Am.  Tour.  Pharm. 
May,  1880. 
Minutes  of  the  College, 
^patients  had  only  been  slightly  benefitted  by  the  drug,  and  of  thirty-nine  patients, 
whose  cases  he  directed  at  the  mineral  springs,  only  six  had  taken  salicylate  of  sodium, 
though  they  did  not  appear  to  be  much  relieved  thereby.  Whilst  he  recognizes, 
therefore,  that  salicylate  of  sodium  acts  by  assuaging  the  pain,  M.  Bouloumie  would 
restrict  its  administration  in  chronic  gout.  He  points  out  the  inconveniences  and 
even  the  dangers  which  may  arise  from  its  use,  especially  if  the  heart  or  kidneys  be 
affected,  whilst  the  results  are  but  slight  except  in  very  favorable  or  in  subacute 
cases.  He  believes  that  the  drug  is  an  active  remedy,  which  should  be  kept  in  the 
iiherapeutic  arsenal  to  combat  gout,  though  its  action  in  this  disease  is  not  so  marked 
as  in  rheumatism,. — Le  Frogrhs  Medical,  from  Cincinnati  Lancet  and  Clinic^  March 
<i3,  1880. 
Sclerotic  Acid. — This  acid  is  probably  the  active  principle  of  ergot,  having  a 
•feeble  acid  affinity,  uniting  with  sodium  to  form  a  stable  sclerotate.  The  acid  and 
its  sodium  salt  have  the  therapeutic  effects  of  ergot,  but  the  salt  in  a  less  marked 
degree.  Both  chiefly  act  on  the  central  nervous  system.  In  mammals  the  heart  is 
not  influenced  by  even  relatively  large  doses.  At  death  the  respiration  ceases  before 
the  heart.  In  mammals  the  acid  accelerates  intestinal  })eristalsis  5  and  it  excites  con- 
traction both  of  the  pregnant  and  non-pregnant  uterus,  pre-existing  contractions 
being  intensified  so  that  the  organ  assumes  a  paler  tint.  Nikitin,  who  has  been 
recently  studying  its  effects,  says  that  he  calculates  that  a  man  weighing  about  110 
pounds  would  be  killed  by  about  150  grains  of  sclerotic  acid.  The  ordinary 
hypodermic  dose  is  0*02  to  0*03  gram  (one-third  to  one-half  grain)  three  times  a 
day.  Sclerotic  acid  seems  likely  before  long  to  partially  replace  ergot  as  a  drug.  It 
has  the  advantage  of  remaining  indefinitely  without  loss  of  strength,  if  only  kept  in 
a  dry  place  and  undissolved.  Its  sodium  salt  is  considered  the  best  form  for  inter- 
nal use  in  the  human  subject.  Hypodermic  injection  causes  a  temporary  sharp 
pain.  Von  Ziemssen  claims  for  sclerotic  acid  over  ergot  in  that  the  former  causes 
no  inflammation  at  the  seat  of  puncture, — A^.  C.  Med.  Jour. — Gaillard''s  Med.  Jour.^ 
April,  1880. 
MINUTES  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 
Philadelphia,  March  29th,  1880. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy  was  held  this  day 
at  the  Hali  of  the  College.  The  President,  Dillwyn  Parrish,  presided,  and  twenty- 
six  members  signed  the  register. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  stated  meeting  were  read,  and,  on  motion,  adopted. 
The  minutes  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  College 
were  read  by  Thos,  S.  Wiegand,  in  the  absence  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Board, 
and,  on  motion,  adopted. 
These  minutes  make  mention  of  the  death  of  Charles  H.  Dingee,  which  occurred 
in  December  last.  He  was  one  of  tlie  first  graduates  of  the  College.  A  short 
sketch  of  his  life  will  be  found  in  an  obituary  notice  in  the  February  number  of 
-ihe  Journal  of  this  year. 
