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VOL V. JANUARY, 180.S. 

Cfte 



Journal of Pharmacology 

Published by The Alumni Association 

of the COLLEGE of PHARriACY, of the 
CITY OF NEW YORK. 



Contents. 

Some Medicines of the Cree Indians of the North, i 

By C. Fi.exon. 

The Brussels Congress, 4 

Pharmaceutic Chemistry, Pharmacology and Pharmaco-Physics, . 7 

By A. R. L- Dohme, Ph. D. 

Reactions and Reagents, 10 

Editorial. - ... - 17 

Abstracts and Reviews. - - - 18 

The Preservation of Ether, 23 

Book Reviews, .......... 24 

Alumni, College and Class Notes. - - 25 




Entered as second class matter at the New York, N. Y, Post Office, January 20th, 1897. 



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at 

journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosgy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmacol 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York 



Vol. V. 



NEW YORK, JANUARY, iJ 



No. I. 



SOME HEDICINES OF THE CREE INDIANS OF THE NORTH.* 



By C. Flexon, Winnepeg, Man. 



LIBRARY 
NEW YORK 
BOTA f 

GARDEN. 



At a late hour during the close of last 
week a most interesting gentleman, a 
stranger to me, hearing that I had been 
appointed a delegate at this meeting, 
called to see if a brief record of his ex- 
perience among the Swampee Indians of 
the North, with whom he had lived for 
six years, would be acceptable to me. I 
thanked Mr. Strath — for such is his 
name — and he thereupon furnished the 
following particulars of some of the 
drugs prescribed by him in his capacity 
of medical officer at Norway House, 
about 400 miles due north of Winnepeg. 
The conversation which I had with him 
was unfortunately but too short, as it 
was extremely fascinating. He has evi- 
dently been a close observer of those 
people. Apart from speaking their lan- 
guage fluently, I should say a pretty 
accurate knowledge had been gained by 
him of the strength and weakness of the 
Cree mind. As a student of Greek and 



Hebrew, he has a remarkably high opin- 
ion of the Cree language. For beauty 
and perfection, he says, it cannot be 
surpassed, and to hear him talk of the 
poetry and eloquence of some • of the 
native sermons which he has heard, has 
somewhat destroyed my confidence in the 
language in which we are conversing on 
this occasion, and which we are con- 
ceited enough to suppose is the best in 
the world. 

DISEASES COMMON TO INDIANS. 

A large number of the diseases com- 
mon among the white people are just as 
common among the Indians, and while 
many of the drugs used by them are well 
known to us, the manner of using them 
is certainly different. In the treatment 
of worms, for instance, male shield fern, 
— the Aspidium of the United States 
Pharmacopoeia ; Filix Mas, of the Ph. 

* Presented to the scientific section of the American 
Pharmaceutical Association. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Br. — is given as a strong infusion, com- 
bined with senna and wild indigo. The 
latter article, by the way, is used as an 
antiseptic, and has excellent drying 
properties in the treatment of eczema 
humidum, or "weeping eczema." One 
of the commonest drugs with them, and 
which is to be seen hanging up to dry in 
every wigwam or tepee, is the wekas or 
sweet flag — the calamus of the Pharma- 
copoeia. It is considered a specific in all 
throat troubles with the exception of 
diphtheria, which is unknown to them. 
In cases of pharyngitis and tonsilitis it 
is used externally and internally. The 
rhizome is chewed and the saliva allowed 
to wash the throat. Poultices are made 
by mixing the powder with boiling 
water. It is a curious fact that the In- 
dians are not only ignorant of gargles, 
but of the act of gargling, and Mr. 
Strath has been amused time and again 
in his efforts to get a Cree to gargle. 
This drug is carried about by the natives 
in the winter time as a tonic, and is 
chewed because of its stimulating prop- 
erties by the Indians as tobacco is chewed 
by the white — or should we say, more 
correctly, by the civilized — man ? Most 
of their medicines are in the form of in- 
fusions. Very little is known about the 
salts, and it was with the greatest diffi- 
culty that the officer could persuade a 
patient to take Epsom salts, in conse- 
quence of a deep-rooted suspicion that 
the magnesium sulphate will produce in- 
flammation of the bowels. Pills, no 
matter how strong, are swallowed ad 
libitum. Podophyllum peltatum, or man- 
drake, is taken in doses of 20 grains. 
Carui fructus, or the common caraway, 
is indigenous to this country, and is the 
common remedy for colic, a complaint 
perhaps more frequent and more stub- 
born than with us. 



BLUE COHOSH, AN ABORTIFACIENT. 

Another indigenous plant, and one 
which grows in that latitude in great 
profusion is the caulophyllum, or the blue 
cohosh, also known by the name of pap- 
poose root, squaw root or blueberry root. 
It is used very largely in obstetrics and 
all female complaints. In doses of 30 to 
60 grains the powdered rhizome is given 
to produce abortion ; but the Crees have 
a powder which they mix with the co- 
hosh, and when thus administered Mr. 
Strath has known more than one instance 
where a three-months foetus has been ex- 
pelled from uterus without ensuing dan- 
ger to the mother. He even goes so far 
as to say that abortion procured in this 
manner precludes all possibility of future 
conception. This powder they never 
allowed Mr. Strath to see, and, in spite 
of his offer of $50 for a small sample, 
the secret has been kept profoundly 
sacred. Menstruation at the age of 
eleven years is the rule, and he considers 
it a remarkable fact in a cold country 
where the thermometer often registers 50 
degrees below zero. 

DRUGS COMMONLY USED. 

Ladies' slipper, the cypripedium of 
the Pharmacopoeia, imported from the 
tribes to the south, is chiefly used in 
rheumatism in very large doses. It is 
also used in the treatment of epilepsy, 
but this disease is of rare occurrence. 

As an aromatic stimulant hedeoma, or 
pennyroyal, is as much used by the Cree 
women, and in a similar manner, as by 
our own people. 

Plantago, or plantain, is used com- 
monly as a hemostatic, and is chewed by 
the doctor and applied as a paste to the 
bleeding surface. This drug is also their 
remedy for toothache It is not put in 
the aching tooth, but is swallowed. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Some of you will be surprised to hear 
that the Indians suffer very much from 
their teeth, and that my informant has 
practiced a great deal of dentistry dur- 
ing his residence with them. 

Juniper is used in tnree forms. The 
berries are stewed and eaten as a diuretic. 
The leaves are dried and dusted over in- 
dolent sores, healing them with wonder- 
ful rapidity, and the root infused is 
administered in cases of gravel. Though 
Bright's disease is rare, gravel is very 
common, and most old men die of it. 
Hydrangea is used with juniper and 
with great success. 

Spearmint, sarsaparilla and dandelion 
are taken for the same complaints as we 
ourselves take them. 

Hemlock spruce is much thought of. 
The inner bark of the tree, freshly 
peeled, is mixed with equal parts of pop- 
lar and black birch to make a decoction. 
In the process of boiling an oil is taken 
from the surface. This oil is mixed in 
the proportion of two drams to a quart 
of water, which quantity is drunk in the 
course of two or three days as an abor- 
tive medicine. 

the Indian's nursery powder. 

We must no longer pride ourselves on 
the nursery toilette powders which we 
present to our customers in such a vari- 
ety of charming packages. To the In- 
dian, whose untutored mind, as Pope 
says, sees God in the clouds and hears 
Him in the wind, must we go for the 
most agreeable and most absorbent arti- 
cle of the kind yet introduced, a sample 
of which I have with me. It is nothing 
but the rotten interior of the hemlock 
spruce, lacking, perhaps, the extreme 
fineness which could only be obtained by 
modern methods and machinery. 

We now come to willow bark, which 



is used as a hemostatic in the form of 
infusion. It is the belief of the Indian 
that bleeding should be arrested at once. 
He has an awful fear of death from loss 
of blood, and an Indian has been seen 
to faint whilst watching another having 
his finger amputated. 

Regarding salicin, " the important 
constituent of willow bark," the Cree is 
incredulous as to its source. He cannot 
understand how a white powder can be 
made from a bark, and it is entirely 
without faith that he is occasionally in- 
duced to take this remedy or the salicyl- 
ates for rheumatism. 

STRONG REMEDIES FOR FEVER. 

The belief that fever can only be cured 
by vomiting it up has a strong hold on 
the Cree mind, and he, therefore, swal- 
lows the strongest remedies by taking 
what we would consider more than a 
maximum dose of veratrum viride, or 
the green hellebore of the Pharmaco- 
poeia ; but this powerful drug has an- 
other use, the story of which will, to 
say the least, be news to some of the 
gentlemen present. The rootlets and 
the rhizome are powdered between two 
stones, and as such is taken as a snuff to 
reduce hernia. The modus operandi is 
thus : The patient, naked, of course, is 
elevated to a horizontal position. He 
then takes a good pinch of the snuff and 
during the violent sneezing which fol- 
lows, a companion standing ready at the 
side plunges back the rupture with his 
fist, and if it is not a case of strangula- 
tion the treatment is sufficient. To undo 
matters, so to speak, the patient is ad- 
vised to eat all the pork he can. Mr. 
Strath is of the opinion that hernia is 
common with the tribe in consequence of 
the abundance of grease consumed by 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



them, and he ventures to say that eight 
out of every ten Crees are ruptured. 

Skin diseases of all kinds are there, 
and are treated with an ointment made 
of equal parts of gun powder and lard. 

Sturgeon oil is used instead of cod 
liver oil and is clarified until it becomes 
the color of tincture of capsicum. In 
one ounce doses, which are considered 
large, it acts as a cathartic. 

An infusion of wild raspberry leaves 
combined with willow bark is an excel- 
lent remedy for cholera infantum, prompt- 
ly administered, but there are a great 
many deaths from diarrhoea. In that 
latitude, and in all degrees north of 54, 
a very large raspberry grows which is 
called the " headberry " by the Indians ; 
its botanical name is rubus arcticus. The 
berry is found at the head of the stem, 
two feet in height. 

A FEATURE OF INDIAN SUPERSTITION. 
Rumex, or yellow dock, is well known 
and used extensively as a laxative and 
for poultices. In any critical case of ill- 
ness, the medicine man of the tribe is 
called in and is required to say whether 
or not the patient will recover. This 
skilful fakir has a powder resembling 
powdered rhubarb in appearance. This 
he places on the surface of a saucerful 
of water. The powder in a moment or 
two spreads out into rays either to the 
east or west. If to the former point of 
the compass, the victim will die ; if to 
the latter, which invariably happens, re- 
covery is promised. It is quite likely 
that a promise of such a nature materi- 



ally] helps the patient by buoying him 
up and by inspiring him with hope. So 
much for one feature of Indian supersti- 
tion. 

INDIAN REVENGE. 

Indian revenge, or rather that of the 
Northern Cree in particular, is, if true, 
of the most shocking character. It is 
said that if a Cree wishes to punish an- 
other severely he does it by disfiguring 
him for life, by introducing an almost 
tasteless compound into his tea or to- 
bacco — generally into his tea, which he 
drinks strong and in great quantities. 
This vile compound is made up of twen- 
ty-seven vegetable and animal drugs. 
The victim feels no ill effects at the time 
of taking it, but in the course of two or 
three months the skin begins to peel, a 
rash breaks out and spreads over the en- 
tire body. Subsequently the skin grad- 
ually darkens to black, and on the ex- 
posed parts the hair grows so thickly as 
to give the unhappy Indian the appear- 
ance of a baboon. He never recovers. 
There is no romance about this, I am 
assured, for there are at least half a dozen 
cases of the kind to be found in the 
country at this day. 

The most fatal poison is the wild car- 
rot. These Indians have a fashion of 
boasting among themselves of their 
ability of poisoning their enemies at 
various distances. Just imagine an In- 
dian polishing off an enemy at a distance 
of five miles by a wild carrot ? 



THE BRUSSELS CONGRESS. 



At the concluding general meeting of 
members of the Pharmaceutical Congress 
held in Brussels last August, the General 
Secretary, M. Duyk, read a report of the 
resolutions passed in reference to the 



several subjects which had been dis- 
cussed. An official draft of these resolu- 
tions has now been issued, and from it 
we extract the following particulars. 
In regard to pharmacutical education 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



it was decided (i) that in all countries 
there should be established independent 
pharmaceutical schools equal in position 
to the departments of a university and 
having similar powers; (2) that the fol- 
lowing additional compulsory subjects of 
study should be introduced into the cur- 
riculum of pharmaceutical students: a. 
Pharmacy law and ethics, b. General 
hygiene. c. Bacteriology (theoretical 
and practical). 

In regard to the practice of pharmacy 
it was decided — 

1. That the practice of medicine and 
that of pharmacy should not in any in- 
stance be carried on by one and the same 
person; consequently that medical prac- 
titioners should be prohibited from sell- 
ing medicines to their patients, except 
in the case of a doctor living in a place 
where there is no pharmacist and then 
on the condition that he should only sup- 
ply medicine to patients residing at a 
certain distance from the nearest phar- 
macy. 

1. bis. That legislative effect should 
be given to the same principle in the case 
of veterinary practice. 

2. That every open pharmacy should 
be the property of the pharmacist by 
whom the business is carried on and that 
every form of association other than that 
between legally qualified pharmacists 
should be prohibited, as well as any 
combination by which the proprietorship 
of a pharmacy would be shared by a 
pharmacist and by other persons not 
having the diploma of pharmacist; the 
only exception to this rule to be in the 
case of the widows and heirs of pharma- 
cists, and then only for a limited period. 

3. That the number of pharmacies 
should be limited in proportion to the 
wants of the population. 



4. That mutual aid associations, ex- 
ceptionally allowed to be proprietors of a 
pharmacy, should be prohibited from 
supplying medicines to any persons ex- 
cept their own members. 

5. That civil hospitals should be al- 
lowed to keep pharmacies, but on condi- 
tion that the pharmacy is in each in- 
stance managed by a qualified pharma- 
cist, and that it is used exclusively for 
the internal service of the hospital. 

6. That the druggist qualification 
should be abolished. 

The Congress was of opinion that the 
composition and strength of medicinal 
preparations should be uniform and that 
the amounts of their important constitu- 
ents should be regulated by competent 
authorities. 

In regard to the analysis and stand- 
ardization of galenical preparations, it 
was decided — 

1. That from the double point of view 
of therapeutic progress and of pharma- 
ceutical science, the establishment of 
uniform processes and methods for the 
determination of active constituents of 
potent medicines has become essential. 

2. That every pharmacopoeia should 
indicate the analytical processes applica- 
ble for the standardization of medicines. 

3. That such processes should be as 
far as possible uniform and applicable to 
drugs, as well as to galenical prepara- 
tions. 

4. That with the view of realizing that 
desideratum, the duty of elaborating a 
codex of analytical methods, suitable for 
the valuation of drugs and galenical 
preparations containing alkaloids, gluco- 
sides or other definite constituents, 
should be entrusted to an international 
commission. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



The Congress was also of opinion that 
in regard to new medicines, serums and 
the opotherapeutic products recently in- 
troduced, the following regulations 
should receive legislative recognition: — 

i. That the denominations of medi- 
cines should be public property and not 
restricted to particular individuals or 
used as trade marks. 

2. That in every country a commission 
should be established fully authorized to 
carry out a complete study of new medi- 
cinal agents and if requisite, to revise the 
nomenclature applied to them. The re- 
sults of such work to be reported annu- 
ally by the commissions. 

3. That pharmacists should have the 
exclusive right to sell organo-therapeutic 
products, serums, antitoxines, etc., 
which are only to be manufactured in 
laboratories having the sanction of the 
Government for that purpose. 

4. That in the event of experiment 
proving the clinical action to be the 
same, it would be desirable to employ 
dried organs as the organo-therapeutic 
products. 

In regard to pharmaceutical legislation, 
the Congress was of opinion that the law 
regulating the practice of pharmacy in 
each country should be embodied in the 
respective Pharmacopoeias. 

That a compulsory minimum tariff 
should be established for medical aid as- 
sociations, insurance societies, etc. 

That every medicinal specialty should 
be required by law to bear a label stat- 
ing the names of all the substances en- 
tering into its composition and their 
doses. 

That the revision of pharmacopoeias 
should be carried out by commissions, 
consisting in great part of pharmaceuti- 



cal members, practical as well as profes- 
sional. 

That the commission engaged in com- 
piling a universal pharmacopoeia should 
continue its labors and indicate the 
medicines which are in most general use. 

That arrangements should be made 
between medical and pharmaceutical 
societies with the object of repressing the 
trade in secret remedies and opposing 
every form of quackery. 

That the office of inspection of articles 
of food, etc., should be distinct from that 
of the inspection of pharmacies and that 
the warehouses, etc., of wholesale drug- 
gists should also be subject to inspection. 

That when a legal inquiry requires 
consideration of chemical details, the 
court should engage a chemical adviser, 
who would conduct any necessary an- 
alysis, etc., conjointly with the chemist 
acting on behalf of the defendant or other 
party to the litigation. Both should 
then present their reports to a superior 
court of reference, or when some special 
subject had to be dealt with, to delegates 
chosen for the purpose, who would then 
consider the matter from the purely 
scientific point of view, and report their 
conclusions for the assistance of the 
court. 

That/in specifying the maximum doses 
of medicines, pharmacopoeias should in- 
clude all substances administered in the 
form of glysters. bougies, suppositories, 
irrigations, hypodermic injections, lo- 
tions, etc. 

A commission was constituted for con- 
sidering and giving effect to these resolu- 
tions, and, for the several countries rep- 
resented at the Congress, the following 
members were appointed: 

Belgium Professor Ranwez. 

Great Britain Dr. Paul. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Ireland Professor Tichborne. 

Holland Professor Wefers Bettinck. 

France M. Petit. 

Sweden M. Sebardt. 

Norway M. Stromer. 

Mexico M. Morales. 



U. S. of America. Professor Remington. 

Austria Professor Vogl. 

Portugal M. Tedeschi. 

Spain M. Colomer. 

Italy M. Ceruti. 

Roumania M. Altan. 



Secretary M. Duyk. 



PHARMACEUTIC CHEMISTRY, PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARflACO-PHYSICS THE 
NATURAL STEPPINQ=STONES TO SCIENTIFIC MEDICINE. 



By Alfred R. t,. Dohme, Ph.D., Baltimore. 



Before entering upon a discussion of 
the subjects embraced by all the above 
caption, it might not be out of place to 
make clear what the exact meaning of 
the terminology that will come up for 
consideration is. Some little confusion 
has arisen recently, because of the double 
use of the word pharmacology, and the 
dictionaries do not help us out in the 
matter. They define pharmacology as 
the study of drugs both as to their 
recognition, properties and therapy. 
In other words, it is a general term 
for the study of drugs and their ther- 
apy, or a combination of pharmacy, 
the science of compounding drugs, with 
materia medica, the description of drugs 
and their medicinal effect. This is in 
accordance with the derivation of the 
word, which is made up of the Greek 
words pharmakon and logos, meaning a 
discourse on or a study of drugs. How- 
ever, the word has also been used, espe- 
cially in Germany, to mean the study of 
the physiologic effect of drugs on the 
human system. Thus, when acetanilid 
is taken into the stomach and produces 
certain results or effects, it is the prov- 
ince of pharmacology to study and ex- 



plain what organs, tissues, fluids, etc., 
of the body are effected by the same and 
in what way. Pharmaceutic chemistry 
has to do only with the chemistry ot 
drugs; i. e., given a drug, say bella- 
donna root, it is the province of pharma- 
ceutic chemistry to discover entirely 
what the same contains and in what 
relative quantities, thus : atropin, hyos- 
cyamin, hyoscin, starch, resins and 
which, fats and which, malic acid, etc. 
Pharmacognosy is the study of the vari- 
ous physical properties of drugs which 
will enable one to recognize them, includ- 
ing their history. It hence embraces 
their botany, microscopy, histology, the 
chemistry of their constituents, and the 
history of their use as a drug. Phar- 
maco-dynamics is a term which has been 
employed to express the effect and uses 
of medicines, being derived from the 
Greek words pharmakon, a drug, and 
dynamikos, the power or effect, and is 
is hence practically the same as thera- 
peutics. In considering the study of 
the effects of drugs upon the human 
economy, it appears to me that we have 
to become acquainted with the follow- 
ing facts in order to get at a scientific 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



knowledge of how drugs act. We 
should know all of the constituents of 
the drug we desire to use ; we should 
know the physiologic effect of every 
constituent of the drug we are adminis- 
tering, and then use only those constitu- 
ents, or preparations containing only 
those constituents that produce the effect 
we desire to produce ; and we should 
know the cause of the effect of each 
of those constituents. The first embraces 
the pharmaceutic chemistry of the drug, 
the second its pharmacology, and the 
third its pharmaco-physics, which last 
word I have coined, * as I believe there 
exists no word to express the study of 
the causes of the effects of drugs. It 
would be well to make clearer, perhaps, 
the distinction intended to be conveyed 
by the terms pharmacology and phar- 
maco-physics. and a concrete example 
will best serve to do this. Let us take 
acetanilid, as this will serve our purpose 
quite well and is besides one of the most 
generally used drugs. The pharmaceutic 
chemistry of acetanilid is the study of 
its formation, properties and decompo- 
sitions. Its pharmacology is the knowl- 
edge resulting from the study of its 
physiologic effect on all the organs, 
tissues, fluids, etc., of the body, thus 
making plain what effect it produces, 
when we administer it, on the heart, 
blood pressure, nerve centres, liver, kid- 
neys, mucous membranes, blood lym- 
phatics, etc. Its pharmaco-physics is 
the knowledge resulting from the study 
of the cause of the effects observed in 
studying its pharmacology, and would 
represent the study of the physiologic 
effects of all the groups contained in the 
acetanilid molecule. Acetanilid is made 

* The word Pharmacodynamics has been and is 
extensively used, and the necessity of Pharmaco-physics 
js not apparent. [Ed. 



up of the group of acetic acid or acetyl 
(CH3CO) and anilin (C 6 H B NH 2 ), which 
in turn is made up of the ammonia rad- 
ical, amid (NH 2 ), and of benzine 
(COH 6 ), a hydrocarbon produced by the 
destructive distillation of coal. The 
province of pharmaco-physics would be 
to discover whether the effects of acet- 
anilid, which we observed in studying its 
pharmacology were due to the acetyl 
group, the ammonia group or the ben- 
zine group ; or, what is more probable, 
which of the various effects of acetanilid 
was due to each and all of these con- 
stituent radicals of the acetanilid mole- 
• cule. This can be done very readily by 
varying the various radicals and observ- 
ing the failing or modification of this or 
that effect. Thus, if the red corpuscles 
are precipitated, producing cyanosis and 
eventual collapse, is this due to the 
ammonia radical (NH„), or the acetyl 
radical or to the benzine radical, present 
in the molecule ? Further, if the blood 
pressure is diminished, to which of these 
radicals is this due, etc.? If this is tab- 
ulated and known, for the various drugs 
of our pharmacopoeia, we will reach such 
a desired and advanced stage in our 
knowledge of medicines that we can 
control the unpleasant and undesirable 
effects of our remedies entirely, and 
produce and use only such remedies as 
will produce just the effects we desire 
and no other effects. This is not only 
true of synthetic remedies, but of all 
remedies, inorganic as well as organic. 
No doubt this appears chimeric to many 
and beyond the limits of probability and 
also usefulness, because of its apparent 
complexity, but there can be no doubt 
at all that it is not only among the prob- 
abilities, but that it is the natural evolu- 
tion of the science of medicine that will 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



take place during the next fifty years. 
German schools of medicine are entering 
upon this as yet untrodden and fertile 
field of investigation, and we should 
give it the attention that its importance 
merits. It is not a matter that can be 
taught, because it is as yet an unknown, 
or practically an unknown, science, but 
it can and should be made the subject of 
investigation and study, so that we may 
become acquainted with the facts that it 
will give us and enable us to make use 
of them in administering medicines. 
How few physicians to-day know the 
exact effect of the medicines they pre- 
scribe on the various organs and what 
is the cause of that effect ? They know 
that jaborandi produces activity of cer- 
tain glands, resulting in increased 
secretions thereby, and they know 
that the pilocarpine in these leaves 
produce this effect, but do they know 
what other effects pilocarpine produces 
on the other organs, say on the blood, 
liver, kidneys, etc., and do they know 
what causes pilocarpine to produce this 
effect ? They may say that it is not 
necessary for them to know this, as the 
effect is produced just the same, which 
is all they desire. This is quite true, 
and in the present state of our knowledge 
of medicines and their effects it is about 
all they can know ; but would not their 
ability to combat disease and administer 
medicines more scientifically and effect- 
ively not be many times increased if our 
knowledge of these same medicines and 
their effects, and the cause of the effect, 
were known to them. They would then 
know that since, we will say for exam- 
ple, pilocarpine interferes with the 
functions of the liver it is not advisable 
to use this drug for a patient who re- 
quires a diaphoretic, but at the same 



time has a diseased liver. We might 
perhaps have learned by that time that 
a certain radical in the pilocarpine mole- 
cule produced the untoward effect upon 
the liver, but that pilocarpidine, while 
still an effective diaphoretic, no longer 
produced this effect on the liver, due to 
the elimination from its molecule of the 
undesirable radical present in the pilo- 
carpine molecule. There can be no 
doubt of one thing, and that is that 
medicine in its narrow sense, i. e., the 
science of the administration of drugs, 
has not advanced at the same rate that 
the science of surgery, bacteriology, 
pathology or anatomy have during the 
last half century. In fact, many physi- 
cians have grown skeptical as to the 
value of drugs and think the less of them 
used, as a rule, the better. The devel- 
opment and future above outlined for the 
science of medicine in its narrow sense, 
will, unquestionably, remove all such 
skepticism and push therapeutics forward 
as a most necessary and invaluable 
requisite for the combating of disease. I 
may be pardoned when I say that scien- 
tific medicine, i. e., the scientific admin- 
istration of drugs is only in its infancy at 
present, and that most of our medicines 
are administered empirically, i.e., are ad- 
ministered not because we know exactly 
why they are what our particular case in 
hand calls for, but because experience has 
taught us that they are effective and 
will produce certain results. I do not 
wish to be misunderstood in this connec- 
tion, and when I say the administration 
of medicine is largely empirical I do not 
mean to state or imply anything deroga- 
tory, but merely to say that our present 
knowledge of the administration of med- 
icine does not enable us to do anything 
better. My purpose in going into this 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



detail as to empiricism vs. science is 
merely to explain the meaning intended 
to be conveyed by the term scientific 
medicine in the title of the paper I am 
presenting. All physicians will agree 
that it is desirable to increase our knowl- 
edge of pharmacology and pharmaco- 
physics, for the more they know about 
the effects of drugs and their cause, the 
better off they will be in successfully 
combating various diseases. There is 
one obstacle, however, to success in this 
direction in this country and which does 
not exist in Germany, and that is the 
indifference of hospitals and clinics to 
take up and try, carefully and scientifi- 
cally, any new preparation that may be 
offered them for experiment. The neces- 
sary thing to be done in this country to 
make the development and study of 
pharmacology successful is the adoption 
of courses of lectures on these subjects, 
together with the opening of laboratories 
for their experimental study and re- 
search. In Germany chairs of pharma- 
cology are established at almost every 
university, and at several of them the 
lecture- room work is supplemented by 
experiments and investigations and study 
in the laboratory and clinic. Thus, the 
laboratories of Prof. Schmiedeberg in 
Strasburg, Bauman in Freiburg, and 



Drechsel in Leipzig, are headquarters 
for this work in Germany, and their 
number is steadily growing. It has not 
been so many years ago that in order to 
study the new science of pathology one 
had to go to Berlin, to Virchow's labor- 
atory, but Virchow has gradually devel- 
oped other capable teachers and ex- 
pounders of his theories and methods, 
and now pathology is a part of the course 
in medicine in practically every college 
in this country. So it will be with phar- 
macology and pharmaco- physics. The 
pupils of Schmiedeberg, Drechsel and 
Bauman will organize laboratories and 
courses just as their instructors did, and 
the result will be that every school of 
medicine will embrace as part of its 
curriculum lectures and laboratory work 
on pharmacology, and, perhaps, also 
pharmaco-physics. Some schools of 
medicine have such courses already, as, 
for instance, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, 
Pennsylvania, Ann Arbor, etc., and 
others will unquestionably adopt the 
same in the near future. When this is 
brought about the era for the scientific 
administration of drugs, i. e., scientific 
medicine, will set in, and the stepping 
stones to reach that stage will be phar- 
maceutic chemistry, pharmacology and 
pharmaco-physics. 



LIST OF REACTIONS AND REAGENTS ACCORDING TO NAMES OF AUTHORS. 

(Continued from December Number.} 



Neelsen's carbolfuchsin for identifying 
tubercle bacilli in the sputum is prepared 
by adding a concentrated alcoholic fuch- 
sin solution to a 5 p. c. aqueous solution 
of carbolic acid (5 g. of crystallized car- 



bolic acid are dissolved in 100 cc. of 
water and 1 g. fuchsin, dissolved in 10 
g. alcohol, is added). Brlzck's andZiel's 
carbolfuchsin solutions have similar com- 
positions. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



Nessler's reagent for aldehyde. Alde- 
hydes when treated with Nessler's am- 
monia reagent (q. s.) or with a solution 
of potassium mercuric iodide and baryta 
water, yield brownish-black precipitates, 
which differ from the precipitates caused 
by the same reagents in ammonia solu- 
tions, by being insoluble in potassium 
cyanide. 

Nessler's reagent for ammonium salts 
is an alkaline solution of mercuric chlo- 
ride and potassium iodide. With am- 
monia as well as with ammonium salts it 
causes a yellow to reddish-brown colora- 
tion or precipitate. The reagent is pre- 
pared according to various formulae, of 
which the following are typical; 

I. 50 g. potassium iodide are dis- 
solved in 50 cc. hot water and concen- 
trated mercuric chloride solution (20-25 
g. mercuric chloride) added until a per- 
manent precipitate appears. After filter- 
ing 150 g. potassium hydroxide dissolved 
in 300 ccs. water are added, and the 
whole diluted to one liter. 5 cc. more of 
the mercuric chloride solution is now 
added, the resulting precipitate allowed 
to settle, and the clear liquid decanted 
{Kubel). 

II. Dissolve 2 g, potassium iodide in 
5 g. water; add 4 g. of mercuric chloride, 
or enough so that upon warming, a little 
of the precipitate remains undissolved. 
After cooling, dilute with 20 g. water, 
filter, and add 30 ccs. of a solution of 1 
p. KOH in 2 p. of water. {Ludwig 
Medicin. Chemie.) 

Nessler's reagent for wine pigments is 
a solution of 7 p. alum and 10 p. sodium 
acetate in 100 p. water. 

Neubauer's test for biliary acids is a 
modification of Pettenkofer' s reaction. 
A few drops of urine are evaporated to 
dryness on the water-bath, a drop of 



sugar solution (1:500) and a drop of con- 
centrated sulphuric acid are added, and 
the whole heated on the water-bath. If 
biliary acids are present, a violet-red 
color appears at the edge. 

Neubauer's test for chloroform in the 
urine. A current of air is passed first 
through the urine in question, then 
through a red-hot porcelain tube, and 
finally through a solution of silver nitrate. 
If chloroform was present in the urine, a 
precipitate of silver chloride is formed. 

Neumann-Wender's alkaloid reagent 
is furfurol-sulphuric acid (5 drops of fur- 
furol in 10 ccs. pure concentrated sul- 
phuric acid). See Weppen's veratrin 
reaction. 

Neumann=Wender's test for grape 
sugar in the urine. 1 cc. of diluted 
urine (1 p. urine to 10 p. water) is treated 
with 1 cc, each of methylene blue solu- 
tion (1:1000) and normal KOH solution 
and hoiled for a minute. If the solution 
is hereby completely decolorized, sugar 
was present in the urine. Compare 
Mulder's test. 

Nickel's test for mineral acids in the 
presence of organic acids depends upon 
the fact that only the presence of the 
former is wood stained by phloroglucin. 
If 0.5 p. c. of hydrochloric acid is present 
in vinegar, upon adding phloroglucin 
and a piece of pine wood or wood pulp 
paper, this latter is distinctly stained 
upon boiling the solution. 

Nickel's color reactions of carbon com- 
pounds. Compare Zeitsch. f. analy. 
Chem. 1889, p. 244, also see under Mil- 
Ion's reagent. 

Niviere and Hubert's test for fluorine 
in wine. Render the wine slightly alka- 
line with ammonium carbonate and, by 
means of calcium chloride, precipitate 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



any fluorides present as calcium fluoride. 
After heating the incinerated residues 
with silicic and sulphuric acids, fluorine 
is identified in the usual manner as sili- 
cium fluoride. 

« 

Noll's reagent is a solution of sodium 
hypo-chlorite. 

Nylander's reagent for glucose. 2 g. 
bismuth subnitrate and 4 g. Rochelle 
salts are dissolved in 100 g. of an 8 p. c. 
solution of caustic soda. To 10 p. of the 
solution to be tested (diabetic urine) add 
1 p. of reagent, and boil- A darkening 
of the liquid due to reduction of the 
bismuth salt indicates glucose. This 
solution is also known as Almen's solu- 
tion. 

