It would seem as if the cure for those worst
of small nuisances, colds in the head, which Dr. Ferrier, of King's College, suggested in the Lancet of this day fortnight (April 8), might prove to be a remedy of very great value. It is a snuff,—a white powder,— composed of the following ingredients :—Hydrochlorate of mor- phia, two grains ; acacia-powder, two drachms ; trisnitrate of bismuth, six drachms,—the whole making up a quantity of powder of which from one quarter to one-half may be safely taken, if necessary, in the course of twenty-four hours. Dr. Ferrier says that with this snuff he has twice cured himself of very violent colds, once indeed by taking trisnitrate of bismuth alone, which is a very powerful remedy for catarrh of the mucous mem- brane and is the most important ingredient in this snuff. Dr. Ferrier mentions two other persons who were cured of violent colds by the same snuff, and to these instances we may add tliat of the present writer, who, having a very violent cold coming on, with the sensation of weight in the temples, and the usual dis- agreeable feeling in the throat, as well as ordinary catarrh, made trial of Dr. Ferrier's remedy one evening, and, got up on the following morning completely free from cold, which has not dace recurred. The snuff, instead of increasing the tendency to sneeze; almost immediately begins to diminish it.
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