Under this name is known a naphthol-sulphonic-acid salt of aluminum. It is supposed to contain 5 per cent of aluminum and 15 per cent of sulphur, and is a white powder soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, and insoluble in ether. It may be applied as a powder undiluted, or mixed with talc or starch, or in solution in water. So active is it as a germicide that a one-per-cent solution will inhibit pathogenic bacteria. It is a decided astringent, and this action is not limited to the surface on which it is applied, but penetrates to the tissues beneath. It also causes contraction of the vessels when applied to the frog's mesentery even in a very dilute solution.

Therapeutically, alumnol is applied to the treatment of wounds, injuries, abscesses, ulcers, and affections of the skin. For chancroids, erosions, and abscesses, alumnol powder undiluted may be applied. In acute troubles of the skin and mucous membrane it should be diluted with starch to 10 or 20 per cent. Balanitis, freely discharging eczema, and burns of the first degree are conditions in which the diluted powders are made use of. The solution in water of 1 to 5 per cent is of suitable strength in gonorrhoea. An ointment prepared with lanolin or lard is also employed in skin diseases. In most of the diseases in which it has been used alumnol has had satisfactory results.

Authorities referred to:

Chotzen, Dr. Alumnol ein neues Mittelgegen Hautkrankheiten und Gonorrhoe. Ibid. Gottheil, Dr. W. S. The New York Medical Journal, November 4, 1893. Heintz u. Liebrecht. Berliner klinische Wochenschrift. Quoted by Virchow und Hirsch's Jahresbericht for 1892.

Boral, Cutol, and Cutolum Solubile are names given to preparations of aluminum recently prepared by Leuchter, an apothecary of Berlin, and subsequently submitted to clinical investigation by Dr. Koppel, whose paper appeared in the Therapeutische Monatshefte for November, 1895.

Boral is obtained by the reaction of boric and tartaric acids on aluminum; cutol, of boric and tannic acids. Cutolum solubile is-cutol rendered soluble by the action of tartaric acid. Boral and cutol are powders employed in that form, or mixed with chalk and talc or made into ointment.

These preparations are indicated in forms of cutaneous disease, as eczema, catarrh of the mucous membrane, hyperidrosis, etc. According to Koppel, the following recipe is an excellent application to haemorrhoids: Rx Cutol, 5·0 = 75 gr.; olei olivarum, 2·0 = 3 ss.; lanolini,. 40·0= oz j and 3 ij; adde liq. plumbi subacetat., 1·0 = 15 gr. M„ Ft. ung. Or the following: Rx Cutol, 3·0 = 45 gr.; olei olivarum, 2·0 = 3 ss.; acid, carbol. liq., gtts. vj; lanolini ad., 30·0 = oz iv. M. Ft. ung.

It may be said of these combinations that they are indicated and will probably be found useful in the same kind of cases as alumnol.