Obermeier's reaction for indican. The 
urine is treated with lead acetate, the 
resulting precipitate filtered out, and the 
clear filtrate shaken with a )4 P- c. solu- 
tion of ferric chloride in fuming hydro- 
chloric acid (sp. gr. 1.19). Upon ex- 
tracting with chloroform, this is colored 
blue if indican was present. 

Olivier's test papers for identifying al- 
bumen and sugar in the urine, are filter 
papers saturated with well known rea- 
gents for albumen and sugar. 

Test-papers for albumen : picric and 
citric acids ; sodium tungstate and citric 
acid; potassium mercuric iodide and citric 
acid ; papers separately saturated with 
potassium ferrocyanide and citric acid. 

Test-papers for sugar : indigo-carmine 
and sodium carbonate, separate. 

These papers also go by the name of 
Geissler's test-papers. For particulars 
see Ph. Centralh., 24, p. 431 ; 25, p. 3. 

Ost's copper solution for estimating 
sugar, contains 23.5 g. cryst cupric sul- 
phate, 250.0 g. sodium carbonate, and 



100.0 g. potassium bicarbonate per litre. 
Compare Soldaini' s solution. 

Otto's reaction for picro toxin. The 
yellow solution of the alkaloid in con- 
centrated sulphuric acid shows a reddish- 
brown color at the zone of contact with 
a drop of potassium bichromate solution; 
upon mixing, the solution is colored 
green. 

Otto's morphine reaction. With a 
solution of hydrochloric acid, ferric chlor- 
ide and potassium ferricyanide, morphine 
solutions yield precipitates of Prussian 
blue. 

Otto's modification of Fehling's solu- 
tion (q. v.) is a solution of 1 p. copper 
sulphate and 3 p. tartaric acid, to which 
enough caustic soda solution is added to 
just produce a clear solution. 

Pacini's solutions, Nos. I and II, are 
preservative solutions for microscopic 
sections, and have the following compo- 
sition : 

I. 

Mercuric chloride, x p. 

Sodium chloride, 2 p. 

Glycerin (25 Be), 13 p. 

Water, 113 p. 

II. 

Mercuric chloride, 1 p. 

Acetic acid, 2 p. 

Glycerin (25 Be), 43 p. 

Water, 275 p. 

Pagel's test for phorphorous acid in 
phosphoric acid. Phosphorous acid, 
upon warming with mercuric chloride 
solution, gives a white precipitate of 
mercurous chloride. 

Panum's test for albumen. Any liquid 
(as urine) containing albumen yields a 
coagulum when boiled with a like vol- 
ume of a saturated solution of sodium 
sulphate or sodium chloride. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



'3 



Paul's reaction for biliary coloring 
matter. If normal urine (or urine con- 
taining sugar or albumen) is colored with 
methylviolet, the color remains un- 
changed ; if, however, the urine contains 
biliary pigments, the violet color is 
changed to blood-red. 

Papassyli's reaction for cane sugar. 
See Reich 's reaction. 

Pavi's solution for estimating glucose. 
4.158 g. crystallized copper sulphate, 
20.4 g. Rochelle salts, and 20.4 g. caustic 
potash are dissolved in water ; 300 ccs. 
ammonia water (sp. gr. 0.88) are added, 
and the whole diluted to one litre. 10. o 
ccs. of this solution represent 0.005 S- g^ u " 
cose. When all the cupric salt has been 
reduced to cuprous the solution is color- 
less. 

Compare Fehling' s solution. 

Pellagri's morphine reaction. Dissolve 
morphine in concentrated hydrochloric 
acid, add a few drops of concentrated 
sulphuric acid and heat on the water- 
bath. A distinct purple coloration re- 
sults. Now add some more hydrochloric 
acid, then sodium bicarbonate to a neu- 
tral reaction, and, finally, an alcoholic 
solution of iodine ; the liquid is colored 
a deep chrome-green. 

Pellet's solution for estimating glucose. 
68.7 g. copper sulphate, 200 g. sodium 
chloride, 100 g. anhydrous sodium car- 
bonate, and 6.87 g. ammonium chloride 
are dissolved in hot water and diluted 
with water to 1 litre. 10 ccs. of this 
solution are reduced by 0.05 g. glucose. 
Compare Fehling' s solution. 
Pelouze's test. Same as Moore's test. 
Penzoldt's test for acetone in the urine. 
A few crystals of ortho-nitrobenzaldehyde 
are dissolved in water and added to the 
distillate from urine, which is then ren- 



dered alkaline with caustic soda. In the 
presence of acetone the mixture becomes 
yellow, then green, and, after several 
mitutes indigo, separates out. 

Penzoldt's test for sugar in the urine, 
by means of Ehrlich? s reagent. The urine 
is rendered strongly alkaline, and treated 
with a solution of diazobenzolsulphonic 
acid (1:60); at the same timae a control 
test is made, using normal urine. The 
latter is colored yellowish-red by the 
reagent ; diabetic urine soon becomes 
dark red and opaque. 

Penzoldt's test for naphthalene in 
urine. If 1 cc. of concentrated sulphuric 
acid is added to a trace of urine contain- 
ing naphthalene, the urine floating on 
top of the acid will be colored dark green. 
Upon standing, the acid will assume the 
same color. 

Perenyi's solution for hardening mi- 
croscopic preparations consists of 4 vol- 
umes of 10 p. c. nitric acid, 3 vol. of 
alcohol, and 3 vol. of a 0.5 p. c. solution 
of chromic acid. 

Perrot's reagent for ethereal oils is a 
solution of dimethylanilinviolet in glacial 
acetic acid and dilute alcohol. With 
many ethers, aldehydes, phenols, etc., 
this reagent gives characteristic colora- 
tions, but does not react with fatty oils 
or hydrocarbons. On this account this 
reagent can be employed to detect many 
adulterations of ethereal oils. 

Persoz's solution for distinguishing 
textile fibres is prepared by shaking a 
solution of 10 g. zinc chloride in 10 g. 
water, with 2 g. of zinc oxide. Upon 
digesting any fabric in this basic zinc 
chloride solution at 30 — 40 , any silk 
contained therein is dissolved. 

Pettenkofer's reaction for biliary acids. 
Upon adding cane sugar and concen- 



'4 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



trated sulphuric acid to a solution of 
biliary acids (in the urine), an intense 
purple coloration is produced. 

Strassburg' s modification. Dissolve 
some cane sugar in the urine, saturate 
filter paper with this solution, and after 
drying, bring the paper in contact with 
a drop of sulphuric acid. The red color 
is then to be observed in translucent 
light. 

DrechseV s modification consists in the 
use of phosphoric acid (instead of sul- 
phuric acid) and warming. 

Udransky 's modification. Instead of 
cane sugar and sulphuric acid, furfurol- 
sulphuric acid is employed. 

See also Neubauer' s test. 

By reversing the process, Pettenkofer' s 
reaction can also be employed in testing 
for sugar; e. g. , in glucosides. See 
Brunner's reaction for digitalin. 

Piria's ty rosin reaction. The sedi- 
ment from the suspected urine is warmed 
with a little concentrated sulphuric acid, 
diluted, neutralized with calcium car- 
bonate, and the filtrate treated with ferric 
chloride solution. If tyrosin was pres- 
ent, the solution is colored violet. 

According to Piria- Staedeler , the urine 
sediment is warmed with a little concen- 
trated sulphuric acid, the solution di- 
luted, neutralized with barium carbon- 
ate, boiled, filtered, and added, drop by 
drop, to a dilute solution of ferric chlo- 
ride. 

Planta's alkaloid. See Mayer's re- 
agent. 

Plugge's phenol reaction. A dilute 
phenol solution is rendered intensely red 
when boiled with mercuric nitrate solu- 
tion containing a trace of nitrous acid. 
At the same time metallic mercury separ- 



ates out, and an odor of salicylol is de- 
veloped. Compare Frese?iius' phenol 
reaction. 

Plugge 's reagent yields with albumen 
a red color similar to the one produced 
with Mi/Ion's reagent. 

Plugge's reagent for gum ammoniac. 
30 g. caustic soda are dissolved in water, 
the solution kept cool during the addi- 
tion of 20 g. bromine, and then diluted 
to one liter: A drop of this solution, 
when added to an aqueous or alcoholic 
solution of gum ammoniac prepared with 
the addition of dilute soda lye, immedi- 
ately causes a rapidly disappearing, 
beautiful violet color. 

Podwyssotzki's reaction for emetine. 
With a drop of a saturated solution of 
sodium phosphouranate, emetine yields 
a brown coloration which turns to blue 
upon the addition of a diop of hydro- 
chloric acid. 

Pollaci's phenol reaction . Phenol turns 
brown upon treatment with chromic acid 
mixture. 

Posner's reaction for peptone and al- 
bumins in urine. After rendering the 
urine alkaline, it is poured into a test- 
tude and a layer of very dilute, almost 
colorless copper sulphate solution care- 
fully poured on. Peptone causes the 
formation of a violet zone even in the 
cold; albumin gives the same reaction 
upon warming. 

Compare Btiicke's and Rose's biuret 
reaction. 

Poutet's reaction for fatty oils (elaidin 
reaction.) Pour 10 g. of oil, 5 g. nitric 
acid (40 — 42 Be), and 1 g. mercury into 
a test-tube, dissolve the mercury by 
shaking for three minutes, allow the 
mixture to stand 20 minutes, and again 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



15 



shake for a minute. Various fats show 
differences in color, and in the ease with 
which they solidify. 

Olive oil peanut and oil harden most 
rapidly. 

According to other authorities, 50 ccs. 
of the oil are mixed with 12 g. mercury 
and 15 g. nitric acid (sp. gr. 1.35), by 
which treatment only olive and oil of 
almonds are solidified, all other oils re- 
maining liquid. 

Pradine's reagent for foreign coloring 
matters in wine is a saturated solution of 
ammonia gas in ether. Upon shaking 
this solution with wine, the foreign col- 
oring matters are dissolved in the ether. 

Preyer's test for carbon monoxide in 
the blood. 3 — 4 drops of the suspected 
are warmed for 5 minutes at 30 C. with 
10 ccs. water and 5 ccs. potassium cyan- 
ide solution (1:2.) While the spectrum 
of normal blood, when treated as above, 
looses the absorption line of oxy-hsemo- 
globin, and in its place shows a broad 
absorption band, the spectrum of carbon 
monoxide blood remains unchanged. 

Payer's hydrocyanic acid reaction. 
The reagent employed is a very dilute 
alcoholic tincture of guaiac resin, con- 
taining a trace of copper sulphate solu- 
tion. Upon approaching this mixture, 
contained in a porcelain capsule, with a 
glass rod moistened with hydrocyanic 
acid, blue lines are formed in the liquid ; 
upon stirring, the whole solution turns 
blue. 

Compare Schonbein and Pagenstecher* 's 
reaction. 

Prollius' solution for extracting cin- 
chona bark (for the determination of 
alkaloids) is a mixture of 88 p. ether, 8 
p. absolute alcohol, and 4 p. water of 
ammonia. 



Purdy's solution for estimating glu- 
cose contains 4.15 g. copper sulphate, 10 
g. mannite, 20.4 g. caustic potash, 300 
ccs. ammonia water (sp. gr. 0.88), 50 g. 
glycerin, and enough water to make 1 
litre. 25 ccs. of this solution are reduced 
by 0.015 g. grape sugar. 

Compare Peking's solution. 

Puscher's test for alcohol in ethereal 
oils. Into the bottom of a test-tube in- 
troduce a few drops of the ethereal oil 
and dust the upper portion of the tube 
with powdered fuchsin, or introduce the 
latter by means of a swab of cotton. 
Upon boiling, the alcohol evaporates first 
and dissolves the fuchsin to a red solu- 
tion. 

Rafaele's modification of Spiegler's 
reagent (q. v.). 

Raspail's reaction for albumens. These 
are colored red by sugar and concentrated 
sulphuric acid. 

Compare Schultze'i furfurol reaction. 

Reich's reaction for cane sugar. So- 
lutions of cane sugar, when treated with 
cobalt nitrate solution, yield a violet 
coloration upon the addition of soda lye. 
According to Dupont, this reaction is not 
interfered with by glycerin, milk sugar, 
glucose or invert sugar; however, dextrin 
and gums should be removed by precipi- 
tation with lead acetate or baryta water. 

Reichardt's test for arsenic in the 
urine. 200 ccs. of urine are concentrated 
with about 2 g. of caustic soda, the resi- 
due dissolved in a little water, acidulated 
with hydrochloric acid, and then tested 
in a Marsh's apparatus. 

Reichardt's reaction for nitric acid 
(brucine reaction). Upon treating a so- 
lution of brucine in concentrated sul- 
phuric acid, with a few drops of a solution 



i6 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



containing nitric acid, a rose-red to deep 
red coloration appears. This reaction 
takes place even in dilutions of 1:100,000. 

Reichert = rieissPs number indicates 
the number of ccs. of deci-normal sodium 
or potassium hydroxide solution neces- 
sary to neutralize the volatile fatty acids 
obtained trom 5 g. of a fat, when operat- 
ing according to a definite special method. 
The Reicherfs numbers formerly in vogue 
gave the figures for 2.5 g. of fat and 
are, therefore, only half as large as the 
Reichert-Meissl 's numbers. 

Reichl's test for glycerin. Equal parts 
of glycerin, phenol and sulphuric acid 
are mixed and heated to 120 . After 
colling, water is poured upon the brown- 
ish-yellow solid mass and ammonia added 
drop by drop, whereby the mass is dis- 
solved to torm a beautiful carmine-red 
solution. 

Reichl=Mikosch's reagent for albumens 
consists of benzaldehyde and sulphuric 
acid containing ferric sulphate. 

Reinsch's arsenic test. A solution of 
arsenous or arsenic acid in hydrochloric 
acid is reduced by metallic copper. A 
gray coating of copper arsenide is formed 
upon the metal. Antimony and mercury 
behave similarly ; their absence must, 
therefore, be proved before the presence 
of arsenic can be decided upon. This 
test is also known as Hager's empirical 
arsenic test (kramato method). 

Remak's solution for hardening mi- 
croscopical preparations is a mixture of 
50 ccs. aqueous copper sulphate solution 
(20 p. c), 50 ccs. alcohol (25 ), and 35 
drops purified wood vinegar. 

Renard's test for peanut- oil depends 
upon the isolation ot arachic acid (melt- 
ing point 74-75 ) by means of the lead 
salt, which can be separated from lead 



oleate by extraction with ether. For 
particulars see Chem. Ztg., 1895, p. 451. 

Reuter's test for ^-amidophenetol in 
phenacetin. The phenacetin is melted 
with pure chloral hydrate ; if a violet 
color appears, amidophenetol was present. 
(Even the purest commercial specimens 
show a slight rose tint.) 

Reynold's test for acetone in the urine. 
The distillate from the urine is shaken 
with freshly precipitated mercuric oxide 
(from mercuric chloride and potassium 
hydroxide). If acetone was present, the 
filtrate will contain acetone-mercury in 
solution and will respond to the tests for 
mercury. 

Rheoch's test for free mineral acids. 
See Molly's test. 

Richardson's reaction for a-naphthol. 
0.04 g. of naphthol and 0.5 ccs. of nor- 
mal sodium hydroxide solution are dis- 
solved in 1 — 2 ccs. of water. Hereto is 
added a mixture of 0.05 g. sulphanilic 
acid dissolved in 5 ccs. normal sodium 
hydroxide solution, and 0.02 g. sodium 
nitrite dissolved in 5 ccs. normal sul- 
pluric acid. a-naphthol under these 
conditions yields a dark blood-red color, 
which changes to brown upon the addi- 
tion of dilute sulphuric acid ; ^-napthol 
causes only a reddish-yellow color. 



Determination of Santonin. — Pharm. 

Zeitung, xlii., 604. 

A weighed quantity of santonin 
powder is first abstracted with ether, the 
ether is then distilled off and the residue 
is boiled with milk of lime and filtered. 
Aluminium acetate is added to the solu- 
tion which is then boiled and neutral- 
ized with magnesium, evaporated to 
complete dryness and dried after powder- 
ing at 105 C. for a couple of hours. The 
powder obtained is then extracted with 
ether, this evaporated and the residue 
weighed as santonin. 



Cbe Journal of Pharmacology, 

A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE ADVANCES MADE IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF 

MATERIA MEDICA. 



Vol. V. 



January, li 



No. i. 



Per Annum, 



SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INCLUDING POSTAGE. 
One Dollar. | Single Copies, 



15 Cents 



Subscriptions, address, Nelson S. Kirk, 450 Third Ave., New York City. 

Business Communications, address H. B. Ferguson, 115 West 68th St., New York City. 

Original Contributions, Exchanges, Books for Review and all Editorial Communications 
Address SMITH EL,Y JEMIFEE, M.D., 231 West 71st Street, New York City. 

Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFE, A.B., M.D. 

WITH THE COLLABORATION OF 

Chas. Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M.D. V. Coblentz, Ph.D. Geo. A. Ferguson, Ph.B. 
Geo. C. Diekman, M.D. H. B. Ferguson, Phar. D. 



EDITORIAL. 



The Journal of Pharmacology has 
more future than past, but as the father 
of ' ' Sonny ' ' sagely remarked : " Ef you 
go on bein' descendants long enough, 
some day you'll be ancestors." 

The Journal op Pharmacology is 
the legitimate descendant of the Alum?ii 
Journal, and is the duly recognized off- 
spring of the Alumni Association of the 
College of Pharmacy of the city of New 
York. During the one year of its exist- 
ence it has published more than twenty 
pieces of original work from the college 
laboratories, receiving its contributions 
from students, professors and graduates. 
It has not only served as a medium for 
such work, but it has been a connecting 
link between the alumni and the college, 
reporting all transactions of interest from 
the one to the other. 

The commercial side of the profession 
is so ably represented by the many phar- 



maceutical journals of the country that 
it has been the aim of the Journal of 
Pharmacology to take the standpoint 
of pure science rather than the business 
point of view, and it is a refreshing fact 
to notice that whereas many of our 
esteemed contemporaries either reprint 
or translate their scientific articles from 
the English or foreign reviews, these 
latter have returned the compliment by 
reprinting some of the original work 
done in the laboratories of the College of 
Pharmacy and published in the Journal. 
The Journal of Pharmacology de- 
plores its late birth, but recognizes the 
fact that its lineage is of the best and 
trusts that as it grows in years and wis- 
dom it will become a fruitful source of 
enthusiasm to the many more active and 
broadly educated young men that are 
connecting themselves with the college 
and forming a group of investigators in 



i8 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



this country, and that promise to do the 
first and best work that has yet been put 
forth from American laboratories. 



The next monthly lecture under the 
auspices of the Lecture Committee of the 
Alumni Association, will be given on 
January 12, at 8 p. m., by Dr. W. S. 
Disbrow. The title is "Medals of Med 
icine and its Collateral Sciences." 



The lecture hall was filled on Monday, 
Dec. 20th, by an appreciative audience 
that listened with interest to the lecture 
by Dr. Geo. C. Diekman, of the College 
of Pharmacy. His subject, "Ptomains 
and Leucomains," was skillfully handled, 
and presented an interesting and compre- 
hensive view of the recent chemical in- 
vestigations on the subject. 



Abstracts and Reviews. 



Determination of Indican in Urine. — 

Amann, Repertoire de Pharmacie, 

After acidulating with a few drops of 
sulphuric acid to 20 c.c. of urine, 5 c.c. 
of chloroform is added, and to this mix- 
ture 5 c.c. of the persulphate of soda is 
added. The whole is then shaken in a 
test tube — not to such an extent how- 
ever to break up the chloroform layer. 
The results show that the indigo formed 
is found in the layer of chloroform. The 
water is colored red and according to the 
intensity of its coloration some idea may 
be obtained of the amount of skatol pro- 
ducts. This method has the advantage 
of rapidity. 

Researches on Chlorophyll. — Pharm. 
Zeit. Puss., xxx vi., 419. 

Stocklasa finds that a great similarity 
exists between lecithin and chlorophyll, 
both in constitution and in decomposi- 
tion products. Chlorophyll cannot be 
formed without lecithin, while the action 
of the sun produces both lecithin and 
chlorophyll. The former accumulates in 
the leaves, developing phosphorus-con- 
taining bodies. Green leaves contain 
large quantities of phosphoric acid in the 
form of lecithin and chlorophyll. Stock- 
lasa was unable to obtain the chloro- 



phyllan isolated by Hoppe-Seyler; he 
obtains chlorophyll by the process for 
isolating pure lecithin. In this way he 
obtained a body which he terms chloro- 
lecithin, a blackish-green crystalline 
mass containing 3.37 of phosphorus. 
Chlorolecithin was found to contain 
choline, glycerin, phosphoric acid, and 
chlorophyllinic acid; the coloring of the 
substance being due to the latter body. 
This compound is, however, different 
from the chlorophyllan isolated by 
Hoppe-Seyler. After numerous tests 
the author concluded that the formation 
of chlorophyll depends on the presence 
of phosphorus: he also confirms the 
opinion of Gautier and Molisch that no 
iron is contained in chlorophyll or chlo- 
rolecithin. Iron plays an important part 
in the constituents of the cell nucleus, 
however, since it has been ascertained 
that this structure is not formed without 
phosphorus and iron, while chlorophyll 
contains phosphorus only. 

Red Spots on Leaves. — Bull. Soc. 
Bot. Pal., 1897, P- 8 3- 

Sig. G. Mattej has investigated the 
nature of the red spots which occur on 
the leaves, petals, and other organs of 
many plants, species of Lysimachia, Ox- 



THE JOURNAL OF PAHRM\COL,OGY. 



19 



alt's, Hyperiaim, Myrsine, etc., and states 
that the pigment is composed essentially 
of a gum-resinous substance colored by a 
yellowish-red essential oil, its chemical 
constitution varying with the species. 
These spots are not, as a rule, found in 
the earliest stages of development of the 
organ, and are evidently the results of 
the transformation of leucites. They are 
often surrounded by a membrane, and 
are always imbedded in the parenchyme, 
and are surrounded by ordinary cells. 

Bacteria in Cheese.— Centralblatt fur 
Bakteriologie, {through Nature .) 

Messrs. Russell and Weinzirl have 
studied the rise and fall of bacteria in 
cheddar cheese, determinations of the 
number of bacteria per gramme in Amer- 
ican cheddar cheese being made at dif- 
ferent stages of the ripening process, 
while the varieties present were roughly 
classified under the heads of lactic acid 
bacteria, gas-producing bacteria, casein- 
digesting bacteria, and inert bacteria, or 
those having apparently no effect on 
casein in milk cultures. In samples of 
green cheese examined immediately 
after being removed from the press, a 
diminution in the numbers of bacteria 
present was noted as compared with the 
initial number present in milk. This 
period of bacterial decline, however, 
generally lasts but two days, and is fol- 
lowed by a very marked increase in the 
numbers present later on, so much so 
that in the course of a few days, gener- 
ally from eight to twenty, the germ con- 
tents may increase many fold. This 
active bacterial growth is not by any 
means equally distributed amongst all 
the varieties of microbes present, but is 
almost exclusively confined to the lactic 
acid group of organisms, the gas- pro- 
ducing bacteria as well as the casein- 



dissolving varieties rapidly disappearing. 
The relation between this pronounced 
multiplication of the lactic acid bacteria 
and the ripening process in cheese is not 
yet exactly established, although the 
presumption is that these organisms are 
mainly responsible for these changes. 
This presumption is rendered more likely 
by the fact that Freudenreich, studying 
Emmenthaler or Swiss cheese, found the 
same coincidence between ripening and 
multiplication of lactic acid bacteria, and 
Lloyd, in his investigations of English 
cheddar cheese, arrived at the same re- 
sult and came to a similar conclusion. 
The maximum period of bacterial de- 
velopment is followed by a period of 
final decline; in the course of time cheese 
may become sterile, although an exam- 
ination of a hard dry skim cheese over 
two years old demonstrated the presence 
of a few lactic acid bacteria. 

Drugs at Kew.— The completion of 
the tenth annual volume of the Kew 
Bulletin has made it desirable to publish 
a detailed index to the whole series, 
since the increase in the number of vol- 
umes has rendered it more difficult to 
find the information they may contain 
on any particular subject. The oppor- 
tunity has been taken to pass in review 
briefly the more important subjects which 
have been treated, and this has the more 
interest as the period covered has been 
one of more than usual activity in the 
development of British tropical posses- 
sions, Amongst other matters of interest 
many little-known drugs have been in- 
vestigated. The seeds of Sophora secund- 
i flora have a singular use among the 
Indians of Mexico, where they are taken 
as an intoxicant. Half a seed is said to 
produce exhilaration followed by sleep 
lasting two or three days {Kew Bulletin, 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



1892, 216). Derris elliptica , now growing 
in the Economic House at Kew, yields 
the Malayan fish poison known as "Aker 
Tuber" (Kew Bulletin, 1892,216). From 
the account given of Natal aloes and of 
the plants supposed to yield this product 
(Kew Bulletin, 1890, 163), it appears that 
it differs in some important respects from 
the more commonly known Cape aloes. 
The discovery of the plant, also in the 
Kew collection, yielding the true star 
anise of commerce is noticed (Kew Bul- 
letin, 1888, 173). The manufacture of 
quinine in India, and the wide distribu- 
tion at a nominal price of this valuable 
medicinal agent amongst the natives 
(Kew Bulletin, 1890, 29), is one of the 
most important services which European 
rule has rendered to the Indian Empire. 
Paraguay jaborandi (Pilocarpus) is dis- 
cussed (Kew Bulletin, 1891, 179) from 
materials sent to this country by Her 
Majesty's charge d'affaires at Buenos 
Ay res in 1881. The origin of myrrh 
and frankincense is discussed in consider- 
able detail (Kew Bulletin, 1896, 86), 
while the first authentic information re- 
specting the district whence Siam ben- 
zoin or gum benjamin of commerce is 
obtained is the subject of another article 
(Kew Bulletin, 1895, 154). Next to gum 
benjamin, Siam gamboge is the most 
interesting of Siamese products (Kew 
Bulletin, 1895, 139). The peculiar Ai 
camphor prepared in China from a 
shrubby composite, a species of Blumea, 
is described (with a plate) from informa- 
tion supplied by Dr. Augustine Henry 
(Kew Bulletifi, 1895, 275). The plants 
yielding the leaves known as coca, and 
the drug cocaine, with their character- 
istics, are discussed (Kew Bulletin, 1889, 
1), with the suggestion that a plant long 
cultivated at Kew (Erythroxylon coca, 
var novo granatense~) might be suited for 



cultivation at a lower elevation than the 
type. The little-known iboga root of 
the Gaboon and bocca of the Congo, 
possessing tonic properties, is traced to 
Tabernanthe iboga, Bail!. (Kew Bulletin, 
1895, 37); the tree yielding the ipoh 
poison of the Malay peninsula is identi- 
fied with that yielding the upas poison 
of Java (Kew Bulletin, 1891, 24), but the 
remarkable point is brought out that 
while, in Java, the upas tree (Antiatis 
toxicaria) furnishes a very effective arrow 
poison, in the Malay peninsula the juice 
of what is regarded as an identical spe- 
cies is apparently innocuous, and the de- 
fect is remedied by the use of arsenic. 

Fluid Extract Horse=ChestnutSeed. — 

The fluid extract is prepared from the 
seed of iEsculus hippocastanum, and 
Arbault (Rev. de Therap. med.chir., No. 
5, 1896) believes he has found in this 
remedy a specific for the pains of hemorr- 
hoids. In twenty-one cases in which it 
had been used, not once did it fail, and 
the attacks could even be cut short at 
their commencement, when it was taken 
as soon as the first symptoms showed 
themselves. The remedy appears to 
exert a direct, intense, vascular -contract- 
ing power on the venous circulation of 
the small pelvis. Its administration 
causes a mild feeling of warmth in the 
stomach, unaccompanied by pain, diz- 
ziness or constipation. The only disa- 
greeable symptoms noted were the re- 
establishment of the menses in two 
women ten days after this stoppage. In 
cases of excessive hemorrhage, this ex- 
tract may be combined with fluid extract 
of hamamelis. 

Comparative Value of Antiseptics. — 

Dr. Th. Bokorny (Science, No. 
CXXXVII, p. 250) gives the results of 
a study of the antiseptic action of various 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



substances. A culture-medium of 0.5 
per cent, egg albumin or peptone, with 
1-10 per cent, potassium phosphate, 2-10 
per cent, magnesium sulphate, and a 
trace of calcium chloride, was infected 
with the bacteria of decay, and after 
addition of the substance to be tested, 
placed for several days in an incubator. 
Among inorganic compounds silver ni- 
trate and mercuric chloride have about 
the same value, 0.002 per cent., killing 
all organisms in two days. The anti- 
septic limit with silver nitrate is 0.0002 
per cent.; with mercuric chloride 0.00 1 
to 0.0002 per cent. Copper sulphate is 
nearly as active, 0.005 P er cent, killing 
all organisms in twenty-tour hours, and 
0.001 per cent, preventing decomposition. 
Zinc sulphate o. 01 per cent, kills irnfu- 
soria in eighteen hours, but o, 1 per cent, 
is not completely antiseptic, while cad- 
mium sulphate toward algae and infusoria 
is weaker than the zinc salt, but toward 
bacteria stronger, 0.02 per cent, being 
antiseptic. Lead acetate and nitrate in 
o. 1 per cent, solution only delay decay, 
while the latter is prevented by the same 
strength of iron sulphate solution. The 
fluorids are not strong antiseptics, the 
limits being for hydrofluoric acid 0.02 
percent., barium fluoride 0.3 per cent., 
aluminum fluoride 0.1 percent., calcium 
fluoride 0.03 per cent., ferric fluoride 0.06 
per cent., and magnesium fluoride 0.05 
per cent. Ammonium fluoride 0.1 per 
cent, is without action, but sodium flu- 
oride o. 1 per cent, is antiseptic; potas- 
sium fluoride is rather more active. 

Dika Fat. — Odila or dika fat is a vege- 
table fat, rather extensively used by the 
natives of the Cameroons district for culi- 
nary purposes. It is manufactured from the 
fruit of the wild native mango. It is 
somewhat darker in color than palm oil, 



though of the same consistency. Plan- 
tains cooked with dika fat are described 
as delicious, and indeed the flavor of the 
fat is most agreeable in the various ways 
in which it is used in the kitchen. Oils 
and fats are obtainable in great abund- 
ance in Western Africa, a large number 
of fruits, nuts and other vegetable pro- 
duce supplying them by easy processes. 

Delicacy of Marine's Reagent. — 

Verven reports experiments to deter- 
mine the delicacy of Marme's reagent for 
alkaloids (which consists of 5 grams of 
cadmium iodide and 10 grams of potas- 
sium iodide in water to make 100 c. c.) 
The suspected solution is acidified -with 
sulphuric acid and one-fifth its volume 
of reagent added. Pecipitation occurred 
with atropine, 1 in 1,600; cocaine hydro- 
chlorate, 1 in 16,900 ; veratine, 1 in 
5,400; strychnine, 1 in 19,200; brucine, 
1 in 14,600; quinine, 1 in 32,300; con- 
chinine, 1 in 18,400, and aconitine, 1 in 
13,7 00. 

Formation of Diastase. — Prof. W. 
Pfeffer has carried out a series of 
experiments for the purpose of deter- 
mining the conditions under which dias- 
tase is formed in plants. The plants 
operated on were Penicillium glaucum, 
Aspergillus niger, and Bacillus megath- 
erium. An increase in the amount of 
sugar in the nutrient material was found 
always to have the effect of decreasing 
the production of diastase, but the same 
result was not produced when the sugar 
was replaced by some other carbohy- 
drate, by glycerin, or by tartaric acid. 
Prof. Pfeffer regards the arrest in the 
production of diastase as not a purely 
chemical or physical phenomenon, but as 
one of irritation exerted on the organism 
by a solution of sugar of a definite degree 
of concentration. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Thyroids — Their Use in Other Dis- 
eases than Cretinism. — In cretinism 
the use of thyroids is followed by 
distinct blood changes. Anemia im- 
proves rapidly and when the correct 
dose has been attained this improvement 
becomes permanent, says Dr. Koplik in 
Arch. Paed. for July. In the blood the 
red bloodcells are increased. In the 
bones the growth is not at all uncertain. 
The influence of the thyroid on the nerv- 
ous system and on the subcutaneous 
structures and their nutriment is striking. 
The writer then follows by reporting 
cases of lipomatosis universalis, hydremic 
anemia, marked simple anemias ; these 
cases being in children. 

The treatment in general was for the 
initial dose, x / 2 grn. twice daily, and at 
the end of a week the dose was increased 
to the same dose thrice daily, then later 
four times daily, and finally the dose was 
made 2 grn. daily, and kept up for the 
entire summer. In conjunction the use 
of iron was beneficial. 

Tincture of Monsonia in Dysentery. 

