116 
PHARMACEUTICAL  GLEANINGS. 
gutta  percha  caustic  has  the  following  advantages  : — 1st,  It  is 
not  alterable  in  the  tissues.  2d,  It  retains  its  consistence  and 
flexibility.  3d,  It  can  be  inserted  easily,  owing  to  its  pliability, 
into  the  natural  passages,  as  the  urethra  and  nostrils,  and  into 
those  of  fistulas.  4th,  The  surgeon  can  formit,  atwill,  into  any 
shape  required,  as  in  plates,  threads,  bougies,  tablets,  &c.  5th,  And 
lastly,  it  has  the  valuable  advantage  of  permitting,  by  its  porosity, 
the  exudation  of  the  caustic,  and  thus  opening  a  free  passage  for 
the  result  of  the  action  of  the  caustic  on  the  tissues. 
Besides  chloride  of  zinc,  Dr.  Maunoury  has  applied,  in  this 
way,  caustic  potassa,  arsenious  acid,  iodide  of  lead,  cinnabar, 
tartar  emetic,  etc. 
Nux  Vomica  as  an  Aperient. — Among  the  conditions  over 
which  nux  vomica,  and  its  active  principle,  strychnia,  possess 
most  useful  powers,  is  that  of  habitual  constipation,  from  mus- 
cular atony  of  the  intestinal  tube.  At  the  City  Hospital  for 
Diseases  of  the  Chest,  we  observe  that  Dr.  Peacock  and  Dr. 
Andrew  Clark  are  both  in  the  habit  of  frequently  resorting  to  it 
for  this  purpose.  It  is  generally  given  in  combination  with  the 
compound  rhubarb  pill,  and  in  doses  of  the  extract  of  from  a 
sixth  to  half  a  grain.  Of  itself  it  can,  perhaps,  scarcely  be 
deemed  an  aperient — that  is,  it  does  not  so  much  excite  peristal- 
tic action,  as  supply  tone  to  the  weakened  muscular  coat,  by 
which  it  is  enabled  to  respond  efficiently  to  other  irritants.  Hence 
the  need  for  combination  with  rhubarb,  aloes,  or  some  similar 
drug;.  Dr.  Peacock  mentioned  to  us  a  case  under  his  care  in  St. 
Thomas's  Hospital,  in  which  a  man  of  feeble  intellect,  and  torpid 
nervous  system  generally,  had  derived  great  benefit  from  its  em- 
ployment. At  first,  the  bowels  were  obstinately  costive,  and 
lavements  produced  no  action  ;  but  since  the  use  of  the  nux 
vomica  (twice  daily,  gr.  ss.)  they  have  so  far  increased  in  power 
and  susceptibility,  that  simple  injections  are  quite  sufficient,  and 
procure  all  the  action  that  is  necessary  London  Med.  Times 
and  Qaz. 
New  Filter. — Dublanc  recommends  for  rapid  filtration,  a  wire 
frame  made  in  the  shape  of  a  funnel  of  tinned  or  silver  wire,  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  alternate  folds  of  a  ribbed  filter  fit  upon 
the  wires.  A  second  wire  frame  fitting  against  the  other  folds, 
is  placed  inside  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  filter  in  its  place. 
— London  Pliar.  Jour,  from  Dingier  s  Poly technisches  Journal. 
