The Philadelphia Polyclinic. 
114 
[March 24r 
alkaloid, as well as its salts, had been em- 
ployed as an anti-neuralgic in doses of from 
gr. Ai to gr. Ad As opportunity offered, 
from time to time, I prescribed the alkaloid, 
and, as a rule, with satisfactory results. The 
number of cases is, however, not sufficiently 
large to base final conclusions upon ; nor 
have I had the opportunity for a systematic 
and comparative study of a large series of 
cases; nevertheless, the results obtained 
have been sufficiently encouraging to justify 
the further employment of the remedy and 
it is with this end in view that this brief 
note is published. A thirtieth of a grain 
can be safely administered thrice daily. I 
have observed no evil effects from this dose. 
In some instances I fear the patients did not 
receive the preparation desired, but in many 
I am sure they did, for I saw the original 
package from which it was dispensed. 
GELSEMININE IN NEURALGIA. 
Augustus A. Eshner, M. D., 
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL MEDICINE IN THE 
PHILADELPHIA POLYCLINIC. 
Some two years ago, at the suggestion of 
Prof. Da Costa, I looked about for an active 
principle from gelsemium sempervirens that 
should represent the peculiar and well 
known anti-neuralgic properties of the pre- 
parations of the crude drug. On inquiry, I 
learned that the house of E. Merck of New 
York, prepared an alkaloid called gelsemi- 
nine, which, I was informed, was " a power- 
ful poison-producing, in excessive doses, 
convulsions, and death by paralysis of res- 
piration." It was further stated that the