place from the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder when in a perfectly healthy condition. (2) That the urinary constituents themselves-those substances eliminated by the kidney as effete products of the systemare absorbed from the bladder in varying proportions, this applying more especially to the water and urea, but also, though to a less extent, to the inorganic solids. (3) That the degree of distention of the bladder plays a most important part in increasing or diminish ing the rapidity of such absorption. (4) That regular rhythmical contractions take place in the muscular wall of the bladder; that these contractions are largely influenced by the degree of distention of the bladder, being most marked with a moderate amount of distention of the viscus, and but feebly marked in slightly distended or in over-distended conditions; and that the character of these contractions is largely affected by the nature of the fluid contained in the bladder. - The British Medical Journal, February 12, 1887.

PYRIDIN IN ASTHMA AND OTHER
DYSPNEAS.

The clinical studies of KELEMIN, of Buda Pest, have given us the following information regarding this drug :

In both inspiratory and expiratory dyspnea its use was constantly followed by success; subjective and objective symptoms were alike relieved. While the effects of the drug varied with the peculiarities of the patient, its use was peculiarly efficacious in pulmonary, cardiac, and renal asthma. The writer was almost led to consider it a specific in pulmonary and cardiac asthma.

The effect of the drug in the cases which showed emphysema endured from eight to twelve hours. The curative properties of pyridin are not yet established. In two cases where marked psychic disturbances followed the abuse of morphine and chloral, the patients were greatly benefited by this remedy. The interesting question arises whether pyridin can so alleviate dyspnea that asthmatics may be freed from the necessity of using chloral and morphine; if this result be attained it will be truly valuable. - MedicinischChirurgische Rundschau, January 1, 1887.

(Archives de Pharm., January, p. 32) that this glucoside is not acted upon by diastase, pepsin, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, beer yeast, emulsin, or the putrefactive ferment. It is not, therefore, sensibly modified in the digestive canal, but it undergoes a profound alteration in the circulation, which is probably due to an oxidation process. It was also found that the detection of digitalin is not prevented by the action of alkalies, or that of sulphuric, phosphoric, or hydrochloric acids; nitric acid, on the other hand, appears to decompose it. - The Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions, January 29, 1887.

COTTON-ROOT AS A UTERINE HÆМОSTATIC.

In a paper read by DR. HENRY GARRIGUES before the Medical and Surgical Society of German Physicians of New York, and published in the New Yorker Medizinische Presse, as reported by the Pittsburg Medical Review, January, 1887, Dr. Garrigues stated his experience with the cotton-root (Gossypium herbaceum), of which he has made very extensive trials in all forms of uterine hemorrhage during the last two years, and which, in his hands, has certainly proved remarkably successful.

He treated one hundred and thirty-nine patients afflicted with different forms of uterine diseases, in whom hemorrhage had been a very prominent symptom, with this drug, with the following results :

DIGITALIN.

If the same patient presented different affec

be found that small doses of 2 or 3 grains daily will often suffice to keep it low afterwards.

According to an analysis of some more recent studies by the same authors published in the British Medical Journal for February 12, 1887, it is four times as strong as antipyrin in its effects, is very cheap, does not cause vomiting, and rarely causes any rigors, as the temperature subsequently rises again. Moreover, it causes no cerebral disturbance, and the appetite even improves under its use. In a few cases, some degree of cyanosis of the face and limbs was observed; this, however, always disappeared (without any symptoms of shivering as it faded off), and the authors paid very little attention to it. Indeed, they complain that certain remarks in some chemical advertisements have been exaggerated in this particular, in order to favor the sale of antipyrin, and distinctly state that the above appearance was not more frequently observed than after other antifebrile agents, far less

day without the least effect; and one young man, who was suffering from diarrhea, took 3 grammes (46 grains) daily for a week without the least discomfort. Indeed, Fürbringer and Reise raised the dose boldly to over 90 grains daily without harm,-a dose certainly equivalent to 5 drachms of antipyrin. Thus there is no cause for disquietude with the moderate doses recommended, but it is always advisable to study the individual susceptibility.

But one of the chief advantages of antifebrin over antipyrin is the freedom from vomiting after it, and patients who usually had retching, or even vomiting attacks, after antipyrin, took antifebrin without any discomfort. No irritation of the urinary passages was observed. In some cases of albuminuria, the albumen disappeared during the use of the drug; in others, not till the patient was free from fever. Again, shivering was rarely seen

ing," as has been done, is quite unjust.

The drug was used in twenty-four cases of fever, and always lowered the temperature. 15 grains given in the morning is the favorite daily dose with Drs. Cahn and Hepp. The temperature began to fall in about an hour, and continued to fall for about three hours longer; it then gradually rose again; as the temperature fell, the skin reddened, and there was perspiration; the pulse became less frequent, and the arterial tension was increased. In some cases, during the period of intermission, there was much thirst, followed by increased urination and gentle sleep.

