11. This increase of pressure is soon succeeded by a fall, due to a weakening of the heart itself.

If the action of piscidia is compared with that of chloral, it is found that the former has no dangerous action on the heart like the latter, nor such an energetic action like the latter upon the respiratory apparatus.

Compared with atropia, piscidia, unlike the former, does not paralyze the motor nerves; it does not paralyze the cord or tympani; it does not arrest the sudoral secretion; it does not paralyze the pneumogastrics, and does not elevate greatly the arterial tension, but like it, it dilates the pupil. Compared with morphia, like it it produces sleep, heightened excitability, spinal convulsions, general paralysis and stimulation of the main vaso-motor center; unlike it it dilates the pupil. In the use of this drug, I would like to add the caution that its surface is pleasure and its depth death.

HYOSCYAMIA AS A HYPNOTIC AND ANTISPASMODIC.

Dr. E. C. Seguin (New York Medical Record, March 27), thus sums up what is at present known of the action of hyoscyamia (1) It acts on the pupil as a mydriatic. (2) It reduces the pulse generally, increasing arterial tension. (3) It checks body heat. (4) It produces hallucinations and delirium. (5) Its use is occasionally attended with a rash. (6) In large doses, it produces sleep and something like paralysis or paresis, and may induce retention and dysuria. (7) Theoret ically, it is indicated in mania attended by restlessness, delusions and suspicions, and in insomnia and convulsive affections. (8) It has been of special service in acute or sub-acute mania, insomnia, and those cases characterized by a mischievous delirium. (9) It induces sleep more certainly than chloral, and without being followed by bad effects. (10) In paralysis agitans, it can do what no other remedy can. (11) It is a diuretic of no mean power. (12) The curative power does not seem to be great. In acute chorea, its use may play an important part. It can be given with ease hypodermically in small doses. The dose of the amorphous hyoscyamia is from onetwentieth to one grain (three or sixty-five milligrams). For

hypodermic use, one one-hundredth to one twenty-fifth of a grain (0.65 to 2.5 milligrams) may be injected. The following is a convenient formula for its hypodermic administration; R. hyoscyamia (Maerck's crystallized), one part; carbolic acid, one part; water and pure glycerine, of each 100 parts.

CHAULMOOGRA OIL.

The expressed oil from the seeds of Gynocordia odorata, (E. I.) is meeting with considerable success in syphilis and kindred affections. The dose is from 3 to 4 grains, which may be administered either in the form of capsules or dissolved in cod liver oil, the former being the most convenient. The oil is used externally in the form of ointment, prepared with ozokerite or vaseline, containing 25 per cent of the oil.

ERYTHROXYLON COCA.

Dr. E. R. Palmer, in the Louisville Medical News, reports cases in which this agent was productive of the happiest effects. It seems to be effective in many forms of hypochondriasis, and Prof. Palmer regards it as a possible antidote to the opium habit. We insert the closing lines to his article:

Erythroxylon coca is a native of the eastern slope of the Andes. It is cultivated in the tropical valleys of Bolivia and Peru. The greatest of care is given to its culture by the natives. An idea of its importance as an agricultural product may be gained from the fact that the duties upon coca in Peru amount yearly to $400,000. The Peruvians are pre-eminently a despondent, an unhappy race, and coca is their balm. To them it is a relic of departed days of glory, and under its benign influence they enjoy in dream and delirium the halcyon days of Monco Capac.

Prof. Steele, of the American Pharmaceutical Association, from whose article upon Coca I glean these facts, says: "Coca is both salutary and nutritious; in fact, the best gift the Creator could have bestowed upon the unfortunate Indians. They always carry a bag of leaves suspended from their necks, upon which they draw three times a day with as much pleasure and delight as a connoisseur in tobacco smokes a fragrant

Havana. It imparts brilliancy to the eye and a more animated expression to the features, agility to the step, and a general appearance of animation and content." Indeed, one. can scarcely read Prof. Steele's article without wishing to test the virtues of this great antidote for the blues. The ordinary dose for adults of the fluid extract is a tablespoonful.

CHIAN TURPENTINE.

