.ALUMNOL is an aluminium salt of the naphthol-sulphur acids. It is a fine, white, non-hygroscopic powder, easily soluble in cold water, slightly so in alco hol, and insoluble in ether. Its unirri tating quality in weak solutions makes it available for the treatment of cavity wounds and chronic catarrhal processes. In acute cases. however, it is usually irri tating.
Mode of Employment. — It is not in compatible with sublimate, resorcin, etc., and may be combined with them in order to strengthen their reciprocal action, if it is desired to combine the action of several antiseptics.
Therapeutics. — A general review of the literature does not warrant a final opinion as to its merits, but the pub lished reports, a few of which are given below, do not indicate that it is worthy of much confidence in the treatment of the genito-urinary tract: its main stronghold. It has been tried in gynm cological, dermatological, surgical, and laryngological cases as an astringent, and when used in weak solutions seems to have given more encouraging results.
GYNCOLOGY.—In to 1-per-cent. solution it has been found useful in en dometritis of gonorrhoeal origin, and in colpitis, if non-gonorrhceal in character. (Heinze and Liebreich.) Used in sixteen gynecological cases: catarrh of the neck and endometritis with or without inflammation of the annexa. Cervical catarrh and simple perimetritis yielded to its repeated use. In endometritis complicated with lesions of the annexa the pains were augmented on account of the irritation produced.
Gonorrhoeal vaginitis was readily cured. The following preparations were used: A solution of 3 per cent. for laN-ages; a powder and bangles of 20 per cent.; and a 10-per-cent. solution as an astringent in the treatment of endometritis and of erosions. A. Kontz (Wiener med. Presse, No. IS, '93).
Tried in 12 cases of acute gonorrhea, 20 chronic cases (in 8 of which gonococci were present), 4 cases of gonorrhoeal epi didymitis, 2 of post-gonorrhceal adenitis, and 2 of soft chancre. In the first cases mentioned, treatment was begun by intra-urethral injections of a 1- to 2-per cent. solution of alunmol three times daily. Later the same solution was used once daily, or else a feebler solution (from 0.25 to 1.00 per cent.) several times during the twenty-four hours. In S cases treatment was begun from one to three days after the appearance of the secretion, and from three to ten days in the other 4 eases. The drug was not found superior to any other drug gener ally used. Found inferior to nitrate of silver. Cases of soft chancre were the ones cured. Casper (Berliner lain. Woch., No. 13, '94).
That alumnol does not possess the antigonorrhoeal merits granted it by Chotzen shown by a trial in twelve cases. E. Samter (Berliner klin. Woch., No. 13, '94).
Marfan uses bougies of alumnol, 3 per cent., in the treatment of vulvo-vaginitis.
Storer (Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., Jan. 20, '98).