VARIA—EDITORIAL.

VARIA—EDITORIAL.OINTMENTOFSTAVESACREINITCH.—It has long been known that the itch is caused by the attack of a minute insect, the acarus scabiei, the male of which has only been lately detected, by the microscope. The ordinary sulphur ointment, though successful after repeated applications, in destroying the insect, often causes a good deal of irritation of the skin, and leaves the patient with an eruption as troublesome if not as permanent as the itch itself. M. Bourguignon, a French physician, finds that the infusion of the seeds of the stavesacre, (Delphinium Staphisagria) or a solution of the extract, not only speedily kills the insects and destroys their eggs, but that it has no irritating influence whatever upon the skin itself. He afterwards adopted an ointment, prepared by digesting over a vapor bath, for twenty-four hours, three parts of stavesacre seeds in five parts of lard, and straining the product while still liquid. He found that friction with this ointment cured the patient in four days, while seven days were required when sulphur ointment was used.POISONOUSHONEY.—The family of one of our most respectable wholesale druggists has lately suffered severely from symptoms of poisoning, caused by some honey which they had eaten. The family of one of his neighbors likewise, to whom, induced by its particularly fine appearance, he had sent some of the honey, were affected in a similar manner. The number of those who partook of the suspected article, all of whom were affected, though not to the same degree, renders it certain that the symptoms were not caused by any idiosyncracy, but were produced by some poisonous principle, probably derived from some narcotico-acrid plant on which the bees had fed.On eating it there was an unpleasant sense of pricking and burning in the throat, nausea, and a burning sensation throughout the whole system, together with an immediate effect upon vision, approaching to blindness. Several of those who{351}ate of the honey vomited violently and were in great distress. One was rendered entirely blind and insensible, and it was feared for some time might not recover. In the other cases the effect passed off in some ten or twelve hours. In one case a single drop of the honey, taken on the end of the finger from the box where it had leaked through a crevice, had such an effect on the sight that the person could not see to read a newspaper, but it passed off within an hour.“We are not aware,” continues our informant, “of any poisonous plants in the vicinity where the honey was made, except what is called kill-calf, (Andromeda Mariana) which is found in abundance on Hempstead Plains, at a distance of about a mile.”If, as is supposed, the poison was derived from some plant in which the bees had fed, it must have been elaborated or concentrated in the economy of the insect, or been the product of some reaction of the honey itself upon the poisonous principle, since no poisonous vegetable is known which would produce such effects, in such minute quantity.NEWREMEDIES.—Dr. J. Y. Simpson, of Edinburg, the discoverer of the anaesthetic properties of Chloroform, has lately been experimenting on the physiological and therapeutical properties of a varitey of substances which have not previously been used in medicine. He finds that the alkaloid furfurine in poisonous doses, produces upon animals many of the symptoms of poisoning by quinine, and that in smaller doses on the human subject it acts as a tonic, if not an anti-periodic. He has likewise used nickel, generally in the form of sulphate, and finds that it is exceedingly analagous in its therapeutic effects to the salts of iron. In one instance, however, a case of severe periodic headache, it proved completely successful, after iron with quinine, and a great many other remedies had been tried in vain.THECONVENTION.—Theeventfor Pharmaceutists in the past month, was the Meeting of the Convention at Philadelphia. The number present was smaller than could have been wished, yet great as could reasonably have been anticipated. Eight states were represented, including Mr. Bache, of San Francisco, California, and there were delegates present from five Colleges. We have devoted, perhaps, an undue portion of our space to a partial record of its proceedings. Though on particular points there were differences of opinion, yet on the whole the meetings were characterized by great unanimity of sentiment, as well as cordiality of feeling. Our great hope for the Convention is, that it will form a bond of union among the scattered and divided members of the profession in the United States; that it will tend to bring them into one great body, united by common interests and common pursuits, that it will tend to soften commercial jealousies between individuals, as well as between states and cities; that it will enable the profession when united, to exercise its rightful and legitimate influence upon{352}public opinion; that in the profession itself it will promote a more extended course of education, a higher standard of attainment and nobler principles of conduct. These are great aims and worthy of strenuous efforts, and it is to be hoped that no personal or sectional jealousies may be permitted to stand in the way of their attainment. The Convention has made a good beginning, “Esto perpetua.”COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.The regular Winter Course of Lectures in this Institution, will commence on Monday, 1st instant, at 7 o’clock, P. M., and be continued four months, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings of each week, at the College Rooms.On Materia Medica and Pharmacy, from 7 to 8 o’clock, by Prof. B.W.MCCREADY,M.D.On Chemistry, from 8 to 9 o’clock, by Professor R. O.DOREMUS,M.D.On Botany, by Professor I. F.HOLTON,of which further notice will be given.The Chemical Lectures will comprise instruction in the Science as extensively connected with many of the useful and ornamental arts, rendering them of great advantage to the community at large as well as to the Apothecary.In calling public attention to the present Course, the Trustees would more especially call upon the Medical Profession and Druggists and Apothecaries generally, to encourage them in carrying out, in the most effectual manner, the important design of providing, at a nominal expense, for a knowledge of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and the collateral Sciences, to our future Apothecaries, and to all others who will avail themselves of the facilities offered.In urging these, the Trustees have no selfish ends to attain beyond the gratification of ministering to the public good in the elevation of their profession; they desire to see their efforts appreciated and sustained by full classes, and would earnestly ask of their brethren to make sufficient sacrifice of time and convenience to enable their Assistants and Pupils to profit by the opportunity offered for their instruction. The advantages will recur directly to the employer in the improved capacity and usefulness of his Assistants.The Trustees solicit the influence of the Medical Profession to aid them in cultivating a desire to improve this important Auxilliary Department of the Profession, as the successful treatment of disease is greatly dependent on the integrity and intelligence of the apothecary.Tickets for the Course on Chemistry, at $7, and on Materia Medica and Pharmacy, at $7, may be procured fromMR.GEORGE D. COGGESHALL, No. 809BROADWAY.MR.J. S. ASPINWALL, No. 86WILLIAMSTREET.DR.W. J. OLLIFFE, No. 6BOWERY.ANDATTHECOLLEGEROOMS,No. 511BROADWAY.October, 1852.ERRATUM.—In the October No. on page294,twentieth line from the top, formanifestations, readmodifications.

