MIDDLE-EAR DISORDERS.— The use of chloride-of-ammonium vapor in af fections of the middle ear has been prompted by its effectiveness in the treatment of catarrhal affections of the nasal mucous membrane, with which many aural disorders are intimately con nected.
Chloride-of-ammonium vapor may be generated by attaching a Richardson continuous-spray apparatus, by the prox imal end of the elastic ball to the dis tributing-tube of a Vereker chloride-of ammonium inhaler, and a Eustachian catheter to the distributing-end of the spray-apparatus. A few squeezes must first be given to the ball so as to fill the apparatus with gas before introducing the catheter.
Again, if such a catheter, or even a glass tube drawn to a point, be affixed to a Iligginson syringe, one of the best and handiest means of syringing the ex ternal ear will be afforded. The small and practically continuous jet, applied with any force desirable, almost imme diately tunnels a hole in the hardest and quickly allows of that reflex current necessary for its removal, doing away with the need for clumsy ear syringes. J. MacMunn (Brit. Med. Jour.,
Oct. 19, '95).
CYSTITIS.—In catarrhal inflammation of the bladder chloride of ammonium sometimes proves very effective, espe if taken with a tumblerful of water. Ten grains every four hours the first day and 5 grains the second day and thereafter soon cause the local distress to at least greatly diminish.
Ammonium chloride valuable in cys titis, primary or secondary. A capsule containing 5 grains of pulverized purified drug should be taken three of four times in twenty-four hours, preferably when the stomach is empty, and followed im mediately by a half-gobletful or a goblet ful of pure cold water. Faithfully tried in a large number of varied conditions with most satisfactory results. In the majority of cases the urine was rapidly cleared of mucus, blood-corpuscles, pus co•puscles, urates, and phosphates, and the distressing symptoms speedily disap peared. Conic (Virginia Med. Monthly, vol. xx, No. 6, '93).