    Ext.  cascar.  sagrad.  liq   3i 
Paraff.  liquid    oiss 
Ext.  malti  liq   Biss  . 
M.  Sig. — "  A  teaspoonful  twice  daily." 
(The  Prescriber,  May,  1919.) 