— Monsonia, an annual plant belonging 
to the Geraniaceae, is commonly used in 
the treatment of dysentery in South Af- 
rica. Dr. J. Maberly, of Birmingham 
{Med. Week, V. p. 132), who was for 
some time in practice in the Transvaal, 
near Johannesburg, used this drug with 
the greatest success in about a hundred 
cases. The whole plant, including the 
flower tops of either M. ovata or M. 
Burkei, was used in the preparation of 
an alcoholic tincture. The root, how- 
ever, seems to be very nearly inactive 
and should not be employed. 

Under the influence of this tincture, in 
doses from 8 to 15 gme. every four or six 
hours, the symptoms of dysentery im- 
proved more rapidly than under any 



other treatment, more rapidly in par- 
ticular than with ipecacuanha admin- 
istered after the Brazilian method. The 
effects appeared also to be equally good 
J n acute and in chronic cases. Out of 
ten patients who were suffering from 
chronic dysentery, nine recovered and 
one died. This was a child, whose death 
was the result of coma, coming on in 
consequence of the extreme weakness 
produced by the prolonged intestinal af- 
fection, the dysentery itself having al- 
ready been cured by the drug. 

Dr. M. found that tincture of mon- 
sonia cured acute dysentery, on an aver- 
age, within two days, chronic dysentery 
within eight or ten days. This tincture, 
therefore, appears to exert a specific ac- 
tion on the morbid agent of dysentery. 
It is also, apparently, a sedative in all 
abdominal pain, having proved success- 
ful in calming, to a considerable extent, 
the violent pain caused by chronic in- 
flammation of the uterine adnexa. 

The Therapeutic Employment of 
Digitoxin Crystal. — V. Starck (Munch, 
med. Woch., Jan. 26, 1897) reports a 
series of fourteen cases in which he 
has employed digitoxin crystals within 
the last six months, with a success equal 
to that reported by Aubel, Masius, Went 
zel, and Unverricht. 

He employed the drug in the form of 
tablets containing about 1-256 of a grn. 
(^ milligram) as supplied by the manu- 
facturers. The fourteen cases comprised 
ten cases of valvular failure, two of myo- 
carditis, one of fatty heart, and one of 
arterio-sclerosis with passive congestion of 
the kidney. The tablets were well borne 
in all cases, and there were no symptoms 
of irritation. 

In the case of fatty degeneration the 
digitoxin had no effect. In one of the 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



23 



cases of myocarditis the effect was tran- 
sient, while in a second after repeated 
attempts it produced good results where 
all other means had failed. In cases of 
valvular insufficiency the action began 
four or five honrs after administration. 
In the case of arterio-sclerosis with pas- 
sive congestion of the kidneys the result 
was better, especially as regards the 
diuresis, than with any infusion of digi- 
talis. In one case of mitral stenosis, 
after eight doses had been administered 
in three days, marked symptoms of digi- 
talis-intoxication were shown, the pulse 
falling to forty-six beats per minute. By 
the use of camphor- injections the patient 
soon rallied, recovering completely in four 
days, was enabled to leave his bed, and re- 
mained well for three months afterward. 

The Preservation of Ether. — The 

loss caused by the evaporation of ether 
from unsealed containers during hot 
weather, and in shops that are kept 
very warm in winter, amounts to quite a 
neat little sum in the course of a year. 
It can be prevented, to a certain extent, 
by the following ingenious contrivance 
(Nat. Dr.): Fill your container nearly 
full of ether, and then pour in sufficient 
glycerin to bring the surface of the ether 
nearly to the bottom of the stopper. 
Insert the latter carefully, and with a 
piece of twine of sufficient length suspend 
the bottle neck downward, from a nail or 
other support, letting the cord pass over 
the stopper and take a turn around the 
body of the bottle from each side so that 
it will hang perpendicularly and safely. 
The glycerin, being heaviest, falls down 
and fills the neck of the bottle, sealing 
the latter hermetically. When required 
for use the glycerin dropping to the bot- 
tom allows the ether to be poured out, if 



care be used, almost to the last drop. Of 
course the neck should be carefully wiped 
before poring. 

Peronin Therapeutically. — Its act- 
ion has been studied by Dr. S. Nowak ( The- 
rap. Woch., No. 21, '897) in 18 cases, com- 
prising ten of pulmonary tuberculosis in 
the stage of infiltration and cavern-form- 
ation, four of chronic bronchitis and pul- 
monary emphysema, three of acute bron- 
chitis, and one of capillary bronchitis. 
The result of these investigations showed 
that in all of these cases the cough, irre- 
spective of the cause or complaint, became 
less frequent and intense, sleep being 
thereby rendered easier; it became drier, 
however, expectoration being rendered 
more difficult. By-effects, such as head- 
ache, lassitude, and drowsiness were never 
observed. At times patients complained 
of a burning sensation in the bronchi, 
and of copious perspiration. The writer 
found that peronin is best given in solu- 
tion or in pill-form. Doses of 0.01 gme. 
were found to be too small at times, but 
as no by-effect occurs these may be in- 
creased to 0.05 gme. single, o. 1 and 0.15 
gme. for daily dose. It possesses an ad- 
vantage in that it may be given for a long 
time, there being no tendency to forming 
a habit, as in the case of morphine. 

Dr. Jakob Munk {Aerzt. Ce?itr. An- 
zeiger, No. 22, 1897) has also experi- 
mented with peronin, and states, as a re- 
sult of his investigations, that the reme- 
dy given to adults is doses of 0.02 gme. 
causes no untoward effects, indisposition, 
or drowsiness, but acts as an analgesic 
and checks cough. Doses of 0.04 gme. 
yield a quiet night's sleep, even in cases 
where morphine and codeine were inac- 
tive and without any by-effects. It is easily 
borne by the most debilitated patients. 
The writer records the case of an epileptic 
girl who suffered from frequent attacks of 
frenzy, and on which peronin had an im- 
mediately calmative effect. It all recent 
cases the writer employed peronin ex- 
clusively wherever morphine or codeine 
were indicated, and with uniformly good 
results. The dose of 0.02 gme. was re- 
peated three times daily. 



24 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



A Bacterium which Lives in Alcohol. 

— Mr. and Mrs. V. A. Veley, Nature, 
note the deterioration recently observed 
in Demerara rum. They obtained sam- 
ples direct from a bonded warehouse, 
which they found to contain 74.6 per 
cent, of alcohol by weight, and on mi- 
croscopical examination of a sediment at 
the bottom of the samples found it to 
consist of chains of small cocci. After 
the spirit had been kept for some days 
the cocci were seen to be surrounded 
with a gelatinous envelope, and after a 
further interval of time the cocci were 
found disseminated throughout the liquid, 
and were rapidly developing and multi- 
plying. The micro-organism belongs to 
the Coccaceac and the authors regard it 
as a new species ; the observation of the 
existence and multiplication of any micro- 
organism in a spirit of such alcoholic 
strength appears to be quite novel. 



BOOK REVIEWS. 
The Pharmacist at Work. W. C. 

AlpKRS, Philadelphia. (/, P. Lippincott 
& Co., 1898, pp. ix-326) 

The many readers of Mr. Alpers' 
entertaining and instructive series of 
papers under the above title, which first 
appeared in Merck's Report of 1895-96, 
will be pleased to learn of their issue, re- 
vised and enlarged, in book form. While 
not intended to encroach on the province 
of the more pretentious works on the 
theory and practice of pharmacy, this 
very readable discussion of every day 
occurrences in a modern pharmacy will 
commend itself to all classes of pharma- 
ceutical workers as showing in a happy 
and forceful manner the interdependence 
of theoretical knowledge and practical 
experience, and as being an effort toward 



the elevation of pharmacy to its due 
rank among the professions. Systematic 
outlines of study are laid down for the 
beginner. The student will find the 
discussion of the official preparations and 
the chapters on the metric system and 
the subject of alligation of especial 
assistance, while the practical worker 
may learn of many useful and time saving 
devices that will facilitate his labors. 
Subjects of interest more particularly to 
the proprietor are also treated ; adver- 
tising methods, the preservation of the 
entente cordiale between pharmacist and 
physician, and, perhaps, most important 
of all, the attitude of the preceptor 
toward his apprentice and the part he 
plays in infusing into him the enthusiasm 
and love for his profession which alone 
can insure success. 

The book is excellently printed and 
bound, although the absence of an index 
is to be regretted. 



Prof Wm. Trelease ( Trans. St. Louis 
Acad. Sci., VII. 18, 493) describes "An 
Universal Phyto benzoar" formed in the 
stomach of a bull in the neighborhood of 
San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and consisting 
of the fine barbed hair-like spines from 
the pulvini of the flat-jointed Opuntias 
of the region, upon which the animal 
had been for some time feeding. Various 
species of cactus are there eaten by stock 
during periods of food scarcity. Many 
stockmen partially roast them before 
feeding, thus destroying the most of the 
fine spines. Others avoid this on the 
ground that it increases the natural pur- 
gative properties of the fodder. The 
animal in question had roamed wild and 
eaten the Opuntias voluntarily. The 
balls are described as being perfectly 
spherical, measuring t> 1 A inches in di- 
ameter and weighing 7^2 ounces. 

H. H. R. 



THE JOLBNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



25 



Alumni, College and Class Notes. 



Alumni Association, 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc. 

Bibliography, 

Class '93, 

Class '94, 

Class '95, 

Class '96, 

Class '97, 

Class '98, 

Legal Notes, 

Post Graduate Class ol '96, 



and Classes prior to 1893. 



CONTRIBUTORS. 

WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph.G., 115 West 68th St., New York. 

RUDOLPH GIES, Phar.D., 115 West 68th St., New York 

ADOLPH HENNING, Ph. G. 68 William St., New York. 

EUGENE F. LOHR, Ph.G. 375 Third Ave, New York. 

NELSON S. KIRK, Ph.G., 450 Third Ave., New York. 

G. E. MANVILLE, 371 Park PI., Brooklyn. 

CHAS. G. H. GERKEN, Phar.D., 2655 Second St., Brooklyn. 

E. W. MEINECKE, 578 5th Ave., N. Y 

G. L. BYRNES, us West 68th St., New York. 

H, A. HEROLD, 34 Pine St., New York. 

HARRY B, FERGUSON, Phar. D. 



ALUMNI NOTES. 

ANNUAL DINNER. 

The Annual Dinner of the Alumni Associa- 
tion was a complete success, not alone from a 
social standpoint, but also in point of numbers, 
and as a satisfier of a hungry feeling, as a 
glance at the menu will show. 
MENU. 
Blue Points. 
Cream of Celery, aux Croutons. 
Olives. Celery. Radishes. 

Filet de Sole, au Vinblanc. 
Potatoes Parisienne. 
Filet de Boeuf, Pique, a la Financiere. 
Flagolets. Artichokes Farcis. 

Sorbet. 
Roast Quail on Toast. Celery Mayonaise. 

Fancy Ice Cream. 
Cake. Assorted Fruits. 

Crackers Cheese. 

Cafe Noir. 
It was held at the Arena, on Wednesday 
evening, December 15th, at 9 p. M., and when 
President Searles gave the signal, between 
sixty and seventy gentlemen sat down ready 
for anything that came along in the eating, 
drinking and speaking line. 

For some time nothing was heard but the 
clashing of knives and forks, which was only 
interrupted by an occasional friendly sally and 
the popping of corks. 

As the coffee was being served, that prince 
of presiding officers, A. C. Searles, arose and 
rapped for order, and in a befitting manner in- 
troduced Mr. Ewen Mclntyre amid a storm of 
applause. It was a great night for Mr. Mcln- 
tyre, as he reminded the gentlemen present 



that it was just about fifty years ago that he 
had graduated from the New York College of 
Pharmacy, and in his speech he brought out 
several very interesting points about pharmacy 
during the last half century, which were greatly 
appreciated by those present. 

The next speaker called upon was genial 
Prof. Coblentz. whose comments upon the 
differences between the German and the Ameri- 
can pharmacist were vociferously received. 

Unquestionably the hit of the evening was 
made by Prof. John Oehler, who in his own 
inimitable way told the diners that Santa Claus 
had visited him in his study and had given him 
presents for the faculty and the prominent mem- 
bers of the Alumni. The presents were dis- 
tributed by President Searles, and as each one 
received and opened his package, much laughter 
and applause followed, as each present was 
indicative of some hobby which the recipient 
was noted for. Prof. Oehler also proved himself 
to be a poet of no mean ability, as with each 
gift a neatly typewritten poem was given, char- 
acteristic of the gift or gentleman receiving it. 

Mr. P.J. MacMahon spoke in his usual hap- 
py manner, choosing as his subject a history of 
our college. It was both interesting and en- 
joyable. 

Among the other speakers of the evening 
were the following: Dr. Pfingsten, of the Ger- 
man Apothecaries Association; Mr. J. B. Rus- 
sell; Dr. Levis, of Seabury and Johnson; Mr. 
Sayre; Prof. Parsons, of the Pharmaceutical 
Era; Mr P. J. Keenan, of the American Drug- 
gist; Mr. C. F. Doherr, President of the Drug- 
gists' League for Shorter Hours; Dr. Geo. C. 
Diekman; Mr.Wm. M. Davis, of Brooklyn, and 
Mr. James Rogers, of Johnson and Johnson. 



26 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Among others who were present the follow- 
ing might be mentioned: Secretary Wm. A. 
Hoburg, Jr., Dr. Harry B. Ferguson, Dr. R. 
Gies, First Vice-President Harold, Treasurer 
Chas. S. Erb, Second Vice-President Julius Tan- 
nenbaum, Third Vice-President J. Glassford, 
Nelson S. Kirk, Fred Borggreve, Dr. P. L. Eck- 
hard, Dr. C. F. Pfister, Aug. H. Hall, Chas. A. 
Johnson, D. L. Cameron, Carl Schnackenberg, 
Dr. Herman Graeser, Dr. Henry Kreuder, Dr. 
H. Herzfeld, Dr. O. Mayer, Jos. Ruprecht, H. 
Kantrowitz, Edward Uhe, Dr. Chas. H. Bjork- 
wall, J. Gallagher, Prof. M. R. Mandelbaum, 
Jos. Aquarro, M. Thurlow, E. Pimme, E. E. 
Fisher, C. VanBuren, C. J. Beck, E. P. Wood, 
P. Gregorius, E. F. Miller, L. Eickwort, Jr., L. 
G. B. Erb, N. Cohen, G. L. Hager, G. Evans, 
P. Schaul, Geo. J. Diirr, L. G. Schanikow, R. 
L. Daimstadt, Sergt. P. M. Davies, L. W. De 
Zeller, Wm. Brainerd, F. Woolston, P. Shaugh- 
nessey, Dr. L. W. Geissler, Jr., C. O. Grube. 

R. G. 



'93 NOTES. 



We spent two weeks of our short and check- 
ered life at Sing Sing recently. (Short term 
prisoner.) While there we met a fat, slick- 
looking country politician who, on closer in- 
spection, proved to be "Chancey" Terwilliger. 
He is located in that romantic town, and if ex- 
ternal appearances go for anything he is being 
well used by the world. If any of you happen 
to run across him, ask him how Ada of cake 
walk fame is. 

Another representative of '93 who is an- 
chored there is Kip. He was glad to see me 
and all that sort of thing, but had to hustle to 
catch a train to Peekskill. He rushes up there 
Wednesdays and Sundays, the gossips say. 
Wonder has that anything to do with what he 
whispered confidentially to me about a sweet, 
dear little girl, soon to be Mrs. K. 



'94 NOTES. 

"Happy New Year !" 

Louis G. Scharnikow, who was a junior 
with us, is thinking seriously of taking a course 
in dentistry. He is at present with Schroter on 
Columbus avenue. 

AS usual our class was well represented at 
the Alumni dinner. During the festivities I 
noticed Dr. Kreuder, Hon. H. A. Herold, Ser- 



geant Davies, Messrs. Kirk, Erb, and Grube. 
President Searles and Dr. Oehler vied with one 
another for honors. 

"Alumni Ball, February 9th; box office now 
open. How many." 



'97 NOTES. 

A. J. Palmer, one of the Southern Club, is 
with his father, Messrs. Palmer & Kinsbrew, 
wholesale and retail apothecaries, of Athens, 
Ga. Brother Palmer proved himself a great 
honor to his class at an examination held in the 
early part of November before the Georgia 
State Board. He carried off first honors, win- 
ning first prize. In speaking of the same, he 
remarks : "I am proud to say, both for myself 
and for the able professors who taught me, that 
I made the highest average." Showing his 
true blue for his "Alma Mater." 

Oh, Nickerson is with the Riker Drug Co., 
Sixth avenue and Twenty-third street, looking 
as ever prosperous and well. He says he can- 
not imagine where all the fellows have gone to. 
I wonder whether he ever goes to Keith's, 
Proctor's on any week day afternoon. At a 
performance I witnessed recently at Proctor's, 
Twenty-third street, were present, Milne, Peter- 
son, Koch and Devine, certainly quite a few. 
Milne was seen in a front seat — living pictures, 
you know. 

The illustrious son of his father, Orrin M. 
Morey, has been discovered in Brooklyn. 

Bardoes, "he who would a mascot be, " is 
in Sixth avenue, corner Sixteenth street, with 
the Hansen Pharmacy. 

The engagement is announced of Brother 
Henry Schreiner to Miss Emelia Heine, of 
Yonkers, N. Y. Accept our best wishes for the 
future, and learn to forget the Olympia Theatre 
and Becker and you certainly will be happy. 

The very latest "Teddy Kaiser" is still 
working, and says he expects to — "for the 
winter." 

Hubbard has joined the Y. M. C. A. Fel- 
lows, a wonderful change has overcome him. 
Real nice and good, you know. 

White says she looked me into the eyes and 
says: "Willie, dear boy, why don't you take 
some hot, real hot, coffee, you look so cold ? " 
Christmas is coming, you know, fellows. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY- 



27 



Roberts is Working. Or, as he would say, 
is employing his leisure moments, in a phar- 
macy at Rome, N. Y. 

And "Freddy," Freddy Preston, the much- 
famed member of the Pharmaceutical Willis 
Flats, has also been heard from. This time to 
remember the class picture fund. More than a 
great many of the members have. 

Ingham, much famed for his hard study and 
pluck winner of the bronze medal, pet of the 
girls of our class, pet of his landlady, is now at 
his old home, Anedia, R. I., doing time in a 
pharmacy. 

The highly distinguished lady of our class is 
now living in Brooklyn for the holidays, I am 
told. 

With the coming festivities I wish you all a 
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year and hope 
you will not forget the class picture fund and 
remit your donations at your earliest. 

SchloTTERBECK is a son of leisure moments 
now. 

Mr. Mierow, Ph.G., is a nicely engraved 
card's reading on a scale in the chemical lab- 
oratory. Next it will be P. D. Oh, Mierow 
you're a winner. 

"KidHager says he misses our class out- 
ings very much and only wishes they would 
return." Next ! 

Dr. G. Ferguson, D. V. S.. Ph.G., is now 
with the Messrs. Caswell, Massey & Co., Twen- 
ty-fifth street, Fifth avenue and Broadway. 



'98 NOTES. 

"Lo! The poor (Mexican) Indian" according 
to Dr. Rusby he chews intoxicating drugs and 
goes on the most horrible jags, and alas, has no 
one to teach him the evils of his ways. During 
the recital of this terrible state of affairs we saw 
Mansfield and Hildebrand hold up their hands 
in holy horror. Why not get up a subscription 
and send some missionaries to these poor 
wretches (the Indians). We are sure the boys 
would subscribe liberally. 

We think Tye is well named. 

If your name is misspelled don't blame me. 
It's the printers fault. If you answered a quiz 
correctly and I failed to mention it, accept my 
humblest apology. If I've said anything I'm 
sorry for, I'm glad of it. So don't kick any 
more. 



The Alumni dinner of this year was a decided 
success. The class of '98 had three representa- 
tives present. 

We hear several of the members humming 
that catchy little air that runs "Mr. Justice turn 
me loose, I've no money but I've a good excuse, 
etc." Some of those new airs are very catchy. 

The basement reminds one of Monte Carlo. 
The fortunes won or lost in a single noon hour 
are something appalling. One man lost seven 
cents to-day. Be careful boys. A gamblers life 
is a terrible life to lead. 

Jones and Sears have given up housekeeping 
during the holidays. 

"When a tramp is treated to a dose of CO 2 
he wakes up to find himself dead." 

Where will you be after examinations? Oh 
ye frequenters of the Klondyke Pool Parlor. 

LiEBSTETTER carries chalk in his pockets and 
always has his ears open for a challenge. 

SCOTT says strikes are easy but a poodle — 
never. 

The athletic team is away on a Christmas 
vacation. After New Year's calls are over they 
will go into training once more. 

Rumor says that Miles has gone to house- 
keeping and that incidentally he still has his 
eyes on that prize. Watch him. 

A class band has been formed which, as 
nearly as can be learned is made up as follows: 
Schaefer, violin; Alpers, violin; Crain, bass- 
viola; Harrison, flute; Seltman, kazoo; Wend- 
ler, accordion; Mansfield, tin-can; Holcomb, 
Jewsharp. "There are others." 



'99 NOTES. 



Michel is the unapproachable king of in- 
ventors, Did he not invent the bunches of 
flowers in one of the pharmacognosy lectures? 
Speaking about pharmacognosy : We are great- 
ly indebted to Prof. Rusby for his careful ele- 
mentary teachings and instructions he gave us 
in his department. To our sorrow we parted 
with him last week for the rest of this year. 
We shall not forget his kindness to one and all. 

Jackson, the connoisseur of good dinners, 
and Ward of cigars, /jc. straight. 

President Johnston promised to call our 
first class meeting right after the holidays. It 
will be a rouser. 



28 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



PROFESSOR — What is a baroscope. 

Student — What is — is — is the dose. 

Professor (Changing his student) — Probably. 
Mr. O. N. Frankfurter will answer. 

Student (Mr. O. N. Frankfurter)— I— I— I— 
I d — di — didn't understand that que — que, — 
question. 

Professor — Never mind the question. Tell 
me something about it. 

Student — I don't know its atomic weight. 

Professor — Well, what is weight ? 

Student (Mr. O. N. Frankfurter)— Well, er— 
er — it — it — it is centerpart of gravity, minus 2 
molecules of H2O. 

Professor— Very good : aber nit (???) You 
are very good at guessing. (You beat the 
band.) 

Clara F. Ehlin. 



SECTION III. 



Ask Hill about the composition of air. He 
has some very interesting facts to tell concern- 
ing it. 

There are two college men in Section III. 
White from the University of Mississippi and 
Wells from Dartmouth College. 

The Heavenly Twins ( Kirchstein, 
(. Lucina. 

By the time Gould gets his Ph. G. he will 
certainly have earned it. He commutes every 
day and his train leaves 5:30 A. M. 

Lucine— Oh, yes ; I knowed. I knowed it 
already. Only I don't knowed it so quick. 

Some say that Davidson, our "little angel," 
smokes. Ask him about it. Also if he had a 
phenomenal voice when " young." How aged 
he must be at the present time ! 

Cadmus believes in taking good exercise just 
before quiz, both vocally and physically. Woe 
to those who happen to be in the way of his 
empty boxes, beans, paper balls, etc. 

Wanted— A position in some burlesque 
company. Theatrical troupes will do well by 
corresponding with me at once. 

Maurice E. Davidson. 



N. Y. C. P. C. C. 

President, Nelson S. Kirk. 

Vice-President, Rudolph Gies. 

Sec'y-Treas.. Capt. L. G. B. Erb, 539 E. 88th St. 

Lieutenant, Harry B. Ferguson. 

Color Bearer, Otto N. Frankfurter. 

Annual dues, #1.00, payable quarterly. 

No initiation fee. 

The first smoker of the season will be held 
in the Alumni Room on Wednesday evenings 
January 26. Prizes will be awarded to the best 
story tellers. Aspirants will therefore take 
notice, as every guest will be eligible in the 
contest. Students are cordially invited to at- 
tend. 

Scheduled runs have been discontinued 
until further notice. This, however, does not 
deter the majority of our members from "brav- 
ing the elements." 

AT the Alumni dinner, Chas. S. Erb was pre- 
sented with a beautiful miniature hat covered 
handsomely with the college colors, by Santa 
Claus A very appropriate gift for a treasurer. 
Rumor has it that Capt. Erb is negotiating for 
a loan of it to facilitate matters, now that the 
first quarterly dues are payable. 

Kirk was also remembered by the Old Gen- 
tleman on the above mentioned occasion. He 
received a "chainless safety" of the 2 cents per 
card, bargain days only, variety. 

A large carriage builder is authority for the 
statement, that the wheel is simply the 
stepping stone to an equine equipage. We 
should therefore look forward to the day when 
we are to "follow the horses." 

IT is a deplorable fact that the department 
stores will have control of many of the better 
known wheels next season; several of them are 
already booking orders for '98 models, listed 
at $100, for prices ranging from $85 to $49.99. 

From the present outlook I should say the 
chainless model will not be as popular as was 
anticipated, for at least another season. Gear 
cases will be considerably lighter and much 
used, particularly by tourists. 

Scorcher. 



VOL. V. FEBRUARY, 1898. NO. 2. 



0* 



Journal of Pharmacology 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARflACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 

Vanilla, Botany and Cultivation, ... 29 

H. H. Rusby, M. D. 

Vanilla, Microscopy of Fruit, . . . 35 

Smith Ei<y Jeujffb, M. D. 

Vanilla, Chemistry, ...... 36 

VlRGII. COBtENTZ. Ph. D. 

Editorials, 39 

Abstracts and Reviews, . . ... 41 

College, Alumni and Class Notes, ... 45 




Entered as second-class matter at the New York, N. Y. Post*Office, January 20th, 1897. 



JKaltine 

MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor an 

"essence of malt." 
(LALTINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive and 

digestive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 
It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic field for 

more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ablest 

pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching it in 

medicinal value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

"Halt" is not "MALTINE." 

" Extract of flalt" is not "HALTINE." 

« Essence of Malt" is not "MALTINE." 

"MALTINE" must be designated to get "HALTINE." 

WEINHAGEN'S 
Retested Clinical Thermometers 



WEINHAGEN'S 



SOLID PISTON ASEPTIC 
HYPODERMIC TABLET SYRINGI 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe is easil, 
cleaned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish them without cases 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

ALL JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. WEINHAGEN 



Established 1855. 



22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. 



NEW YORK, U. S. A 



Cbe 



journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumui Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York. 



Vox.. V. 



NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1898. 



No. 2. 



THE SPECIES, DISTRIBUTION AND HABITS OE VANILLA PLANTS, AND 
THE CULTIVATION AND CURING OF VANILLA. 



By H. H. Rushy, M.D. 



The genus Vanilla was established by Plunder in Miller's Gardener's 
Dictionary, Edition 6, in the year 1752. The genus has been enlarged from 
time to time, until we find the Index Kewensis, in 1896, recognizing 33 
species. Besides these recognized species, the Index cites 23 additional 
names which it regards as synonyms. As in the case of most large genera, 
there is a wide difference of opinion as to the limitations of the species, 
their number being thus greater or less according to different authorities. 
Engler and Prantl, in the " Pflanzenfamilien," allow but 20, which is also 
the number allowed by Bentham and Hooker in the " Genera Plantarum." 
This doubt as to specific boundaries extends even to those of the improved 
and cultivated species V. planifolia, there being a wide difference of opinion 
regarding half a dozen forms, as to whether they are distinct species or mere 
varieties of this one. 

The genus is peculiar among flowering plants for its exceedingly wide 
distribution, nearly all parts of the tropical world possessing their repre- 
sentatives. 

In the New World we have 18 species; 3 from Mexico, 5 from the West 
Indies, 2 from Guiana, 3 from Brazil, 1 each from New Granada and 
Equador and 3 from Peru. This list may have to be extended by the addition 
of one which I have collected in Bolivia, or this may turn out to be one of 
those already known in Peru. In the Old World there are 15 species, 4 
from Tropical Africa, 3 from the East Indies, 2 from Java, and 1 each from 
Ceylon, Sumatra, Bourbon, the Seychelles, the Philippines and the Malay 
Peninsula. 



LIBRARY 

NEW YORK 

BOTANICAL 

<iARi;EJN. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

There seems to be no precise record as to whether or not all of these 
species yield fragrant fruits, capable of use as Vanillas, but it is certain that 
the larger part of them do so. Neither is it certain that there is not among 
them some other one or more species, which, by cultivation and improve- 
ment, might be made to yield a vanilla equal or superior to that now 
yielded by the V. planifolia and its varieties. The fact that the use of 
vanilla dates back to prehistoric times leaves us in doubt as to whether 
the quality of this fruit, as known at present, may not have been the result 
of improvement by methods of cultivation of a product which in a wild 
state was more or less inferior. Certainly, the field for experiment in the 
way of cultivation and hybridization of species at present uncultivated is 
most attractive. 

Although vanilla is not obtained for economic purposes, so far as known, 
from any other orchids than those of the genus Vanilla, we are by no 
means certain that this may not result in the future. I have collected in 
the Andes representatives of a distinct genus, Sobralia, very closely re- 
lated to Vanilla, the pod of which develops a strong vanilla-like odor upon 
maturity. 

The flowers of an orchid growing in Switzerland have a strong odor of 
vanilla, and have been found to yield considerable vanillin. 

As regards the production of fruits for commercial purposes from the 
wild plants, it may be said that it reaches very considerable proportions. 
Even among the Indians of Bolivia I have seen the fruit, of a species un- 
known to me, collected and traded in, each fruit bringing about 6 reals, 
equal to some .35 of our money. I have also collected vanilla in a wild state in 
Venezuela, but there was no one of whom I could inquire as to whether it 
yielded a useful fruit. Passing out of the reach of such uncivilized dis- 
tricts, we find that considerable quantities are produced without cultivation. 
and presumably from native species, in various tropical countries. 

It is, however, the V. planifolia which is chiefly concerned in collec- 
tion. This species is very widely cultivated, the principal regions being in 
Mexico and Bourbon, or Reunion Island. The West Indies, Java, Mau- 
ritius, Ceylon, the Fijis and the Straits Settlements also yield important 
supplies. Good scented fruits have been produced in European hothouses, 
but, of course,, not upon a commercial scale. 

The methods of cultivation differ widely in the different regions, but are 
all based upon certain principles deduced from the study of the habits of 
the plant in its wild state. Its history in a state of nature is as follows: — 
It inhabits the richest form of forest land, always completely protected 
from salt sea breezes, the crevices on a rocky hillside being one of its 
favorite haunts. It is of terrestrial growth, quickly climbing some ad- 
jacent tree trunk. Although it commonly makes a few turns around the 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. ■— 

'trunk, its chief support is derived from the numerous roots which it af- 
fixes to the trunk. It ascends to the height of many yards, and .'then 
'spreads out to a considerable distance over such horizontal supports. as it 
'may encounter. The presence of these fixation roots and the, fact that 
it 'survives for a considerable period after its earth connection has been 
severed have suggested the idea that it is parasitic or epiphytic, or both. 
'It 'is not clear just what are the relative degrees of importance of its 
• aerial and terrestrial nutrition, but it is pretty clearly 
established, especially by the observations of Mr. Charles 
E. Hires, of Philadelphia, that it cannot long survive after its earth- 
connection is severed, unless it is able, as is usually the case, to drop down 
secondary aerial roots, and by this means to establish again a terrestrial 
support. At the same time we are not entirely without testimony to the 
continued existence of plants after the decay of their basal portions, and 
with no other attachment than to the supporting tree. Like most plants of 
its class, it is fleshy and succulent, and well able to resist accidents of this 
kind. Its branches readily take root if brought into contact with the soil, 
and this habit is taken advantage of in its artificial propagation by cuttings. 
Its stem is as thick as the finger, and its leaves are large, oblong, thick 
and fleshy and very numerous upon the horizontal branches, which are 
exposed to the light and air. It is these exposed leafy branches, the growth 
of that year, which constitute the sole flower and fruit-producing portion. 
There appears to be a very narrowly limited admixture of light and shade 
which affords the most favorable conditions for flowering, pollination and 
perfection of the fruit. A lesser proportion of shade, will often make the 
plant thrive better, but will affect adversely its production of fruit. Too 
much shade, on the other hand, will often result in subjecting the plant 
itself to destructive fungus disease. 