The oleo-resin from Pistacia Terebinthus has recently come to prominent notice, as a remedy for cancer of the female generative organs. It has a very firm honey-like consistence, yet is slightly brittle and becomes more so with age and exposure to the air, and even then it always takes the form of the vessel in which it is kept. It is translucent, small pieces appear yellow or brownish yellow, but in mass it has a greenish brown color. When fresh, it has a distinctive odor, slightly like the pinaceous turpentines, but much more agreeable and aromatic, according to some resembling citron and jasmine, but there is always a background smell resembling mastic, which becomes more developed and distinct with age. Its taste resembles that of mastic; it is agreeable and free from the characteristic bitterness and acridity of the pinaceous turpentines. It is always contaminated with impurities, earthy dust, etc. By Dioscorides, the drug was considered to be diuretic, stomachic and laxative. The method of administration for cancer is in the form of pills-3 grains of Chian turpentine and 2 grains of sulphur in each.-Druggists' Circular.

ACONITE IN TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA.

Dr. Seguin, of New York, has used the following formula in trigeminal neuralgia with much success.

R Duquemel's aconite........

Alcohol.......

Glycerine.....

Peppermint water.......

gr. 1-12 to .

ǎā 3j.

ad f3 ij.

M. Sig. One teaspoonful three times a day.

The dose should be carefully but constantly increased until the full physiological action of the drug is felt; the first

symptom being a feeling of numbness.-Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

OINTMENT OF CHRYSOPHANIC ACID.

This is now used in cases of psoriasis, erythema marginatum, chloasma, acne tuberculosa, acne rosacia, etc. The formula of the British Hospital for Diseases of the Skin is as follows:

R. Chrysophanic acid..............

Prepared lard....

120 grains.

1 ounce.

Heat together on a water-bath for half an hour, constantly stirring; when cet, mix with a pestle and mortar.

Caution: the erythema, which sometimes follows only a few applications of this ointment, should be watched for, and on its appearance the use of the ointment should be discontinued. Avoid applying it near the eyelids.

ECZEMA OF THE PALM.

For chronic eczema of the palm Dr. Lush, of London, recommends the following lotion:

Dr. Lush thinks that this is a specific for the intense itching of the palm in chronic eczema, especially when there is a rheumatic tendency.-Physician and Surgeon.

ERGOTIN: ITS INCONVENIENCES AND DANGERS.

At a recent meeting of the Paris Academy of Medicine (La France Medicale) Dr. Boissarie read a memoir on the above subject. His conclusions are, that ergotin, which is of important service in hemorrhage when we require immediate energetic action, cannot be used with impunity in affections of long continuance, even in small doses, so as to saturate the system. It has the property of accumulating and storing itself up in

To fol

the economy, and of manifesting itself after a longer or shorter time, by a sudden outburst of serious consequences. low the precept of Trousseau, of giving the poison for a long time in small doses, is to expose the patient to gangrene.— Medical Press and Circular.

CERTAIN REMEDY FOR DIPHTHERIA.

Henri Bergeron reports that hydrofluoric acid evaporated in the proportion of one gram to each cubic meter of the sickroom, and thus inhaled by the patient, is a certain remedy for diphtheria. Three hours should be consumed in evaporation. He says that all who submitted to this operation for forty-eight hours recovered.-Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.

PEPSIN AS A REMEDY FOR SLEEPLESSNESS.

H. M. Wilder writes the following to New Remedies: I have for more than twenty years on the average, seldom slept more than two. to three hours per night. I mean sleep-not lying still and shutting the eyes. Many nights, particularly if going to bed after midnight, not a wink! It was so regular that, when I woke up, I always was sure it was about 1:30 o'clock, and seldom guessed wrong. Well, I tried everything excepting opium, morphia and chloroform, which I did not like to begin with. About two months ago, I began with laudanum, and not liking the after effects, took hold of morphia. First, one-eighth grain, then one-fourth grain, and, once in awhile, one-half grain. I cannot say that I slept very much more; but in my waking state, where I formerly used to fret and get out of humor, I now did not care about anything, and thus passed the nights somewhat better. I broke off the morphia some two weeks ago, and now think that I have found the right thing for me-pepsin! You will laugh, of course; but when sleeplessness arises also (besides other causes) from a lazy or filled stomach, a good dose of pepsin (I take at night one-half to one teaspoonful-once in awhile two-of saccharated pepsin plus a little muriatic acid lemonade) makes me oblivious for four or five hours at least; and that is what I want, be that sleep or no sleep. Dyspepsia being the American root of all