Dissolve the essences in the oil, the salts in the water, and proceed as before. The New England Druggist. AN OINTMENT FOR MUMPS. According to the Journal des Praticiens, May 9, 1896, Tranchet recommends the following: Ichthyol; Chloride of ammonium, 30 grains; Lard, I ounce. This ointment is to be applied to the swollen parts three times a day. In some instances vaseline may be used in place of the lard, and sometimes belladonna may be added with advantage. From the British Medical Journal (Journal of the British Medical Association).-October 17, 1896. Ladevie (Allgem. Wien med. Zeitung, Sept. 1st and 8th, 1896) records a large number of observations made by himself and others upon the antiseptic and therapeutic properties of Traumatol. It appears to have been used with great success in the treatment of varicose ulcers, eczema, metritis, gonorrhoeal vaginitis, soft chancers, and wounds both infected and surgical. Bacteriological researches also prove its antiseptic power. The author states that in contrast to iodoform, which is both irritating and poisonous, traumatol is absolutely harmless and non-irritating both locally and generally, properties which he considers sufficient to give it a high rank in the long list of antiseptics. Internally, its antiseptic action on the respiratory tract is as potent as that of creosote or iodoform. Furthermore, it exerts a most favorable influence upon that ordinary intractable complaint, tuberculosis diarrhoea, a property which is said to be shared by no other drug hitherto tried for the purpose. RECTAL ALIMENTATION. The following prescriptions are given by the Journal des Praticiens: Cod-liver oil.... Yolk of one egg. Lime water.... 5 ounces .....IO ounces This mixture is sufficient for four or five enemata, which may be given during the course of a day. In other instances the following may This is also sufficient for four or five separate enemata. In still other cases, where it is desirable to use the hypophosphites, and the stomach will not retain them, the following rectal injection may be Lime water, a sufficient quantity to make I quart. From four to six ounces of this liquid may be used as an injection. For dysentery: Sulphate of quinine. Powdered ipecac root. Chloride of ammonium. Tincture of opium. Distilled water.... .10 grains 5 grains 10 grains .12 drops I Ounce Of this a small teaspoonful may be taken every four hours.—Am. Druggist. A PROMINENT AUXILIARY IN INFANT FEEDING. The numerous articles constantly appearing on the feeding of infants not only exemplify the great importance of this subject but they also demonstrate that authorities are not yet agreed as to what constitutes the best method of artificial nutrition for infants who for some reason or other are unable to nurse at the breast. Some years ago Dr. Rieth suggested that by adding albumoses to cow's milk it could be made to resemble human milk as closely as possible. This idea was further elaborated by Goldman, who recommended the addition of Somatose, a practically pure albumoses product, to diluted cow's milk, together with cream and sugar of milk. Milk prepared according to this formula has been considerably used in Germany and with excellent results. In cases where this mixture is, however, not available, a good substitute may be secured by diluting cow's milk with equal parts of a Somatose solution (30 grains to a quart of the mixture) and adding about 6 drachms of cane sugar, as recently recommended by Dr. F. Schramm (Archiv. f. Kinderheilkunde, Bd. xxi. To older children he gave 30 to 45 grains daily in soups or milk. The nine cases reported by this author comprising infants suffering from malnutrition, acute dyspepsia, gastro-intestinal catarrh, acute febrile diseases, or convalescing from acute disorders illustrate most excellently the high nutritive value of Somatose. Under its use in these small doses the children, although greatly reduced in nutrition, promptly increased in weight-the best test of its ability to make good the waste of the albuminous elements of the body. In acute febrile affections Somatose acted not only as a nutriment, but as a tonic, as the little patients made a remarkably rapid recovery. Dr. Schramm enumerated the following advantages of this preparation as an infant food: 1. Somatose consists of nine-tenths of albumoses. 2. It contains no elements incapable of absorption or capable of fermentation. 3. It contains the potassium phosphate so important in the formation of cellular tissue. 4. It is readily digested and almost tasteless and odorless. 5. It produces a fine flocculent coagulation of cow's milk caseine. 