Catarrh of the stomach, a relaxed state of the mucous membrane, acidity, and flatulence, are conditions in which tannic acid is useful. It may be given in pill-form with sufficient glycerin to make a mass of proper consistence—one drop to four grains. Haema-temesis dependent on ulcer of the stomach, or obstructive disease of the liver, and not inflammatory in origin, is an indication for tannin. It should be given in solution and in a large dose—grs. x—Э j. Tannic acid is an efficacious remedy in diarrhoea, after acute symptoms have subsided, in chronic diarrhoea, colliquative diarrhoea, the diarrhoea of phthisis, etc. Notwithstanding the chemical incompatibility, combination with opium or morphine increases the efficacy of the tannin. As tannic acid, in large part, at least, escapes conversion into gallic, and passes unchanged into the intestine, its action is doubtless chiefly local. Oppolzer advises the following formula in profuse diarrhoea: Rx Acidi tannici, 3 ij; pulv. opii, grs. vj; sacchari, q. s. M. Ft. pulv. no. vj. Sig.: One every two hours. In cholera diarrhoea, A. von Graefe prescribed a solution of tannic acid in cinnamon-water and mucilage every half-hour. For the diarrhoea and intestinal haemorrhage of typhoid fever, tannin is one of the most serviceable remedies. According to Stillé, whose faith appears rather extravagant, there is no more effective remedy for chronic diarrhoea and chronic dysentery than tannic acid conjoined with a milk-diet.

Various members of this group are used in the above-mentioned diseases. Kino has been a favorite remedy in pyrosis, and is also given in diarrhoeal diseases. Catechu, in the form of the tincture chiefly, is frequently added to prescriptions for diarrhoea, notably to chalk-mixture in the diarrhoea of children. Kino is a favorite remedy for the diarrhoea of phthisis, but it is not more efficacious, and is more disagreeable in administration, than tannic acid. Several of the indigenous remedies mentioned above possess undoubted value in the treatment of diarrhoeal diseases. A decoction of rubus or geranium, obtained by boiling the root in milk (oz-oj), is an excellent remedy in cholera infantum and the summer diarrhoea of children. When a nursing child passes rather frequent, greenish, and watery stools, and suffers with pain and colic at each motion, great relief will be afforded by the use of syrupus rubi, or better by the unofficial compound sirup of rubus. In the chronic diarrhoea of adults, and in acute diarrhoea after the subsidence of inflammatory symptoms, the fluid extracts of hamamelis, of heuchera, and of statice, may be used with advantage. In haematemesis and intestinal haemorrhage the hamamelis is very effective, owing, doubtless, to the very large percentage of tannin which it contains.

The comparative merits of tannic and gallic acids may be formu-larized as follows: for local effects tannic acid, for systemic effects gallic acid is to be preferred. It is true that tannic acid affects remote parts, but in order to diffuse into the blood it must first be converted into gallic, and hence the systemic actions are really due to the latter. It follows that gallic acid should be prescribed when the astringent effects on the tissues elsewhere than the intestinal canal are to be produced. Gallic acid is an effective remedy for pulmonary and renal haemorrhage. For the former we possess other agents more efficient, but for the latter it is more uniformly successful than any other remedy. The success of rhatany, which was formerly much used in haematuria, was doubtless due to its tannic and gallic acids. In the hemorrhagic diathesis, gallic acid is one of the remedies which may be used with advantage. Although it can not be combined with chalyb-eates, it may be given alternately with them. Whenever haemorrhage occurs in relaxed and debilitated constitutions—is passive in character —gallic acid may be combined with ergotine and digitalis: Rx Acid gallici, 3 i; ergotine (aq. ex.), digitalis, āā Э j. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: One every four hours.

As gallic acid has the power to restrain secretion of mucous surfaces, it may be prescribed, experience has shown with good effect, in chronic bronchial catarrh. When bronchiectasis exists, the good effects of the remedy are by no means conspicuous, but it is very serviceable when the bronchial catarrh is the result of the irritation extending from disease of the parenchyma of the lungs, or is produced by mitral or tricuspid regurgitation, or is the sequel of acute catarrh. In pyelitis and pyelo-nephritis, gallic acid and the remedies containing it diminish the purulent discharge, and retard changes in the mucous membrane. It is also a serviceable remedy in catarrh of the bladder. In these states, to insure as far as possible its rapid and complete diffusion into the blood, it should be given frequently and well diluted. As it is soluble in eight parts of rectified spirit, and as this solution mixes in all proportions with water without precipitation, a spirituous solution should be prescribed: Rx Acidi gallici, 3 j; spirit, vini rectif., oz j. M. Sig.: A teaspoonful in sufficient water every four hours.

Gallic acid has the power to restrain the waste of albumen in cases of albuminuria. It is adapted to the acute forms—desquamative nephritis, the albuminuria following scarlatina, etc., and does not seem, according to the author's observation, to check in the least the loss of albumen in the chronic forms of albuminuria. Dr. Aitken recommends the following formula: Rx Acidi gallici, 3 j— 3 ij; acid, sulphuric, dil., 3 ss; tinct. lupuli, 3 j; infus. lupuli, oz vj. M. Sig.: A tablespoonful three times a day.