PROPYLAMIN-A SPECIFIC IN RHEUMATIC AFFECTIONS.

With the progress of discovery since the year 1817, when Sertuerner recognized the alkalinity of morphia, the therapeutist has been more and more convinced that the organic alkalies have been specially endowed with more well defined and concentrated medical power than any other group of organic bodies. These remarkable substances, rendered stable by natural union with acids occurring with them, seem destined in the economy of nature to minister to disease, as in most instances they do not appear to possess any other uses. Since the discovery by Wurtz and others of the important fact, that organic alkalies may be produced artificially in the laboratory, it does not appear that much attention has been directed to the therapeutic power of these derivative bodies; yet in some few instances it has been accorded, and there can hardly be a doubt that a rich harvest awaits the researches of experiment in this direction by the enlightened physician. The number of these alkalies has been largely increased by Hoffman, and Anderson. Several of these, strictly artificial at first, so far as known, have since been discovered in nature, and among them propylamin, the subject of this notice.

Having been several times applied to for propylamin by physicians, and this alkaloid not being procurable in commerce, it has been thought advisable to publish a formula for its preparation, and give a notice of its characters more in detail than is found in authorities generally accessible. The origin of the demand for propylamin appears to have arisen from its asserted power in cases of rheumatism, and its variations, by Dr. Awenarius of St. Petersburg, the following notice of whose researches is translated from Bouchardat's Repertoire de Pharmacie, Dec., 1858:-"Propylamin, as obtained from the pickle of herrings, cod-liver oil, ergot, human urine, etc., appears, according to the author, to possess the power of a true specific for the various affections of rheumatic origin. The diagnoses of these diseases being often very obscure, one can succeed (says M. Awenarius) by the use of propylamin in bringing to light in a few days the true nature of the malady. The author has treated, by means of this remedy, 250 patients in the hospital of Kaulinkin at St. Petersburg, between March,

1854, and June, 1856; and besides, it has been employed in outside practice in a considerable number of acute and chronic cases of rheumatism. In acute cases, the pain and fever always disappear the next day. The remedy was prescribed in the following manner, viz:

R-Propylamin,

Distilled water,

And when necessary, add

Oleo saccharum of peppermint,

Dose. A tablespoonful every two hours.

gtt. xxv.
f.3vj. Mix.

3ij.

It is necessary to carefully ascertain if the medicine is fresh and pure."

Propylamin was discovered by Wertheim in 1850, and may be obtained from various sources. Artificially from narcotina, codeia, bone oil, and by the action of ammonia on iodized propylene, and naturally, combined with an acid, in herring pickle, the flowers of the white thorn (Crætagus oxycantha), those of the service berry (Sorbus aucuparia), Chenopodium vulvaria, &c. It is most conveniently prepared from herring pickle or ergot, by distillation with potash. Propylamin is a colorless, transparent liquid, with a strong pungent odor that reminds one of ammonia. As made from some sources it has a fishy odor, whilst from others this character is wanting, and as it is metameric with both trimethylamin and metyl-ethylamin, it is possible that the latter may be mistaken for propylamin. (Gmelin).

Propylamin is soluble in water, has a strong alkaline reaction, forms crystallizable salts, and like ammonia, when a rod dipped in muriatic acid is presented to it, dense vapors of the hydrochlorate become visible by their union. Its composition is CH N. which is that of ammonia with an equivalent of propyl. Most of the salts of propylamin are soluble in water and alcohol, but the sulphate is insoluble in the latter menstruum. (Winckler). The hydrochlorate is soluble in alcohol, and crystallizes in large tables as obtained from Chenopodium vulvaria. All the salts are decomposed with a herring pickle odor by the mixture of potash, and when heated in solution the same fishy odor is perceptible.

Propylamin is prepared by taking any convenient quantity of herring pickle, obtained from the dealers in salt fish; this

is put in a retort or tight still with sufficient potash to render the liquid strongly alkaline, and the liquid heated. A well refrigerated receiver, containing some distilled water, being attached, heat is applied as long as the distillate has the odor of herrings. This is then saturated with hydrochloric acid, evaporated carefully to dryness, and the dry crystalline mass exhausted with absolute alcohol, which dissolves the propylamin salt and leaves the muriate of ammonia. From the former, the pure propylamin may be obtained in solution by means of hydrate of lime, using strong precautions to refrigerate and condense the vapors which are actively disengaged almost without heating. When made from ergot, Winckler recommends that a solution of the extract of ergot, known as ergotine, be distilled with a solution of potassa, using the precaution to have some water abidulated with muriatic acid in the receiver, which should be well refrigerated. For medical purposes it will be better to employ herring pickle, as the source of propylamin. Am. Jour. Pharmacy.

