mercurous oxide, and 1.80 per cent. of mercuric. No. 7 is somewhat exceptional as regards this relation of age to proportion of oxides, but in this case globules of mercury were plainly visible to the naked eye, which fact may account for the slowness of the specimen in becoming oxidized. No. 3 is the only sample of hand-made mass, hence might be expected to be less oxided than the others, all the others having been made by machinery.

In conclusion, then, it is clear from these experiments, that if, as has been stated, the therapeutic action of Pilula hydrargyri depends largely upon the proportion of oxides present, the age of the mass becomes a matter of primary importance. I have known the dose of Hydrargyrum cum creta to be modified in accordance with its age, and it would seem probable that a similar course should be followed with regard to the preparation. At all events the pharmacist is now in a position to assure the therapeutist that in prescribing Pilula hydrargyri he is ordering a medicine liable to vary considerably in composition, and probably liable to vary as considerably in medicinal efficacy.

MONOBROMATED CAMPHOR. Condensed from Arch. Gen. de Med. of Nov. 1875. By F. A. Cady, B. A.

At the August session of the French Academy, M. Clin read an essay upon the preparation of monobromated camphor, a product in which one atom of bromine displaces one atom of hydrogen of the camphor. M. Clin had obtained some fine crystallized samples by the direct action at 100° C., of bromine upon camphor, without pressure and without distillation.*

Upon some points of the physiological and therapeutical action of the monobromate of camphor, M. Bourneville remarked as follows: Ist. Monobromated camphor diminishes the frequency of the hearts beat, and strengthens the contraction of

(*) For an elaborate report by J. M. MAISCH, upon the preparation of this com pound, by heat finally increased to 132 C., in a retort with ascending neck, the product being crystallized from petroleum naptha, see Am. Jour. Phar., 1872, .337.

auricle. 2nd. It diminishes the number of respirations without interfering with the rythm. 3d. It lowers the temperature in a regular manner.

In cases of its administration to animals, in fatal doses, this lowering continues up to the end. Thus among cats the temperature is seen to fall from 39° C. to 22°. Among animals which recover, the lowering of the temperature is followed by an elevation which reaches the initial figure, but in a longer time than that the lowering occupied. 4th. Monobromated camphor possesses sedative properties which appear incontestable. 5th. It produces no trouble in the digestive functions, but its long continued use, causes, at least in cats and guinea pigs, quite rapid emaciation.

etc.

M. Charcot has employed it with very satisfactory results in different nervous diseases-chorea, hysteria, shaking palsy, Among the diseases in which the Monobromated camphor has been tried, we will especially mention cardiac affections of a nervous origin, asthma, cystitis without catarrh, and finally in cases of epilepsy in which paroxysms occur with vertigo.

SUNDRY NOSTRUMS.

The following articles, proposed as very remarkable remedies, but without statement of composition, have been analyzed at our Laboratory of late.

Cancer cure. -A blackish soft solid, having a strong smell of opium. Contains opium and chloride of zinc, with traces of arsenic and of sulphate of zinc. The amount of morphia was found to be 6.4 per cent., equivalent to 64 per cent. of standard opium in the mixture. The zinc chloride was in large proportion; the arsenic in so small proportion that its presence may have occurred as an impurity in the zinc salt. It was directed for external application.

Remedy for Seminal Weakness.-Furnished at a very high price by a physician, advertising from an eastern city, and found very valuable to the patient. A gray powder, consisting of

cotton root bark, gentian, calcined magnesia, bicarbonate of potassium, cochineal and sugar. The cotton-root bark was identified microscopically and by the chemical characteristics of the resin; the gentian chiefly by the deportment of gentianic acid,

Oxygenated Bitters.-Found to be valuable for indigestion, etc. Contains all the constituents of aromatic sulphuric acid, and water. The absolute sulphuric acid (hydric sulphate) is four per cent. of the mixture,―indicating about one part of aromatic sulphuric acid to three parts of water.

Antidote to the Opium Habit.—A pale purple solution. Constituents, morphia sulphate, quinine sulphate, glycerine, anilin color.

Pills for Catarrh or Sore Throat.-Consists of the pharmacopœial powder of ipecacuanha and opium, with a very slight proportion of some adhesive material not ascertained.

Selections and Translations.