The flowers are born in axillary racemes of, some 15 to 20, and they 
are of a pale greenish white or cream-color and pleasantly fragrant. Nature 
has taken special care that the flowers shall not be self-pollinated, as she 
has interposed a well-developed blade of tissue, the labellum, between the 
pollen and the stigma, preventing all natural contact between them, and 
causing them to depend for their pollination upon the visits of insects, 
this mode invariably resulting in cross-pollination. This fact renders it 
quite certain that the constant introduction of new vital elements from 
other plants is necessary for the well-being of the species and leads to the 
inference that it is only a question of time when the habit of propagating 
exclusively by cuttings will result in serious vital deterioration, as has 
resulted with the sugar-cane, and necessitate the renewal of the stock 
from carefully produced seedlings. It has been ascertained that, due either 
to a scarcity of the necessary insects or from the action of some obscure 



__ THE JOURNAL OP PHARMACOLOGY. 

law, only about one on an average, of the 40 flowers ordinarily produced 
upon a branch of one or two feet in length, will become pollinated, but 
that, if artificially pollinated, nearly all of these may be made to yiefci 
fruits, although such a prolific yield as this would be very bad for the crop 
and for the plants. Sometimes a dozen or more fruits will mature upon 
a single raceme. They will then vary greatly in length— from 5 to U> 
inches — and from \ to £ inch in diameter. Taken as they run, they will 
weigh from 25 to 35 to the pound in the fresh condition. After curing, 
their diameter will be reduced by nearly | and their weight by about \. 

The bright, green fruit, commonly called a bean, is structurally tri- 
quetrous, but two of the sides are so far rounded as to make it appear nearly 
terete, with one flat side. The top is contracted and then again slightly 
expanded into a little disk. Its growth ceases many weeks before its ma- 
turity. When ripe, it turns first yellowish, then brownish, and if left upon 
the plant, will split into three parts, and a thick fragrant viscid juice will 
be exuded. It is just before they begin to turn brown that the fruity 
should be gathered. If left longer, they will usually split in the drying- 
process, thus seriously affecting the value of the crop. At this time tfes 
characteristic ordor is not yet developed. It will develop if the fruit is 
left upon the plant, though to a less degree than when artificially cured. 

The origin of the use of the vanilla bean, "Bainillo" as it is called 
throughout tropical America, and, for aught that we know for certainty, 
its cultivation, is lost in antiquity. It was found in use by the native Mexi- 
cans when the country was discovered. They used it for mixing with and 
flavoring their chocolate, and it was for this that it was introduced abroad. 
It was only after a long time that it began to be used for flavoring other 
substances, and only within quite recent times that its present broad field 
of utility has been developed. 

In citing the chief facts in regard to the cultivation of vanilla, reference 
is made, unless otherwise stated, to the industry as it exists in Mexico, 
where the conditions are the natural ones of the original home of the plant. 
The large number of commercial grades depends in part only upon differ- 
ences in the characteristics of the different beans, as determined by the 
sorting process. A more important difference is caused by the varieties of 
the vine which produces them. These are five in number; known 
respectively as "vanilla coriente," meaning regular or current vanilla; "V. 
sylvestris," meaning wild vanilla: "V. mestizo," meaning medium vanilla; 
-\ . puerca, meaning hog vanilla, and "vanillon,"* meaning lfig vanilla. It 
will he observed that these names bear no botanical significance, being only 
native names used to characterize the quality or condition of the plant, and 

* The term " vauillou," as it is used commercially in th ; s market, refers to a different article, a 
product of Bourbon. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. ,,. 

thus of its product. All except the last apparently proceed from varieties 
or states of the V. plaDifolia. The exception, vanillon, is the product of V. 
pompona, a distinct native species. This bean is much shorter, twice a$ 
thick, looks like a banana and has a pleasant, fruity flavor, on account of 
which it is eaten. It does not often get to the market. It thus appears 
that the vanilla fruit is edible by man, and is presumably to be regardt J 
as a food-fruit for animals, a consideration which has an important bearing 
upon any inquiries which we may institute as to the vegetable physiology 
of the fragrant principle, which can hardly be regarded as a provision to 
attract pollinating insects, but which may possibly be an influence in pro- 
curing dissemination. 

The cultivated plants are trained to native living trees. Much care is 
necessary in selecting the sort of tree for this purpose, in order to secure 
just the right degree of shade. Besides this, there are many ideas prevalent 
among the cultivators, most of them probably fallacious, regarding special 
influences which the supporting tree may have upon the growth of the 
plant. At Eeunion artificial shade is employed. 

As has already been stated, the crop is very greatly increased by ar- 
tificial pollination of the flowers. Most planters believe it best to pollinate 
but two or three flowers of each raceme, though some believe in pollinating 
five or six of them. At Eeunion, and in some other localities, there is a 
complete absence of the necessary insects, and all pollination must be ar- 
tificially performed. In such cases the mode of training the vines is modi- 
fied by considerations of convenience in reaching the flowers. The pollinat- 
ing process is very simple, and is rapidly performed. The pollen, which 
is granular in form, is situated directly above the stigma and scarcely a line 
distant from it. There is interposed between them, however, a little blade 
of tissue, which perfectly separates them. Artificial pollination consists in 
holding the flower with the left hand, running a splinter of wood or bamboo 
underneath this separating partition, elevating and turning it backward, 
and at the same time pressing the upper portion of the flower, bearing the 
pollen, downward upon the stigma with the finger of the left hand. 

The plant, blooms in March, April and May, and the fruit should be 
gathered in the following January or February. Unfortunately, the habit 
prevails in Mexico of stealing the fruit before it is harvested by the proper 
owner. This leads to a state of rivalry among the different sets of thieves 
and the owner of the plantation as to who shall be, figuratively and literally 
speaking, the first in the field. As a result, a large part of the crop is har- 
vested some two or three months before the proper season, and before it is 
in a condition to develop anything like its possible percentage of active 
eoi etituent. A well-matured fruit, if also well cured, should become of a 
ber.utiful silvery white color, due to a crust of line crystals which develoo 



,. THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

upon it. This will not occur in the case of a fruit prematurely gathered. 
(Fide Hires.) Very few raisers of vanilla, cure their crop, this being 
a separate industry, requiring great experience, judgment and care, being- 
restricted to the hands of a few persons and yielding a great profit. The 
eurers purchase their beans from the producers. In curing, the fruits are 
placed between woollen blankets in a sweating-box and left there 36 hours. 
The exuded moisture has then to be very carefully dried off in the mid- 
day sun, or, if the weather is bad, in ovens. This portion of the process is 
of the most critical character imaginable. It is said that overexposure of 
the fruits for even a small portion of an hour may result in a loss of weight 
extending to one pound per thousand beans. On the other hand, an under- 
exposure is likely to result in the moulding of the fruit, this frequently tak- 
ing place after it is packed, so that the packer is ignorant thereof, and un- 
able to take any measures to prevent it. After thus drying, the fruits are 
again sweated and again dried, this process being repeated as often as 
necessary until tiie fruits are quite black, and until the judgment, born of 
experience, teaches that they are in a suitable, condition for being packed. 
The complete process of curing requires some three or four months. This 
curing process varies greatly in different countries, and doubtless great im- 
provements in it still remain to be discovered. In Bourbon they go through 
;i preliminary sweating by exposure in tins to a steaming atmosphere for a 
day. They are then carefully dried in the air for three or four days, in- 
directly exposed to the sun; after which they are placed in air-tight boxes 
with trays of calcium chloride, for nearly a month, thus completing the 
curing process. 

Success has been attained by experiments consisting in immersing them 
for a time in alcohol, in the manner in which tonka beans are treated. In 
Guiana they are buried in ashes and left until they begin to shrivel, and 
then afterward painted with olive oil. 

In Peru they are dipped into boiling water, dried for 20 days, and then 
painted with castor oil. 

With the details of the sorting and packing process I have not time to 
deal. Twenty-one distinct lengths are recognized by the Mexican traders. 
The United States Consul at Vera Cruz says that a stem will yield about, 
three pounds of dried fruit — ^ of it first class, 1-3 second class, the re- 
mainder third clas<. 

Vanilla packers are liable to certain peculiar accidents. Owing to the 
peculiar strain brought o bear upon the muscles of the hand in holding the 
bundle which is being made up, muscnlar cramps are developed, and the 
bundlers feel obliged to rest for four or five days after having worked for 
that length of time. 

The beans are said by Mr. Hamilton, of the house of David E. Greene, 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 35 

to be poisonous"to about 2-3 of those who handle them, the effects extending 
only to those parts of the body which are exposed to contact with the 
fruit. Much discussion has taken place in relation to the nature and origin 
of this poisoning, which takes the form of a fine rash, something like that 
produced by our poison ivy. It is impossible to discuss this question here, 
but I may say that it has seemed to me, after all that I have read in re- 
lation to it. that this is most likely di\c to the numerous needle-like crystals 
of calcium oxalate which exist in the bean, than to anv other cause. 



THE MICROSCOPICAL CHARACTERS OF VANILLA. 



By Smith Ely Jelliffe, M.D. 



STRUCTURE OP THE ERUIT. 

In general it may be said that the different varieties of the vanilla fruit 
have an analogous structure. The form we have here is about 25 cm. long, 
about 10 mm. wide and (i mm. thick. The color is a rich dark brown, and 
it has an oily to resinous feel. It is longitudinally wrinkled and covered 
with a whitish crystalline deposit of vanillin. 

A transverse section shows that the fruit is elliptical, and the moderately 
thick walls enclose an irregular triangular- cavity, into which several rib-like 
processes extend. These are the placentae, and support the fine black seeds, 
which are very numerous. Each placenta is two-ranked. The interior of 
the cavity of the ovary is filled with minute papillae, to be mentioned later 
under microscopical considerations. 

The external surface of the fruit is the epicarp, which is composed of 
thick-walled regular cells, disposed in a single row. Beneath this the 
tissues are very thin- walled and lax, containing considerable amounts of an 
oily substance with the characteristic odor of vanillin, and also containing 
a, large number of fine acicular crystals of calcium oxalate. These axe in 
general larger than the crystals found on the exterior of the fruit. The 
polygonal cells of the mesocarp are finely pitted in the main, but a number 
of them, (specially near the periphery, are irregularly marked. 

In the mesophyll are the fibro-vascular bundles. These are irregularly 
scattered, the external ones being somewhat radially disposed, while those 
further in are not infrequently tangentially arranged. The bundles are 
loose and lax, and are built on the concentric type. In the centre of the 
bundle the fibres and sieve-tubes are found. These are surrounded by a 
number of ducts, which are usually spiral in type, and sometimes inter- 
spersed with annular ducts. Irregular resinous masses and prisms of va- 
nillin may be found in the tissues of the mesophyll. 

The innermost layer of the mesocarp is made of smooth, slightly flat- 



36 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



tened cells, which hear a single row of unicellular papillose hairs, which 
project into the central cavity. These hairs have the interesting function 
of secreting the oily and resinous substances which elaborate the vanillin. 
A few words upon the microscopical identification of false crystalline 
structures on the outside of the fruit. Unscrupulous dealers often use ben- 
zoic acid to make a false appearance of vanillin. It is to be distinguished 
from the real article by the fact that its crystals are flattened and rhom- 
boidal, whereas the crystals of vanillin are usually acicular and stand out, 
as a rule, at right angles to the surface of the fruit. 

THE MOULDS UPON THE FKUIT. 

A beautiful specimen of the fruits was given to me by Mr. Henning 
which showed a marked development of mould on the inside. Fragments 
of this mouldy fruit were planted upon gelatin and nutrient agar-agar with 
the following results: The principal mould found was " Aspergillus re- 
pens"; another form was the "Mucor circinelloides." The first of these 
moulds is extremely common over the civilized world. The second is a 
form that has been found by me in the air of this city, but it is extremely 
rare. In Europe it is reported much more frequently. The characters of 
these moulds can be seen by consulting the Journal of Pharmacology 
for November, 1897. A number of bacteria were also obtained, but these 
wiere in all probability from the air, and not deserving of special mention. 



THE CHEMISTRY OF VANILLIN. 



By Virgil Coblentz, Ph. P. 



The odorous properties of the vanilla bean reside in the crystalline prin- 
ciple vanillin and a minute quantity of a balsam-like substance which is 
found in the seed. As is well known, the odorous principles are not well 
developed until during the curing process. It is then evident that there 
pre-exists in this fruit a complex organic body, which undergoes hydrolysis, 
or oxidation, during the sweating process, the exact nature of which changes 
has never been studied. The relations of the different compounds con- 
cerned in the production of vanillin may be indicated as follows: 

CoH, COOH Benzen Carboxylir Acid 

( OH (1) 
C, H 4 ^ COOH (2) Oxybenzoic-Ortho or Oxy'-Carboxy 2 Benzen 

123-vicinal or adjacent 
Oi-oxybenzoie Acid 124-asymetrical 

135-symetrical 




THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

I OH (4) 
Protocatechuie Acid (a) 1 OH (3) 

( COOH (1) Carboxy 1-dioxy 3 4-Benzen 

t OH (4) 
Ce H 3 \ OCH 3 (3) Mono-methyl Protocatechuie Acid 

( COOH (1) Carboxy 1-methoxy 3-oxy 4-benzen 

Vanillic Acid 

t OH (4) 
C 6 H 3 ■< OCH3 (3) Methyl Protocatechuie Aldehyde' 

( COH (1) MethylaJ 1-methoxy 3-oxy 4-benzen 

Vanillin 



37 




COH 



Dimethyl Protocatechuie Aldehyde Methylene Ether of Photocatechuic Alde- 
hyde (Heliotropin Piperonal) 

PREPARATION. 

I. (a) Oxidation of aliphatic side chains in coniferin (glucovanillin, oli- 
vin-acethomovanillic acid, acetoferulic acid), yielding an aldehyde group, 
while the hydroxyl and methoxy groups are already in their proper position 

(b) From eugenol, iso-eugenol (eugenol-acetic acid, acetiso-eugenol, 
benzyl-iso-eugenol, methylene, iso-eugenol, iso-eugenol-phenyl-acetic acid 
and iso-eugenol-toluic acid) by oxidation. 

Peroxide of hydrogen and sodium peroxide have been employed as oxi- 
dizing chains in late patents. In another patent electric oxidation has been 
referred to. Usually derivatives of and not eugenol itself are employed. 
This is done to protect the phenol group in these compounds from oxida- 
tion. Such compounds in which the hydrogen of the free hydroxyl group 
is replaced by a substituting group which is readily removed by oxidation, 
if preferred. For example, acetyl-eugenol. 

I 0-CH 3 CO (4) ( 0-CH 3 CO (4) ( CH (4) 

C, H, ■< 0-CH 3 (3) C„ H 3 ) 0-CH 3 (Saponified)-C e H 3 - OCH 3 (3) 
( CH 3 CH CH 2 (1) ( COH ( COH (1) 

Acetyl-eugenol Acetyl Vanillin Vanillin 

In place of the acetyl derivatives others have been employed, as, for ex- 
ample, by the action of methylene chloride on eugenol-sodium, methyleiie- 
bi-eugenol results, which on oxidation yields methylene-bi-vanillin. This, 
when converted into a hexa-chloride derivative and treated with hydro- 



38 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



bromic acid, yields vanillin. Another method consists in introducing a 
benzyl rest into the hydroxyl group of eugenol, then by heating with po- 
tassium hydrate the iso compound results, which on oxidation yields ben- 
zyl-vanillin. This ester, when heated with hydrochloric, yields vanillin 
under saponification. Another method closely related to the above is a 
modification, in which the benzyl rest is replaced by phenyl-chloro-acetic 
acid or chloro-toluic acid, these differing from benzyl-chloride in that they 
contain an additional C0 2 group. 

II. Thus far the various processes depend upon the oxidation of the ali- 
phatic side chain group in the mother substitute to yield an aldehyde 
group, while the OH and OCH 3 groups were already in their position in 
the original substance. In this group toluene is selected as the mother sub- 
stance, or cinnamic-acid or Ixnzaldehyde is employed. Starting with toluol, 
it is successively converted into m-chloro-toluol, nitro-chloro-toluol, nitro- 
ehloro-toltyl-bromide, and finally into nitro-chloro-benzaldehyde. This 
latter compound is by action of a methylic-alcoholic solution of caustic al- 
kali converted into p-nitro-m-methoxy-benzaldehyde, through reduction 
of the nitre group, diazotating and boiling, the resulting amido compound 
yields vanillin. 

In the above processes the aldehyde group is introduced by oxidation 
or other moans into benzene nucleus. 

Since bcnzaldehyde is readily produced this lias been selected as ma- 
terial production, introducing the necessary hydroxyl and methoxyl groups. 

III. From protocatechuic aldehyde. This class of syntheses start from 
protocatechuic aldehyde, of which vanillin is a direct derivative through 
the introduction of a methyl group. 

IV. From guaiacol. 

(a) By introduction of an aldehyde group by action of chloroform and 
caustic potassa, guaiacol, a monomethyl ether of protocatechuic aldeyde 
yields vanillin direct, but the process is open to the objection that a side 
product is formed, in which the aldehyde group enters the ortho instead 
of the para position. 

(b) By convertion into the guaiacol-carboxylic acid, by the introduction 
of the aldehyde group and separation of C0 2 , guaiacol-carboxylic acid is 
treated with chloroform and alcoholic potassa, yielding vanillic acid, from 
which the vanillin may be obtained upon removing the C0 2 group by 
heating. 

(c) A modification of this consists in converting guaiacol-sodium by ac- 
tion of carbonic acid at 180° 0. into guaiacol-di-carboxilic acid, which, upon 
treatment with chloroform and alcoholic potassa, yields vanillic acid, in 
which the para earboxyl group is replaced by a methylal radical. The con- 
vertion of vanillic acid into vanillin then proceeds as given above. 



Cbe Journal of Pharmacology. 

A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Advances Made in the Various Departments of 

Materia Medica. 

Vol. V. FEBRUBRY, 1898. No. 2. 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INCLUDING POSTAGE: 
Per Annum = $1.00. — Single Copies 15 Cents 

Subscriptions, address Nelson S. Kirk, 640 Madison Ave., New York City. 

Business Communications, address D. E. Austin, 115 W. 68th St., New York City. 

Original Contributions, Exchanges, Books for Review and Editorial Communications: 
Address SniTH ELY JELLIFFE, H D., 231 West 71st Street, New York City. 

Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFFE, A.B., M.D. 

WITH THE COLLABORATION OF 

Chas. Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M.D. V. Coblentz, Ph.D. Geo. A. Ferguson, Ph.B. 
Geo. C. Diekman, M.D. H. B. Ferguson, Phar. D. 



EDITORIAL. 

A GENERAL INDEX TO THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND 

TRANSACTIONS. 



For nearly two generations this publication constituted our highest 
and most important source of scientific information relating to pharmacy 
that was published in English. If it no longer occupies this position, it is 
not due to any process of deterioration in itself, but rather to the fact that 
such remarkable progress in pharmaceutical journalism has been made else- 
where, especially upon this side of the Atlantic. It may, therefore, be said 
that for this very improvement we are largely indebted to the influence of 
the Journal. The fact remains that its files constitute our most important 
record of pharmaceutical progress published in the English language. It 
is a record which is simply indispensable to every scholarly pharmacist, 
whether engaged in the active practice of his profession or in pharmaceuti- 
cal teaching or journalism. None of these can fail to be rejoiced by the 
prospect of the preparation of a general index to these files. Should this 
index be executed upon a liberal scale, including references to the infinity 
of review notices which the pages of the Journal have contained, it will 
constitute one of the monumental publications of science. 

The publication of the index is not yet assured, inasmuch as it will 
depend upon the secural of a sufficient number of subscriptions to justify 
the undertaking. Neither is the price definitely fixed, as this will depend 
upon the. same conditions. The maximum price which may be charged is 



4Q THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

a pound; the minim am, five shillings. Subscriptions may be sent to the- 
Editor, at 17 Bloomsbury Square, London, or to the Editor of the Joubnai* 
of Phabm\cology, who will be glad to receive and forward them. 

H. H. R. 



THERE ARE OTHERS. 



Exteact from American Druggist, Jan. 10, 1898: 
"he will have disageement." 

The services of an editor are required at the New York College of Phar- 
macy. The following notice is posted in a conspicuous place on the bulletin 
board of the college. It reads: 

"The gentleman who tooke a chemistry book downstairs on a bureau 
Wednesday is known. He will be excuse if the book is replaced untill Mon- 
day. 

"If not lie will have disagrement." 

Exteact from American Druggist, Jan. 25, 1898: 

WOBK OF THE NEW BOAED. 

The new Board of Pharmacy in the city of New York began its work 
formally on Monday, October 17th, by holding an examination at the Brook- 
lyn College of Pharmacy, at which two candidates appeared. Secretary 
Eaber will be in his office at the New York College of Pharmacy from 9 
to 12 and from 1 to 5 every week day except Saturday, when he will not 
be there in the afternoon, for registering applicants. On the first day his 
office was opened 12 applicants were registered. All pharmacists and as- 
sistants must appear for re-registration before May 1. 

The work of the Board has been divided up as follows: Mr. Muir will, 
examine in materia medica, Mr. Bigelow in pharmacy, Dr. Diekman in 
chemistry, and Dr. Brundage in toxocology and doses. The meetings will 
be held for examination on the third Monday of each month, being held 
at the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy in the even months and at the New 
York College of Pharmacy in the odd months. No meetings will be held, 
however, during the months of July and August. The examination fee is 
$5, which is not returnable in case of failure to pass. A percentage of 75 
will be required to pass. 

How does it happen that the Board began its work on October 17, when 
it was not elected until January 3, 1898? 

No doubt the elections were the result of a "slate," and the new Board 
wanted to show its energy by getting to work ahead of time. 

Of what interest is it for pharmacists to know Avhen Secretary Faber 
will be at his office not to register applicants? "Why not tell them when he 
will be there to register them? 

The subjects assigned to Dr. Brundage, in which he will conduct the 
examinations, have no doubt been poisoned, and toxicology has been killed. 

Would it not have been better to have said: "The meetings for examina- 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



4* 



Which are we to consider the even months; which the odd months? Arc 
they classified according to sequence, or axe we to understand that those, 
having 28 or 30 days are to he the even months and those having 31 day* 
are to he the odd months? If we take the latter construction, we might get 
twisted some year in February; that could be overcome, however, by elect- 
ing another Board of Pharmacy before we again have 29 days in February. 
Why not say the "examination fee is $5 and is not returned, etc." 
Bring on the Fditors. G. 



The summer course in botany given each spring by the College of Phar- 
macy and the Torrey Botanical Club will organize some time m March. 
Three courses will be given: One on general botany, with field excursions. 
2. A course in vegetable histology. 3. A course in cryptogamic botany. 
The first to be held on Friday afternoons and the excursions Saturdays; the 
others to be held in the evenings. 

Circulars will be issued later, giving more exact information. Tickets 
may be obtained at the college building from the Assistant Secretary, Mr. 
0. J. Griffin. 



ABSTRACTS. 



On Jaborandi Leaves. H. Geigek. ( Berichte der Deutsche?) 
Pharmaceutisclteu Gesettschaft, Vol. 7, 1897, pp. 356.) 

One of the most important of recent pharmacognostical contributions 
to the subject of jaborandi leaves is that of the author. A careful and de- 
tailed description of Pilocarpus jaborandi, P. pennatifolius, P. trachylo- 
phus, P. microphyllus, P. spicatus and Schwartzia decipiens, their anatomi- 
cal and histological characteristics, with careful drawings and measurements, 
is given. 

Digitalis. — In the Therapeutic Gazette for August, 1897, page 505, 
Prof. Hare discusses the choice of the various preparations of digitalis. He 
refers to the general view that the several preparations of this drug respec- 
tively produce peculiar effects, due to the relative proportions of the sev- 
eral active principles of the drug as contained therein. The active con- 
stituents being digitalin, digitoxin, digitalein and digitonin, the three for- 
mer acting in variable degrees upon the heart muscles, the last depressing 
the vagus nerves and inhibitory ganglia in the heart, and, these constituents 
being soluble in different ways, there would naturally be a wide variation in 
the medicinal actions of the different preparations. After considering the 
specific actions of the different constituents and their solubilities, he edi- 
tions will be held on the third Monday, etc." 



4 2 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

chides that the tincture and fluid extract are greatly to be preferred in the 
presence of a failing heart and circulation, the infusion acting better as a 
diuretic in those cases where a direct renal stimulant is desired. It is, how- 
ever, much more apt to disturb the stomach, owing to the irritating digi- 
tonin which it contains. He advises against the use, ordinarily, of digitaliu 
owing to its irregular nature, as occurring in commerce. R. 

Comparative Structure of the Leaves of Datura Stramonium, 
Atropa Belladonna and Hyoscyamus Niger.— J. 0. Schlotterbece and 
A. Van Zwaltjwenbukg. (Pharmaceutical Archives, Vol., I., 1898, pp. 
1-6.) 

The authors give a careful study of the anatomical details of these three 
leaves, with the object in view of determining them in the powdered con- 
dition. The following resume of characters is given: 

i). stramonium: 

Leaf: — Smooth, sinuate, unequal at the base, with round perforations and 
prominent mid-rib underneath. 

Powder: — Elongated palisade cells; stellate crystals predominating, oc- 
casionally cubes; thick-walled, warty hair. 

A. BELLADONNA. 

Leaf: — Broadly ovate narrowed into a petrole; entire margin, smooth. 
Powder: — Crystal cells, large, round and full of crystal sand, or acicular 
crystals. 

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 

Leaf: — Hirsute, deeply sinuous, clasping at the base. 

Powder: — Crystals prismatic, or in twin forms; seldom, if ever, stellate. 

Poisoning by Sorghum. — In The Agricultural Ledger, for 1896, 
Number 24, Veterinary Captain Pease discusses the well-established fact 
that Andropogon Sorghum, which is ordinarily a perfectly harmless fodder 
plant, may hecome highly poisonous when the plant grows in a stunted or 
dried-up form, owing to the failure of the regular rains. Eeference is made 
to the great number of fatal poisoning accidents which occur to Indian 
cattle due to this cause, and to the public impression that they result from 
the occurrence in the plant at such a time of a boring insect, similar to that 
which infests the sugar cane under similar conditions. Eeference is also 
made to the fact that the poisonous properties develop simultaneously over a 
large tract of country, appearing and disappearing within certain fixed 
limits of time. But the opinion of Veterinary-Surgeon Anderson is quoted 
to the effect that the poisoning is merely the result of ordinary tympanitis, 
due to the indigestibility of the fodder. Captain Pease sets all of these 
theories aside, and records his discovery of large quantities of nitrate of. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOG1. 



4-3 



potash within the stalks of the poisonous form of the fodder, especially 
about the nodes, and appears to have clearly established the fact that the 
poisonous effects are due to this agent. 

o 

BOOK REVIEWS 

The Pharmaceutical Archives.— We are in receipt of the fiist 
number of the Pharmaceutical AirJiices., and it is certain- 
ly a veiy attractive contribution to the pharmaceutical sciences. 
The number contains an excellent illustrated article by J. 0. Schlotterbeck 
and A. Van Zwaluwenburg on the comparative structure of the leaves < i 
Datura Stramonium, Atropa Belladonna and Hyoscyamus Niger, and an- 
other, by Eollin H. Denniston, on the anatomy of the stems of Fraxinus: a 
Chemical Biography of Morphine, from. 1875 to 1896, by H. E. Brown, and 
list of the common names, with other facts of interest, of some of the native 
drugs of Brazil, by Dr. Theodor Peckolt. 

We hope to see the "Archives*' wax and grow heavy, and trust for it a 
generous recognition. J. 

A Text Book on General Botany. By Carlton C. Curtis, A. M., 
Ph. D., Tutor in Botany, Columbia University. 

A large number of text books of botany have appeared within the past 
few years. The present one is, we believe, a very excellent addition to the 
number. In certain particulars it is a work of especial value, as it takes up 
plant anatomy, plant physiology, systematic morphology and some paleo 
botany, all in one volume. This general character necessarily involves a 
certain brevity of treatment, but for the beginner the present amount ol 
information is, we believe, ample and well digested. 

The work is to be specially commended to the outside worker as well 
as the student in the laboratory, as the series of practical directions follow- 
ing each subject handled places in the hands of the non-instructed the 
means of self -instruction. In these series of practical directions a closer ad- 
herence to the common names of plants would render the work of more 
value, especially to the outside worker; for the worker in a laboratory natu- 
rally it makes but little difference. 

The book is beautifully gotten up, and is especially well illustrated in 
the systematic portions; there is a dearth of illustrations in the anatomical 
portions, however, in which subject good illustrations are of so much peda- 
gogic value. 

The work in general is to be recommended, and we hope for it a gen- 
erous recognition of its estimable features. J. 

Manual of Legal Medicine. — For the Use of Practitioners and 
Students of Medicine and Law. By Justin Heroic", A. M., M. D. J. B. 
Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1898. 



TEIE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 
44 

That the great value of medico-legal studies is being appreciated at the 
present time more than heretofore is made manifest by the recent appear- 
ance of a number of works bearing upon the borderland where medical 
science and legal practice overlap. 

The present volume will be highly appreciated by the doctor, the lawyer 
and the pharmacist, for the last is rapidly becoming our scientific chemical 

expert. 

The work is conveniently divided into two main parts, Part I. discussing 
the general subject of toxicology, and Part II. gives an exhaustive treatment 
of forensic medicine in its many aspects. 

It would manifestly be impossible to try to give any abstract of this 
excellent work of some seven hundred pages, but some few points of special 
interest and value suggest themselvs in the reading: 

The chapters upon toxicology are especially full, and what renders the 
work of value especially to the physician is the full consideration of treat- 
ment of poisons. In a work of this kind it would be manifestly impossible 
to consider every class of toxic agent, and some of the poisons are only 
touched upon. The recent importance given to the study of mycology causes 
i me to wish that a little more might be said about mushroom poisoning. 

The author has shown very conclusively and truly, we think, in his chap- 
ter upon the ptomaines and other putrefactive bodies, what great care must 
be taken in medico-legal investigations upon poisons of this class. 

In Part II. Dr. Herold takes up that portion of the science '-'which treats 
of the application of medical knowledge to the purposes of the law." The 
signs of death are fully treated in chapter 1 9, and a careful account of what 
a medico-legal autopsy should be is treated in the next chapter. Chapters 
on identity and identification follow. Two most interesting chapters are 
those on the technical microscopical methods of identification of animal 
hairs and of animal bloods. This latter is exhaustively treated, and some 
excellent tables of blood measurements are given. 

Wounds, Burns and Scalds, Forms of Violent Death, Strangulation by 
Hanging or by Drowning, Medico-legal aspects of Electricity, Death by 
Heat and Cold, Pregnancy, Criminal Abortion, Infanticide, Rape, Impo- 
tence and Sterility, an- all heads of chapters filled with useful and accurate 
information. 

The author wisely considers the medical examination of the living in its 
medico-legal aspects. A chapter of special interest to pharmacists is that 
upon Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, contributed by Judge Geo. F. Koesch. 
In conclusion the author collects in an appendix a large number of spec- 
ially interesting and illustrative cases. 

The work is one of interest and of great merit, and is to lie heartily re- 
commended; moreover, the publishers have given it an attractive and dur- 
able form. J. 



Alumni, College and Class Notes* 

CONTRIBUTORS. 

.Alumni Association, . . . WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph.G., 115 West 68th St., N. V. 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Classes prior to 1893. GEO. F. BURGER. Pb.G. ii5\Vest6Sth St., N.Y- 
Bibliography, .... ADOLPH HENNING, Ph.G. 68 William St., N. Y. 

Class '93, .... EUGENE F. LOHR, Ph.G. 375 Third Ave., N. Y. 

Class '94, .... NELSONS. KIRK. Ph. ^.,640 Madison Ave., N. Y. 

•Class "95, ...... G. F. MANVILLE, 45W. 71st St., N. Y. 

Class '96, ..... J. HOSTMAN, 204 Bowers St., Jersey City. N. J. 

Class 97, - • • . • • • • • Q. E. D. 

Class '98, ..... T, E. OIEBOLDT, 115 West 6?th St., N. Y. 

Legal Notes, .... . H. A. HEROLD, 34 Pine St., N. Y. 

Post Graduate Class of '96, .... HARRY B. FERGUSON, Phar. D. 

COLLEGE NOTES. 

At the regular meeting of the College, held 011 Tuesday evening, January 
18th, one hundred and fifty-six persons were in attendance. The subject of 
Vanilla was extensively discussed in the series of papers presented below. 
The discussion was richly illustrated throughout. Prof. Itusby presented 
herbarium specimens of the vanilla plant, colored lantern-slides representing 
the floral structure, the processes of artificial pollination and of curing the 
vanilla bean, together with fresh fruits in preservative columns. Prof. Jelliffe 
exhibited a series of microscopical preparations and cultures of the moulds 
found upon damaged fruit. Prof. Coblentz exhibited samples of artificial 
vanillin, including one of the large amber-colored crystals which have recently 
appeared. Mr. Henning exhibited some fifteen commercial samples of vanilla 
beans, representing every variety known to the New York market. Mr. Kalisli 
submitted samples of vanilla extracts, genuine and fictitious, prepared according 
to the different formulae to which reference was made in his paper. 

ALUMNI NOTES-SOCIAL EVENTS. 