PROLAPSUS UTERI.-Dr. Bonordon observes that as a prolapsus uteri usually arises from hypertrophy of the organ and a relaxed state of the round and broad ligaments, the indications are to remove the hypertrophied condition, and to strengthen the ligaments. In two cases he has been enabled to completely fulfil them by internal remedies. He administered 20 drops of tr. ferri. mur. morning and evening, giving with the evening dose also three gr. of scale cornut and ten gr. of gum galbanum, the external parts of generation being well rubbed several times a day with Hofinann's balsamum vitæ. At night, the patients were directed to lay with the pelvis somewhat raised. The secale was continued for fourteen nights, next alternate nights, then a while at longer periods.-Medical Journal of North Carolina.

WARTS.-In the American Journal of Pharmacy, Dr. C. O. Monelle, of Baltimore, gives the following method of extirpating these unsightly excrescences: "I first cauterized the wart with lunar caustic, sufficiently free to reduce it to a level with the surrounding cuticle, and then upon the exposed surface, dropped from three to five drops of the tinct: iodine; this Í repeated three or four times daily for three days, and then applied a dressing of lint and simple cerate, which healed the sore very rapidly.-Ibid.

Editorial Department.

In our last issue we alluded briefly to the importance of a good primary education to students of medicine, and the responsibility which devolved on those under whose supervision the beginner was to pursue his studies.

It will be conceded, that whilst a classical education may not be essentially necessary to the successful practice of our profession, yet, that it is a most material aid to our investigations, and will remain so until a complete change shall have been effected in our nomenclature. This latter is indeed desirable; for the vagueness by which it is at present characterized, and the numerous falsities which it embodies and preserves, are sufficient arguments abstractedly against its continuance. But what may be desirable and what practicable, are, unfortunately, distinct propositions. Were any change to be effected in this particular, the revulsion should be radical, and in inducing it new difficulties would present themselves, which, coupled with the almost hopelessness of the task, might be considered greater than those which already exist.

In view, therefore, of these points, and until such a change as that spoken of is produced, we can not but conceive that a study of Latin at least, should be urged upon all students. If they have not previously given some attention thereto, they will be compelled to do so as soon as they begin to read their text-books, or apply themselves to anatomy, for names sound hard and meaningless to those who do not understand their etymology; and one great, perhaps the greatest difficulty with students in anatomy, is the remembrance of its nomenclature. We would not be understood to desire the exclusion of such as are not Latin scholars-we only mean to say that to such the study of medicine and the collateral sciences is infinitely easier than it is to others. Some of the very best students whom we have ever known were not of this class, but if they had been their studies would have been less laborious.

From one end of our land to the other-from the surface, and from a few feet below the surface-there are evidences, living and dead, which might testify against those who, while decrying every pathy but their own, which is the greatest pathy of the age-humbugopathy-are willing to admit to full fellowship those who do not attend lectures at all, and regarding whose term of study no questions are asked, simply that an additional name may be added to their graduating list. While such pettifogging is indulged, the lay profession must not look forward too hopefully for any concerted action on the part of the Convention, but taking the matter in their own hands, and at home, and in their own way, let them first plant and nourish good seed-let them select carefully the soil into which it is to be transplanted, and all will soon be well. Our care should be for the new plants—the old limbs and fungoid growths will soon be lopped off.

None would rejoice more heartily than ourselves to see, and none will more cheerfully co-operate to produce concert and efficiency in the Convention; but if the effort at reformation fail there, it surely need not in the private offices of practitioners.

One gentleman has returned a copy of our last number, with the explicit statement that "he is not a subscriber," and the gratuitous one "that he don't wish to become one." We are very glad that he does not, for any person who will take advantage of the Post Office Department in its present condition, by writing on a paper to save three cents, might perhaps go further to save three dollars. Besides this, we never expected him to be a subscriber, nor is his name upon our list.

Such of our numbers, and such only, as contain the proceedings of the State Medical Society, are sent to members of that Society according to our agreement, but we do not hence consider them as subscribers, nor need even such read the News unless they wish to.

Dr. Thomas D. Mutter, Emeritus Professor of Surgery in Jefferson Medical College, died at Charleston, S. C., on the night of the 16th March. His enviable and widely extended reputation will long survive him.