Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Mar.,  1875.  J 
Varieties, 
to  Europe  and  undersell  their  competitors,  and  still  be  content  with  the  profits,  the 
entire  business  may  eventually  be  absorbed  by  them.  Under  such  circumstances  a 
combination  would  be  improbable. 
If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  cost  to  manufacture  shall  be  found  to  be  about  equal,  a 
combination  for  mutual  protection  might  be  formed  and  prices  be  advanced. 
The  question  has  received  serious  consideration  in  Europe  as  to  combination  or 
competition  between  the  foreign  and  home  producers.  So  far  a  conservative  policy 
seems  to  have  been  observed  by  the  agents  of  the  Peruvians,  in  London  and  else- 
where, and  an  indisposition  manifested,  on  their  part,  to  unnecessarily  depress  prices. 
Should  they  offer  their  consignments  on  arrival,  without  reserve,  the  result  would  be 
that,  in  a  short  time,  they  would  discover^ — 
First,  Whether  a  much  lower  price  would  stimulate  consumption. 
Secondly,  Whether  such  concession  in  price  would  affect  production  either  in 
Scotland  or  South  America,  or  in  both. 
From  such  information  as  we  have,  therefore,  a  combination  to  materially  advance 
prices  seems  quite  improbable,  but  it  is  possible  that  about  present  rates  may  be 
steadily  maintained. — Philadelphia  Drug  Exchange  Circular  No.  25. 
The  Prevention  of  Sea-sickness. — Dr  Giraldes  has  published,  in  the  last  num- 
ber of  the  "Journal  de  Therapeutique,'"  an  account  of  the  means  by  which  he 
avoided  sea-sickness  during  two  passages  to  England  and  back.  He  was  at  Boulogne 
last  June  en  route  for  London,  when  the  weather  was  so  rough  that  many  intending 
passengers  hesitated  to  cross  the  channel.  Dr.  Giraldes  was  informed  by  a  colleague 
at  Boulogne  that  American  physicians  used  the  syrup  of  chloral  as  a  preventive  of 
sea-sickness  with  successful  results.  He  therefore  obtained  some  syrup  of  chloral, 
put  himself  into  a  quiet  corner,  and  took  his  syrup  directly  the  vessel  was  in  motion, 
when,  although  his  fellow-passengers  experienced  the  usual  unpleasant  consequences, 
he  arrived  at  Folkestone  without  having  suffered  the  least  inconvenience.  The  same 
results  were  obtained  on  the  return  voyage  5  but  he  increased  the  amount  of  chloral. 
He  had  again  occasion  to  cross  the  channel  at  the  end  of  September,  by  the  night 
boat  from  Calais  to  Dover,  and  thinking,  with  reason,  that  the  sea  would  be  rougher 
at  that  season  than  usual,  he  had  a  drauglit  made  up  composed  of  chloral,  3  grams 
(45  grains)  5  distilled  water,  50  grams  5  gooseberry  syrup,  60  grams  5  and  French 
essence  of  pepp-rmint,  2  drops.  He  took  half  of  the  draught  as  the  vessel  left  the 
harbor,  and  arrived  at  Dover  without  having  suffered  in  the  least  from  sea-sickness, 
whilst  his  companions  were  in  the  usual  condition  of  prostrate  misery,  A  very 
heavy  sea  was  running.  On  his  return  from  London  on  October  30,  there  was  a  high 
sea  and  much  wind  5  he  accordingly  took  the  remaining  portion  of  his  draught,  soon 
went  to  sleep,  and  only  awoke  on  hii  arrival  at  Calais  in  the  best  possible  condition. 
Dr.  Giraldes  remarks  that  he  is,  as  a  rule,  affected  by  sea-sickne^s  when  he  crosses 
the  channel,  and  that  his  two  trials  of  chloral  have  convinced  him  of  its  efficacy  as 
a  preventive  of  that  most  disagreeable  malady.  He  adds  that  he  never  goes  down 
into  the  cabin,  but  makes  himself  as  comfortable  as  circumstances  will  allow  on 
deck. —  Medical  Ne^xus,  Feb.,  1875,  from  Lond.  Med.  Record,  Dec.  9,  1874. 
Determination  of  Tannin, — MM.  Muntz  and  Ramspacher. — The  principle 
of  the  method  is  as  follows: — A  solution  of  tannin,  filtered  by  pression  or  aspira- 
