GLEANINGS — MEDICAL,    PHARMACEUTICAL,  ETC. 
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According  to  Molina  the  name  of  this  tree  is  derived  from  the 
Chilian  word  quillean,  which  signifies  to  wash.  The  wood  is 
very  hard,  and  as  it  does  not  easily  split,  it  is  used  by  the  pea- 
sants to  make  stirrups,  but  the  chief  value  of  the  tree  is  due  to 
its  bark.  The  latter  is  received  in  bales  by  way  of  Havre  from 
Valparaiso  and  Lima. ' 
GLEANINGS— MEDICAL,  PHARMACEUTICAL  AND  CHEMICAL. 
Syrup  of  Borax. — M.  Trousseau  recommends  this  syrup  in 
laryngeal  catarrh.  His  formula  is,  borax  four  drachms,  simple 
syrup  ten  ounces,  (dissolved  with  aid  of  heat.)  A  teaspoonful 
is  to  be  taken  from  seven  to  ten  times  a  day,  swallowed  without 
dilution,  and  avoiding  to  drink  immediately  after  so  as  to  pro- 
long the  contact  of  the  remedy. — Boston  Med.  Journ. 
Saccharine  Protosulphate  of  Iron.- — M.  Latour  recommends 
that  300  grains  of  pure  protosulphate  of  iron  be  mixed  with  80 
grains  of  sugar  candy  dissolved  in  a  gill  of  water,  and  left  to 
crystallize  at  the  temperature  of  95°  to  100°  Fahr.  The  crys- 
tals are  oblique  rhomboidal  prisms,  keep  without  alteration  if 
well  dried  at  first,  and  contain  54.57  per  cent,  of  the  sulphate 
of  iron  (Ibid.) 
Preservation  of  Vaccine  Virus  hy  Grlycerin. — Dr.  Andrews, 
of  Chicago,  111.,  has  ascertained  that  glycerin  will  preserve 
vaccine  virus  in  an  active  condition.  The  scab  broken  into 
pieces  is  thrown  into  a  vial  with  a  little  glycerin  and  occasionally 
shaken.  Dr.  Andrews  vaccinated  seven  cases  without  a  single 
failure,  with  the  liquefied  virus  that  had  been  kept  through  the 
warm  weather.  If  the  preservative  action  of  the  glycerin  should 
prove  to  extend  indefinitely  it  will  greatly  increase  the  facility 
of  vaccination.  Dr.  Johnson,  who  makes  the  communication 
to  the  Peninsular  Medical  Journal,  examined  the  mixture 
microscopically  and  found  the  cells  perfectly  preserved. 
Therapeutical  use  of  Iodate  of  Potassa. — Messrs.  Demarquay 
and  Gustin  suggest  the  use  of  the  iodate  instead  of  the  chlorate 
of  potassa  in  affections  of  the  mucous  membrane  wherein  the  latter 
has  been  used.    It  is  said  to  act  quicker,  more  energetically  and 
3 
