PHARMACEUTICAL  GLEANINGS. 
219 
On  the  Therapeutic  Action  of  the  Vapor  of  Bi- Sulphur et  of  Car- 
bon.— Dr.  Calvin  G.  Page  (Boston  Med.  and  Surg.  Jour.,  page 
77,  1856)  recommends  the  vapor  of  bi-sulphuret  of  carbon  to  be 
applied  externally,  for  neuralgic  and  rheumatic  pain,  by  holding 
a  wide-mouthed  vial,  containing  half  a  drachm  of  that  liquid,  so 
that  the  vapor  will  be  brought  in  contact  with  the  part  affected. 
The  vapor  produces  at  first  a  sensation  of  coldness,  then  a  feel- 
ing of  warmth  with  prickling,  which  rapidly  increases  until  it  can 
no  longer  be  borne.  Dr.  Page  believes  it  to  be  a  valuable  agent 
for  the  temporary  relief  of  pain,  and  in  certain  cases  with  per- 
manent benefit. 
Aconite  and  Horseradish  roots. — Robert  Bentley,  Prof,  of 
Botany  and  Materia  Medica  to  the  London  Pharmaceutical  So- 
ciety, in  a  lucid  paper  published  in  the  April  number  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Journal,  says,  "  Several  fatal  cases  of  poisoning 
have  occurred  by  the  accidental  substitution  of  monkshood,  or,  as 
it  is  commonly  called,  aconite  root,  for  horseradish,"  and  then 
gives  a  minute  description  of  this  root,  accompanied  by  an  en- 
graving of  the  roots  of  several  species  of  Aconitum.  This  substitu- 
tion of  roots,  so  different  in  appearance  and  sensible  properties, 
might  be  wrondered  at,  did  not  equally  improbable  mistakes  occur 
nearer  home.  But  a  short  time  ago,  two  cases  of  poisoning  occurred 
from  eating  the  root  of  Cicuta  macula ta,  or  water  hemlock,  in 
mistake  for  some  edible  root.  As  Aconite  is  not  found  in  the 
United  States  beyond  the  precincts  of  the  ornamental  garden, 
it  is  not  likely  that  this  mistake  will  occur  here. 
Accidental  Poisoning  by  Aconite. — At  the  assizes  of  Armagh, 
March  7th,  James  M'Caull  and  Samuel  Town  ley  Connor,  assist- 
ants in  the  shop  of  an  apothecary,  at  Newry,  were  indited  for 
manslaughter,  because  through  ignorance  or  carelessness,  they 
had  caused  the  death  of  Capt.  Kent,  by  using  tincture  of  aconite 
root  for  tincture  of  chiretta.  The  prisoners  were  found  guilty, 
and  sentenced  to  the  punishment  of  four  months  imprisonment. 
Fecula  of  Colchicum  Autumnale  as  a  source  of  Alcohol — M- 
F.  Comar  an  dleve  of  the  School  of  Pharmacy  of  Paris,  states, 
(Journ.  de  Pharm.  Jan.  1856)  that  the  fresh  bulb  of  Colchicum, 
yielded  to  him  21  percent,  of  starch  granules  and  that  he  was  un- 
successful in  detecting  inulin,  which  has  been  announced  as  an 
ingredient  of  the  cormus  of  this  plant.    M.  Comar  thinks  this 
