276 
Varieties. 
Am.  Jour  Pharns. 
May,  18S0. 
Sodium  Salicylate  in  Phthisis.  By  A.  Hutchins,  M.D. — I  desire  to  call  atten- 
tion to  certain  useful  results  to  be  obtained  from  sodium  salicylate  in  the  advanced 
stage  of  phthisis.  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  B.  A.  Segur  for  the  original  suggestion.. 
The  cases  in  which  its  effects  have  been  observed  are  too  few,  and  the  effects  not 
snfficiently  constant  to  justify  any  positive  statements  as  to  the  precise  indications 
for  its  use  5  yet,  so  far  as  have  been  observed,  the  effects  are  pronounced  enough  to 
justify  further  observation.  My  studies,  thus  far,  have  been  limited  to  cases  in  the 
Brooklyn  City  Hospital,  while  Dr.  Segur,  in  addition  to  some  experience  in  St, 
Peter's  Hospital,  has  had  some  cases  in  private  practice,  where  its  effects  have  been 
observed. 
Allowing  this  paucity  of  experience  to  stand  for  marginal  notes  for  future 
observers,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  sodium  salicylate  acts  promptly  and  pleasantly 
in  modifying  the  colliquative  diarrhoea  of  phthisis.  Its  action  is  accompanied  by  no 
such  contingent  or  secondary  effects  as  belong  to  the  use  of  opiates.  Of  course,  no 
cure  ot  the  diarrhoea  is  expected,  and  a  recurrence  of  the  symptom  can  be  met  by 
resuming  the  medicine.  In  connection  with  this,  it  has  been  noticed  that  the  admin- 
istration of  the  sodium  salicylate  has  been  followed  by  a  marked  amelioration  of 
the  cough,  a  subsidence  of  the  hectic,  and  a  diminution,  sometimes  suppression  of 
the  night-sweating.  It  is  not  known  how  far  these  effects  can  be  prolonged  by  the 
continued  use  of  the  drug,  nor  to  what  extent  it  may  be  beneficial  to  intermit  it 
with  other  remedies.  The  most  that  can  be  said  with  po.sitiveness  is,  that  without 
disturbance  to  the  digestion,  it,  at  times,  serves  an  excellent  purpose  in  modifying,, 
to  the  great  relief  of  the  patient,  some  of  the  more  prominent  and  distressing  symp- 
toms that  belong  to  the  latest  stage  of  phthisis.  This  fact  is  the  only  ju.'vtification 
for  intruding  the  results  of  such  a  limited  observation.  Ten  grains  of  the  drug, 
repeated  every  three  or  four  hours,  have  been  found  adequate.  Dissolved  in  water, 
it  will  not  be  found  offensive  if  taken  in  iced-water. — Proceedings  of  the  Med.  Soc.  of 
the  county  oj  Kings^  Nenjj  York,  Feb.,  1880. 
A  New  Anthelmintic. — The  Ocytnum  basilicum,  a  plant  known  in  Buenos  Ayres 
under  the  name  *' albochaca,""  has  an  action  of  such  a  nature  that  the  worms  in  every 
stage  of  development  rapidly  leave  their  location  after  the  juice  reaches  them.  It!> 
use  is  so  much  the  more  to  be  recommended  since,  in.  the  event  no  worms  are  pres- 
ent no  injurious  effect  results  from  the  plant,  but  a  laxative  and  disinfectant  action 
is  the  only  result.  Fifty  grams  of  the  juice  is  given,  followed  in  two  hours  by  a 
dose  of  castor  oil.    A  free  discharge  of  the  worms  may  be  expected. 
The  above  observations  of  Dr.  Lemos  and  the  results  obtained  are  very  encour- 
aging, and  invite  further  investigation,  the  more  since  the  number  of  anthelmintics 
's  limited,  and  their  action  often  unsatisfactory. — Med.  Neuigk.,  No.  34,  1879,  f'"0'T^ 
Gaillard's  Med.  Journ.^  March,  1880. 
Salicylate  of  Sodium  in  Gout. —  M.  Bouloumie  has  communicated  to  the  Medical 
Society  of  Paris  the  results  of  his  investigations  upon  the  action  of  salicylate  ot 
sodium  during  an  attack  of  gout.  The  author  has  administered  the  salicylate  to 
some  of  his  own  patients,  and  he  has  inquired  of  a  large  number  who  came  to  Vittel 
for  treatment,  whether  or  not  they  had  been  subjected  to  this  method.     His  own. 
