Bunsen did not confine himself to the chemical investigation of these substances, but also tested a number of them pharmacologically. He experimented on frogs, and the results convinced him that cacodylic acid was practically nonpoisonous, even in large doses, a conclusion which was confirmed later by Kürschner. The last named investigator stated that rabbits could be given 0.36 gram per os without suffering inconvenience; indeed, they tolerated as much as 0.42 gram injected intravenously. Even a dose of 0.25 gram injected into the lungs produced no symptoms of poisoning.

Pharmacological investigations on cacodylic acid were carried on further by Schmidt and Chomse, in 1860. They again demonstrated the non-toxic nature of the compound and at the same time brought to light the fact that under certain conditions cacodylic acid is reduced in the stomach, followed by an irritation of the mucous membrane in consequence of the cacodylic oxide formed. In 1867 Lebahn published a pamphlet embodying similar conclusions, and further confirmation was furnished by the work of Schulz, published in 1879, and by the reports of Rabuteau (1882) and of Marshall and Green (1886). It is, therefore, an established fact that down to the year 1886 no less than nine investigators had anticipated the conclusions regarding the pharmacological properties of organic arsenic derivatives which Gautier did not announce until 1899-1902. And more: as early as 1865 Dr. Jochheim published a series of reports in which he gave the results that he had obtained during a number of years' use of cacodylic acid in the treatment of various chronic skin diseases and phthisis. In the same year, Renz administered the acid intravenously for the first time.

When, therefore, Gautier first published the results of his experience with cacodylic acid there was already in existence a rather extensive literature on

the subject. That Gautier first pointed out the value of the compound in syphilis Zeno will not deny, for in Jochheim's reports, that disease is not mentioned. Whether he meant to include it with "chronic skin diseases" is beyond all conjecture.

And hence, if the maxim à chacun son droit is to hold, it is to Bunsen that the credit must be given of having first recognized the fact that the poisonous properties of arsenic can be, in a great measure, diminished or altogether destroyed, by bringing it into combination with certain organic radicles; and to Jochheim must be accorded the honor of having been the first to use it with definite results in medical practice.

INTERESTING PRESCRIPTIONS. Harold Wyatt, in the Pharmaceutical Journal, discusses a number of prescriptions from among which the following are abstracted: Potassium iodid, sodium nitrite, spirit of nitroglycerin, sodium benzoate, syrup of ginger and water, darkened in color because of liberation of nitrous acid. By adding enough sodium bicarbonate to keep the liquid alkaline, no coloration was produced.

He calls attention to the value of senega as an emulsifier, citing a prescription calling for paraldehyd, syrup, tincture of orange, solution of senega B. P. and water as making a satisfactory. thin emulsion, much easier to take than a gum emulsion. Likewise a prescription calling for 15 minims of chloroform in a four ounce mixture, emulsionized easily by shaking with a dram of solution of senega before adding to the other ingredients.

A prescription calling for fluid extract of cinchona, compound infusion of gentian and gold chlorid gives a fair looking mixture with a bulky precipitate if the gold salt in solution be added to the other ingredients last.

Likewise a mixture of sodium salicylate, potassium bicarbonate, ammoniated

tincture of guaiac, emulsion of petroleum and chloroform water can be made sightly by making a saturated solution of the salicylate in the chloroform water, gradually adding the tincture of guaiac to this liquid, pouring the mixture into the emulsion with stirring, and lastly, adding the bicarbonate dissolved in the rest of the chloroform water. This is

because a saturated solution of sodium salicylate dissolves the resin of guaiac. A call for a catheter oil containing four grains silver nitrate to the fluid ounce was filled by dissolving the silver salt in one and one-half drams of alcohol and adding this solution to castor oil; it being one of the few fixed oils that are miscible with alcohol.

An eye ointment calling for yellow mercuric oxid, cocain hydrochlorid, boric acid and vaselin was returned as very irritating. Deciding that the irritating action was due to formation of mercuric chlorid, the writer used the equivalent amount of the alkaloid cocain dissolved in castor oil and the resulting product proved entirely satisfactory.

Cachets calling for aspirin and potassium iodid liberated iodin and this in turn colored the starch of the cachet blue. The writer made a permanent product by drying the two chemicals, triturating each separately with a little. butter of cocoa and packing the mixed powders lightly into the conceals.

A prescription calling for extract of aloes, pepsin, extract of nux vomica, phenol and extract of anthemis enough to make a mass, was found to yield a soft mass which when "filled" with an absorbent powder, made pills of unwieldly size. The difficulty was obviated by using powdered chamomile flowers. instead of the extract, the powder proving an excellent absorbent.