It is a sufficiently difficult matter to write up an account of one of our 
receptions, but this month it becomes my duty to write about three, which were 
held respectively on these dates, Wednesday evening, December 22d. Wednesday 
evening, December 29th, 1897, and Wednesday evening, January 20th, 1898. 
Of course, they were all well attended, highly successful, and extremely enjoy- 
able; the latter one being by long odds the better one of the three, and worthy 
of special mention. At no previous reception did we have such a large and 
merry crowd, nor so many and interesting features. First there was the choos- 
ing of ribbons among the ladies and gentlemen from hats passed around by 
the stately "Billy" Hoburg and the genial "Harry" Ferguson, and then the 
pairing off of the couples, each gentleman having for his partner the lady whose 
ribbon matched his own; then followed the march and lanciers, then the quar- 
tette sweetly warbled, and more dancing until the smallest of the wee small 
hours. 

Fnfortuuately it was impossible for the writer to obtain a complete list of 
those present, and therefore it is necessarily omitted this month. 

SCHEDULE FOR FEBRUARY— THE THIRD ANNUAL BALL. 
Wednesday. February 9th, at 10.30 P.M. 

It is probably unnecessary for me to remind the members of the Alumni 



^ THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

and their friends about the Ball. The best 1 can do is to tell you all to be sure 
to come, aud the fact that you will have a good time is assured as our record 
for affairs of this kind in the past is a positive guarantee of the same in the 
future; and. finally, permit me to sound my old war cry, " Come one, come all, 

and bring the ladies!" 

Wednesday. February 10th, at 8 P.M., lecture by Mr. Chas. E. Parker, on 
Surgical Dressings; at the conclusion of the lecture the Association will hold 
its regular monthly reception, another chance for an interesting and enjoyable 
evening. — "Don't miss it!" R. G. 

'93 NOTES. 

One of the most pleasant surprises of the holiday season was the unexpected 
entrance of Dr. Horni from Troy, N. Y. ' He is gaining flesh, knowledge and 
beauty up there, and in the spring starts for Oakland, Cal., where he has 
secured a hospital appointment. The '93 boys are certainly "wiz's". 

Ambos is studying medicine at the University. 

Sasse is busily engaged in biking, and while not having made any records 
as yet, he is rapidly creeping up on the leaders. 

Kolbman has left Haas and is now at the P. & S. We don't have to wish 
him success, as that is a foregone conclusion. E. F. L. 

'94 NOTES. 

W t ith comparatively no announcement, the Reception held on the 19th was 
the largest one held under the auspices of the present committee, which goes 
to prove that the Ball this year is going to be a record breaker. Let '94 do 
justice to the reputation it has made by being loyal on February 9th. 

At the above-mentioned reception we had with us Drs. Geisler, Pond, 
Davies, Kirk, and Capt. Erb, the latter has developed into quite an adept of 
the art, his specialty being the Sarsouvianne. Watch him at the ball. 

( Mir picture is still the only finished one in the Alumni Room. " Funny about 
'93;" ask Stroburg. 

Stoerzer is looking for an appointment as a milk inspector under the new 
municipal regime. 

'97 NOTES. 

Shears is on night duty at the Long Acre Pharmacy, at the corner of Forty- 
third street and Seventh avenue, Manhattan. 

S< ulotterbeck is with the Jungman rharmacy, Third avenue. 

Slattery, he from " Konnect i cut ", is working. Somewhere in Brooklyn. 

Little " Willie " Van Gilder patiently sits in the " Feanut " Gallery at col- 
lege, awaiting results. 

Milne: Say. Kaiser, what is Tertiary Alcohol? Kaiser: Three beers. 

Extract from Milne's Handbook of Pharmacy: Make double quantity, so 
that you are certain to get one full quantity. 

Young wishes to know whether there are any towels, pencils, paper, etc., 
which are "not working". One of his old experiences to effect a loan and 
never to return these articles during college hours. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 47 

To the class of 1898: 

The class of '97 wishes to extend its best wishes and future success in this 
.year to each and every member. 

The Ball of '97 Alumni was voted a success, and to make the coming Alumni 
Ball a " howling success," February 9th, 1898, each of us should attend, to 
make it a sort of reunion of the class. 

Devine is now with the Messrs. Milhau Sons, in Broadway, Manhattan. He 
extends to you all the heartiest best wishes that thoughts can formulate for this 
year, as well as those to follow. 

Weingarten is with the Messrs. Max Stein Drug and Cosmetic Co., corner 
Sixth avenue and Twenty-sixth street, Manhattan. One of the Brooklyn crowd, 
you remember. 

Ingham is said to be in business somewhere in Rhode Island. The place 
is said to be like the boy himself— fm de Steele. 

Tommy Evans, the short of the " long and the short of it" of the Pharma- 
ceutical Willies, is with Mr. R. S. Davies, of Scranton, Pa. 

Koch recently honored me with a visit, and I scarcely knew him. He ha« 
grown to be quite corpulent, and has quite an aldermanic. 

Nickerson has resigned his position with the Messrs. Riker Drug Co., Sixth 
avenue and Twenty-third street, Manhattan, and is now taking a vacation. 

Leonard, from the " Stately Isle," is a Benedict. He was recently married, 
and is now located with Mr. Oscar Kress, at the corner of Fifty-second street 
and Broadway, Manhattan. E. A. M. 

'98 NOTES. 

It was a beautiful day— that day we went to Squibb' s. The weather, the 
authorities, everything seemed to combine to make our trip across the river an 
enjoyable one. The Borough of Brooklyn had a representative at the Bridge 
entrance to receive us with open arms, and after our scientific investigations 
were completed, as a grand finale, they burned a block of buildings for our 
amusement. Oh, it was a hot time! Our captain was Prof. Dickman, assisted 
by his lieutenants, Drs. Hoburg and Gies. On arriving at Squibb's our captain 
did some wire-pulling, and then, with the caution (which to us was superfluous) 
that smoking or any hilarity were strictly prohibited, we were invited in. Weil, 
we saw it all— all there was to be seen— and came out bubbling over with know- 
ledge and admiration for the charming lassies employed by Mr. Squibb. Then 
we went to the acetic acid factory, where we became so impregnated with acetic 
acid fumes that none of us will ever fail to recognize that particular acid (or 
its antidote). Finally, after seeing all there was to be seen in the Borough over 
the river, we decided that " there is no place like home," and so homeward we 
wended our weary ways, feeling confident that Prof. Coblentz would have to 
arise with the larks in order to "stick" us on chloroform or acetic acid. 

Have you seen the boys throwing dice for seat numbers? 

The Alumni dance of January 19th was by far the most successful of any 
this winter. Our class was well represented, not only by the boys, but also by 
some of our lady members. 

Some of the boys who are interested in the manly art of self-defense met at 
our friend Bottstein's house one evening last week. The evening's entertainment 
was started by an eight-round draw between Siegel and Elliot. This was fol- 



48 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



lowed by a three-round mill between Tueffer and Maguire. The referee gave* 
the decision to onr friend from the "city of brotherly love." The next "scrap' r 
was between Sullivan and Patton, with honors slightly in favor of the boy 
from Dixie. 

As a finale the host and Mr. Mylen gave an exhibition in which our repre- 
sentative was slightly worsted. The evening's entertainment was voted by all 
so decided a success that we may look for a repetition in the near future. 

A regular class meeting was held Wednesday, January 12th. The principal 
business was the election of class valedictorian, and, as there were six candi- 
dates in the field, there was considerable excitement. It was decided that the 
only way in which the relative abilities of the various candidates could be 
judged was by sampling the pudding, and so each was requested to make an 
impromptu speech of not less than five minutes' duration. The genial Patton 
led off with an appeal for shorter hours, which brought down the house. Noth- 
ing daunted by Patton's selfishness in selecting the only available platform on 
which to stand, Richards took the stand, and with a smile in the ladies' direc- 
tion (which netted nine solid votes) told what an honor he should deem it to be 
elected. Next came McCoy, who emphatically denied that he was a Philadel- 
phian. He was a New Yorker first, last and always, and only went to Phila- 
delphia to get cured of insomnia. Knipe, our Brooklyn friend, now took the 
stand and said that he too was proud to say that he was a New Yorker, and 
that if elected to the office he would endeavor to indite a speech that would be 
a credit to Chauncy M. Depew. Siegel denied the rumor that he had bought out 
Cooper & Co., but said that if elected he should do his utmost to do justice to 
the position. Staton refused to speak because having written his speech on his 
cuffs he had, in a moment of thoughtlessness, sent them to the wash. So evenly 
did the candidates seem to be in executive ability that it was a difficult matter 
to decide between them. On the first ballot no candidate received the ma- 
jority necessary to elect, and so the elction was postponed for a week. 

Have you noticed Holcomb wandering around this cold weather without 
an overcoat? He isn't in financial straits; he's simply training for his trip to 
Klondyke. 

Are you going to the class dinner? Don't miss it, or you will have missed 
the best time of the whole year. If you haven't the money for a ticket, begin to 
save now. If you can't save, borrow. If your credit isn't good, apply to the 
dinner committee. They have made arrangements with a pawn-broker where 
you can "soak" anything from a gold watch to a cast-off pair of shoes. After 
arranging preliminaries, buy a ticket and starve yourself for a week and then 
come to the dinner. If you don't enjoy yourself, the committe will refund your 
money. 

Wednesday, January 1 9th, a second attempt was made to elect a valedic- 
torian. The nominations were reopened, and some new recruits put on the 
list. The result was once more indecisive, no candidate receiving a majority 
vote, and the election was postponed another week. 

A number of our Jerseyites went to Trenton, last Thursday (January 20th). 
We wonder why they went. 

If the fellows who are constantly saying "come seven" succeed in getting; 
one on "exams," we shall be surprised. 



THE JOURNAL OP PHARMACOLOGY. 49 

Did you hear those red ties? 

Our methyl quartette is becoming more famous every day. No college 
function is a success without them. C. P. E. 

'99 NOTES. 
Section II. can boast of some musical talent. Ward has composed some 
tuneful melodies for the piano, and is himself a good pianist; Brown handles 
the ivories with skill, and Jackson is instructor and director of a mandolin and 
guitar club in the Borough of Brooklyn. There may be more, but it has not, so 
far, come to the surface. 



Brother students of Frank Schreiber, Section III., extend their 
heartiest sympathy in Lis recent bereavement in the loss of his sister 
Marie. 



Yal. Berndt is now located in Mr. Tappenden's store, Sixty-fourth street 
and Columbus avenue. 

Berndt and Schreiber are now after all indoor, outdoor and century records 
on vi Warwick tandem. The gear of their wheel is 94 (where?). 

Vice-President Geo. Jackson was serving on the jury week ending January 
15th, in Brooklyn, Borough of the Bronx. (How many did you send up, Jacky?) 

Section II. has quite a number of devotees of the wheel. Messrs. Keefer, 
Hunger, Oates, Berndt, Taddiken, O. N. Frankfurter, Ward, Schreiber, Moore, 
are among the more enthusiastic wheelman, O. N. Frankfurter being the color 
bearer of the New York College of Pharmacy Bicycle Club (N. Y. C. P. C. C). 

Our section also holds the record in that no cover glasses were broken on 
the tirst day of using the compound microscope and mounted specimens. 

Fred S. Frankfurter accepted a position with Messrs. Casswell, Massey 
& Co., corner Seventy-seventh street and Columbus avenue. He is succeeding 
Mr. Hoffstadter. also a student of our class (Sec. III.), who is now devoting 
himself entirely to his studies at the college. Clara F. Ehlin. 

This quizzical class composed of juniors meets every day at noon for quiz, 
and consists of Walter F. Keating, Grandin V. Johnston, D. Wettling, F. Mc- 
Guigan, S. E. Moore, J. Kessler, J. Hart Michael and Jackson, and Sullivan. 
Keating generally amuses the gentlemen for five minutes with a very good 
jig, or a good imitation of a clog dance. Mr. Whettling is very good at telling 
stories. The last one, about "Chauncy and his friend," scored quite a hit. We 
stopped at Petty's, in Newark, the other night, and were informed that 
Chauncy had been spending all his loose change for soda of late. We know 
that he does not drink soda. Perhaps his fair companions do. 

So much for the quizzical students. 

The Section III. men have been so busy attending the frequent (?) '99 class 
meetings and sociables that they have not had time to do much else, so there 
is little news for this number. 

Perhaps the same reason accounts for the brilliant recitations in "quiz," of 
which the following are examples: 

One gentleman, with his thoughts deep in mathematics, informed the section 
that the most abundant kind of electricity was "fractional." 



5° 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Another enlightened the class by the anncmneeinent that " Faradays' " 
dinner bag, when turned inside out, spilled the electric fluid to the earth on 
account of its great gravity. 

P.S. — He said this with great gravity. 

Another bright fellow informed us that when the pollen reached the 
oosphere it caused a " fortification." 

A literary (?) man tells us Goethe discovered electricity and invented the 
electrical machine. 

Still another, the " Best off " man in the section, tells us that an increased 
pressure of the blood causes an expansion of the arteries and instantly causes 
the poor victim to expire. 

We fear that Cimioti has joined the ranks of the leisure class outside the 
■college. C. F. E. 

N. Y. C. P. C. C. 

Sorry I can't tell you something about the " Stag." The next issue of the 
Journal will have an elaborate account of it. 

The suggestion was made in December that the club participate in the pa- 
rade on New Year's eve, but, after being given due consideration, was not 
followed. 

THE TEN CYCLE COMMANDMENTS. 
I. 
Thou shalt have no other toys before me. 

II. 
Thou shalt not ride through the streets with me dressed in any soiled and 
ragged togs that may be fished out of a closet, but shall keep thyself neatly 
clothed and clean, and look genteel and civilized rather than like a tramp. 

III. 
Thou shalt not take up all of the road, but, in riding, keep to the right and 
make all others do likewise. 

IV. 
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou ride and 
do all thy roistering, but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, go not forth 
on loud talking, gum-chewing or otherwise boisterously objectionable expedi- 
tions. Ride, if thou ridest at all on the Sabbath day, quietly, decently and with 
decorous bearing. y 

Honor the city ordinances and the policemen, ami hide not thy light under 



a bushel. 



VI. 



Thou shalt not scorch. 

VII. 
Thou shalt not " hump" over the handle bars and look like a monkey. 

VIII. 
Thou shalt not steal (addressed particularly to " bicycle editors "). 

IX. 
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbors performances or 
his records. X. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's bicycle, nor his wife's bicycle, nor his 
costume, nor her bloomers, nor his cyclometer, nor his saddle, nor anything that 
is thy neighbors.— Chicago Times Herald. Scorcher. 



VOL. V. 



MARCH, 1898. NO. 3. 



tu 



Journal of Pharmacology 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARHACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 






The Commerce of Vanilla, .... 


5 1 




Adou>h Henning, Ph.G. 






Vanilla Extracts. Vanillin at the Soda Fountain . 


54 




Oscar Kaush, Ph.G. 






A Key to Principal Plant Substances 


58 




«* Rodney H. True. 








61 




Abstracts and Reviews, . . ... 


63 




College, Alumni and Class Notes, 


7i 






Entered as second-class >atter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, January 20th, 1897. 



Jflaltine 

MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor ai 

"essence of malt." 
MALTINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive an* 

digestive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 
It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic field fo: 

more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ables 

pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching it ii 

medicinal value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

"Halt" is not "MALTINE." 

» Extract of Halt" is not "HALTINE." 

» Essence of Malt" is not "MALTINE." 

"MALTINE" must be designated to get "HALTINE." 

WEINHAGEN'S 
Retested Clinical Thermometer; 



ri(l(»3 ,4.»r.h » 110 



WEINH AGEN J S S^DESS^SSTg 



SYRING 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe is'easil 
cleaned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish them withoutcases 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

ALL JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. WEINHAGEN 

NEW YORK, U. S. A. 



Established 1855 
22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. 



Cbe 



journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of Ntw York. 



Vol. V. 



NEW YORK, MARCH, 1898. 



No. 3. 



THE COMMERCE OF VANILLA. 



By Adolpii Henning, 1'h.g. 



LIBRARY 
NEW 
BOTa 

CiAkUEN. 



The United States is the largest consumer of vanilla. We use more 
than all the rest of the world combined and chiefly the best kinds produced. 

The vanilla most used, and best known in this market, is the pod of 
vanilla planifolio, grown in Mexico, chiefly near Papantla. 

It is the best flavored vanilla of all that come to this market. The pods 
are from five to eight and a half inches, sometimes nine inches, in length, 
round and tapering at both ends, with a hook at one end; in color they 
vary from a reddish brown to almost black, and when of prime quality, are 
of a dark chocolate color, with a thin, smooth, oily epidermis and quite 
pliable. As found in market in recent years, they rarely have a covering 
of crystals. 

The Bourbon or Beiinion vanilla is next in point of quality and flavor. 
It resembles the Mexican very much in general appearance, excepting that 
it is generally covered with crystals of vanillin. 

The odor of this variety is not so fine' as that of the Mexican, being 
"pruney," though an extract made from the best Bourbon fruit compares 
very well with one made from the best Mexican. 

In color and quality the Bourbons range from the very worst to the 
very finest, and in size from very small to very large, -1 to 8^ inches in 
length. The vanillin crystals also vary much, there being long, snow-white 
crystals, white matted masses resembling cotton, and light and dark yellow 
crystals. This variation in color of crystals is due solely to their age. 

Vanilla imported from the Island of Mauritius resembles the Bourbon 
very much, its color ranging from a reddish to a dark-brown. The crystals 
of vanillin appearing upon them are usually very handsome. The Mauritius, 
as also the Bourbon, vanilla is chiefly imported from France. 



■ THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

5 2 

The Seychelles Islands furnish us with vanilla much inferior to any 
of these previously mentioned. Its odor is often "smoky'' or "inky." The 
pods range from 4 to 8| inches in length and are of a light-brown to dark- 
brown color. They are generally nicely crystalized. England is the chief 
market for this variety. 

From Guadaloupe we receive a vanilla known as the " South-American," 
which resembles the Mexican very much in appearance, though much in- 
ferior in odor. The pods average from 6 to 8| inches in length. The 
epidermis is quite hard, with longitudinal furrows. They are never offered 
in this market as South-Americans. 

In addition to the so-called South-American vanilla, we receive from 
Guadaloupe a variety known as "vanillon." Its odor is that of heliotrope, 
even surpassing that of the Tahiti vanilla. Its pods are very short, thick 
and flat, from 4 to 5 inches in length, have a twisted appearance and are 
of a dark-brown color. Vanillon is rarely used to make extract, its chief 
consumption being in the manufacture of tobacco flavors, sachets and per- 
fumery. 

Vanilla imported from Tahiti is almost devoid of the true vanilla flavor, 
resembling the odor of heliotrope. The pods vary from 4 to 8 inches in 
length and are flat, very pliable and soft, and of a dark-brown color. They 
never crystalize. 

Pompona is derived from Mexico. Though it is usually known as "wild 
vanilla," it is generally accepted that it is not the fruit of wild V. planifolia 
plants, but of the V. Pompona. The natives, however, state that the V. 
Pompona is the ancestor of the V. planifolia, and that the latter is the 
result of cultivation. Its odor is similar to that of the Tahiti, and the pods 
are very short and thick and covered with a rough skin. Only very small 
quantities are brought here. 

A variety rarely met with in this market is the Java vanilla. Its odor 
is much stronger than that of the Mexican pod and equally fine. Its color 
is reddish-brown; the pods are from 4 to 6 inches in length. When sound 
and of prime quality, it is nicely crystalized. It is chiefly consumed in 
Holland. 

Mexican vanilla frequently comes to this market cut up into pieces from 
£ to 1% inches in length and known as "cuts." These are of inferior quality, 
being made from wind-falls, pods picked before maturity, split pods and 
such as are too small or unsightly to pack in bundles. 

The Mexican vanilla, owing to its exquisite odor, commands the highest 
prices. At present, owing to successive short crops, since a heavy snow 
storm and killing frost visited the vanilla district in 1893, the ruling prices 
are from 50 per cent, to 100 per cent, higher than formerly. Short and 
inferior pods bring $0. while prime ones sell as high as $16 per pound. 



* -~ THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 53 

Bourbon and Mauritius vanilla sell at from $4.50 to $8; Seychelles 
brings from $2.50 to $5; Guadalonpes from $3 to $5; Tahiti from $2.50 to 
$3.50; Vanillons, $2.50 to $5, and Mexican cuts, $9. In 1894 Mexicans 
sold at $7 to $12, Bourbons at $4 to $7, Tahitis at $1.25 to $1.50; in 1895 
Mexicans sold at from $7 to $10, Bourbons at $4 to $8, Tahitis at $1.40 
to $1.70; in 1896 Mexicans sold at $8 to $11.50, Bourbons at $4 to $7.50, 
Tahitis at $2 to $3.40. 

The consumption of vanilla is steadily increasing, as will be seen by 
the following figures, showing the importations into this country: — 

In 1884 74,034 pounds. In 1891 171,555 pounds. 

" 1885 07,000 " " 1892 242,465 

" 1880 103,770 '• " 1893 249,247 

" 1887 137,700 " " 1894 171,555 

" 1S88 143,470 " " 1895 132,196 

" 1889 108,530 " " 1890 145,000 

" 1890 144. S70 " " 1897 150.090 

The marked falling off since 1894 is due to the short crop of Mexicans, 
on account of the frost previously mentioned. 

It may be of interest to you to know what proportions of these vast 
quantities were Mexicans, and what of the other leading varities; so I will 
give a report for the last five years: — 

In 1893 274,544 pounds. 

- 1894 411,752 

" 1895 25,998 

" 1890 40.000 

" 1897 58.52 L 

The value of last year's importations was approximately: Bourbons, 
$368,000; Mexicans, $800,000; Tahitis, $90,000. 

The general quality of vanilla has changed in recent years to a notice- 
able degree. Mexicans are not quite so handsome as in former years, prob- 
ably owing to the fact that, while then every curer and packer took pride 
in offering goods that surpassed those of his competitors; they now look 
after the pecuniary side only. Whereas crystalized Mexican pods were 
formerly of frequent occurrence, they now rarely possess any crystals. 

Bourbon vanilla has, on the other hand, improved wonderfully, every 
new crop being an improvement on the preceding one. Only twenty years 
ago it was difficult to sell Bourbon vanilla in this market, while we now 
import almost as much of this variety as of the Mexican. Prime Bourbon 
pods are to-day handsomer in appearance than prime Mexican. The quality 
of Tahiti vanilla is much inferior to what it was a few years ago, owing to 
lack of care on the part of the curers. 



170,020 


pounds. 


27,58S pounds, 


101,111 


" 


21,920 


90,752 


" 


15,440 


71,000 




38,219 


05,378 


" 


32,191 



54 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

The great rival of vanilla pods is vanillin. The consumption of the 
artificial vanilla flavor, vanillin, has increased wonderfully. It is scarcely 
ten years since it ceased to he a mere curiosity and began to he an article 
of commerce; yet it is estimated that during the past twelve months over 
100,000 ounces have been used in this country. This is owing partly to 
its improved quality, but chiefly to its cheapness. While it sold at $5 an 
ounce only two years ago, the price dropped to ninety cents prior to the 
going into effect of the Dingley tariff, and it now sells at $1.70. These 
low prices have induced consumers to use vanilla flavoring where they 
formerly used other flavors or no flavors at all. Its chief consumption is 
with confectioners and cracker bakers, on account of its being colorless 
and on account of the ease and rapidity with which the extracts can be 
made. Recently a vanillin in large crystals has been made. It is prepared 
by slow crystalization instead of by precipitation. It is said to be much 
stronger and of better flavor than the white crystals usually met with. It 
is of a light amber color and sells at about $3 an- ounce. 

It may not be out of place to state here that vanilla extract made from 
vanillin should not be used immediately after being made. It should be 
allowed to stand about two weeks before being used, and should invariably 
be prepared with simple syrup after dissolving in spirit, because sugar has 
the property of bringing out the flavor. 

It is a curious fact that the enormous increase in the consumption of 
vanillin has scarcely affected the consumption of the pods. This is probably 
due to the fact, that vanilla flavoring is used in many instances where it was 
not used formed v. 



VANILLA EXTRACTS. VANILLIN AT THE SODA FOUNTAIN. 



By Oscar Kaltsh, Ph.G. 



Taking it for granted that the practical advice of those who have pre- 
ceded me has procured the selection of an excelhni lot of vanilla beans, it is 
still no easy matter to prepare a good extract or tincture. I know of no 
preparation which pharmacists manufacture in which it is so necessary 
to carefully watch the details. In talking over this subject with those who 
engage principally in its manufacture, I have met "with an almost endless 
variety of formulae, all of which, undoubtedly, will lead to an excellent 
product if every step in the process is minutely and intelligently carried 
out. 

It is interesting to note the methods which prevail in different countries. 
The Germans advocate a 20 per cent, tincture made by digestion, the French 
a 10 per cent, tincture made by maceration, and our own pharmacopeac 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 55 

advises us to make use of both, maceration and percolation. Of the three 
methods, that of our own country is the best. Now, is there a better 
formula than that of the U. S. P.? What is necessary to produce a satis- 
factory tincture of vanilla? What process is to be adopted to extract all 
the flavoring principles of the vanilla bean? 

Before stating the best methods which my own experience has taught 
me, I call to your notice a few samples of extract of vanilla made from 
different varieties of the bean, from different formulae, and from the arti- 
ficial product vanillin. 

This sample, marked No. 1, is a tincture made from the Mexican bean 
according to a formula which I will mention later. Sample No. 2 is pre- 
pared by the same formula from a Bourbon bean. I call your attention 
to the distinctive differences in these two products, redounding very much 
to the credit of the Mexican bean. The Bourbon tincture has a characteristic 
tonka odor which is not noticed in the Mexican tinctures, and lacks a certain 
bouquet which is present in the latter. Up to a short time ago, I had never 
used the Bourbon beans, but was induced to prepare an extract from them 
last November. The beans in appearance were certainly as fine as any I 
have ever seen, and gave me confidence that they would produce as good a 
tincture as I had previously been aide to make from the Mexican bean, 
but in this I was disappointed, and I can say without hesitation that, value 
for value, the Mexican bean surpasses all other varieties. Tastes widely 
differ and oftimes the public are better satisfied with a product made from 
the cheaper beans, or one containing an admixture of tonka or coumarin. 
In fact, looking over the various formulae given, I was astonished to find 
one under this heading, " Tincture of vanilla, without vanilla." Hamlet 
without the prince, in very truth! The formula consisted of varying 
proportions of tonka, prunes, raisins, currents, and orris root, made up 
with a menstruum of alcohol and water, to which, after maceration, is 
added balsam Peru and New Orleans molasses. I have here a tincture made 
from this formula. It seems to be as good as many that I have seen bearing 
the label "extract of vanilla," and perhaps contains as much vanilla. 

•• The National Formulary" publishes a formula for what is evidently 
a cheap substitute for tincture of vanilla, viz., Tinct. Vanillin Comp., con- 
taining vanillin and coumarin, a sample of which we have here. This in 
nowise compares with tincture made from the bean, and will, I think, prove 
disappointing to those who try it. Now, to my mind, it is not necessary 
to resort to these various substitutes when a very satisfactory commercial 
preparation can be made from a well-selected Mexican bean, even at the 
prevailing high market prices, at a cost, not to exceed $1 per pint. It is 
exceptional when the pharmacist cannot get fifteen cents an ounce for his 
vanilla extract. If it is to sell at a hnver price, or if one is not content with 



56 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



ibis margin of profit, he can follow out the general plan given in thi^ 
formula, using a mixture of Mexican cuts, or Bourbons, with the Mexican 
bean. The best formula which has come to my notice was that kindly 
supplied by my friend. Dr. Miller. This extract is made from the Mexican 
bean in proportion of 8 oz. av. of vanilla to the gallon of finished product, 
and we will start out on the supposition that we are to make 7 gals, of 
vanilla extract. Our formula will then be: — 

Mexican vanilla beans 3% lbs. av. 

Granulated sugar 7 lbs. (twice the weight of The bean) 

Cologne spirit. 190 cleg, proof 4 gals. 

Water 3 gals. 

After having carefully selected a lot of prime vanilla beans, the first 
step is to divide it into small pieces of from L } to 1 inch long, by means of 
an herb-cutter. And right here, let me say that vanilla beans should not 
come into contact with iron, as such contact destroys the flavor very quickly 
and may be the cause of a poor tincture. Place the cut beans in a porcelain 
jar and pour upon them 7 pints of boiling water. Cover the jar and let 
it stand for 24 hours. The object of this maceration or infusion is to bring 
the bean as nearly as possible to its natural green state. The bean as we 
iind it in the market is, to use a homely expression, much wrinkled. The 
maceration swells the fibre and that portion of the surface which was 
formerly hidden is now exposed to the action of the menstruum which 
later is poured upon it. This maceration also prepares the vanilla for the 
next step, facilitating its passage, through the chopper, and causes it to go 
through without becoming heated and without sticking to the blades of 
the machine as it would if not previously treated as stated. After macer- 
ation for 24 hours, pour off the supernatant liquid and transfer the beans 
to a machine which will cut or grind them up as fine as possible; the finer 
the better. A sausage cutter answers the purpose best; one in the form of 
a chaser, consisting of four steel disks revolving about a block of wood, — 
no contact with iron. Place the now finely ground vanilla in a porcelain 
jar, add to it 7 lbs. of granulated sugar, then the liquid with which it had 
previously been macerating and S pints additional of water. Stir frequently 
during 24 hours, and then add 1 gal. cologne spirits or alcohol. No longer 
than 24 hours should elapse before the addition of spirits is made, otherwise 
there will be danger of fermentation taking place. Macerate for 7 (h\\^ 
and add another gallon of spirits, macerate another week and add 4 pints 
of spirits. It is this last portion of alcohol which contributes to the ap- 
pearance of the finished product. Up to this time the liquid has a turbid 
appearance, but upon the addition of these last four pints, it becomes clear, 
the albumen present is coagulated and the finished product requires no 
nitration. If a menstruum less alcoholic is used, the tincture of vanilla 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 57 

■will not have this bright appearance and will require filtration, which is 
not to be advised in the making of vanilla extract. We then allow this 
mixture to macerate 30 days more and, at the expiration of that time, 
transfer the whole to a Squibb's percolator and cover with a muslin dia- 
phragm. After the liquid with which it has been standing has been run 
through, add a menstruum made of 9 pints of water and 12 pints of spirits. 
The percolate will yield an excellent tincture or extract of vanilla, perfectly 
bright and clear and ready for use. It is advisable to keep this in wood 
for six months, but, of course, it can. be used at any time. There is no 
method to be followed which will yield a satisfactory product in a few days, 
anil, therefore, the pharmacist must anticipate his wants at least 60 days 
in advance. 

Never try to make use of a bean which has been in a bundle a part of 
which has become mouldy. If one bean in the bundle is mouldy, the whole 
becomes contaminated, although it may not appear so, and an extract 
made from a bean taken from the centre of a bundle which is mouldy on 
the outside, but in itself apparently untainted, will have a mouldy taste,^ and 
all the perfumes from Arabia will not sweeten it. I had hoped to present a 
sample made from such a bean, but an accident while preparing it prevents 
my doing so. The artificial product vanillin, while rendering very good 
service in the making of perfumes, in which it has the advantage over the 
bean in the absence of color, can never displace as a flavoring extract, 
despite assertions to the contrary. It lacks the delicate flavor of the natural 
bean, and if it be identical with the vanillin as it exists in the bean, we must 
then conclude that it alone is not the essential factor in a good vanilla ex- 
tract. 

To make good syrup for the soda fountain is an easy matter if we have 
a good extract to work from. The proportion which I have used is 3 ounces 
extract to the gallon of simple syrup. Vanillin is wholly out of place at 
the soda fountain. The manufacturers claim that, while we allow an ex- 
tract made from the bean to stand for months before using, we make one 
up from vanillin, use it as soon as prepared, and expect it to compare with 
the true bean. They say, give it age, use syrup, not glycerine, and it will 
equal the best bean. I do not agree with them, and will only believe it 
when 1 actually see one made from vanillin which will equal that prepared 
from the bean according to the formula which 1 have <nven vou. 



South China Exports. — In the Pharmaceutical Journal for January 15, 
may be found a communication by Dr. Augustine. Henry, entitled "Some 
Exports of South China and Indo-China," in which he treats of the cassias, 
camphor and star anise. The article is concluded by some remarks on the 
"needs of economic botany," in which the author points out the great im- 
portance of the careful collection by travelers of tangible evidence as to 
the origin of the commercial products which they encounter. 



eg THE JOURNAL. OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

A KEY TO PRINCIPAL PLANT SUBSTANCES.* 



By Rodney H. Tri k. 



The following key is an attempt to arrange for ready use in the la- 
boratory the simpler methods of identifying the commoner plant substances. 
The device that has proved of service in the identification of plants seemed 
to the compiler capable of adaptation to the present case, and an experi- 
mental trial of this key in laboratory practice during the past two years has 
seemed to confirm this thought. Standard works on microchemistry were 
used in the preparation of the following, and no claim to originality in sub- 
ject matter is made. 

The manner of use is so simple that explanation seems hardly necessary. 
Confirmatory reactions, referred to in the key by numbers in parenthesis 
accompanying tin- names of the substances, are appended and should be 
made use of. 