OINTMENTOFSTAVESACREINITCH.—It has long been known that the itch is caused by the attack of a minute insect, the acarus scabiei, the male of which has only been lately detected, by the microscope. The ordinary sulphur ointment, though successful after repeated applications, in destroying the insect, often causes a good deal of irritation of the skin, and leaves the patient with an eruption as troublesome if not as permanent as the itch itself. M. Bourguignon, a French physician, finds that the infusion of the seeds of the stavesacre, (Delphinium Staphisagria) or a solution of the extract, not only speedily kills the insects and destroys their eggs, but that it has no irritating influence whatever upon the skin itself. He afterwards adopted an ointment, prepared by digesting over a vapor bath, for twenty-four hours, three parts of stavesacre seeds in five parts of lard, and straining the product while still liquid. He found that friction with this ointment cured the patient in four days, while seven days were required when sulphur ointment was used.

POISONOUSHONEY.—The family of one of our most respectable wholesale druggists has lately suffered severely from symptoms of poisoning, caused by some honey which they had eaten. The family of one of his neighbors likewise, to whom, induced by its particularly fine appearance, he had sent some of the honey, were affected in a similar manner. The number of those who partook of the suspected article, all of whom were affected, though not to the same degree, renders it certain that the symptoms were not caused by any idiosyncracy, but were produced by some poisonous principle, probably derived from some narcotico-acrid plant on which the bees had fed.

On eating it there was an unpleasant sense of pricking and burning in the throat, nausea, and a burning sensation throughout the whole system, together with an immediate effect upon vision, approaching to blindness. Several of those who{351}ate of the honey vomited violently and were in great distress. One was rendered entirely blind and insensible, and it was feared for some time might not recover. In the other cases the effect passed off in some ten or twelve hours. In one case a single drop of the honey, taken on the end of the finger from the box where it had leaked through a crevice, had such an effect on the sight that the person could not see to read a newspaper, but it passed off within an hour.

“We are not aware,” continues our informant, “of any poisonous plants in the vicinity where the honey was made, except what is called kill-calf, (Andromeda Mariana) which is found in abundance on Hempstead Plains, at a distance of about a mile.”

If, as is supposed, the poison was derived from some plant in which the bees had fed, it must have been elaborated or concentrated in the economy of the insect, or been the product of some reaction of the honey itself upon the poisonous principle, since no poisonous vegetable is known which would produce such effects, in such minute quantity.