Another soft pill was one calling for terpinol and sodium benzoate of each one and one-half grains. Ordinary vegetable absorbent powders proved useless, but the employment of a half grain each

of Kieselguhr and hard soap to each pill made a satisfactory product.

PARAFFIN OIL.

The Physicians' Drug News thus describes the paraffin series: In organic chemistry, one of the series of compounds is termed the paraffins. All compounds of this series have the general formula CnH2+2, and are obtained by the destructive distillation of bituminous coals. At ordinary temperature, some of them are solids, others semi-solid and still others are liquids. Those which are liquids are commercially known as paraffin oils, and a mixture consisting of certain paraffin oils is official as liquid petrolatum, also known as liquid paraffin or paraffin oil.

Liquid petrolatum is a colorless or very slightly yellowish transparent oily liquid without odor or taste. It is lighter in weight than water, and is insoluble in this liquid. It is scarcely soluble in cold or hot alcohol, and readily soluble in ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, oil of turpentine, benzine, benzene and fixed or volatile oils.

Liquid petrolatum is chiefly used in pharmacy as a vehicle for medical substances which are employed in the treatment of nasal diseases and intended to be applied by means of an atomizer. It is also frequently substituted for vegetable and animal oils in cold cream when so-called "greaseless cold cream" is desired.

Liquid petrolatum acts as a soothing local application in inflammation of the nose, throat, larynx, and even the bronchial tubes.

ECHINACEA AND THUJA OINTMENT.

Any physician, says Ellingwood's Therapeutist, can prepare a very useful ointment by taking a dram of echinacea, a dram of thuja, exposing the mixture to a very mild heat for a few moments to drive off the alcohol, and then combine it with vaseline or sterilized lard-about an ounce, in order to make an ointment

for external applications to pimples, boils, cuts and especially to warts, and unhealthy appearance of the skin. The other ingredients may be added as seems to be indicated, but these main remedies should be introduced as of first import

ance.

OINTMENT BASES.

P. H. Utech, in the Physicians' Drug News, gives it as his experience that the operation of benzoinating lard has always been more or less unsatisfactory, due to the heat agglutinating the benzoin into a plastic mass. This difficulty may be overcome and a much more satisfactory product obtained if the benzoin be first coarsely comminuted and mixed with an equal quantity of anhydrous sodium sulphate, which prevents the formation of the gummy mass on heating. The finished product can be strained in the regular way.

An ointment base capable of absorbing large quantities of light oils such as olive oil, gualtheria, etc., can be made of equal parts of beeswax and lanolin. The proportion may be modified to meet different requirements. Used in the proportion suggested, as much as 50 per cent of methyl salicylate may be incorporated without liquefying the base.

IMPROVED AMMONIA LINIMENT.

An ammonia liniment possessing superior advantages to the one now official is made by mixing sesame oil, 75 parts; ammonia water, 25 parts. This preparation may be made instantaneously, is snow white, perfectly homogeneous, does not separate on long standing, and is less irritating than the U. S. P. preparation, because less alkalai is employed.

MAGNESIUM SULPHATE IN INFLAMMATION.

Magnesium sulphate solution, in the form of moist compresses, has been found to be an excellent local application in osteitis, acute rheumatism and other

IONIZATION.

By J. L. BUNCH, M. D., D. Sc.

Physician for Diseases of the Skin, Queen's Hospital for Children, London, England."

A

METHOD which has given excellent results in the treatment of localized skin diseases is that of ionization of ionic medication. Instead of introducing a drug into the general circulation and trusting that a minute portion of the dose administered will reach the diseased skin area, we can by this means introduce into each cell of this area such a quantity of the drug as we think advisable without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue. By means of an ordinary galvanic current the electrolytically dissociated ions of the drug. are made to penetrate the tissue to a depth varying with the strength and duration of the current, the resistance of the tissues and the substance introduced. When we remember how great a resistance the skin offers to the absorption of many medicaments when they are applied to the surface in the form of lotions or ointments, it is obvious how great the advantages are of being able to overcome this resistance by a simple constant current without pain or evil after-effects. Certain local remedies are, of course, sufficiently diffusible to be absorbed however they are applied, but these are readily taken up into the general circulation and washed away, while others, such as those which coagulate albumin, do not make their way into the tissues at all unless forced in by ionization. One of the chief advantages of the method is that the cells are penetrated as well as the intercellular spaces, and are acted upon for an appreciable period of time by the ions before their diffusion into the fluid bathing the cells. Drugs can, of course, be

introduced into or beneath the skin by intradermic or hypodermic injection, but by this means the fluid reaches the intercellular and lymph spaces and not directly the cells themselves.

