RECTIFIED  OIL  OF  AMBER  A  REMEDY  FOR  HEMORRHOIDS.  217 
much  used  by  the  Norwegians  for  illumination.  The  residue  is 
yet  further  treated  to  get  a  brown  oil,  used  in  the  arts,  whilst  the 
final  residue,  of  a  resin-like  matter,  is  used  by  the  farmers  as  a 
manure. — Journ.  de  Pharm.y  March,  1866. 
W.  P.,  Jr. 
NOTE  OS  RECTIFIED  OIL  OF  AMBER  AS  A  REMEDY  FOR 
HAEMORRHOIDS. 
By  William  Procter,  Jr. 
Of  the  large  number  of  persons  who  suffer  from  this  annoying 
complaint,  very  many  never  consult  a  physician,  and  many  others 
after  renewed  treatment  give  up  the  idea  of  becoming  cured, 
viewing  the  affliction  like  some  do  old  ulcers,  as  a  burden  to  be 
borne  while  life  continues.  Various  external  applications  are 
constantly  prescribed,  as  an  ointment  of  acetate  of  lead,  tannin 
or  nutgall,  and  opium,  which  is  often  successful  in  affording 
relief.  Numerous  secret  nostrums  have,  from  time  to  time,  at- 
tracted attention,  indicating  the  prevalence  of  the  disease. 
Several  years  ago  my  curiosity  was  excited  by  the  repeated  calls 
for  rectified  oil  of  amber  by  a  person  who  was  not  in  any  way 
connected  with  medicine,  and  he  was  asked  the  use  to  which  it 
was  applied.  He  said  it  was  for  piles,  and  that  he  rarely  knew 
it  to  fail,  the  numerous  calls  that  had  been  made  being  for  friends 
and  acquaintances  who  were  sufferers  from  the  complaint.  After 
that,  on  several  occasions  where  opportunity  offered,  it  was  sug- 
gested and  tried  with  success,  in  many  cases  of  piles  where  the 
tumors  were  external  and  annoying.  The  manner  of  its  cura- 
tive action  I  am  not  aware  of.  The  oil  is  applied  as  a  lotion  to 
the  tumours,  and  around  the  anus  where  the  swellings  exist.  It 
occasions  a  smarting  sensation  at  first,  but  after  several  applica- 
tions the  sensitiveness  disappears,  and  the  tumours  are  dissipated. 
So  far  as  is.  known  to  the  writer  the  influence  is  entirely  local, 
and  does  not  extend  beyond  the  parts  to  which  it  is  applied.  I 
am  not  aware  that  it  has  been  applied  beyond  the  sphincter  ani 
to  the  internal  tumors,  but  know  of  a  case  wherein  both  inter- 
nal and  external  piles  existed,  the  latter  disappearing,  and  the 
others  continuing  to  give  annoyance.  The  object  of  this  note  is 
to  ask  the  attention  of  medical  men  to  the  subject,  that  the  ac- 
