Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

XXIV
THE CHARLOTTE MEDICAL JOURNAL.
which occurs in these conditions. Cardiac that exists between creosote and calcium
cases will relief from small doses of digi- hydroxide, which yield on trituration a
purplish red substance, ^aiis. with a slight odor
There are certain empirical remedies of creosote and a sharp taste. It is soluble
which have been found useful in obstinate in water, giving a permanent solution when i|
cases, or as temporary measures in all cases, preserved out of contact with air. It is
;
These are quinine in large doses; antipy- conveniently prepared by mixing about five ^'
rine in doses of grn. V, gradually increased; pounds of calcium hydroxide with one
pilocarpine, grn. 1-16 to 1-10, by the mouth, pound of creosote and slowly percolating
when the itching is most troublesome—the with water so as to produce a solution havgood
effect of this remedy is often very iug a specific gravity of about 1 .011 . When
striking. Cannabis indica is recommended prep ired in this way one pound of creosote
in the pruritus of old people, in doses of 5 yields about twenty pints of calcium creo-
to 20 min., well diluted, three times a day, sote solution, each fluid drachm of which i
after food.' contains about three drops of creosote. I
In all cases local applications are useful, The s >lution has a smart peppery taste, but \
and the list of such applications is a long it does not exert an irritating or caustic ij;
one. Among the most useful are lotions action on the tegumentary membranes. A ;'
containing liquor picis carbonis, 3j ad 5x; suitable dose for an infant of one year is -•,
acidum carbolicum, ifExl ad 3x; sanitas, from three to five drops in water every two j
3ss ad 3x, Alkaline lotions are: bicarbon- or three hours. For a child of six to eight |
ate of soda or borax, 3ij to 3x, with or years doses of one teaspoonful may be given, I
without a few drops of dilute hydrocyanic and for an adult from one to two dessert I
acid; lotions containing a powder in sus- spoonfuls in a glass of water. As much as |
pension, oxide of zinc, calamine, talc. Or six fluid ounces of the solution had been ad- !
a powder mav be suspended in the tar or ministered during the day without protest |
alkaline lotion. Someiimes cold sponging or any unpleasant symptoms. It is not
with vinegar and water, or with alcohol necessary, however, to give more than a
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and ether, followed by powdering with dessert spoonful in cases of acute disease. :
starch powder, gives relief. Lotions may I" rare instances Dr. Kolipinski has observ- :
be conveniently applied by means of a ed as intolerance of too large a dose, par- i
spray. A lotion of perchloride of mercury,
ticularlv in frail children, but a reduction
grn. v ad x ad 3x, is cleanly and odorless, o^ the dose to from fifteen to thirty minims ]
It is useful to bear in mind several pre- stopped the vomiting. In a few cases an ,
scriptions, for often one relieves where an- eruption of the skin occurred on the ex- ;
other fails.—The Hopital, London. tremities, trunk, and face, accompanied by '
- some irritation, but the .ash disappears !
The Therapeutic Value ol Calcium Creo- within a few days, without suspending the j
sote. treatment. Dr. Kolipinski recommends the i
The Lancet remarks that although the use of solution of calcium creosote in a va- ;
therapeutic value of creosote is generally '^^fty of conditions, such as pneumonia, in i
recognized, its extremely acrid taste has ^^'^h he declares it slows the respiration
militated against its wide employment. ^"^^ P''^^^' facilitates and increases the ,
Various attempts have been made to elimin- cough, and renders unnecessary the use of (
sedatives,
ate this objectionable feature. Thus it has
or hypnotics, and in enteric fever,
been incorporated with oil and enclosed in
»' '^^'''^ '^ ^''^^ ^^ a" efficient non-poisonj
antiseptic to the mouth cavity, stomach, I
gelatin capsules, aqueous and alcoholic
""^l
^''^
mixtures have been made, and various commtestine.
Dr. kolipinski suggests that 1
pounds of creosote-e.g., creosote carbon- it may be foun 1 useful in various systemic i
affections
ate-have been introduced, but with the
and local patuological conditions, •
exception of the carbonate no preparation ^^.^ ^hat it deserves a trial as a topical apof
creosote appears to have satisfactorily pbcat.on in dermatological practice.-The j
solved the problem of administering the
Lancet, London.
^:
drug in adequate doses without causing i
nausea, vomiting, and digestive disturb- Why Use Morphia?
ances. It is of interest, therefore, to refer The practice of using morphia for simple ^
to a paper by Dr. Louis Kolipinski in a re"
cent number of the Monthly Cyclopaedia
pains and neuralgins of different varieties
cannot be too strongly condemned. As
and Medical Bulletin (June 1909), wherein
he recommends a solution of calcium creothese
preparations afford speedy relief, it is,
taken for granted without any further console
as possessing in a perfect degree all of sideration, that they are precisely what thej
the medicinal virtues of creosote without condition requires, and patients fly to their;
anyof its objectionable properties. Advant- use on the slightest provocation without
age is taken of the marked chemical aflBnity consulting their physicians at all. Such
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