Antipyrine tried with the object of di minishing the amount of sugar, uric acid, and urea, but the diminution only fleet ing. Beer-yeast of no use. Pancreas in the fresh state in daily doses of 30 grammes given with no better success. The corner-stone of treatment in dia betes is diet. Mousse (La Sem. Med., Aug. 19, '96).
Antipyrine is not always indicated, however. It is only used in certain cases of diabetes, probably those in which the hyperproduction of sugar is very great, for my researches have shown that it tends rather to counteract the destruc tion of the sugar; moreover, the use of antipyrine cannot be long continued. Salicylate of soda has also been of serv ice; its action is similar to that of anti pyrine, with the exception that it does not equally diminish the polyuria. Qui nine acts in the same way as the anti pyrine and the salicylate of soda, and has the advantage of being tonic.
Sodium salieyla.te, as recommended by Ebstein, used in twenty patients. Diet and regimen being the same, it seemed in larc,re doses-75 to SO grains daily—to have a marked effect in diminishing, the amount of sugar in the urine. Stopping of the drug would cause the sugar to re appear, to disappear on resuming the medication. R. T. Williamson (Brit. Med. Jour., Mar. 30, 1901).
Ebstein's plan of trea.ting diabetes by large doses of salol tried in nine eases. Three severe cases showed no improve ment, but the other six, moderately se vere cases, were markedly benefited. In the latter, strict diet caused the sugar to disappear; but the improvement was very gradual. Salol, on the other hand, caused the sugar to fall at once. Al though the drug wa,s administered in 15 grain doses, four times a. day, for five days, no case showed gastric disturb ances or tinnitus. The action does not seem to last long, as the sugar gradu ally reappea,red after the drug was stopped. Teschemacher (Therap. Mon ats., Jan., 1901).
Jambul is also recommended; but in many cases it fails completely. Its mode of action requires to be further studied.
In the treatment of glycosuria, using the rind instead of the fruit in the prep .aration of the extract of jambul makes it more agreeable in taste and much cheaper than the fruit. As much as
11A ounces per day can be administered for a long period without disagreeable effects. It is best given in water or wine. Arix (Then Monats., Apr., '93).
Eugenia jambolana is almost a, specific in diabetes, best given in syrup or juice of ripe fruit mixed with water to form a sherbet. The powdered seeds or a fluid extract of the seeds is an exceed ingly valuable form in which to exhibit it. Rudolf (Bull. of Pharin., Jan., '9S).
For a number of years, particularly in fatty diabetes, I have been using perman ganate of potassium: an agent which in creases the oxidation. I use a 5-per-cent. solution, the patient taking 2 or 3 tea spoonfuls, or even more, per day.
Fourteen patients treated with forms of calcium, generally as phosphate and carbonate. This treatment has appar ently no effect upon the excretion of sugar, but the patient feels better and increases in weight. Of these patients three were young subjects who were markedly benefited. Upon the others there was no result. The treatment, however, produced no detriment. Karl Grube (Titer. IVIonats., 11. 5, S. 25S, '96).
The effects of uranium nitrate are (I) to diminish the thirst, (2) to reduce the amount of urine passed, and (3) to re duce the percentage of sugar. Like all the other drugs used in the treatment of diabetes, liffIlli11111 nitrate does not in fluence all cases alike favorably. Samuel West (Ther. Gaz., Sept., '97).
Hepatic extract, prepared as follows, should be given daily per rectum: 31/2 to 5 1/, ounces of fresh pigs' liver are minced in a machine and maceiated for 2 hours in 7 to 9 ounces of water at 95° to 100° F., then filtered through muslin and expressed. This amount is usually- well borne as an enema; if it is not, divided doses must be given. The cases of diabetes which derive the most benefit from the treatment are those of definite hepatic origin. If the hepatic cell is too diseased, the treat ment fails. Summing up 12 cases, 3 were benefited temporarily, 5 were im proved permanently, and in 4 the gly cosuria ceased completely. It is inter esting to note that in most cases urea a.nd uric acid are increased while liver is taken.