One direction must lie strictly observed. Each separate reaction de- 
mands a fresh section and a dean slide and cover glass. 

Zinc chloriodide. 

A.i Color red. 

R.i Col) contents Tannin. (1) 

B.ii Cell walls Lignin.t 

A. 11 Color brownish, eel] contents Protoplasm and Proteids. (2i 

A. in Color blue. 

B.i Amorphous muss Plant mucilage. (3) 

B.ii Granular cell contents Starch. 

A. iv Color violet. 

B.i Cell walls Cellulose. 

B.n Cell contents Tannin. (1) 

A.v Color yellow. 

Phloroglucin and HC1. 

B.i Rose-colored walls Lignin. 

B.n Uncolored. 

C.i Pnswelled cell walls Suberin. <4) 

C.n Swelled cell Avails or amorphous. 

P.i With iodine and H.SO^ blue Plant mucilage. (3) 

, ,,..,, . ,. . ,, on . , , . , t Proteids and 

P.n A\ ltb. iodine and II .SO . yellowish or brownish. J ^ 

2 « ( Protoplasm. (2) 

A. vi ]S'o color reaction. 

Trommer's reagent, do) 

B.i Orange-brown precipitate formed <Cu 2 0) Dextrose. 

B.n Deep violet color, no precipitate Cane sugar. 

B.in No visible reaction. 

* Reprint from Pharmaceutical Review. Jan. 1898. page 9. 
+ See for confirmation, test with phloroglucin and HC1. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 59 

Tincture of alkanet. 

C.i Red cell contents Resins. (5) 

C.11 No visible reaction. 

D.i Crystalline bodies. 

E.i Crystalline masses, rounded Inulin 

E.n Crystals distinct, not rounded. 

F.i Dissolves in HC1 without effervescence. 

Treat with dilute neutral AgNO g . 

„ ... ( Calcium 

G.i Assumes yellow color J 

j phosphate. (6) 

... 1 Calcium 

G.11 Does not assume yellow color J 

. TT ™ .x, « ( Calcium 

F.11 Dissolves in HC1 with effervescence carbonate 

F.111 Dissolves in HC1 little or none. (Seldom , Calcium 
present in plants) • j sulphate. 

D.11 No crystalline bodies. 

E.i Soluble in cold absolute alcohol, ropy 

masses Volatile oils. (7) 

E.n Insoluble in cold absolute alcohol. 

F.i Soluble in ether, spherical masses Fatty oils. (8) 

F.n Insoluble in ether. 

G.i Incinerating- without ash Gums. (9) 

G.11 Incinerated, leaves ashy skeleton Silica. 

(Treat with HC1 to remove Ca salts.) 



CONFIRMATORY REACTIONS. 

(1) Tannins. 

In sections not wetted either with water or alcohol, when placed in 
ferric sulphate, tannins take on a deep blue or deep green color. 

(2) Protoplasm and Proteids. 

In Millon's reagent a rosy-red color appears after a time, especially after 
wanning. 

[ Millon's reagent is mercury dissolved in its own weight of cone, nitric 
acid, the solution then diluted with an equal volume of distilled water. 
Reagent to be used when fresh.] 

(3) Plant mucilages. 

Usually swell in water. Iodine and H 2 S0 4 give either a blue or a violet- 
brown color. 

(4) Suberin. 

Insoluble in cone. H 2 S0 4 . In boiling KOH ochre-yellow, granular 
masses are exuded. Stains blue in aniline violet, especially plainly when 
color is drawn from non-lignified tissues by use of acidulated alcohol. 

(5) Resins. 

in sections mounted in water, and not previously exposed to alcohol 



6 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

or glycerin, after several days' treatment with copper acetate, an emerald - 
green color appears. Hanstein's aniline violet stains resins blue. 

(6) Calcium phosphate and oxalate. 

Test does not exclude salts of other bases, but these rarely occur in 
plants. 

(7) Volatile oils. 

in sections not previously treated with alcohol or glycerin, these stain 
red in alkanet tincture. Distinguished from resins by copper acetate re- 
action (see 5 above). 

(8) Fatty nils. 

Treat section with cone, sulphuric acid and oil drops collect, becoming 
larger and more conspicuous. 

(9) Gums. 

Usually swell in water. Not colored blue by iodine and sulphuric acid. 
[(10) Trammer's reagent. 

A moderately thick section is placed for from two to ten minutes in a 
cone, solution of copper sulphate. Surface then quickly rinsed off with 
distilled water: section then transferred to a boiling mixture of equal 
parts bv weight of water and KOH. | 



Digitalis and the Heart Muscle. — The effect of the prolonged use of 
digitalis on the heart muscle is discussed by Dr. 11. A. Hare in the Thera- 
peutic Gazette, for December, 1897, page 800, having been determined by 
means of microscopical examinations and measurements by Dr. W. M. L. 
Coplin, Professor of Pathology in the Jefferson Medical College. A litter 
of ten pigs, two months old, was procured and carefully assorted as to sex, 
weight, etc., live of them being treated with normal liquid digitalis, the 
others cared for in all respects similarly, except that the digitalis was 
omitted. The average dose of 2m. was given twice daily for a month, and 
was then regularly increased monthly until, after three months, 10m. was 
given twice daily. This, according to weight ratio, was equal to about 80m. 
a day for a man, but no ill effects resulted from the large dose. After four 
and one-half months the digitalis pigs were found to weigh about four 
pounds each more than the others, having weighed the same at the com- 
mencement of the experiment. Their hearts weighed a little more than half 
an ounce each above those of the others. The ventricular walls of these 
hearts were reported by Dr. Coplin as being much thicker, uniformly firmer 
ami cutting with more resistance. The measurement of many muscular 
fihres showed an average diameter of .02nim. in favor of the digitalis hearts, 
this being ;1 ii increase of from 1-10 to !-:> in their thickness. 



Cbc journal of Pharmacology. 

A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Advances Made in the Various Departments of 

Materia Medica. 



Vol. V. MARCH, 1898. No. 3. 



SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INCLUDING POSTAGE: 
Per Annum = $1.00. - Single Copies = . = = «5 Cents 



Subscriptions, address Nelson S. Kirk, 640 Madison Ave., New York City. 

Business Communications, address D. E. Austin, 115 W. 68th St., New York City. 

Original Contributions, Exchanges, Books for Review and Editorial Communications: 
Address SrHTH ELY JELLIFFE, H D., 231 West 71st Street, New York City. 



Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFFE, A.B., M.D. 

WITH THE COLLABORATION OF 

Chas. Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M.D. V. Coblentz, Ph.D. Geo. A. Ferguson, Ph.B 
Geo. C. Diekman, M.D. H. B. Ferguson, Phar. D. 



EDITORIAL. 



THE NARROWING TENDENCY TO SPECIALISM. 



There are two sides to everything. This is an axiom of Life, as well as 
of coins. But it is a funny thing that the man on one side can seldom 
realize that the man on the other side may be right. Onlookers give each 
side full credit, but each of the parties interested wants to keep the balance 
of the credit on his own side. The orthodox brother sees no possible hope 
for his unorthodox neighbor, but Hellnre; and the unorthodox man denies 
the possibility of the existence of a fair-minded, rational and charitable 
opinion in the make-up of his bigoted brother. The political partisan has 
all the right on his side, and the opposition depends on a carefully assorted 
pack of lies with which to fool the public. The Jew and the Gentile, the 
Turk and the Greek are but types of the shifting contrasts in men. To 
his valet, the orthodoxy or unortliodoxy of his master is immaterial. Is 
the valet therefore broader-minded? To the impartial citizen with a sale- 
able vote it is possible to expect fair dealing from either party. Has the 
impartial citizen, then, a wider point of view? 

No; the value of a man's opinion lies in th<> fact that he is not a mere 
onlooker, but a worker for the cause he upholds, and the broad-minded man 



62 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

is not the one who sits on the fence, hut the one who lias had experience 
on both sides. 

Ignorance is the root of narrow-mindedness. It is the ignorant man 
who argues that, because his course in life is rational, a diametrically op- 
posed course is irrational. It is the ignorant man who throws away every 
fact that does not fit into his own experience. It is the ignorant man that 
knows no scale of proportion by which to judge relative values. 

The seeds of narrow-minded opinions and of broad views sprout to- 
gether, like the wheat and the tares, in the mind of the student to whom 
the knowledge of the world is being unfolded. It is hard to differentiate 
them in their early stages. 

The student who has no use for a science that he has studied only three 
months and the one who has no use for anything but that science are 
alike equally in danger of becoming narrow-minded. 

If they are studying medicine, they will probably become '"specialists" 
before they are general practitioners. If they are theologists, they will 
rivet their fathers' creeds into fetters, or else smash them utterly. If they 
are students of so-called "pure science," they will have a pitiful contempt 
for any one who applies the science practically and makes money out 
of it, and if they are scientific, only from the business standpoint, woe be 
to the professor, or laboratory worker, or mere writer of monographs that 
thrusts his unprofitable person into their presence. 

There is a woeful lack of tolerance in the educated, a petty jealousy 
of position, and a bickering spirit of contempt that reminds one of the 
restrictions of rank in a decaying aristocracy rather than the healthful 
liberality of the republic of Thought. 

An intimate acquaintance with stonecutters and bricklayers might re- 
veal the fact that the one class barely tolerated the work of the other in 
the building they were both engaged on. A very intimate acquaintance 
with different groups of scientific men discloses the fact that each man 
regards his "ology" as the keystone to the universe, and his brother's 
"ologies" but indifferent supports to his superstructure. To be broad- 
minded is to be very humble and very well informed. To be broad-minded 
is to be very silent about one's own work, and very attentive to suggestions 
from others' work. But, first, last and always, to be broad-minded is to be 
tolerant of narrow men. and to accept their work, independent of their 
spirit. 



THE JOURNAL OF THARMACOLOG\. 63 

ABSTRACTS. 



Mushroom Poisoning— Circular No. 13 of the Division of Botany. 
United States Department of Agriculture, written by Mr. F. V. Coville. 
Botanist of the Department, is entitled "Observations on Recent Cases of 
Mushroom Poisoning in the District of Columbia," and is of unusual im- 
portance. As the circular may be had upon application to the Department, 
only its general character is here noticed. It gives brief accounts of a num- 
ber of edible and poisonous fungi in the vicinity of Washing-ton, and is ac- 
curately and beautifully illustrated by 21 cuts, taken chiefly from photo- 
graphs made by Mr. A. J. Pieters. The following general advice given by 
the author as to the eating of unknown fungi is well worth quoting: 

"Many kinds of fleshy fungi are without question delicious and highly- 
nutritious foods, while the gathering of them is an exhilarating pastime. 
A novice who proposes to gather mushrooms for himself should never use a 
species for food until he has found out positively its name and its non- 
poisonous character. He should then familiarize himself with this species 
until he knows it from all others as certainly as he knows the cabbage, the 
turnip, the cauliflower, or any other of our common vegetables. He should 
confine himself rigidly to this his personal edible list, and should add to it 
only as thus recommended. His authority for the name and qualities of 
each kind he adds to this list should be some person having an unquestioned 
expert knowledge of mushrooms. There is no single test and no safe series 
for poisonous mushrooms. The poisons contained in the various species 
are extremely diverse in their physiological effects and their chemical com- 
position. In the District of Columbia occur at least thirty good-sized 
edible species, at least four species known to be poisonous, and several more 
that are suspected of being poisonous. Regarding these suspected species, 
we shall never know the actual facts until some one has been poisoned 
by them, or till experiments are made on animals to ascertain their physio- 
logical effects. Botanists, who from long training in the discrimination of 
plants possess the faculty of distinguishing readily betwcien related species, 
will easily avoid the error of mistaking superficial resemblances for the 
teal characteristics of the different kinds, and may be trusted in the iden- 
tification of mushrooms, if they have studied that group of plants. If there 
is a mushroom club in the community, every one who proposes to become a 
connoisseur in mushrooms should join it. In the District of Columbia a 
recently organized association known as the Washington Mycological Club 
is recommended. Membership in such a club and a proper use of the fa- 
cilities afforded by it should prevent the mistaking of a poisonous for an 
edible species." 



6 4 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Amanita in a Reservoir. — It having been noticed that a fungus grows 
in very great abundance upon the shores of the aqueduct which supplies 
the City of Mexico with water, and that the dead bodies of these plants 
fall into the water in large numbers, the species was examined by Dr. M. 
Lozano y < 'astro on behalf of the [nstituto Medico NacionaL and found to 
be Amanita muscorum. Its poisonous action on the lower animals was 
studied experimentally. It was not shown, however, that it is responsible 
for any of the diseases attributed to the use of the water. (See Ann. del. Inst. 
Med. Nac, 3, No. 8, Aug., 1897.) 

In the same number Dr. Juan Martinez del Campo details his clinical 
experiments in the Hospital of San Andres with Artemisia Mexicana, 
Helenium Mexicanum, Croton morifolius and Casimiroa edulis. 

An important contribution to the subject of pepsin-testing has been 
made by Alfred H. Allen in the Pharmaceutical Journal, and this is con- 
veniently reprinted in the Druggist's Circular for February, page 33. 

Immunity to Alkaloids. — The American Druggist and Pharmaceuti- 
cal Record (January 10, 1896, page 8) refers to the results of experiments by 
C. Gioffredi, going to show that it is not only impossible to produce im- 
munity in animals against the action of atropine and cocaine, but that, on 
the contrary, their use in increasing doses tends to develop an increased 
.susceptibility to the action of the poison. In the case of morphine a marked 
tolerance seemed to lie established in dogs. The author found this to be 
due to the development of an antitoxin in the blood. 

Rabies. — The British Board of Agriculture announces a great decrease 
in rallies among dogs, lint L54 eases wvw returned for IS!);, against 438 in 
1896 and 672 in 1895. This result is regarded as being the outcome of 
more careful methods of restaint of dogs and of laws requiring that they be 
muzzled. Might it not also in part be due to the fact that from better in- 
formation a.s to what constitutes rabies, they were able to determine many 
cases hitherto classed under that disease as being merely epileptic fits or 
some similar temporary disorder? 

Poisoning: by Larkspur.— The A. )'. Med. Jour. (August 21, 189?) 
reports on the poisoning of cattle in Montana by larkspur plants before 
they have yet blossomed. Poisoning is so frequent and severe as to con- 
stitute a serious danger. The treatment is ammonia given per stomach and 
by inhalation, with sulphate of zinc. Digitalis and nux vomica have also 
been found useful. 

A Unique Poisonous Plant. — A botanical monograph of unusual in- 
terest is contributed by Mr. David Hopper, Assistant Curator. Economic and 
Art Museum, Indian Museum, on Adhatoda vasica, illustrated by a colored 
plate, and published as No. 10, Qlrtid-Book of Commercial Products, Im- 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 65 

perial Series. The fact that the great family Acanthaceae is practically un- 
known in medicine lends great interest to any member of it which exhibits 
a reasonable probability of possessing important medicinal properties. In 
a brief illustrated article on this plant, published in the Bulletin of Phar- 
macy some years since, I stated that its field of probable usefulness was indi- 
cated by the fact that it appears to be toxic to both animal and vegetable 
forms of life in direct proportion to their lowness in the scale, and that 
this property is unique among plants. In the paper by Dr. Hooper here 
referred to, all possible information concerning the uses and properties of 
the plant has been collected, and this has been supplemented by an experi- 
mental study, with the result of fully confirming the opinion above quo-tod. 
Thrown upon water, the leaves are found to completely destroy the lower 
aquatics and to prevent their reappearance. Laid upon fruits and other 
perishable substances, they to a great extent prevent mould and decay. 
They check the development of parasitic diseases on vegetation. Their very 
extended use in India in the treatment of tuberculosis and similar respira- 
tory diseases may or may not be founded upon this property. Aquatic ani- 
malculae are also killed by them, as are insect pests, including plant lice 
and plant beetles. They are anthelmintic. They quite readily destroy 
frogs on being thrown into water in which those animals exist, and they 
are somewhat toxic to fish. They destroy earth worms and are fatal to white 
ants. There is little evidence of their toxicitiy to the higher animals, be- 
yond the fact that no pasturing animal will eat them. These qualities 
have been very clearly proven to pertain to the alkaloid vasicine. While 
the information collated by Dr. Hooper does not indicate the degree of im- 
portance which may be expected to pertain to the drug, it is amply sufficient 
to place it in the front rank of plants entitled to extended practical trial at 
agricultural stations and in botanic gardens. The monograph here reviewed 
may be found in the college library. R. 

Silk Cotton Floss. — The Agricultural Ledger., No. 17, 1897, is devoted 
to the consideration of the silk cotton (floss) of Calotropis procera, a product 
closely related to the floss of our asclepiads or milk-weeds, which has been 
similarly experimented with from time to time as to its availability for the 
manufacture of textile fabrics. This fact lends interest in American eyes 
to the results of all such experiments as those here reported. It is stated 
that this article was in demand in London a few years ago for fancy textile 
purposes, but, owing to the difficulties presented by variations in the quality 
of products supplied, and to thej intermittent supply when requirements 
arose, it dropped out of use. It is further stated that the trade might be 
revived if a moderate but continuous supply could be guaranteed at prices 
ranging from four pence to five pence (eight to ten cents) per pound. The 
pods should be gathered and forwarded unopened, with as little handling 



6 5 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

as possible. The fibre is unique for its large percentage (19.5 per cent.) of 
furfural. This removes it, among fibres, the very farthest from cotton. Its 
investigation has led to the result of a thorough comparative study of the 
chemical composition of fibres at the Imperial Institute. R. 

Medicinal Plants. — The Museum Department of the Pharmaceutical 
Society of Great Britain has published a catalogue of its herbarium of me- 
dicinal plants, compiled by the Curator, Mr. E. M. Holmes. Not only is a 
list of the species given, but the composition and source of the different 
specimens are noted. The collection appears to be decidedly poor in repre- 
sentatives of North American medicinal plants. 

Sanicula. — The genus Sanicula, which has always been of more or less 
medicinal interest through the extensive use in domestic practice, and to a 
less extent in scientific practice*, of several of its species; has been enriched 
by the addition of two species, described by Mr. Eugene P. Bicknell in the 
Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, December, 1897, page 577. The 
species are S. Smallii and S. Floridana, both growing in the southeastern 
United States. 

A Research Upon Sarsaparilla. — In the Medical Chronicle for May, 
L897, Leech gives a summary of the results obtained by Schulz in the Phar- 
macological institute of Dorpat by a study of Ibis drug. These researches 
by Schulz on the composition of sarsaparilla were made prior to 1892, under 
the direction of Prof . Kobert, who lias already set forth the general results 
obtained in tlie Deutsche Medicinische Wochenschrift of June 30, 1892. In 
the present paper the full details of lie' research are given, together with an 
account of the history and botany of sarsaparilla. 

Opinions as to the value of this drug as a therapeutic agent have always 
differed widely. Even when it was most largely v.^i'd (here wife many who, 
Mr, the ground of experience, denied its potency, and now that it is rele- 
gated for the most part to popular or domestic medicine, there are still 
some who hold, also on the ground of experience, that it has a curative 
influence in certain forms of disease. It is manifest that if sarsaparilla 
has such an influence, it must depend on some active substance the root 
contains, and Schulz"s investigations have been made for the purpose of 
obtaining further information as to the nature of the active principle or 
principles. 

As early a.- Is - .' I. Paflota, of Naples, separated from sarsaparilla a sub- 
stance, parillin, which was subsequently obtained in a pure stale by Fliicki- 
ger, who gave as its formula C 40 H, 18 or O ie H S(; 18 . 'Ibis substance has 
also been called by some smilacin. Otten, in 1876, separated another suit- 
stance, which Merck has since prepared commercially, viz., sarsaparilla- 
saponin. To this substance the names of smilacin and sarsasmilacin have 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 67 

also been given. A third substance, sarsasaponin, has been, obtained by 
Schulz. 

These three compounds are supposed to belong to a group of saponin 
substances, and differ in physical properties and pharmacological powers. 
Parillin is a crystalline substance insoluble in cold water. It is soluble in 
absolute alcohol, but in alcohol diluted with water it becomes less soluble 
as the amount of! water is increased. Sarasasaponin is also a crystalline 
substance, but it is soluble in water. It dissolves only to a slight extent in 
absolute alcohol. In diluted alcohol it becomes more soluble as the amount 
of water is increased. Smilacin is soluble in water. As prepared by Merck 
for commerce, it is amorphous, but it is capable of crystallization. All three 
substances are glucosids, and when boiled with dilute acid yield glucose 
.and a new compound, which, in the ease of parillin, is called parigenin. 
The other two substances yield sarsasapogenin. Schulz giv< s a long account 
of the reactions yielded by parillin and sarsasaponin, which are, however, 
only of chemical interest. 

The pharmacological effects of parillin, smilacin and sarsasaponin re- 
semble generally those produced by the active principles of quillaja bark 
(quillagic acid and sapotoxin), but they are less toxic. Of the three, parillin 
is the least powerful, sarsasaponin the most so. When taken by the mouth 
they cause salivation, nausea, irritation of the throat, vomiting and 
diarrhea. Injected under the skin, they cause abscess; introduced into the 
blood, they tend to destroy the red corpuscles, and cause death after the 
lapse of several hours. They are not absorbed from the healthy stomach, 
nor when injected snbcutaneouslv. They are excreted when intravenously 
injected by the intestinal mucous membrane, stomach and kidneys; and 
Schulz says by the salivary glands also, but he gives no proof of this as- 
sertion. Like other saponin substances, they powerfully influence muscle 
tissue when directly applied to it, causing contraction, rigidity and loss 
of contractility. The motor nerve and endings seem to be killed earlier 
than the muscle. When circulated through the isolated heart of a frog, 
they cause contraction of the muscle tissue, and limit the heart movements. 
They therefore decrease the volume of fluid expelled by each cardiac con- 
traction, an effect which is the reverse of that produced by digitalis. Even- 
tually the heart's movements cease, but if fluid which contains no poison 
be subsequently circulated through the heart, it recovers. If added to 
blood outside the body, they have a powerful influence, causing solution of 
the red corpuscles. They are in this respect more active than many more 
toxic saponin-like substances, and it is worthy of remark that, though 
parillin is distinctly the weakest in its general toxic effects and in its power 
of influencing the tissues, while sarsasaponin is the strongest, yet in its 
action on the blood parillin is almost as powerful as sarsasaponin. and dis- 



68 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

tinctly more powerful than smilacin. Because of this action on the blood, 
;ill these substances cause hemoglobinuria and methemoglobinuria; eventu- 
ally bilirubin appears in the urine. Owing to its effect on the blood, the 
subcutaneous and other tissues after death have often a yellowish aspect, 
and the exudations in the cavities are of a reddish color. In warm-blooded 
animals the intravenous injection of doses which eventually cause death 
leads to but little change in the blood -press ure or frequnecy of the heart's 
heat. 

The three active constituents of sarsaparilla produce their most powerful 
effect on the intestinal canal, causing increased peristalsis and injection, 
sometimes inflammation of tbe large and small intestine, the contents of 
which (post mortem) are found to contain bloody mucus. Ulceration of 
the stomach and intestines is sometimes present. The urine usually con- 
tains blood-coloring matter wheal the animal is poisoned by the intravenous 
injection of parillin, smilacin or sarsasaponin, and the kidneys are found 
(post mortem) of a dark-red color, the tubules containing red-colored con- 
tents. 

it is manifest that the pharmacological effects of the active principles 
which have been separated from sarsaparilla throw no light on its sup- 
posed curative influence on syphilis and other ailments. It is possible, in- 
deed, that the increase in the flow of saliva which the saponin constituents 
tend to produce may have some beneficial effect in lesions connected with 
the throat and mouth; perhaps, too, the large quantities of fluid which were 
at one time taken with sarsaparilla preparations had a beneficial effect. 
But Sclmlz's researches strengthen the views entertained by the majority 
of physicians, that sarsaparilla as a therapeutic agent has no important 
value. It has no dl effects because its active principles are not absorbed. 
Does it contain any other active principle which has not been discovered? 
The care with which the chemical examinations have been conducted by 
Schulz and other observers renders this improbable. Pereira, indeed, found 
in it an essential oil, but as 140 pounds only yielded a few drops, it is hardly 
likely that this constituent gives efficacy to the drug. — Therapeutic Gazelle. 

Digestive Ferments. — Prof. Chittenden has shown that potassium per- 
manganate, borax, ammonia alum, sodium salicylate, quinine and the salts 
of most alkaloids act antagonistically to the peptic ferment; while Dr. 11. A. 
Weber's experiments have proved that the so-called harmless colors — aureo- 
line yellow and magenta— arrest digestion, even when taken in very mi- 
nute quantities. Further experiments in the same direction have been con- 
ducted by F. D. Simons (Phar. Jour., No. 1,431, p. 457), who finds that 
peptic digestion is retarded even after prolonged treatment by picric acid, 
tropaelin 000, and metanil-yellow; pancreatic digestion being retarded in 
like degree by Bismarck brown, essence of cinnamon and formic aldehyde-. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 69 

Salicylic acid and wiutergreen oil were found to retard peptic digestion in 
a less degree, but both peptic and pancreatic digestion proceeded normally 
in the presence of essence of peppermint, chrysoidine, salfranine, or methy- 
lene-blne. 

The Phenylhydrazin Test and its Adaptability for the Detection 
of Sugar in the Urine. — Dr. Erik Holmgren (Upsala lakareforen. fork., 
N. F. II., 189?) conducted experiments for the purpose of comparing the 
delicacy of Almen's (bismuth) and the phenylhydrazin tests, and to de- 
termine how far normal urine, which, according to recent researches, al- 
v^ays contains some grape-sugar, gives positive evidence with the phenyl- 
hydrazin test. His experiments showed, first, that the phenylhydrazin test' 
is decidedly more delicate than Almen's test. While less than 0.05-0.04 
per cent, sugar could not be detected with the latter, the former still gave 
a distinct reaction with this amount. In the phenylhydrazin test a sugar- 
content of 3:100000 water gave, after a short time, a distinct macroscopic 
precipitate of glyeosa/on crystals; a solution of 1:100000 gave a precipitate 
which could not be demonstrated by the microscope; indeed, with strong 
magnification, the author could still detect glycosazon crystals in a solution 
of 1:300000. The phenylhydrazen test, therefore, is the most delicate test 
for grape-sugar. 

Of disturbing influences, the anther noted that alkaline reaction dis- 
turbs the result, and that great concentration of the urine appears to re- 
quire larger amounts of the reagent in order to obtain the best results. The 
age of the individuals from whom the urines were obtained did not appear 
to exert any influence: but it appeared to the author as if the urine of per- 
sons engaged in muscular labor contained more crystals than that obtained 
from those engaged in mental labor. 

In determining with absolute certainty the presence of sugar by means 
•of the phenylhydrazin test, the miscroscopic demonstration of the crystals 
does not suffice; on the contrary, the melting point of the crystals must be 
obtained, which for the osazon of grape-sugar is 205 degrees C. The au- 
thor determined the melting point of the crystals obtained from normal 
nrine and found that the carbohydrates which enter the urine under nor- 
mal conditions probably consist, to no small amount, of pentoses. The 
author thinks that the fact that snch numerous and typical osazon crystals 
are found in the urine of perfectly healthy individuals as to make it doubt- 
ful whether the urine is really normal or not, as well as the necessary, diffi- 
cult and time-robbing confirmation of the evidence as to whether grape- 
sugar is present or not. renders the phenylhydrazin test inapplicable in 
ordinary practice. , 

Facts Concerning: the Chemistry of Chlorophyll and Hemogolobin 
—In the course of an address at the sixteenth annual meeting of the So- 
ciety of Chemical Industrv, held in Manchester on July 14, 1897, the Presi- 



7© 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



dent, Dr. Edward Schunk, in speaking of organic coloring matter (Jour, 
if the iSoc. of Che/11. Indus.), said that by the action of strong acids on 
chlorophyll a certain product is obtained, and the action of alkali on this 
product, in sealed tubes, leads to the formation of phylloporphyrin, a sub- 
stance crystallizing in lustrous-red needles, which has remarkable proper- 
ties. Treated in a similar manner, homoglobin yields an analogous sub- 
stance— hematoporphyrin. Now, these substances, phylloporphyrin and 
hematoporphyrin, resemble one another in several respects in a most re- 
markable manner. Doth are red and give red solutions; both act the part 
of weak bases toward strong acids; both when heated give off fumes of 
pyrrol; the ethereal solutions of both show absorption-spectra of seven 
bands, the intensity and relative position of which are in both cases abso- 
lutely the same, the only difference being that in the case of hematopor- 
phyrin the bands are slightly nearer the red end of the spectrum. As to 
composition, too, the two substances approach one another, that of phyllo- 
porphyrin being expressed by the formula C 16 H 18 N 2 0, that of hematopor- 
phyrin, according to Nencki, by C 1C H 18 N 2 3 ; they differ, therefore, in the 
amount of oxygen they contain. 



BOOK REVIEWS. 



The Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information of the Royal Botani- 
cal Gardens of Trinidad, Volume IV r ., Part V., is devoted to the considera- 
tion of two genera of the ferns of the British West Indies and Guiana, viz.. 
Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes. The subject may at first appear rather 
a strange one for investigation by an institution devoted to the subject of 
economic botany, but, in consideration of the extensive use to which these 
plants are put for decorative purposes and the great value of the trade in 
them, it becomes quite as practical as those relating to foods, fibres or build- 
ing materials. R. 

U. S. Department of Agriculture Reports. — The report of the bot- 
anist of the United States Department of Agriculture, Mr. Frederick V. 
Coville, for 1897, is full of interesting references to the work of the year. 
The most important feature of the report is the evidence which it displays 
of a useful application of science to practice. The principal topics referred 
to are the investigation of new crops, the examination of the natural re- 
sources of the country, the development of an economic herbarium, the 
eradication or weeds, the investigation of poisonous plants, seed testing and 
investigation, the support of the pure-seed movement and the study of the 
American medicinal flora. The needs announced for the ensuing year are 
those of a new building, of permanent trial grounds and of more assistance 
in the I lepartment, all of which we sincerely trust may be fully met. "R. 



Alumni, College and Class Notes* 

CONTRIBUTORS. 

Alumni Association, . . . WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph G., 115 West 68th St., N. V. 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Clauses prior to 1893. RUDOLPH GIES, Phar.D. 11 West 6S1I1 St. N.Y. 
Bibliographv, . . . ADOLPH HKNMNG, Ph.G. 68 William St., N. Y. 

Class '93, .... EUGENE F. LOHR, Ph.G., 508 Marcy Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Class '94, . . NELSONS. KIKK. Ph.G., 450 Third Ave., N. Y. 

Classes, ...... G. F. MANVILLE, 45 W. 71st St., N. V. 

Class '96. ..... J. HOSTMAN,204BoweisSt., Jersey City. N. J. 

Class "97, . . . . . . . . Q. E. D. 

Class 98, ..... T, E. DIEBOLDT, 115 West 6Mh St.. !<• . Y. 

Legal Notes, ...... H. A. HEROI.D, 34 Pine St., N. Y. 

Post Graduate Class of "96, .... HARRY B. FERGUSON, fhar V. 

N. Y. C. P. C. C. 

Annual dues, one dollar, payable quarterly, no initiation fee. Have you 
nettled with Secretary-Treasurer Erb (539 East 88th Street)'/ 

Race-Meet.— A meeting will be held in the College on Wednesday evening. 
March 9th, at 8 P.M., for the purpose of formulating plans for the spring race- 
meet, which will be held in this city some time in April. Members are earnestly 
requested to attend. 

"Jake" Stage, writing from Baltimore, s:iys that he will be with us in April. 
We can assure our '97 champion a hearty welcome ;is a slight mark of appre- 
ciation for services rendered last season. 

The Era had an interesting article about our Club and its history in the 
February 10th issue. Have you seen the article? 

The Stag, held on January 29th, was voted "all right" by the guests of the 
Club, who assembled in the Alumni Room, at 8.30 P.M., to witness the event. 
Dr. Gies led off by introducing Prof. Sznski, the noted Egyptian prestidigitator, 
whose feats of legerdemain were worthy of the late Prof. Herman. Berndt was 
the first subject of the professor, taking his medicine like a man, until the 
arrival of our portly Schuyler, who evincing an interest, Avas induced to masti 
cate a "night extra," which was accomplished in record-breaking time. Elated 
over his success, he allowed himself to be hypnotized (?) with disastrous results. 

Then followed a "gag competition," which became quite spirited, owing 
to the resources of Messrs. Benjimau and Cantor, who vied with one another 
for the best prize (bottle of Best Tonic), the event finally being won by Benji- 
mau. Bro. Keenan, of the American Druggist, endeavored to spring a (lies joke 
on Stoburg, but unfortunately got "twisted." 

The arrival of Mr. Pond, with a gramophone of the latest output, was 
greated with applause, and in a few minutes the boys were lost in dreamy 
selections from Wagner and other celebrities. Midnight marked the close of 
the happy event, when amid a cloud of smoking tabes they sought their respect- 
ive abodes. 

