hias been the absence of information as to expected confinements. It is stiggested that this information may be obtained from midwives and fromii the miaternity departmnents of the lhospitals, as is being done in Leeds and some othler areas. We note as a very questionable feature of the report the complete abselnce of aniy appleciation of the fact that both hospitals and ni-idwives shouldl regard information of this kind as absolutely confidlential. If the State has tlle right to obtain this

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... ormiiation it miiglht be obtained tlhroughl the approved societies uniider the Insurance Act by miialiing previous notification of tlle birth a conditioln for obtaining maternity benefit, but one approved society that approaclhed the Insurance Cominissiolners witlh this object was met by an unconditional reftusal. If it be wronig to obtain direct notificationi in exchange for a definiite quid pro qto it can lhardly be justifiable to obtain the same information by tapping sources of information whiclh should be confidential. This aspect of the matter deserves the prompt attention of the miiedical profession. The deatlh-rates from puerperal fever and fromi accidents of clhildbirth are still far from satisfactory, alnd serve to emplhasize the nieed for maternity centres at whiclh expectant and parturient miotlhers may receive treatlmient. THE CIIEilICAL CONSTITUTION OF CERTAIN PROPRIETARY DRUGS. (Coittinuee2 from p. ,5.) THIE contraction B.P. witlh date is used for the Briti-s Phar)nacopoeia, aud B.P.C. is used for the Br itis7 Pharmiaceutical Codcx, 1911. lot hion. This is a name applied to di-iodohydroxypropaine. It is said to cointain 77 to 80 per cent. of iodine, and is offered as a topical substitute for iodine and the iodides. T'lie trade name Iothion indicates the produLct of Farbeiifabriken vorm-. Fried. Bayer and Co., Elberfeld, Gerrmanly. Isoformn. This is stated to be oxy-para-iodo-anisol, obtainied by oxidizing iodo-anisol; it is intended as a wound alntiseptic. The trade name Isoform indicates the product of Meister, Lucius, and Brtinilng, Hoeclist a/Maiii, Germany. Is801) al. A nam-le applied to trielilor-isopropyl alcolhol. It is offered as a lhypniotic. The trade namlle Isopral indicates the product of Farbenfabriken vorm. Fried. Bayer, Elberfeld, Germany. Ahar-sine. This is a name applied to sodiumiii para-aminlo-nmetatolyl-arsinate or sodium methylaminophenylarsonate, a comnpound related to Soamin. The trade name Kharsine indicates the product of Burroughs, Wellcoimie and Co. Kresamzine. A name given to ethlylenediaminie-trikresol, also lknown as kresolamine, trikresolamine, etliylenediamineeresol. It is intended for use as aln antiseptic and bactericide in tubereulosis and skin diseases. Thle trade namne Kresamine indicates the prodtuct of E. Schering, Berlin. Lactophen2in. A niame applied to para-plhenetidin lactate, which differs clhemiically from plhenacetin only in having a lactic acid in place of the acetic acid group. Thie trade name Lactoplhenin indicates tthe product of C. F. Boehringer and1e Soehlue, Mannlleim-oni-Rliine. La,rgini. A namiie applied to silver albuminate, or protalbin silver, a compound of white of egg with silver. The trade ianale Largin indicates the product of E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germilany. Lenicet. This is a name applied to a basic aluminium acetate. Al'uminium subacetate is described under the latter name in the B.P.C., and the tradoe namnes Estone and Lenicet are tlhose miientiolned as pertaining to similar productts. The trade ianame Lenicet indicates the product of Dr. L. Reiss, Berlin, and Estone that of Dr. A. Friedlander, Berlin. Len,igallo7. A namiie applied to pyrogallol triacetate; Eugallol incdicates the miionoacetate. The trade ilame Lenigallol ii'dicates the produet of Knoll and Co., Ludwigsllafecn-on-1thine. Loretiv. Tllis is clhemically iiieta-iodo-ortlho-ooxy-quinoline-sulplhonic acid, a powder wlhichl is said to containi 36.2 per cenlt. of iodine. Tlle trade name Loretin indicates tho produLet of Teo. Scliuclhardt, Gorlitz, Germany. Losoplhan. Losoplhan is a tri-iodo-meta-cresol, wlhichl resuLlts from tlle action of potassium iodide upon sodiurm ortlho-oxypara-toluylate. The trade niame Losophan indicates the product of Farbenfabrilien vorm. Fried. Bayer, Elberfeld, Germany. Lyectol. This is a niamiie applied to diinietliyl-piperazidine tartrate, introduced as a substitute for piperazidine in gout an-Cd gravel. The trade nanme Lycetol indicates the productt of Faubenfabriken vcrm. Fried. Bayer, Elberfeld, Germnany. Lysidine. This is a name applied to ethylene-ethenyldiamine. A bitartrate of lysidine lhas also been initroduced. Botlh substances are intended for use in all forms of uric acid diatlhesis and in gout, etc. Thle trade name Lysidine indicates the product of Meister, Lucius, and Brilning, Hoechst a/Maini, Germany. M1Ielubrin. A namiie applied to sodium plienyl-dimethyl-pyrazoloiianmino-nmethain-sulplhonate. It is put forward as all anitipyretic and antineutalgic. Tlle trade ianale Melubriin inidicates tlle product of Meister, Lucius, and Bri"nin, Hoechst a/MXIain, Germany. Mlesotan. This is a name given to salicylic-metlhoxy-metlylester, said to be identical with ericin. It is put forward as a substitute for metllyl salicylate. The trade name Mesotan indicates tlle product of Farbenfabriken vorni. Fried. Bayer, Elberfeld, Germany. Nargol. Described as nucleini-silver or silver nLucleinate, a combination of silver witlh yeast nuclein. The trade naime Nargol indicates tlle product of Parke, Davis, and Co., Detroit, Mich. Neobornyval. A name applied to the isovalerylglycollic ester of borneol. The trade name Neobornyval indicates tlle productt of J. D. Riedel, A.G., Berlin-Britz, Gerluany. Neopyrine. A name applied to valerylami'noantipyrine. It is put forward as a nerve sedative and antispasmodic. A bromneopyrine, said to contain 21.85 per cent. of bromine, lhas also been introduLced, chiefly for use as a nerve sedative. Thle trade names Neopyrine and Brom-neopyrine indicate the products of Knoll and Compalny, Ludwigshafen oni Rhine. Nirvanin. Nirvanin is definied as the lhydroclhloride of dietliyl. glycocbll-para-amino-ortlho-oxybenzoic acid metlhyl ester, and is brouiglht forward as a substitute for cocaine as a local anaesthetic, and stated to be less toxic. Tlle substance is mentioned in the B.P.C. under the name glycocaine. Ttle trade name Nirvanin indicates the product of Meister, Lucius, and Briining, Hoechist a/Main, Germany. A nam1e appiied to zinc suiphanilate, which closely resembles zinc su.phocarbolate, and is said to hlave thle same uses. The tradle name Nizin indicates the produIct of Burroulghs, Welleome and Co., London.