6. It is well tolerated even by a sensitive stomach and absorbed even by a damaged epithelium. The author therefore considers Somatose a valuable addition to the list of dietetic remedies for children and a prominent auxiliary in the artificial nutrition of infants. CLINICAL RECORD. SOME IDEAS ON ALTERATIVES. By H. G. REEMSNYDER, M.D., Ephrate, Pa. The word "alterative" is construed by a great many medical writers as a term that can be applied to any drug or remedy of whose therapeutics not much is known, and less written. Consequently our materia medica is full of so-called alteratives, many of which are seldom used and possess an action far different from that ascribed to them, but for want of a better term are thus denominated. According to Brunton, an alterative is a drug that improves the general condition of the body, stimulates nutrition, and regulates the waste elimination without exerting any perceptible action on individual organs. This clearly defines the therapeutic action of those drugs called alteratives, a study of which is always interesting since it is to them that much of the success in the treatment of chronic diseases is due. The knowledge of the fact that a great many chronic diseases and conditions are amenable to treatment with benefit by alteratives is not by any means confined to the profession of medicine, but it has reached the laity and has spread through all the length and breadth of the land, as is evidenced by the general use of what are known as "blood purifiers," some of which have an enormous sale. It is, therefore, essential to the physician to be acquainted with the drugs which are thus employed, as there is scarcely a condition of a chronic nature in which a tonic alterative will not be of benefit. Every physician must have noted that there are always a certain number of patients among his clientele who may be called "regulars," who require a course of medical treatment about once every month or two, in order to preserve their peace of mind, if not that of their body; who come with a train of symptoms, as varied and as remarkable as they themselves are, and which are withal so vague and incomplete that no earthly physician can diagnose their troubles, who, nevertheless, will be greatly benefited by an alterative which will improve the nutrition, eliminate waste, and not effect any individual organ. Without doubt our best alteratives are to be found in the vegetable kingdom, and these have the advantage of being free from harm in prolonged administration, which cannot always be said of the indiscriminate use of such powerful minera! substances as mercury or arsenic. Another advantage can be attained in the use of vegetable remedies in the preparation of the green drug, upon which point I believe almost all authorities. agree. There has always been, however, on the part of our manufacturing chemists, somewhat of a tendency to ignore the demand for green drug extracts, so that it has become almost impossible to obtain reliable extracts, which are made from the green drug. However, we have one preparation of this character that experience has proved reliable, and which for certain therapeutic action is unsurpassed. I have reference to that known as iodia, which is composed of the active principles obtained from the green roots of stillingia, helonias, saxifraga, and menispermum, to which are added ferri phosphatum and potassium iodide. In theory this preparation presents an ideal formula, while in practice it producès certain beneficial results. In addition to those cases mentioned as being susceptible to marked benefit by the use of an alterative such as here indicated, this preparation has another and perhaps more important action, that of certainly curing syphilis. I have had ample opportunity to test this remedy in cases of syphilis in all stages, and I am in a position to positively assert that in this disease we can find nothing which gives more promising effects, and which allows us to give more encouragement to the unfortunate victims. I report a few cases that have come under my care a year or more ago, were treated with iodia, and have remained free from the disease to the present time: Case I.-Male: age, forty-four; married; had contracted syphilis about three years before consulting me. He gave a clear history of primary sore, followed by the usual symptoms, and was treated by another physician at that time. He had possession of the prescriptions which he had been using and they were shown to me. Large doses of corrosive sublimate had been. prescribed, with arsenic iodide and sarsaparilla. He seemed to improve rapidly, and after a time discontinued treatment. He consulted me for relief from a bursa of the right elbow, which he had been treating with external applications, without relief, of course. In inquiring into his history I asked him whether he ever had syphilis. "Three years ago,” he replied, "but that's all right now." I told him plainly that his present trouble undoubtedly was caused by the disease which he had contracted at that time, and that doubtless other signs of the disease could be found. Inquiry further revealed dull pains over the region of the liver, much dull headache, and a peculiar scaly condition of the nails. I promptly told him that he would require active and persistent treatment to overcome his trouble; explained to him that there was internal indication of syphilis, which would sooner or later be the cause of much |