Among those present were I 'res., Nelson S. Kirk; Yiee-Pres.. Rudolf Gies; 
Sec'y-Treas. and Capt., L. G. B. Erb; Lieut. Harry B. Ferguson: Color Bearer. 
O. N. Frankfurter; Dr. Diekman, Dr. Hoburg, Messrs. Pond, Snsse. Drollinger, 
Cohn, Sigel, Berndt, Benjiman, Cantor. Moore and W. Frankfurter. 

Miss Leroy, '99, is a valuable addition to our ranks. Her deftnt s< of man- 
ipulation being only exceeded by iter charming personality. Scorcher. 

'94 NOTES. 
Married. — Hieronimus A. Herold, the happy event occurred a short time 
since and quite surprised us. To the couple we extend our hearty congratula- 
tions. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Wurthman are doing bravely. They have attended 
several of the Alumni receptions, including the ball, where our proud class- 
rnate"'* handsome wife has gained a host of friends. To them we say "bravo'" 
with a wish that they may continue in the path. 

Poor Fendler! I learned from a colleague that the B. M. C. boys on one 
of their recent larks captured him and, cutting off his whiskers on one side. 
left the remainder and made him recite poems. Verily, his end while in the 
monumental city, has been any but a happy one. 

The Alumni Ball was just lovely. Those who missed it have cause, indeed, 
to regret their negligence. Our class was well represented by Dr. Geisler, 
Messrs. Wurthman (and Mrs. W.), Erb, Kellar, Kirk. Dawson, Pond, Sieman 
and, last but not least. Sergt. Da vies. 

Paul Koch, formerly with Scherpicb on Bushwick Avenue, is now with 
Speth, Kosciusko Street and Broadway, Borough Brooklyn. 

Dr. Geisler has accepted a position with Rieger, 155th Street and Amster- 
dam Avenue, where he is in charge owing to Mr. Rieger's illness. 

Henry Struck lias left Marcus, where he hail been for some time, and is as 
yet not located. 

Dawson made his semi-annual appearance on the 9th. He is looking quite 
well and reports a clean bill of health. Fraser & Co. still cherish him. 

One of our boys has become quite chummy with a scientific boxer. Not of 
the Fitz. style, however, for the chum is an undertaker. 

'99 NOTES. 

As in the last number of this journal stated, E. J. Ward composed a march. 
It may be interesting for fellow students to note that this march, "Avis," can 
now be had at Chas. H. Ditson & Co., 18th Street and Broadway, who are pub- 
lishing it. 

Geo. W. Jackson (Vice-president) last week took two very good groups of 
some of the boys with his poco. In my judgment the pictures were good enough 
for a professional. The boys think the samel 

Through the kindness of Fuhr (Sect. II.) Prof. Coblentz exhibited the large 
Ruhmkorff's foil to the class. Many thanks, Fuhr. 

Alumni Ball brought a good many of our boys out. Keep it up, boys! 

Keeper (Fitz) spent Washington's birthday in Scranton. Pa. Leaving New 
York on Saturday afternoon, he made the best of it in Scranton until Wednes- 
day evening. 

Michel enjoyed this year's Arion ball very much. (One of the "400.") 

Wettlin is now an able promoter of well-attended meetings at the Students' 
Club every Saturday afternoon. Last week he introduced us as the speaker 
of the meeting Mr. Taylor, of Colgate College, who addressed the boys with a 
few well-chosen words. 

Hager must be under some hypnotic influence, for he is at the same board- 
ing house that he was a week ago. Stick to it, Hager. Perhaps he may be 
busy writing out war plans. 

PiiEs. Johnston has appointed a committee on class pins, consisting of 
the Messrs. Fuhr (II.), Mr. Clark HIT.), Mr. Vars (I.) 

Committee on Athletics: Chairman Clark (I.). Jenkins (II.), Taddiken (II.), 
France (III), Rolfs (III.) 

Section II. need not boast of having musical talent, as there are others. 

Clara F. Ehlin. 



/OL. V. APRIL, 1898. NO. 4. 



tH 



journal of PbarmacolodV 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARHACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 

Notes on the Pharmacognosy of Ergot, . . 73 

Smith Ei/v Jexuffe, M.D. 

A Case of Hyoscine Intoxication, .... 78 
Augustus A. Eshner, M.D. 

Absorption of Drugs from the Stomach, . . 30 

H. A. Hare, M.D. 

Editorials, 83 

Abstracts and Reviews, . . ... 85 

College, Alumni and Class Notes, . . . 91 




Entered as second-class matter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, January 20th, 1897. 




MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," noi 
"essence of malt." 

MALTINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive 
digestive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 

It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic fiek 
more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the al 
pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching 
medicinal value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

"Halt" is not "MALTINE." 

» Extract of Halt" is not "HALTINE." 

" Essence of Malt" is not "MALTINE." 

"MALTINE" must be designated to get "HALTINE." 

WEINHAGEN'S 
Retested Clinical Thermomete 



WEINHAGEN'S 



SOLID PISTON ASEPTIC 
HYPODERMIC TABLET SYR 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe ii 
cleaned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish^them withoui 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

ALL JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. WEINHAGEN 

Established 1855. 
22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. NEW YORK,* U. ! 



Cbe 



Journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumni Association of the Collepe of Pharmacy of the City of New York. 



Vol. V. 



NEW YORK, APRIL, li 



No. 4. 



SOME NOTES ON THE PHARMACOGNOSY OF ERGOT. 



By Smith Ely Jelliffe, M. D., New York. 



Much has been written about ergot, and yet it is safe to assume that 
much of its pharmacognosy is still little understood, and as for its phar- 
maeo-dynamics, we are still in the dark. That this should be so is not sur- 
prising^ when one recalls what the drug is, and hears in mind the complex 
problems of plant chemistry m a group of plants which have a very simple 
morphology, and yet are the exponents of a very subtle series of chemical 
interchanges. Representing as it docs one of the few really potent drugs 
of the lower plants, its study has always hi en alluring as well as suggestive. 

The following sketch aims to give a resume of what is known of the 
pharmacognosy of this drug, including the deductions of the more recent 
studies: 

As defined in the Pharmacopoeia, Ergot is tin sclerotium of Claviceps 
purpurea (Fries). Tulasne (class Fungi), replacing the grain of rye, Secah 
cereale Linne. (Nat order Gramineai ). The Pharmacopoeia further directs 
that it should be but moderately dried, and should he preserved in a closed 
vessel, and a few drops of chloroform added from time to time to prevent 
the development of insects. When more than one year old it is unlit for 
use. 

At the present, two forms are commonly sold in our markets: the Ger- 
man and the Spanish. Within recent years a very fine variety from the 
'Canary Islands has been described by C. I mney. 1 

DEVELOPMENT. 

This fungus grows upon the rye, although it may grow upon other 

U?rom Merck's Report, March 15, 1898. 
-'Pharmaceutical Journal, 1805, p. 546. 



LIBRARY 
NEW YCRK 

botanic a), 
garden. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

74 

grasses, and sometimes upon sedges. Many allied forms are extremely com- 
mon on these large groups of plants. As in all fungi, the plant starts as 
a minute spore. In moist, warm weather this spore germinates and sends 
out a small, thread-like process, the mycelium. If a suitable food suppl) 
is found— a head of rye, for examples-tins mycelium increases rapidly, and 
gradually works its way into the fresh and juicy kernels of the rye, robbing 
the nourishment of the rye in order to build itself. While in this stage 
it is soft and gelatinous, usually a pale yellow, and sweet and attractive 
to some insects. Botanists give this stage a distinct name, calling it SpM- 
celia segetum. The microscope shows that this brownish or yellowish spha- 
celia is made up of a mesh of mycelium threads and a number of small 
round bodies (the conidia), borne on elongated I. ranches. These conidia 
are capable of producing infection and perfecting the sclerotium stage. 

This soft stage does not lasl long, for, as the mycelium grows, it re- 
places more and more of the tissue of the rye, becomes darker in color, until 
finally it is a dee]) violet-brown, and gets much harder. In this stage al- 
most the entire grain is replaced by the growing tube-like cells of the fun- 
gus (the sclerotium), the result I icing a growth larger than the normally 
developed grain. During this, the resting stage, the ergot should be gath- 
ered, slightly dried, and then kept from further drying and from the 
ravages of insects. 

After a varying length of time (from two to five months), the ergot, if 
hit in the fields, may send up a number of small column-like masses, bear- 
ing at the apices little spherical knobs resembling pin-heads. These are 
the fruit -bearing bodies. They show in the surface a great numbefr of mi- 
nute pin-point openings, which lead into hollow conceptaeles, called the 
peril hecia. These perithecia contain a number of minute flask-like bodies, 
the asci, in each of which are eight long, rod-like spores. These spores are 
capable of starting over again the life cycle of the fungus. It is during 
the stage of the ripening of the heads of the perithecia that the sclerotium 
shrivels and loses its valuable constituents; hence the necessity of gathering 
it in the resting stage. 

Ergot is distributed largely, being found in Middle Europe, in Southern 
Paissia, Spain, Northwestern Africa, India, the Canary Islands and Peru. 
It is common in Norway, and also in the Faro Islands, and is found on 
high mountains and in deep valleys. 

COLLECTION. 

The ergot is gathered shortly after the ripening of the rye, and th 
affected grains arc picked singly from the spike. The greatest amount 
comes from Bussia and Spain, and the Tinted States is the largest con- 
sumer. . _ .. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 75 

Although Claviceps purpurea alone is official, and then only when grown 
on the rye, there arc a number of other species growing on various host- 
plants. Claviceps microcephaly is common on species of Scirpus and 
Claviceps nigricans on a. sedge, Heleocharis. On corn a peculiar fungus, the 
corn smiri (Ustilago maydis) is found. Although it was formerly held that 
The ustilagos had no relation to the asconrycetes, Brefeld 2 has reoentl) 
shown that Ustilaginoidea oryzea and U. setariae, occurring on rice and 
species of Sctaria. arc developmental stages of an ascomycetous fungus re- 
lated to ( lavieeps. 

AX V.TOMV AMi 1! [STOLOGY; 

The general characters of ergot are too well known to require a detailed 
■description. The grains should be somewhat moist and purplish-black ex- 
ternally; inside they are whitish, with irregular purplish lines. The fracture 
is short, and not very sharp. The odor and taste are disagreeable and oily 
in character. 

Microscopically, ergot lias but few characters. On transverse section 
the periphery shows a false parenchymatic sheath, deeply stained, the cells 
•of which are somewhat square, and merge gradually into the irregular in- 
terwoven mass of thread-like cells which make up the body of the Fungus. 
Numerous globules of oil are seen in and around the meshes of the my- 
celium. An hour's application ol Schweizer's reagent permits one to tease 
the tissue apart, when its true interlacing, thread-like character is made 
more conspicuous. The cellulose is insoluble in this reagent, a characteris- 
tic of fungus cellulose. 

CHEMISTltY. 

One of the most interesting and yet at the same time unsatisfactory 
> hapters in the history of ergot is that on its chemistry. It is a record, one 
might say, of the disputes of the different pharmacological schools. 

Vauquelin (1817) was one of the first investigators, and since his day 
a great number of constituents have been described. As it would not be 
profitable to review every step of the work, only the more important in- 
vestigations will be noted. 

The constituents about which there has been little dispute are as fol- 
lows: 

(1.) Salts. — Mainly phosphates of calcium, potassium and magnesium, 
with traces of manganese; from 3 to I per cent. 

(2.) Carbohydrates.— Glucose, trehalose, mannit and mieose; the exact 
equivalents of which are not yet definitely determined (Wiirtze claiming 
1 hat trehalose is the same as mieose). 

SBotanische Centralhalle, rSo6, p. 97. 



6 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

(3.) Oils and fats, in large proportions. 

(4.) A body allied to cholesterin— named by Tanret "Ergosterin"; but 
it is probable that Salskowski's investigations are nearer the truth. He 
calls this body, after Hesse, "Physosterin," and shows that it is widely 
distributed in plants. 

(5.) Coloring-matter. 

((!.) Nitrogenous bodies — choline, lecithin and albumin. 

(7.) The active constituents. 

The structure of these active constituents is still a matter of much con- 
troversy. The most important investigations are those of Tanret, Dragen- 
dorff, Sehmiedeberg, Robert, Griinefeld aud Jacobi. In this connection it 
may be of interest to know that in Griinef eld's latest paper (Arbeiten aus d. 
Pharmakologischen Institut zu Dorpat, VIII., 1892, p. 108), a bibliography 
of 372 titles of articles on ergot is given. 

Tanret 5 described an alkaloid, Ergotinine, as the active constituent ; 
and most of the French writers to this day adopt his dictum. Dragendorff 
and Podwissotzky 6 isolated a Sclerotic acid, which they claimed to be the 
active constituent. 

In 1884 Kobert published a monograph on ergot, in which he comes 
to the following general conclusions as to the constituents: 

(1.) Ergotinic Acid (the ergotic acid of Wenzell, and the sclerotic acid 
of Dragendorff), which paralyzes the spinal cord and brain, and has the 
composition of a glucoside containing nitrogen. 

(2.) Sphacelinic Acid, an acid resin, the cause of the typhoid form 
of chronic poisoning. 

(3.) Pikrosclerotine, a poisonous alkaloid. 

(4.) Cornutine, an alkaloid which is a most active uterine contractor. 

Among other things, he there comes to the conclusion that there are 
two particularly active constituents in ergot: Sphacelinic or Sphacelic Acid 
and the alkaloid Cornutine. 13oth substances were found as brownish 
masses, and their exact chemical nature was not stated. He at that time 
held that cornutine was a highly toxic agent, and that the acid was non- 
toxic, but acted mainly upon the blood vessels: later he modified these 
views, and in the appendix of an article by one of his pupils, Griinefeld/ 
gives his present point of view, and also adds a word of commendation 
upon a recent investigation made by Keller. 8 In this later communication 

^Fresenius Zeitschrift, 1S87, p. 572. 

f'Annalen, cxcii, 1S7S, p. 175. 

CFresenius Zeitschrift, f- analyt. Chemie xx, i88t, p. 123. 

"Arch, f. Exper. Pathol, u. Pharmakologie, vi, 1876, p. 16;,. 

^Arbeiten aus d. Pharmakog. Instit. zu Dorpat, 1895. p. 3<h. 

"Schweiz. Wochenschrift f. Chemie u, Pharmaeie, 1S94. p. 15. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. -j 

lie points out the difficulties of the subject, and states that he believes his 
cornutine to be a mixed extract free from sphacelinic acid. 

Keller claims that there is a single active constituent of ergot. This, he 
believes, is an alkaloid. lie further maintains that pikrosclerotinc of Drag- 
endorff, ergotinme of Tanret and cornutine of Robert are identical. 

The latest important contribution to the question is that of Jacobi. 9 
He points out the inconsistency of Robert's change of position, which he 
states was not founded upon any new investigations on the chemical nature 
of the ergot extracts, but because the therapeutic action of the extracts did 
not correspond to Robert's own earlier teachings. 

Jacobi isolated at least three important principles: 

(1.) A yellowish, non-nitrogenous body, which, when well purified, 
was found to be inactive, but when impure had an action on the comb of 
fowls similar to Robert's sphacelinic acid. This he calls "Ergochrysine." 

(2.) An alkaloid which he states is inactive when in a pure state; this 
lie has named "Secaline." 

(3.) A peculiar resinous body. 

For this peculiar resinous body he adopts Schmiedeberg's term, "Spha- 
celotoxine" (a term originally applied by Schmiedeberg to a substance 
which was said by him to be in Robert's cornutine). This sphacelotoxine 
represents the active constituent of the drug. It produces the action on 
the blood vessels resulting in the gangrene, and also the specific action on 
the uterus. Thus far in his researches he has not been able to obtain 
enough of this body to determine its exact cbemical composition, as it is 
present in very minute quantities only. Moreover, it is a very unstable 
substance, but combines very readily with the two principles found in ergot, 
and here isolated for the first time, i. e., secaline and ergochrysine. Its 
compounds with these two bodies are termed respectively "secalintoxine" 
and "chrysotoxine." It is with these comparatively stable compounds of 
sphacelotoxine that Jacobi carried on his pbarmacological studies. 

Chrysotoxine, which is the combination of the neutral non-nitrogenous 
base, ergochrysine and sphacelotoxine, is obtained by precipitation from 
the ethereal extract of ergot, after getting rid of the fat, with petroleum 
spirit. It is a yellowish powder, without smell or taste, readily soluble in 
ether, chloroform, alcohol or benzine; insoluble in water. It crystallizes 
with difficulty and its formula is C 21 H 24 lfi . Jacobi regards it as a phe- 
nolic substance allied to anthracene or phefnanthrene. It is the body called 
"Spasmotin" in one of the authors earlier contrilmtions. 

A thorough pharmaco-dynamic study of this body is given by the 
author. On the frog's heart it acts, in doses of from 30 to 50 mg. (± to 5-C 

i°Archiv. f. exper. Pathol, xxxix. 1897, p. 85. 



-g THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

gnu), as a gradual central paralyzant, without any convulsive action. On 
fowls there is a change in the circulation, which produces a violet coloration 
of the comb, followed by a dry gangrene. It causes a decided gastro-en- 

eritis in Fowls, clogs and cats. In dogs, cats and guinea-pigs it produces 
great restlessness. In pregnant animals doses of from 0.1 to 0.2 gin. (1J 
„o 3 grn.) produce regular contraction of the uterus, resulting in abortion. 
It slightly raises the Mood pressure. Elimination takes place for the most 
part through the intestinal canal. Xo convulsive action of any kind was 

Loticed. Secalintoxine, the compound of secaline and sphaeelotoxine, 

is obtained by shaking the ethereal extract of the first precipitation, by 
petroleum spirit, with dilute acetic acid, and adding sodium carbonate, when 
i grayish precipitate is thrown down, which by subsequent washing can be 
obtained as an almost colorless powder. This contains nitrogen, is freely 
soluble in alcohol and in acetic ether, insoluble in petroleum spirit, [ts 
formula is C 13 H 24 N 2 3 . 

Secaline was obtainable in a pure state, and its formula calculated as 
C.. 1 H r ,.-,N,,O u . It. was physiologically inactive. Jacobi believes this to be 
a pure form of [Robert's cornutine, bui not the same as Tanret's ergotinine, 
which he thinks is more like his secalintoxine. 

The pharmaco-dynamics of secalintoxine is similar in most respects to 
that of the chrysotoxine, the difference being quantitative rather than quali- 
tative. The action on the uterus is less energetic, and the accompanying 
irritation of the intestinal canal more marked. Thus, it is to he nod d that 
chrysotoxine is the preferable combination to use. and that probably a 
sodium preparation of this will give the best results on the uterus with a 
minimum amount of stomach disturbance. 



A CASE OF HYOSCINE INTOXICATION. 



By Augustus A. Esiiner. M. D. 
Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, Physician to the Philadelphia 

Hospital, etc. 



llvoseine is in many respects such a useful dru^. and one so extensively 
•mployed, that any untoward effects resulting from its medicinal employ- 
ment seem deserving of record. 1 wish in this connection to relate briefly 
•he case of a. man. fifty-five years old. lor many years a sufferer from 
asthma, who received at L0 P. .M.. by hypodermic injection. Tor the relief 
of a spasm: 

Morphine sulphate. L-8 -rain: 

Strychnine sulphate. L-60 grain; 

1 1 s'oscine hvdrobromate, 1-lou grain. 



THE JOURNAL <>F PHARMACOLOGY. 7 q 

In a few minutes a small measure of relief from the asthmatic difficulty 
and distress was experienced, but in a lew more minutes there was note< 
extreme muscular weakness, which quickly progressed to a state of genera 
relaxation, with loss of consciousness. The face was markedly Hushed am 
the vessels extremely prominent. The action of the heart was excited, al- 
though the rhythm was not disturbed, and no adventitious sounds were 
audible. The pulse was hard, tense and full, and the beat about 120 tc 
tho. minute.. The respirations were noisy and labored, and about 40 to 
the minute. The pupils wcv^ of ordinary size. The patient could not Lit 
recumbent, and attempts to get him into bed were desisted from in con- 
sequence of the resulting apparent discomfort. There was occasionally 
slight twitching of the hands, and the knee-jerks were irritable and, per- 
haps, a little increased. The patient could be aroused to partial conscious- 
ness, but he was not able to speak. At times he made certain inco- 
ordinate movements and gestures, apparently indicative of his distress and 
ids wishes, lie could not be induced to swallow, and his teeth were found 
clenched when an effort was made to introduce bits of ice into his mouth. 
The skin was moist and cool, and free perspiration followed. 

As the patient had on former occasions received without ill results as 
much as one-fourth of a grain of morphine sulphate hypodermically, and 
as tin' symptoms were unlike those of strychnine poisoning (the dose of 
strychnine being a small, even medicinal one)- and corresponded with thos< 
to be expected from hyoscine intoxication, a further dose of one-eighth of a 
grain of morphine sulphate was injected beneath the skin, and a third 
dose several hours later. An addition, amy] nitrite was administered by 
inhalation. The patient gradually improved, consciousness and power of 
speech and motor capability slowly returning. 

At seven o'clock in the morning, nine hours after the injection, the 
patient was unable to recall anything that had taken place during tin 
night, and expressed himself as having passed through a comfortable 
period. He was yet unsteady upon his fee.,, and was unable to pass mon 
+han a drachm or two of urine. A specimen from a larger quantity passed 
during the subsequent day had a specific gravity of 1,024, and. although 
failing to respond to the heat and contact (nitric acid) tests for albumen, 
contained numerous hyaline and granular casts. Albumen and casts had 
also been found previously. The patient had on former occasions taken 
by the mouth, without unpleasant manifestations, as much as 1-S0 grain 
of hyoscine thrice in the course of a night. The pronounced symptoms thai 
thus developed from the hypodermic employment of so small a dose as 
1-100 grain of hyoscine hydrobromate must be attributed to idiosyncrasy, 
the undue susceptibility being perhaps intensified by the somewhat de- 



So THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

bilitated condition of the patient at the time. Of course, it is possible that 
the tablet used contained more than the quantity named, but this is highly 
improbable. 

Untoward results have been reported from the hypodermic employment 
of even a smaller dose of hyoscine. Thus O'Hara (Therapeutic Gazelle, 
Vol. 2; cited by Wood: "Therapeutics/' 7th Ed., 1888, p. 237) relates a 
rase in which the administration of 1-96 grain hypodermically was followed 
by severe disturbance, lasting for twenty-eight hours, with total lack of 
remembrance of occurrences that took place during the seven hours suc- 
ceeding the injection. Root (Therapeutic Gazette, Vol. 2; cited by Wood, 
he. cit.) records a case in which 1-300 grain administered by the mouth 
gave rise to symptoms of violent poisoning, and even 1-1,200 grain oc- 
casioned very .pronounced manifestations. Gnauck (Medical, News, xl., 323; 
cited in the "National Dispensatory," 5th Ed.. 1894, p. 855) states that 
even a very minute dose (1-600 grain) of hyoscine is capable of producing 
its characteristic effects, and, subcutaneous! y, of acting twice as power- 
fully as by the mouth. On the other band, Hutchinson (Alienist and 
Neurologist, iii., 539; cited by Wood, he. cit.) reports that the ingestion of 
one-quarter grain of very impure hyoscine was followed by quiet coma, with 
entire muscular relaxation, lasting eleven hours. Further, according to 
AVood, no case of fatal poisoning is on record. 

In explanation of the widely diverse results obtained from the use of 
hyoscine, it. must be concluded that different preparations of the drug 
vary greatly in activity; while some significance is to be attached also to 
the matter of idiosyncrasy. The best antidote for. hyoscine is said to be 
chloral ("National Dispensatory, p. 587); Hare (Therapeutics, 5th Ed., 
■1895. p. 209) recommends pilocarpine. 



STIMULATION OF THE GASTRIC MUCOUS MEMBRANE TO AID IN 
THE ABSORPTION OF IMPORTANT DRUGS. 



By H. A. Hark, M. D. 



1 have already called attention in an earlier article to the importance 
of studying the rapidity of absorption and elimination of drugs in con- 
nection with their general physiological effects and their dosage. 

In certain states of profound vital depression the gastric mucosa does 
not carry on its functions of absorption as it does in health, and as a re- 
sult ,ve recognize, the fact that the use of a drug by the mouth will prob- 

*A paper presented to the Section on Medicine of the College of Physicians of Philadeluhia 
March :s 1897. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. g r 

.nhiv produce no effect, because it will lie unaffected in the stomach for 
f.onrs. Thus in surgical shock or in advanced alcoholic coma it is not 
bj any means rare to find that repeated doses of drugs have been given 
with no result for the time being, but as the patient recovers, and absorp- 
tion is renewed, the greater part of the combined doses is absorbed at once, 
and the patient is more or less poisoned by the aggregated medicinal doses 
which he has received. While it is true that patients in this condition, if 
skillfully treated, rarely meet with this accident, I believe that in many 
'>ther instances, where the state is less grave, the slow absorption of the 
medicines given is not considered; that the physician is content to give 
i he medicine, and then to regard it as physiologically active, without con- 
sidering the possibility of gastric torpor. In some chronic conditions the 
-low absorption of a remedy is not disadvantageous, but in acute cases 
Us absorption may be of vital importance. It therefore occurred to me 
that it might be possible to combine with a remedy another substance not 
possessed of general physiological action, but capable of stimulating the 
gastric mucous membrane so that it would have its absorption functions 
increased. It is well known, of course, that iodide of potassium, when ab- 
sorbed, is speedily eliminated by the salivary glands, probably in the form 
of iodide of sodium. Different investigators have studied the rapidity of 
this elimination, and have found that it usually begins in from ten to 
fifteen minutes, or a little longer, and lasts over many hours. The iodine 
can be tested for in the saliva by means of starch paper and fuming nitric 
acid, which will set free the iodine, so that the iodine-starch test can be 
made. Another method of testing the rapidity of absorption would be 
f>y the administration of rhubarb and developing a red color in the urine 
by the addition of liquor potassa, but as the test should be made every few 
minutes, it is much easier to use salivary secretion as a testing medium. 

The methods used were as follows: 

Cachets containing three grains each of iodide of potassium were given 
to four patients in the wards of the Jefferson Medical College Hospital, 
none of whom were suffering from any known gastric lesion or functional 
disturbance, and convalescent. In other words, the stomach of each was 
in a condition equal to that met with in the ordinary patient. After the 
lapse of a few minutes the saliva of each was tested with starch and HNuc : 
every two minutes until the reaction for iodine was obtained. It was 
found that the reaction was obtained at the following times: 

In the case of the patient G. D. the iodine test was obtained in twenty- 
nine minutes. 

In the case of the patient B. it appeared in thirty-five minutes. 

Tn the case of the patient L. it appeared in nineteen minutes. 



g 2 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

In the case of the patient McD. it appeared in twenty-seven minutes. 

The delay in the appearance of the iodine in the saliva over the delay 
usually met with is duo to the time required for the cachet to he dis- 
solved and set free the iodide of potassium in the stomach. The use of the 
cachet was, however, necessary in order that the drug- might be given in 
a soluble form, and yert not remain in the mouth even as a trace. 

The same patients several days later, after all trace of iodine had dis r 
appeared from the saliva, received a second set of cachets, in each of which 
were placed not only three grains of potassium iodide, but in addition one 
-rain of powdered capsicum, and the results reached were as follows: 

The patient <i. D. gave the iodine reaction in nineteen minutes, or ten 
minutes sooner than befor< . 

The patient I'>. gave it in twenty-nine minutes, or six minutes earlier 

The patient L. gave it in nine minutes, or ten minutes earlier than be- 
fore. 

The patient McD. gave it in forty-five minutes, or eighteen minute- 
later than before. 

Whether this last result depends upon the unknown prior ingestion of 
food or drink could not be discovered. 

In order to make a control experiment with this case, another test, was 
made several days later, after all iodine had disappeared from the saliva.. 
vith the result that the fist was developed in seventeen minutes a gain 
of ten minutes over the test without the capsicum. 

It is evident, therefore, that the use of a gastric stimulant aids very 
inati rially in the absorption of the other drug, and the moral would seem 
to he that whenever it is possible it is well to combine with a drug some 
gastric stimulant to aid in its absorption. This is particularly necessary 
it there is any reason to believe that the stomach is in a state of atony, as- 
evidenced by a, relaxed tongue and a history of excessive eating or drinking 
or chronic catarrh. 

Iodide of potassium is a drug which lends itself readily to such experi- 
ments, hut it is probable that other remedies could he studied equalh 
eadily. 



Cbe Journal of Pharmacology. 

A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Advances Made in the Various Departments of 

Materia Medica. 

Vol. V. APRIL, 1898. No. 4. 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INCi UDING POSTAGE: 
Per Annum » $1.00. — Single Copies 15 Cents 

Subscriptions, address Nelson S. Kirk, 640 Madison Ave., New York City. 

Business Communications, address D. E. Austin, 115 W. 68th St., New York City. 

Original Contributions, Exchanges, Books for Review and Editorial Communications: 
Address S^ITH ELY JELLIFFE, H D., 231 West 71st Street, New York City. 

Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFFE, A.B., M.D. 

WITH THE COLLABORATION OF 

Chas. Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M.D. V. Coblentz, Ph.D. Geo. A. Ferguson, Ph. B 
Geo. C. Diekman, M.D. H. B. Ferguson. Phar. D. 



EDITORIAL. 



MATERIA MEDICA AND THE DOCTOR. 



There was a day, in the dart ages, when the physician went out into the 
woods and fields and collected his own herhs and roots. He brought them 
home and dried them, distilled their properties out in mystic fashion, some- 
times with the aid of an incantation, and always at the proper phase of the 
moon that the drug required for its special efficacy. 

A; the present day, in the bright light of science, the physician sits 
at his office disk, and scrawls a well-worn formula on a scrap of paper, and 
commends it to the care of his patient; or, taking from a set of numbered 
vials a nill whose particular numeral is calculated to allay the pangs of that 
particular patient, he leaves it by his bedside, confident that he has shown 
a. discrimination in his treatment of the case that is as up-to-date as the 
proprietary production he is prescribing. 

Materia medica is a thing of the past. An intimate knowledge of drugs, 
of the barks and roots they come from, of their chemical constituents and 
of their physiological effect is virtually unknown to the average practicing 
ohysician. 

He wants to press the button, and have the right remedy for the disease- 
drop out of the slot, all nicely prepared in palatable form, lie is the "prac- 
tical" man, the man that believes in making use of all quick roads to sue- 



8 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

cess, and who cries down, as a theorist and a book-doctor, the man who goes 
delving after deeper knowledge. 

Occasionally, an accident resulting from a physician's prescription gets 
into the papers. But it is not his fault; it is the druggist's. The physician 
is too omnipotent, too highly educated, too astute, and too careful to make 
such an error. It was the stupid clerk, that did not know calomel from 
bichloride. The truth is, that most physicians have less practical knowledge 
of drugs than the youngest pharmacy graduate. Their knowledge is purely 
empirical; because a certain formula has been potent in certain cases, they 
apply it to others, and the variation in effect they put down to the idio- 
syncracy of the patient. Their college course does not give them any idea 
of the fact that some drugs are largely adulterated, that certain medicinal 
elements are present in plants to a greater degree at one season of the year 
Than at another, that many preparations undergo chemical changes if ex- 
posed to the light, that others are rendered absolutely useless if they stand 
for a certain time on the shelf, by virtue of moulds and bacteria which at- 
tack them. All these facts are deemed trivial, because the physician hat- 
not looked into them. 

lie will gravely discuss the different effects that the same drug has upon 
different people, not knowing that, in apparently the same dose, one person 
had taken twice as much as another; and in the case of accidental loss of 
life he will arguof the limit of the dose, the limit of the pharmacist's ac- 
curacy, the limit of people's credulity, but never the limit of his own knowl- 
edge of the subject. 

Many serious mistakes are made by physicians that are attributed to the 
course of the disease, and are never discovered, because they are not fatal, 
and the few fatal cases are rarely laid to their door. 

The fact, nevertheless, remains that materia medica is not thoroughly 
taught in the medical colleges of this country. The professors are not ex- 
perts upon their subjects. The study is reduced to a dry accumulation of 
facts which no student attempts to remember after examination time. 
A few lectures upon therapeutics are thought to cover this subject, which 
could, and which should, he developed into a practical and tangible course. 
The individuality of the drug should be enforced by its origin, its manu- 
facture, its chemical action and its peculiar physical properties. 

The whole subject of physiological chemistry is progressing with such 
strides that it is impossible to say what changes will take place in the 
materia medica of the future. This one thing is certain, that the medical 
man must acquaint himself better with the nature and action of drugs, and 
he would do well to invoke the shades of his ancestors of the middle ages 
rather than to trust himself unreservedly to the makers of pills and potions. 



THE JOTJKNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



ABSTRACTS. 



