Household.

Western Star, Issue 374, 21 August 1880, Page 9 (Supplement)

Household.

A Universal Cement. —Curdle skimmed milk with rennet; or vinegar, press out the whey and dry the curd at a gentle fire a* rapidly as possible When quite dry reduce to a very tine powder. Then take of the powdered curd, ten drachms; powdered quick-lime, one drachm ; powdered camphor, eight grains: mix. keep in tightly corked vials. To join glass, earthenware, etc., the powder is made into a paste with a little warm water and applied immediately. Antidote-for Infectious Diseases. -The benzoate of soda has lately been recommended as a superior antiseptic in all infectious diseases i it acts very powerfully, and it is claimed that a daily dose of from thirty to fifty grains to a fall grown man will render the poison of diphtheria inoperative. The benzoate is prepared by dissolving crystallized benzoic acid in water, neutralizing at a slight heat with a solution of caustic soda, drying, and then allowing the solution to crystallize over sulphuric acid under a bell glass. Large doses are said not to appear absolutely necessary—good results may be obtained by the daily administration, of about twelve, grains. Zinc and Tin Poisoning.—Recent analytical researches are said to prove that French zinc is the most arsenical of all the zincs at present found in commerce, and on this account it is recommended that the article be submitttd to careful analysis, especially when the metal is to be employed for the preparation of pharmaceutical compounds, and when to be used as a test for arsenic in March’s apparatus. Most zinc contains only a very minute quantity of arsenie, but that metal, as well as lead, is usually present in sufficient amount te be detected by careful means. The adulteration of tin with lead, antimony or other metals is pronounced exceedingly prejudicial to health and consequently tin which contains lead should be prescribed entirely by the pharmaceutical world, French Treatment for Neuralgia.—Tn a recent communication to the Academic de Medecine, M. Fereol asserts the peculiar value of ammonical sulphate of copper in the treatment of neuralgia. He states that in cases where every other resource has failed, even the administration of gelseminum and aconita, a cure or remark able relief may be obtained to the most severe symptoms by means of this drug. Among the examples be gives of its use js one of trifacial neuralgia of two months’ duration,with great insomnia, was unrelieved by the extraction of teeth, quinine; bromide, aconita, or . tincture of gelseminum, hydrotneric injections of morphia or arsenic. From the first day of the administration of the sulphate of ammonia, however, there was a notable remission in the symptoms and cessation of insomnia. In another severe case the case was pushed to as, many as eight grains without any other accident than nausea.