NEWREMEDIES.—Dr. J. Y. Simpson, of Edinburg, the discoverer of the anaesthetic properties of Chloroform, has lately been experimenting on the physiological and therapeutical properties of a varitey of substances which have not previously been used in medicine. He finds that the alkaloid furfurine in poisonous doses, produces upon animals many of the symptoms of poisoning by quinine, and that in smaller doses on the human subject it acts as a tonic, if not an anti-periodic. He has likewise used nickel, generally in the form of sulphate, and finds that it is exceedingly analagous in its therapeutic effects to the salts of iron. In one instance, however, a case of severe periodic headache, it proved completely successful, after iron with quinine, and a great many other remedies had been tried in vain.

THECONVENTION.—Theeventfor Pharmaceutists in the past month, was the Meeting of the Convention at Philadelphia. The number present was smaller than could have been wished, yet great as could reasonably have been anticipated. Eight states were represented, including Mr. Bache, of San Francisco, California, and there were delegates present from five Colleges. We have devoted, perhaps, an undue portion of our space to a partial record of its proceedings. Though on particular points there were differences of opinion, yet on the whole the meetings were characterized by great unanimity of sentiment, as well as cordiality of feeling. Our great hope for the Convention is, that it will form a bond of union among the scattered and divided members of the profession in the United States; that it will tend to bring them into one great body, united by common interests and common pursuits, that it will tend to soften commercial jealousies between individuals, as well as between states and cities; that it will enable the profession when united, to exercise its rightful and legitimate influence upon{352}public opinion; that in the profession itself it will promote a more extended course of education, a higher standard of attainment and nobler principles of conduct. These are great aims and worthy of strenuous efforts, and it is to be hoped that no personal or sectional jealousies may be permitted to stand in the way of their attainment. The Convention has made a good beginning, “Esto perpetua.”

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

The regular Winter Course of Lectures in this Institution, will commence on Monday, 1st instant, at 7 o’clock, P. M., and be continued four months, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings of each week, at the College Rooms.

On Materia Medica and Pharmacy, from 7 to 8 o’clock, by Prof. B.W.MCCREADY,M.D.On Chemistry, from 8 to 9 o’clock, by Professor R. O.DOREMUS,M.D.On Botany, by Professor I. F.HOLTON,of which further notice will be given.

On Materia Medica and Pharmacy, from 7 to 8 o’clock, by Prof. B.W.MCCREADY,M.D.

On Chemistry, from 8 to 9 o’clock, by Professor R. O.DOREMUS,M.D.

On Botany, by Professor I. F.HOLTON,of which further notice will be given.

The Chemical Lectures will comprise instruction in the Science as extensively connected with many of the useful and ornamental arts, rendering them of great advantage to the community at large as well as to the Apothecary.

In calling public attention to the present Course, the Trustees would more especially call upon the Medical Profession and Druggists and Apothecaries generally, to encourage them in carrying out, in the most effectual manner, the important design of providing, at a nominal expense, for a knowledge of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and the collateral Sciences, to our future Apothecaries, and to all others who will avail themselves of the facilities offered.

In urging these, the Trustees have no selfish ends to attain beyond the gratification of ministering to the public good in the elevation of their profession; they desire to see their efforts appreciated and sustained by full classes, and would earnestly ask of their brethren to make sufficient sacrifice of time and convenience to enable their Assistants and Pupils to profit by the opportunity offered for their instruction. The advantages will recur directly to the employer in the improved capacity and usefulness of his Assistants.

The Trustees solicit the influence of the Medical Profession to aid them in cultivating a desire to improve this important Auxilliary Department of the Profession, as the successful treatment of disease is greatly dependent on the integrity and intelligence of the apothecary.

Tickets for the Course on Chemistry, at $7, and on Materia Medica and Pharmacy, at $7, may be procured from

MR.GEORGE D. COGGESHALL, No. 809BROADWAY.MR.J. S. ASPINWALL, No. 86WILLIAMSTREET.DR.W. J. OLLIFFE, No. 6BOWERY.ANDATTHECOLLEGEROOMS,No. 511BROADWAY.October, 1852.

October, 1852.

ERRATUM.—In the October No. on page294,twentieth line from the top, formanifestations, readmodifications.

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