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J, M. MASON

Planted, which, according to the prospectus of its maker (Dr. W. Brackebusch, of Berlin), cures all sorts of ailments, renders the blood alkaline, prevents stroke and removes superfluous fat, was found to contain sodium-bicarbonate 4355 per cent., sodiumsulphate 15-53 per cent., sodium-chloride o'4B per cent., tartrate 23 per cent., tartaric acid and citric acid 14 - 01 per cent., iron-oxide and magnesia o'l3 per cent., water 33 per cent. Antipositin, advertised by the firm of Dr. Med. Wagner and Marlier, of Berlin, as an obesity cure, and Slankal, made by F. J. Wallbrecht and Co., of Berlin, have a similar composition. The sanitary authority at Karlsruhe has issued warnings against their use. Smith's Gloria Tonic, described as a dear remedy for gout and rheumatism exported from England to Germany, was found to consist chiefly of guaiacum resin, with a small quantity of potassium-iodide. Dr. Med. Hartmann's nerve-food Antineurasthin is manufactured in Berlin, and a pamphlet is published by his firm at M. 1.25 (about Is. 3d.), which states that it is a tonic for the nervous system in general and a preventive for all nervous weaknesses ; while it does not interfere with other forms of treatment, it is itself unaffected by these. It costs 3s. per box of twenty-four pastilles, which were found to consist of dry yolk of egg, milk-sugar, a small quantity of starch, dextrin, and an aromatic substance. Brandol is introduced by a Dortmund firm for the treatment of burns, and was found to contain picric acid, 1 per cent, of which is dissolved in tap-water, about o'4 per cent, being undissolved. Weak solutions of picric acid are recognised in the treatment of burns. Bour's Capsula duplex Momachica is put up by a Trier firm in boxes containing twenty gelatine capsules and sold at 2s. 6d. per box. Dr. Bour believed that by enclosing silver-nitrate in small black gelatine capsules and enclosing these in larger capsules containing other medicaments, the silver salt would not undergo any decomposition. The substances in the other capsule are bismuth-subnitrate 025 gram, sodium-phosphate and sodium-carbonate each O'l gram. Zernik found, however, that the silver-nitrate was more or less decomposed, and, further, that, although it was stated that each capsule contained O'Ol gram, only about half of this quantity was actually present in the samples examined by him. Froniosasprudel is, according to the manufacturers, a nerve-remedy indicated in sore throat, cold in the nose, rheumatism, nervousness, fainting, vomiting, sweating of feet, chilblains, &c. It costs 3d., 6d., or Is., and consists of 22-per-cent. alcohol, and 08 per cent, of sodium-bicarbonate, together with a trace of menthol and a resinous substance. Kaiser Borax and Kaiser Soda, in spite of the fine name, do not differ from borax and sodium-bicarbonate respectively. Mueglitzol, a preparation of formaldehyde, has been placed on the market by a chemical works in Dresden, and with each bottle a pamphlet by Dr. Clug is enclosed. In the latter it is stated that the preparation is a chemical combination of formaldehyde with a substance gained from bituminous slate, from which the formaldehyde gas is liberated slowly. It is recommended for sweating feet. On analysis, however, it was found that it contained free formaldehyde in a 6-per-cent. solution, and a small amount of an ichthyol-like substance, while the fluid is perfumed with an aetherial oil. The Antigout Powder of the Madri Benedittine of Pistoia should be taken for a whole year to cure gout. The cost for the year's supply is 50 francs. Each powder contained 1\ grains of Colombo root and of patschuli-leaves, both of which substances are inert as far as gout is concerned. Stege's Herbal Wine is said to regulate the digestive organs. It was found to consist of an infusion of certain roots, such as calmus, ginger, curcuma, angelica, valerian, and aloes in a white wine. Sulphopyrin, manufactured by Ebert and Meincke, of Bremen, is supposed to be a substitute for migraenine. It is stated that it is a sulphanilate of antipyrin, but is really a mixture of 86\5 per cent, antipyrin and 135 per cent, of sulphanilic acid. The latter drug has been recommended for some time past for catarrhs, but has not been used hitherto for headache. It is therefore probable that the action of sulphopyrine depends on its antipyrin contents. TJ.ricedin is a Berlin product, manufactured by Stroschein. It has been vaunted as a remedy for the gouty diathesis for some thirteen years, but its composition is very simple; 2| per cent, consists of sodium-chlorate, and 66\5 per cent, of dry sodiumsulphate, while the remainder is composed of sodium-citrate and sodium-tartrate. Winter's Nature Health Restorer is a Washington preparation. Each carton contains 200 chocolate tablets, and costs 4s. 2£d. It consists chiefly of aloes. A warning against its use has been issued in Carlsruhe and elsewhere.

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