Am/au-?i392arm'}  Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  367 
which  crystallizes  in  pearly  spangles  from  hot  alcohol,  and  these 
melt  at  760  C. — Joitr,Phar.  Chim.,  1892,  8. 
The  Oil  of  Mentha  Pulegium,  Linnc,  according  to  P.  Barbier 
(Compt.  rend.,  cxiv,  126),  contains  as  its  chief  constituent  puleone, 
C10H16O,  which  has  a  strong  mint-like  odor,  and  at  230  C.  the  spec, 
grav.  0  9293,  boils  at  222°,  is  dextrogyre,  and  by  chromic  acid  is 
oxidized  to  carbonic  and  acetic  acids  and  silky  needles  of  C7H1204 
which  are  probably  identical  with  propylsuccinic  acid.  Puleone  is 
energetically  acted  upon  by  bromine  with  the  evolution  of  HBr. 
It  combines  with  hydroxylamine  yielding  colorless  puleonoxime 
C10H16.  IN  OH,  having  a  strong  odor  and  boiling  at  1700  C. 
The  dose  of '  digitalis  for  the  abortive  treatment  of  pneumonia  is 
from  4  to  8  grams  of  the  leaves,  given  in  the  form  of  infusion  during 
twenty-four  hours,  according  to  Professor  Petresco  of  Bukharest 
(Bull.  gen.  Thir.,  Paris,  Feb.,  1892,  p.  120).  The  author  states  that 
the  tolerance  and  the  non-toxicity  of  such  large  doses  are  proved  by 
observations  on  755  cases  as  published  in  his  Traitede  therapeutique 
in  1884,  and  in  a  number  of  theses  sustained  before  the  medical 
faculty  at  Bukharest. 
Physiological  action  of  kola  nut. — After  considering  all  the 
arguments  and  weighing  the  evidence  produced  in  favor  of  each, 
Combemale  (Bidletin  gen.  Therap.,  Feb.,  1892)  arrives  at  the 
conclusion  that  Professor  See's  view  is  the  correct  one,  that  the 
action  of  kola  in  counteracting  the  sensation  of  fatigue  depends 
solely  upon  the  caffeine,  of  which  kola  contains  two  or  three  times 
the  proportion  of  that  met  with  in  coffee;. and  that  this  also 
explains  the  success  of  kola  in  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  heart 
and  in  the  renovation  of  strength  during  convalescence  or  following 
intellectual  or  physical  over-exertion.  The  favorable  effects  of 
kola  in. diarrhoea  are  due  to  the  tannin  present  in  the  drug.  (See 
also  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1892,  pp.  79,  191,  230.) 
Effects  of  cocaine. — The  frequent  and  continued  use  of  cocaine 
upon  the  nasal  mucous  membrane,  according  to  Dr.  Seifert  (Rev. 
laryngol.,  1892,  No.  6),  produces  a  local  paralysis  and  hypertrophy 
of  the  mucous  membrane  ;  in  addition  to  these,  general  effects  are 
noticed,  like  inability  for  intellectual  work,  insomnia  and  palpita- 
tion of  the  heart.  These  symptoms  improve  rapidly  after  the 
cessation  of  the  medicament. 
