PULMONARY DISORDERS. — In pulmo nary disorders, G. Mayer found amylene hydrate a reliable and pleasant hypnotic. It appeared not only to produce sleep, but to have a decided sedative influence on the cough. In phthisis it proved it self useful in this respect, after morphia had had but little effect. When there is pain or very troublesome cough, how ever, it is not so uniformly successful.
AMYLIFORM.—Amyliform is a true chemical combination of formaldehyde and starch. It occurs in the form of a white powder, without odor, insoluble in all liquids, and is very stable and not easily altered. It is gritty, or feels like sand when rubbed in the hands. In the body it is decomposed slowly into formic aldehyde and starch.
Therapeutics.—Formic aldehyde being a powerful bactericide, antifermentative, and antiputrefactive, amyliform proves useful in antiseptic surgery. Employed as a powder, it was found to diminish in a rapid manner the secretions upon sores. particularly those which have a bad odor. It is strongly antiseptic. deodorant, and absorbent.
Amyliform is absolutely free from ir ritating properties, and non-toxic. It favorably affects the secretion, prevents tissue-necrosis, does not forum a dry crust which retains secretion, and will absolutely prevent the foul odor from gamzrenous wounds. Classen (Therap. Monat.. Jan.. '97).
derived from its use during menstrual uterine contractions. It is also consid ered valuable as a sedative in hysterical manifestations.
AMYLVALERIANATE.—Amyl-vale rianate, introduced by Blanc, represents the odoriferous principle of the apple: that is, the essence extracted by distil lation together with alcohol.
Dose.—Its toxic properties being very slight, as many as 5 or 6 capsules, con taining 2 grains each, can be taken daily, but it is necessary to guard against gas tric disturbance.
Physiological Action.—Cider has long been believed by the laity to have some effect on ealculous formations, and this seems to be borne out by the fact that valerianate of amyl really has some solvent action on cholesterin. It is a colorless liquid, of pleasant taste when taken in small quantities, and can be prepared in the laboratory by the action of valerianic acid on amylic alcohol.
Fifteen grains of cholesterin are dis solved by 70 grains of valerianate at 99° F., and by 46 grains at 104° F.
its action resembles that of ether, but the special qualities lie in its being a stimu lant and sedative to the liver in cases of hepatic colic. It is said not only to im mediately subdue the attack, but to pre vent recurrences. If the stomach is irri table, it may be necessary first to employ sulphuric ether, following this with 2 or 3 capsules of 2 grains each, given every half-hour until the crisis is past, and continued at long intervals during the following days. According to Blanc, in nephritic colic the drug acts as an anti spasmodic and general stimulant only, but no effect is produced on the renal calculi; muscular rheumatism is fre quently relieved, and much benefit is also ANIEMIA.—From Gr., d, priv., and Gaya, blood.
Definition.—A sympto‘natic disorder of the blood characterized by a deficiency of some of its important constituents, espe cially red corpuscles.
Varieties.—Anaemia may be classified into two general forms: (1) that due to defective hmmolysis and (2) that due to defective lnemogenesis. Stephen Mac kenzie recognizes four degrees of anaemia according to the number of red corpus cles present in the blood, but, with other observers, he regards the classification given by llayem, in which the proportion of haemoglobin in the corpuscles is taken as a standard, as more scientific. This is especially the case, since the number of red blood-corpuscles has not been con sidered as important a factor as it was once held to be.
According to Germain See, alterations of the blood in true anaemia are conform able to one of three types: (1) the ante nna from haemorrhage, characterized by a diminution in fob of all the elements of the blood; (2) a type characterized by hypoluemoglobinmmia,—i.e., a deficiency of haemoglobin, either quantitative or qualitative; (3) a type in which the num ber of red blood-corpuscles is reduced.