A further series of cases, sixty in number, included twenty-nine of typhoid fever, six of erysipelas, two of croupous pneumonia, four of acute rheumatism, six of phthisis, two of pleurisy, two of pyæmia, and two of septicæmia. Liebermeister has taught us that quinine is more energetic in its effects if given coincidently with the natural daily remission in fevers, and this is also the case with antifebrin. A dose given early in the day has a far more potent effect than if given in the evening. A good dose at one time is far better than small doses frequently repeated, and in high fever the latter treatment is useless at first. But, if the temperature be brought to the normal by a good daily dose (15 grains) for two or three days consecutively, it will

after antipyrin.

The patients feel much better after antifebrin, and the mind is cleared to a remarkable extent. This is best noticed in typhoid

cases.

Another advantage of antifebrin is the rise of arterial tension, together with lessened frequency of the pulse. Even when directly injected into the veins of animals, antifebrin never causes lowering of the arterial tension. This was established by experiments in Professor Schmiedeberg's laboratory. At the same time the increased diuresis caused by antifebrin is distinct evidence of its favorable effect upon the circulation.

No specific action of this drug is claimed as against any disease in particular; the chief experiences of Cahn and Hepp related to typhoid.

From all this it appears that, as said above, antifebrin is evidently a powerful antifebrile agent worthy of further trial. It is no doubt unfortunately true that the action of these aniline derivatives is of a more or less evanescent character, but this may be compensated to a great extent by giving them in appropriate repeated doses. It may be added that Lépine (Semaine Médicale, 1886, p. 473) calls this agent a "nervine," and finds that it relieves the peculiar pains common to "tabid" subjects.

In gastric ulcer, with extensive and recent destruction of mucous membrane, the period of absorption is much lengthened; in cancer of the cardiac portion it is much shorter than when the cancer is at the pylorus.

When absorption from a fasting stomach lasts more than twenty minutes, dilatation or cancer of the pylorus, or possibly both, are present if the presence of extensive and recent ulceration is excluded. When by distending the stomach, or examination with a sound, it is proven that dilatation is not present, pyloric cancer is probable.

A differential diagnosis between carcinoma and simple uicer can hardly be made from the single symptom of delayed absorption. When dilatation exists, delayed absorption will not show the presence of cancer, but the presence of a tumor; general cachexia and the absence of free hydrochloric acid are needed to complete a diagnosis.

A differential diagnosis between gastric catarrh and ulcer is not possible from the condition of absorption alone.

In diseased stomachs the difference in the rate of absorption between filled and empty stomachs, and in the same individual on different days, is less than in healthy subjects.

Gastric ulcer and dilatation can be so successfully treated that a normal power of absorption is established.-Deutsche Med. Zeit., Jan. 3, 1887.

THE ACIDS OF HEALTHY AND DISEASED STOMACHS.

hydrochloric acid is the rule, its absence the exception; it is present, not in traces, but in considerable amounts.

Methyl-anilin-violet is colored blue by the hydrochloric acid of the stomach, and is a test for its presence. - Deutsche Med. Zeitung, Jan. 3, 1887.

INTRA-PULMONARY INJECTIONS.

DR. ARTHUR RANSOME publishes in the Medical Chronicle for January, 1887, the account of one case of gangrene of the lungs and four phthisical cases which were treated by intra-pulmonary injections. The one case in which the treatment was thoroughly carried out was that of gangrene of the lungs occurring in a woman, aged 33, in whom gangrene followed an attack of acute pneumonia. The diagnosis was readily made that the case was one of gangrene of the right base of the lung, with a cavity upon the left side due to bronchiectasis. The patient was ordered iron and quinine, and inhalations of carbolic acid through hot water, with eucalyptus oil on a respirator inhaler. These means somewhat diminished the fetid odor of the breath and the sputum, and two days later 10 minims of an ethereal solution of iodoform-1 grain in 5 minims-were injected into the cavity on the right side, and a similar injection was made daily into this cavity, except upon two days, when it was injected into the left cavity, where it caused much more pain than upon the right. After two days of this treatment it was noticed that the sputum had lost its prune-juice color,

It is possible to estimate quantitatively the amounts of lactic and hydrochloric acids in the same stomach.

In normal cases we find a half-hour after the ingestion of food a certain amount of hydrochloric acid.

ter, but the cough and amount of muco-purulent expectoration remained excessive. Subsequently an emulsion of iodoform in olive oil was employed as an injection, with much less pain to the patient, and this treatment was continued, with intervals of a few days, for several weeks, during which time she gained

The stomachs of healthy and diseased persons contain, when mixed diet is taken, in addition to hydrochloric acid, considerable quantities of fermentation acids and mixed acids, and these quantities increase the longer the food remains in the stomach.

greatly in general health; even the bronchiectasis disappeared; and, though the cavity in the right lung was still perceptible, the patient, at the date reported, had no cough, no expectoration, and appeared to be in good health.