NOTES OF A CASE

OF BLUE

URINE--SPECULATIONS

UPON THE PROBABLE NATURE OF THE BLUE MATTER SOMETIMES FOUND IN urine. Par A. ROBBIN, Interne des Hopitaux. Translated by HAL. C. WYMAN, M. D., Blissfield, Mich.

This urine was voided by a hysterical woman, aged 35 years, of remarkable obesity, who has had repeated attacks of paralysis, amaurosis, etc; very nervous; a patient of Doctor Maillard, of Dijon. One month ago, she was taken with severe pain between the ribs of the right side, radiating down into the lumbar region; when this pain ceased the patient passed a small quantity of blue urine. Since that time she has had a second paroxysm of pain similar to the first which was also followed by an emission of blue urine.

Character of the Blue Urine.-It is passed in small quantities; its emission is painful; it is not entirely blue, but is preceded b

urine in the sediment of which is found a large quantity of blue matter; in the urine following a notable amount of this blue sediment is also found.

The urine is very turbid; its odor is not that of ordinary urine, but seems to resemble the odor exhaled from solutions of indigo; its reaction is strongly acid; color indigo blue, very dark, with streaks of of violet; by reflection, it is quite violet, but, by transparence it is absolutely blue. It leaves a considerable precipitate of blue color. Under the miscroscope are found blue masses without any trace of crystallization in them; the vesical and vaginal epithelial cells were colored a pale blue. Heated, the urine looses its blue color and becomes a violet red. Filtered, it remains pale blue, but exposure to air and fermentation gives it a wine red merging on to violet color.

Urea and uric acid are very much diminished. The proportion of phosphates seems to be little influenced. The precipitate found on filtering after fermentation contains quantities of triple phosphates and an appreciable quantity of silica.

Of the blue substance: it is slightly soluble in water and with difficulty soluble in heated alcohol and ether; insoluble in chloroform, spirits of turpentine and benzine. Insoluble in the alkalies. Soluble in sulphuric acid, causing a rose color which shortly becomes orange red. Soluble in hydrochloric acid, causing a magnificent carmine color, which is a characteristic reaction. Slightly soluble in acetic acid, which does not modify the color. Precipitated from its acid solutions by the alkalies, becomes mauve in color by the addition of chloride of zinc. Bleached by nitric acid and its compounds with chlorine. Heated, it disengages carbonate of ammonia and a brown empyreumatic oil. Heated to redness, it disappears without leaving a residue. This blue substance resembles chemically no other known blue substance. Does it resemble any of the blues hitherto found in urine? Hippocrates, Galen, Actuarius, Bellini and

many others have described and observed blue urine. The authors who have studied the blue substances of urine, have given them divers names-urocyanose, uroglaucine, indican, indigose, cyanarine, etc.; others have admitted these coloring principles to be of biliary origin or of the prussian blue, etc. To-day one cannot attribute it to more than one single substance, indigogine, indican, which by being doubled, becomes uroglaucine or indigo blue.

It is easily seen by examination of the reactions hereinafter described, that our blue substance bears no resemblance to uroglaucine, but it bears marked analogies to cyanourine of Braconot. This cyanourine, ignored by most authors, exists there; it is not as some pretend, a biliary coloring principle; it is positively unlike uroglaucine, to which urologists have simulated it; it is a specific compound upon the nature of which we are not yet fixed, but we have commenced, in the laboratory of M. Thenard, researches for the purpose of elucidating this obscure point. We have thus far established this fact, that the cyanourine really exists.

What is the origin of this substance?

Bracanot, not finding uric acid in the urine that he examined, believed that the blue substance was a product resulting from the transformation of uric acid. Our specimen contained uric acid, but in small quantity, it is true. We will venture the following hypotheses which we will try to sound :

1st. Among the derivatives from the oxidation of uric acid, we find bodies colored blue, such as violantine, etc.; cyanourine, is it similar then to any of the substances derived from uric acid? It must be a substance intermediate between uric acid and urea, an intermediate more oxydized than uric acid, less oxydized than urea.

2d. Nencki has described, among the products resulting from the action of the pancreatic juice upon albuminous substances, a principle by the name of indol, from which the indigogine of the urine must be derived. Can cyanourine have an origin of the same order and can its presence in the urine serve to signify a pancreatic affection?