In an ordinary aseptic surgical operation the necessary opening up of intercellular spaces and blood and lymph vessels does not matter, but in an already septic or infected area such a proceeding as scraping or curetting must incur the risk of spreading the infection and causing fresh metastases. The scraping of a tubercular skin abscess may be followed by general tuberculosis, and the curetting of a streptococcic or pneumonic focus may result in a general infection. By ionization, on the other hand, we can introduce aseptically into the infected area a drug which will not be diffused with any rapidity and will cause constriction of the vessels and disinfection of the tissues.

The electrolytic dissociation takes place either at the anode, connected with the positive pole of the battery, or at the kathode, connected with the negative pole, and, according to the substance. which it is desired to introduce into the tissues, it is the anode or kathode which must be applied over the diseased area, the other electrode being in close contact with the skin in any convenient position.

At the anode are introduced the following substances (known as kations): (1) Hydrogen ions of acids.

(2) Ions of metals, such as Zn, Cu, Mg, Na, and K.

(3) Ions of basic metals, such as NH4.

(4) Ions of alkaloids, such as morphia. and cocaine.

At the kathode are introduced the fol

lowing substances (known as anions): (1) Acid radical ions, such as I, Br. CI, SO4.

(2) Hydroxyl ions of alkalies.

Metals, therefore, and also alkaloids and hydrogen, are set free in the neighborhood of the anode and travel in the direction of the current from anode to kathode, while acid radicals and hydroxyl are set free round the kathode and travel in the reverse direction to the current from kathode to anode. The anode may be said to be the sedative pole and to produce a hæmostatic and drying effect on the surrounding area, while the kathode is the stimulant pole which causes dilatation of blood vessels and quickened absorption. When strong currents are employed the kathode causes electrolytic destruction of tissues, with the liberation of alkalies. It is, as before stated, important to determine at which pole the drug is to be introduced, and as an example of how important this is we may mention the unfortunate results which are sometimes seen in patients who have had superfluous hairs unskillfully removed by an incompetent operator-in Bond Street or elsewhere. An ordinary steel needle may be safely used for this work provided it is connected with the negative pole of the battery, but if it is connected with the positive pole, electrolytic dissociation takes place at the anode, and ions of iron are deposited in the hair follicles, which leave a definite tattoo mark considerably more unsightly and permanent than the original hairs.

The substances which are usually thus employed therapeutically are potassium iodide, iodine, sodium chloride, cocaine, lithium, mercury, zinc, magnesium, and copper salts. The salts must be soluble in water, but all substances which dissolve in water do not undergo ionization. Such are non-conductors, like glycerine, sugar, chloroform, alcohol, and ether.

The only apparatus necessary for

ionization is a battery capable of driving a current of 35 to 40 milliampéres through the body, with a meter to measure the current and suitable electrodes. If a zinc salt is being used, we must use zinc electrodes; if a copper salt, copper electrodes; and so on. By interposing a rheostat, the current from the main can of course be used instead of a battery or accumulators. An electrode is taken of sufficient size to cover the skin lesion, and between it and the skin are interposed 6 to 10 layers of sterilized cotton lint soaked in a solution of the salt made up with distilled water. The neutral electrode must be large, and it is also covered with lint soaked in physiological saline solution, and I have found it most convenient to apply it to the patient's back. The current must be turned on very gradually and again diminished very slowly when the treatment is over, The strength of the current varies according to the drug which is being employed. Thus a patient can stand a current of 10 milliampéres per square centimetre for 15 minutes when a 10 per cent solution of cocaine is being used, and the resulting anesthesia will be complete in about 10 minutes, but will probably be unable to stand a current of more than 3 milliampéres per square centimetre when a 2 per cent solution of zinc sulphate or copper sulphate is being employed. When cocaine is being used as a local anesthesia it is well to add some adrenalin in the following proportions: Cocaine hydrochlor., 45 gr.; solution of adrenalin (1 in 1,000), 60 min.; sterilized water, 1 oz. The toxicity of various chemical compounds depends on the ionic grouping and on the powers of absorption of the organism. Thus strychnine will diffuse rapidly and cause death in a short time, whereas cocaine is not absorbed, and zinc causes coagulation of the albumin and cannot therefore be absorbed. But, other things being equal, the smaller the atomic weight the more rapidly the ion travels.