A Study of the Action of Aconite on the Mammalian Heart 
and Circulation. — In the September issue of the Journal of Experimental 
Medicine S. A. Matthews sums up a careful experimental research made 
upon the hearts of dogs in the following manner: 

The action of aconitine on the dog's heart seems to consist in: 

1. A stimulation of the inhibitory mechanism, especially of the centres 
tn the medulla oblongata. 

2. An increase in the irritability of the muscle of the auricle and the 
ventricle, which leads to independent contractions of one or both of thesi» 
divisions, and culminates in fibrillary contractions in the ventricle. 

The first of these is the only effect seen in the therapeutic use of the 
drug, ami aconitine may therefore be considered to be indicated when it 
is desirable to stimulate the inhibitory centre without acting on the heart 
muscle. Of course, it has a further effect on the circulation through the 
stimulation of the vasomotor centre, but this would appear to be of minor 
importance. 

Diuretic Action of Salicylic Acid and Caffeine. — Siegert (Munchener 
Medicinische Wocliensclirift, May 25, 1897) concludes a study of this subject. 
In a case of chronic peritonitis salicylate of sodium in both small and large 
doses lessened diuresis, the specific gravity of the urine being increase*! . 
With pure caffeine there was constantly observed a markedly increased 
diuresis, but with caffeine sodium salicylate (diuretin) the opposite effect 
was seen, the caffeine diuresis being suppressed by the salicylate. Caffeine 
produced its most marked effect after a course of small doses of salicylates. 
The use of caffeine alone made tapping of the ascites unnecessary, owing 
to the absorption of all the edema, which, on the other hand, was increased 
by the use of salicylates. The author shows by experiments on animals 
how the salicylates can abolish the diuresis produced by caffeine. Thus 
it is undesirable to use the combination of caffeine and salicylates where 
a. diuretic effect is aimed at. In one case where tapping had been done 
"ome ninety times, the use of caffeine made any further tapping unneces- 
sary. The author has used caffeine with digitalis, and has found the 
diuretic effect very marked. It. is desirable to use the insoluble caffeine in 
preference to the soluble combinations. The author would recommend the 
use of caffeine, with or without digitalis, in all cases of venous engorge- 
ment with intact kidneys, in order to remove the edema by diuresis. — 

The Active Principle of Castor Oil. — Many years ago Buchheim 
stated that ricinoJeic acid is the purgative principle in castor oil, while 



86 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

other observers maintain that the true active principle is a small quantity 
ofabody derived from the seeds and held in solution in the oil. The question 
possesses considerable practical interest, because, if the former view he cor- 
rect, we cannot liope to diminish the necessary dose: whereas, if the latter 
view be the correct one, and wei were able to obtain the active principle in 
i state of purity, a very small dose of a probably tasteless substance would 
suffice t<> produce purgation. In 1890 Meyer strove to show (Arch, fur 
Exper. Path. un<l Pharmakol., Leipsiz, bd. xxviii.) that ricinoleic acid and 
its salts were as active as castor oil, but there is always a suspicion that his 
preparations contained a small amount of the hypothetical active principle, 
and that their activity was duv to this, lie has again returned to the sub- 
ject (Arch, fur Exper. Path, und Pharmakol., Leipsiz, 1897, bd. xxxviii.). 
and, after showing that castor oil does not lose its activity by being heated 
to 300° C, or by treatment with dry hydrochloric acid, by boiling with 
caustic potash, or by other methods calculated to destroy any known ac- 
tive principle, he comes to the conclusion that ricinoleic acid is the only 
active substance present in the oil, and that it develops its specific action 
in the intestine by being saponified, and thereby rendered soluble. Ricino- 
leic acid has, however, no specially irritating properties, and it is difficult 
to explain its action as a. purgative. 

The Nitric Acid Test in the Examination of the Urine. — In con- 
formity with the instructions usually given in text-books on urinary analysis, 
the nitric acid test for albumin is generally employed in the following 
manner: A certain amount of urine is placed in a test-tube, and nitric acid 
allowed to trickle down the sides of the tube, so as to form a distinct layer 
beneath the mine. In the presence of albumin a cloudy ring will be seen 
to form at the zone of contact of the two fluids. If it is only desired to tesl 
a given urine for albumin, no objection can be made to this procedure. 
'The amount of general information, however, which can thus be obtained 
is rather limited, and a great deal more can be learned from a specimen 
if a conical glass of about two-ounce capacity be used in place of the test- 
tube. This modification is quite generally accepted in the hospitals of 
France, and many of Germany, and undoubtedly deserves the attention of 
American physicians. 

The glass is tilled to about one-half of its capacity with the urine to be 
examined, when nitric acid is carefully added from the side, or through 
a pipette carried to the bottom of the vessel, so as to form a layer of about 
one-hall to three-quarters of an inch in depth beneath the urine. 

Under normal conditions a brick-red to a rose-colored band, referable 
to the presence of normal urinary pigments, is then observed at the zone 
of contact, while the urine itself remains perfectly clear. If albumin be 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



87 



present, however, a more or loss pronounced cloudy ring will be seen im- 
mediately above, and merging into, the colored ring, its extent and in- 
tensity vary with the quality of albumin present, and it is possible with a 
little experience to form a fairly accurate idea of the total amount. To 
this end the depth of the albuminous ring should be accurately measured 
and the amount of albumin determined separately with an Esbaeh albu- 
minometer. Hearing in mind the extent of the ring and the amount ascer- 
tained, it is possible, after a few experiments, to make an off-hand estima- 
tion from the qualitative examination alone. The same amount of the re- 
agent and of the urine should, of course, always be employed, and it is 
-convenient to mark the conical glasses accordingly. When it is desired 
to gain an insight into the amount of albumin eliminated in the twenty- 
four hours of the day. all the urine voided during that time should be 
-carefully collected, and a specimen taken from this collected amount I'oi 
examination. Decomposition may he guarded against by placing in tin 
receptacle about one tablespoonful of chloroform. 

The cloud at tie zone of contact may he due to serum albumin, serun 
globulin, albumoses, or a mixture of these bodies. As serum globulin is 
always present when serum albumin is found, and as a poor globulinuria 
has not thus far been observed, its significance is the same as that of serun 
albumin. If we wish to ascertain whether or not the precipitate contains 
albumoses, a small amount i- removed with a pipette and heated over a 
spirit Lamp ^v a Bunsen burner. Should albumoses only he present, tin 
-cloudiness disappears, and the liquid in the presence of nitric acid turns 
.a dee]i yellow color. I pon cooling, however, the precipitate reappears. 
In the presence of a mixture of serum albumin, serum globulin and albu- 
moses, only a partial solution occurs, and the yellow color is not so marked. 

A pure albumosuria is of special interest in so far as its existence should 
lead the physician to antieipitate the appearance of serum albumin. Al- 
bumosuria may also alternate with true albuminuria. 

A very important feature of this test, furthermore, is the fact that it 
furnishes an insight into the amount oi uric acid eliminated. In order to 
-obtain results of value, however, it is necessary always to work with speci- 
mens of urine taken from the collected amount of twenty-four hours, lb 
uric acid be present in excess, a distinct wafer-like band, resembling al- 
bumin in its genera] appearance, will be observed in the clear urine abov 
the zone of contact of the nitric acid and the urine. Should albumin be 
present at the same time it will he noticed that this hand is separate from 
tlie albuminous ring by an intermediary zone of perfectly clear urine. If 
'his point be remembered confusion will never arise, and it will not Tie 
necessary to study the effect of heal upon the individual precipitates in 



88 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



order to ascertain their true nature. If the uric acid ring does not appear 
after from five to ten minutes, it may be assumed that the substance is not 
present in increased amount, and that the quality in all probability is even 
less than normal. As a general rule, the band appears almost at once 
after the addition of the nitric acid, if an excessive elimination of uric acid 
has taken place, and from the rapidity with which it appears and the 
depth of the ring an idea may be formed of the amount present, if the 
method has been carefully compared with one of the usual quantitative 
methods. 

Occasionally, though rarely in the writer's experience, amounts of uric 
acid are encountered in the urine which are truly enormous, and almost 
immediately after the addition of the nitric acid a band of uric acid ap- 
pears which almost tills the entire bulk of urine, and even extends to the 
nitric acid. Upon careful examination, however, it may be seen that the 
extension of the precipitate takes place from above downward, and not 
from below upward, as in the case of albumin. Should both be present in 
very large amounts at the same time, the decision, whether we are dealing 
with uric acid, or albumin, or both, may at first appear extremely difficult. 
The nitric acid should then be added through a pipette, and not allowed to 
flow along the walls of the vessel. Two bands can then always be made out 
for a lew seconds at least, the one at the zone of contact, the other separated 
from this by an intermediary zone of practically clear urine. 

I) an increase in the amount of uric acid is observed, it should be 
ascertained whether this increase is only relative or absolute. It will be 
readily understood that the diagnosis of an absolute increase is only justi- 
fiable if the amount of urine is not subnormal. The increase, so frequently 
observed in febrile urines, is usually of a relative character, the total 
amount of urine being subnormal. A sharp line of distinction should, fur- 
thermore, be drawn between increased production and increased elimination. 
It is thus not justifiable to exclude the diagnosis "uric acid diathesis" 
when normal or even subnormal amounts arc obtained. A temporary re- 
tention is frequently observed. 

An excess of urea is likewise quite readily discovered with the nitric 
acid test. Every physician probably who has occasion to examine many 
urines has observed the appearance of glistening crystals after the ad- 
dition of the nitric acid if the specimen has been allowed to stand for a 
lew minutes. These crystals are urea nitrate, and when formed in this 
manner always indicate the presence of at least twenty-five grammes of 
urea for every 1,000 c. c. of urine. When occurring in dense masses fifty 
grammes or more are being eliminated. 

In conclusion, the nitric acid test, when applied as described, indicates 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



89 



the presence Or absence of bile pigments, as well as the presence of increased 
amounts of indican. A dark blue or violet ring is only found when indican 
is eliminated in large amounts, and as this, generally speaking, only occurs 
when an increased degree of intestinal putrefaction exists, we have thus a 
fairly accurate index by which to measure the latter.— Dr. Chas. E. Simon, 
in National Med. Review. 

The Free Granules and Immunity.— Theories of immunity con- 
tinue to grow apace. The rapid changes new investigations enforce in ac- 
cepted views make it difficult for the general observer to appreciate the 
exact situation, but he must feel that flu- truth of the matter is being slowly 
but surely revealed. 

A short time ago certain "small, generally round, colorless granules,** 
readily distinguishable from blood-plates, were described by Midler, an 
assistant in Nothnagel's clinic in Vienna. In the last number of the 
Johns Hopkins Hospital Bulletin, Stokes and Wegerath, of the bactcriologi- 
cal laboratory of the Baltimore Health Department, describe an investiga- 
tion of these granules, and advance a theory of their relation to immunity. 

In all the specimens of blood which he examined Miiller is said to have 
discovered a varying number of these small, refractive, spherical bodies of 
inderterminate origin and composition. Prom whence do these granules 
originate: It was noted that they resembled the granules of the eosino- 
philic and neutrophilic leucocytes. At times the granular leucocytes become 
actively ameboid, and the granules within the neutrophile exhibited charac- 
teristic activity. When this occurred the free granules increased in the 
plasma. This furnished what detectives would call a clue. 

Do these free granules come from the leucocyte, and can they be seen to 
do so? Stokes and Wegerath think they do, and that they have observed 
this phenomenon. They record a series of observations and experiments, 
all of which strengthen them in the conclusion that the granules of the 
eosinophil and neutrophile are present as free granules in the plasma and 
serum. 

What is the bearing of these bodies on the problems of immunity and 
natural resistance? The protective function of the leucocyte is a historic 
attribute. The doctrine of phagocytosis, while not comprising all the truth, 
contains an important part of it. This theory is summarized by Metchni- 
koff as follows: "We have the right to maintain that in the property of its 
ameboid cells to include and to destroy micro-organisms the animal body 
possesses a formidable means of resistance and defense against infectious 
agents." BuchiLer modified this theory by finding blood-serum bactericidal, 
though he admitted that the leucocyte probably furnished the substance 
which gave it this quality. Since then Bordet, Rail, Shattenfroh, Dzier- 



90 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

gowski and other investigators have determined beyond all dispute the 
bactericidal power of the leucocyte. 

The experiments by Stokes and Wegerath go to show thai filtered serum 
is deprived of its bactericidal qualities, and that the presence of a sediment 
consisting of grannies, leucocytes and red corpuscles restores to the serum 
its germicidal power. 

It being therefore demonstrated that the Leucocytes not only contain a 
bactericidal substance, but that under certain circumstances they can im- 
part it to the surrounding medium, experimental proof is sought to show 
thai the germicidal substance and the material that leaves the leucocyte 
are identical. 

This proof is, of course, very difficult to obtain. These investigators 
are. however, satisfied that in the observed separation of these granules 
from the leucocyte this is confirmed. 

The bearing of these facts upon immunity is important, and induces 
the writers to advance the following theory: "The bactericidal power of 
the Leucocyte of the blood, and of the serum of man and many animals, is 
due to the presence of specific granules, especially the eosinophilic and 
neutrophilic. When called upon to resist the action of invading bacteria, 
the granular Leucocytes can give up their granules to the surrounding 
fluids or t issues." 

To the genera] practitioner the bearing of such conclusions as these is 
of high significance. They emphasize tlie great importance of hematology 
as a branch of clinical diagnosis. Already the facts of leucocytosis have 
to be considered in estimating the prognosis of many diseases. In the 
near Future the microscope may give us not only valuable means of measur- 
ing the vis retentiae of the patient, but may enable us also to make confi- 
dent predictions as to his immunity. — Med. Age. 

CREALBIN. 

A combination of creolin and albumin, resembling ichthalbin ami tan- 
nalbin, has been introduced by Risselada (Pharm. Ztg., Vol. XLIL, p. 846) 
under the name of "Crealbin." It is said to be obtained by precipitating 
with diluted hydrochloric acid a mixture of lo parts of a 10-per-cent. solu- 
tion of dried albumin with 1 pail of creolin mixed with lo parts of water. 
The precipitate is dried on a water-hath, powdered, and subjected to further 
heat in a. drying-closet at a temperature of from 115 degrees to L20 degrees 
( '. for three hours. One h undred parts of albumin yield about 1 on pails of 
crealbin. 

The new preparation is intended for internal administration, but reports 
regarding its use are still wanting. 



Alumni, College and Class Notes* 

CONTRIBUTORS. 

Alumni Association, . . . WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph G., 115 West 68th St., N. V. 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Classes prior to 1893. RUDOLPH GIFS, Phar.D. 115 West 65th St., N.Y. 
Bibliography, .... ADOLPH HENNING, Ph. G. 6S William St., N. Y. 

Class '93, .... EUGENE 1'. LOHR, Ph. G., 508 Marcv Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Class '94, ..... L- G. MARCUS, Ph.G., 1=122 Third Ave., N. Y. 

Class '95, ..... G. F. MANVILLE, 310 W. 113th St., N. Y. 

Class '96, . . . Chas. G. H. GERKEN, Phar. D., 2655 Second St., Brooklyn. 

Class '97, ..... C. W. MEINECKE, Ph. G., 57S Fifth Ave., N. Y. 

Class '98, ..... L. EICKWORT. Jr.. 115 West 6Sth St., N. Y. 

Class '99, ..... CLARA F. EHLIN. 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 

Legal Notes, ..... . H. A. HEROLD, 2o6B'way, N. Y. 

Post Graduate Class of '96, .... . HARRY B. FERGUSON, Phar. D. 

N. Y. C. P. C. C. . ... N. S. KIRK, Ph. G., 4=0 Third Ave, N. Y 

'93 NOTES. 

The ever-verdant Sammy is enjoying a great deal of newspaper notoriety 
since he has come over to Long Island. First, he figured as the kidnapper in 
an affair, and now as the kidnapped. Too bad he got away from you, old 
man, but a pirate's life is not what it's cracked up to be. 

laschke, I hear, is recommending everybody the Talcum Powder he Avon 
in that bicycle event at the Outing. 

The ball was a success, despite our inability to attend. When we found we 
could not go, we had grave fear as to its success from a social and financial 
point; but so are the mighty forgotten! 

We found our Billy Hoburg mercilessly quizzing the Juniors, as if. though, 
he had never been a student himself. But the ever-dignified Billee never bent 
an inch. Eugene P. Lohr. 

'94 NOTES. 

Aluinni Day, April 27th; Commencement, April 28th. Come over and "enjoy 
youselves." 

At the college election in March Herold received some complimentary votes- 
for member of the Board of Trustees; too few, however, to elect him. 

Stoerzer drops in to see us occasionally; he is still dispensing (?) on Third 
avenue, and, as usual, always conies around well loaded; that is, with yarns. 

Conrad Grogan, whose fine stare has been the subject of cuts in pharma- 
ceutical journals of late, has had considerable litigation with the manufacturers 
of a well-known preparation, owing to his asserted statements of it containing 
morphine. Conrad, I learn from good authority, is engaged. 

'98 NOTES 

Our apologies are due the class for the lack of '98 notes last issue. The of 
ficial stenographer was so busily engaged preparing for the board examination 
that lie could find no time in winch to make up the required notes. 

The final election of Class Valedictorian took place Wednesday, January 
26th. The vote was: Mr. Richards, 80; Mr. Eickwort, 66. 

The City Board of Pharmacy held its regular examination on Mondajv 
February 21st, at the college building. From the large number of the boys who 
passed a successful examination, we would infer, not that the examination was- 
a "cinch," but that the amount of knowledge possessed by a man of ordinary 
intelligence, after studying at the N. Y. C. P. for a year and a half, is far above 
the average. 

An invitation had been extended to the class by the "Maltine" Company 



92 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

;iik1 by Mr. Fraser, of tablet-triturate fame, to visit their works in Brooklyn 
on the afternoon of February 21st. Whether the name "Maltine" carried with 
it a suggestion of malt liquor or not, we know not, but certainly there was an 
unusually large crowd present. 

The reaction from the morning's hard work was evident, and the boys 
were in the best of moods. The young lady employees at both establishments 
seemed unusually attractive, and. while we do not know whether they were 
informed of our visit or not. it must be admitted that they upheld the repu- 
tation of Brooklyn as the "city of pretty girls," A light repast of sandwiches. 
cake, cream and coffee was served ;il the Maltine works. The method of pre- 
paring tablets seemed particularly interesting to the boys. One of our bright 
stars showed his lack of knowledge by asking a young lady stenographer who 
was playing a waltz on the keys "where the tablets came out." Finally, at 
dusk, after having successfully eluded the dangerous trolley cars and the 
wiles of the pretty girls, we arrived safely in New York, pronouncing the trip 
a decided success. 

Our friend "Pepo" of Boonville is working very hard of late. We wish 
him all success. 

The class dinner will be held Friday evening, April 22d. Remember, boys, 
one pack of cigarettes a day less from now till then pays for the dinner. It's 
Lent now, and you ought to deny yourselves some little pleasures, anyway. 
We would suggest that the young ladies eat lour pounds less of Fluyler's. The 
feast will be the evenl of the season, and we all ought to be present at this 
last reunion before our final parting. 

The •'.Methyl Quartette" remains as popular as ever. Their field of con- 
quests has been extended beyond the college walls, and of late they have been 
sinning before appreciative audiences in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Man- 
hattan. 

Athletics are booming once more. The ball team has been practicing con- 
scientiously of late, and they expect to be college champions after their game 
with '99 next Saturday. 

The preparations tor Commencement are progressing rapidly, and Treasurer 
Alpers is fairly snowed in under I lie vast Lumber of *10 bills coming his way. 

Have you ordered a class photograph yet'/ Do, or you'll regret it. Judging 
by the proofs, the picture will be fully up to the standard of beauty, and in 
numbers will far exceed that of any former class. 

The S. ('. hold sessions daily in the back row of the lecture room—President 
Alpers, Vice-President Shaeffer, Secretary and Treasurer Wells. This club is 
very exclusive, and does not take in members indiscriminately. 

Holcomb does not expect to gel any rebate on his breakage fee. 

Our president is burning the midnight oil. lie must have his eye on some 

[)]■]■/! s. 

The bicycle club ought to .net a number of recruits from the present class. 

Captain <iies expects to have a thoroughly efficient military company com- 
posed of '98 boys by the time war is declared. 

Our members from up the State who are in town temporarily are becoming 
Tiowling swells. They promenade Broadway nearly every afternoon. 

'99 NOTES. 
.Mr. Kessler of Section I. is about to make his first appearance at the col- 
lege <pii/>7. class in the comedy sketch entitled "No Prompting Allowed": Prof. 
— . leading man. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 93 

Our Phenomal Quizz Club is still holding its meetings on a full stomach. 
Some curious answers may be heard in the Quizz after they have partaken 
of some of Schuyler's jtasteries. 

Many of the boys stay in New York City through the summer vacation. A 
few, however (among them Hamlen, Biven, Gould, Dichey, White, Wittie, Da 
vidson, the Brooklyn and Jersey City boys), will spend the season at their 
homes. 

Clark lias not yet recovered from a severe attack of scarlet lever. 

It may be by the law of compensation, but it is noticeable thai the boys 
who can't excel in correct answers get there when it comes to makinga noise 
"'just the same." 

According to one student, the litre is the unit of United States linear meas- 
ure and the metre of English. (Oh, land! you don't say so. 1 

According to one "witty" gentleman, precipitation is when two liquids are 
combined, and they turn into a solid. 

Still another gentleman insists that water is the most powerful stimulant 
known to mankind. 

Professor. — Which is heavier, a gramme of water or a gramme of ILSOj? 

Student.— A gramme of IUSOi. (Laughter. 1 

Student. — Oh, I meant a gramme by weight. 

Every college has its songs. Why should nol the X. Y. C. I'. V Tne follow- 
ing verses set to ".Marching through Georgia" are submitted, not on account 
■of their literary merit, but in the hope that they may stimulate some of those 
who are more talented to write something worthy the name of "N. Y. C. P. 
College Song": 

I. 

A band of loyal pharmacists, 
We sing with voices strong: 
Every voice delights to sing 
Our Alma Mater song. 
Then we give the college yell. 
To show where we belong. 
Proud of our city and our college. 

CHORUS. 
Hurrah: Hurrah: for old X. Y. C. P. 
While life remains, may we lie true to thee; 
And. though no fame we bring to thy name, 
From stain we'll keep it free. 
Loyal for aye to Alma Mater. 

II. 
Our college days loo quickly pass. 
While lectures we attend. 
And make emulsions, liniments. 
And mixtures without end: 
Pills which, though looking innocent, 
We would not give a friend. 
Capsules and powders without number. 



94 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

III. 
Before we part, with cheerful heart, 
We'll drink each other's health. 
And wish each merry student here 
Both happiness and wealth, 
And freedom from all enemies 
That threaten him by stealth. 
But not a trace of care or sadness. 

By the way, Gold water of Section III., not the gentleman mentioned last 
week, is the one who deserves the credit of procuring the Ruhnakovff coil, by 
the aid of which we were treated to an exhibition of "X rays." It was loaned 
by his brother. C. F. Ehlin. 

COLLEGE NOTES. 

The annual election has taken place, and. there being no contest, the ticket. 
as proposed by the Nominating Committee, went through. 

The college year is nearing its close, the examinations begin April 12th. 
Commencement will be held, April 28th, at Carnegie Music Hall, Fifty-seventh 
street and Third avenue. The Seventh Regiment Band will again delight the 
audience with their superb music. Ex-President Samuel W. Fairchild has been 
appointed chairman of the Commencement Committee in place of our most 
honored and mourned friend, Hermon W. Atwood. Five new members were 
elected at the last meeting of the Board of Trustees, and eight names were 
proposed for membership; but we want still more of them, especially Alumni. 
Hurry up, boys; join in the good work; it don't cost you much. Send your 
name in to the undersigned, care of the college. Five dollars is the amount 
of the annual- dues. E. R. B. 

The annual election held on March 14th brought out a large delegation from 
both the Alumni Association and German Apothecaries' Society, the following 
ticket, prepared by the Nominating Committee, being elected: 

President— Edward Kemp. 

First Vice-President — Charles F. Chandler. 

Second Vice-President — 

Third Vice-President— 

Treasurer — Clarence O. Bigelow. 

Secretary— Thomas F. Main. 

Assistant Secretary— O. J. Griffin. 

Trustees (three years)— O. Amend, A. Henning. 

"The Factotum" indulged in a drink at the college meeting, but as it was 
only water his back was turned to the audience. These are, indeed, hard times! 

ALUMNI DA\ 
The customary reception will again be extended to the Junior Class on 
Wednesday afternoon, April 27th, when the prizes of a torsion balance, U. S. 
Dispensatory and U. S. Pharmaeopea (sheep) will be awarded to the three 
successful candidates. An interesting programme, consisting of vocal and in- 
strumental music, recitations, comical sketches, etc., has been arranged for, the 
election of alumni officers for the ensuing year following. Association and 
college members, students and their friends are cordially invited to attend. 



VOL. V. MAY, 1898. NO. 5. 



tbe 



loumal of pharmacology 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMN? ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARHACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 






CONTENTS. 

Medicine of the Chinese, ..... 95 

Franklin Staples, M.D. 

Alumni Association Officers, .... 103 

-d [Part I ios 

» Program < ^ , TT J 

s (Part II 109 

Abstracts and Reviews, . . . . . 1 1 1 

College, Alumni and Class Notes, . . . 113 




Entered as second-class matter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, January 20th, 1897. 




MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor an 

"essence of malt." 
MALTINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive and 

digestive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 
It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic field for 

more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ablest 

pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching it in 

medicinal value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

"Halt" is not "MALTINE." 

» Extract o77\alt" is not "HALTINE." 

" Essence of Malt" is not "MALTINE." 

"MALTINE" must be "designated to get "HALTINE." 



WEINHAGEISTS 
Retested Clinical Thermometers 



WEINHAGEISTS 



SOLID PISTON ASEPTIC 
HYPODERMICTABLET SYRINGE 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe is easily 
cleaned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish them without cases. 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

ALL JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. WEINHAGEN 



Established 1855. 



22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. 



NEW YORK, U. S. A. 



Ok 



Journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, 1 herapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumni Association of the Collepe of Pharmacy of the City of New York. 



Vox,. V. 



NEW YORK, MAY, li 



No. 5. 



MEDICINE OF THE CHINESE. 



By Fkanklin Staples, M. D. 



Whatever has pertained to the civilization of the Chinese has been 
characterized by a fixedness not known in the history of any other people. 
Dr. Baas aptly likens the Mongolians, in this their dominant character, to 
what exists in the organic world, which, once crystalized, remains forever 
unchanged, with no inherent tendency either to grow or decay; while the 
civilization of other peoples, those of Indo-Germanic origin, he compares 
to what is in the organic kingdom, whose existence involves the certainty 
of changes incident to life. "With the latter, civilizations have sprung up, 
developed, bloomed and decayed, and finally perished, sometimes with the 
peoples themselves.'' The possibility of such permanence in the: habits 
and in what pertains to the lives of the Chinese is accounted for, in part at 
least, by the fact that it has ever been the policy of the government of this 
vast empire to keep itself intellectually and physically free from inter- 
mixing with foreign races. 

The materia] constituting the ancient history of different peoples has 
been transmitted to modern times in different ways. Evidences of the 
character and cultivation of the ancient Egyptians appear on remaining 
monuments in ancient ruins and tombs; the learning of the Greeks has 
come to us in the Creek literature which has been preserved. Neither 
monuments nor historical literature are found in China to furnish history 
much older than the present era. Unreliable and exaggerated traditions 
are found, which attribute certain scientific works to persons living in the 
remote past. As illustrative of these, it was given that the Emperor Chin- 
nung (B. C. 2699), who was the reputed author of a work on medicinal 

(From Northwestern Lancet.) 



LIBRARY 
NEW YORK 
BOTANICAL 

GARDEN. 



9 6 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



herbs, had discovered in one day no less than seventy different species of 
poisonous plants, and at the same time others that were antidotes for the 
poisons of the first seventy. What belonged to ancient Sin, Chin, Sinae, 
China or Seres, or to mediaeval China, has come down in living generations 
of many centuries, and exists with little change of form and substance 
among the Chinese of modern times. In quite recent times some innova- 
tions have been made by foreigners, and natives educated abroad have car- 
ried the results of their learning to home institutions; but, for the most 
part, the present tense may be used in describing customs which, so far as 
known, have always existed. 

Something is known of a Chinese 1 literature, which is extensive, and is 
believed by some to have had its beginning as early as the sixth century. 
In the ninth century the Chinese invented printing by means of engraved 
blocks. With these, used as stamps, fine printing was done on silk and other 
textile material and on paper. 1 Movable type made of clay are mentioned 
as used by the Chinese from the middle of the eleventh century. In the 
British Museum is a Corean book printed with movable type in 1337. The 
Coreans are said to have printed by means of copper type at the beginning 
of the fifteenth century. 

EAELY MEDICAL WORKS AND AUTHORS. 

The name Hwang-te appears as that of a Chinese emperor (B. C. 2637), 
who was given as the author of a treatise on medicine. There is much un- 
certainty concerning the time of the origin of this work, and its author- 
ship has been doubted, in the belief that it is probably a forgery of about 
the beginning of the present era. 2 This medical work, which is entitled 
"Nuy-kin" or "Neiszin," is still extant, and the fact that it still serves as 
a medical guide is noticed as evidence of the unchangeableness and lack of 
progress in medicine, as in all things pertaining to human life and affairs 
in China. 

Before the time of Hwang-te appears the mythical character, Chin- 
Nung, who is given as the good emperor, who invented agriculture. The 
tradition is that he tested all the drugs upon his own person, before allowing 
them to be used upon others, and that he succeeded in prolonging his own 
life and the lives of his people by introducing healthful articles of food. 

Che-Hwang-te (B. C. 213), who was a powerful emperor, the builder 
of the great Chinese wall, is noted as the burner of books. This he did in 
opposition to the schoolmen of the nation, who opposed him in his ad- 
ministration of the government. But the writings of Hwang-te, and per- 
haps others, escaped destruction at this time. 

ljames Freeman Clark, in "Confucius and the Chinese." 
^Baas' History of Medicine. Henderson, p. 51. 



THIS JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 97 

We have some account of the following as among early Chinese works 
and authors: Nang-King wrote on medicine in the second century. Wang- 
Shu in the third century wrote ten large volumes on the pulse. Nothing 
farther is noted until A. D. 1247, when Sung-Tse is accredited with a work 
on forensic medicine. This work is said to contain valuable observations 
on the symptoms of drowning, and the fame of its mysterious wisdom is 
so great that the very sight of it is said to be enough to make poisoners, 
etc., confess their crimes. About A. D. 1500 appeared the Chinese cyclo- 
paedia of medicine, edited by Prince Chu-Su, of the Ming dynasty, and 
comprising 160 volumes, 770 treatises and 22,000 prescriptions. It was 
mainly from this that a committee of 800 physicians, under the presidency 
of Li-Shi-Chin, compiled in 1596 the famous Pun-Tsaou-Kang-mu, or Chi- 
nese materia medica, in fifty-two volumes, describing 1,890 drugs. Medi- 
cal literature then degenerated for a time into shorter monographs, of which 
only that on acupuncture (seven volumes with copious illustrations) may 
be noticed. In 1740 appeared a work of ninety volumes on the pulse, with 
a short notice of the circulation of air in the body and the treatment of 
fractures; and about the same time the Pentasco, or chief Chinese work 
on botany, was published (Withington). 

A LACK OF FOUNDATION. 

It has been observed that, while the history of medicine since the time 
of Hippocrates shows that among the people of the advancing nations of 
the world the effort has been to establish the science of medicine upon the 
real foundation of anatomy and physiology, yet among the Chinese and 
other kindred people such a basis for the science of medicine has been 
mostly unknown. With no foundation for medicine other than the demon 
theory of disease, which has obtained among the Mongolians to the present 
time, no development of science has been possible. As said by Dunglison, 
"A variety of insurmountable obstacles have opposed themselves to the 
Chinese ever attaining the same degree of civilization that the European 
arrives at with so much comparative facility. The first is situated in his or- 
ganization, whether natural or acquired by education: the second, in the 
frightful despotism which hangs over his head; the third, in the foolish 
vanity which has induced him to believe that China is the country of 
wisdom and the sciences." 3 

The religion of a people never fails to have a great part in the forma- 
tion of its civilization and in affecting its advancement in science and art. 
Kung-foo-tseu (Latin, Confucius), born in China (B. C. 551), became a 

^History of Medicine, Dunglison, p. 71. 



9 8 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



great philosopher. lie was a man of great virtue, and gained an influence 
over the whole Chinese people. The great endeavor of Confucius was to 
remedy the political and moral evils of his time. He had many disciples, 
who recorded the sayings and maxims of their master, and the sacred 
hooks of the Chinese have preserved these precepts for the benefit of the 
people through all the centuries to the present time. He was successful in 
causing reforms, and no name stands above that of Confucius in the na- 
tion's annals. Confucianism has been called the chief religion of the 
Chinese. It was more an education in what pertained to material life, and 
in many things tended to elevate the people; but the great reformer hoped 
for more than has been realized in the progress of his people. Their re- 
ligion has been an agnosticism, and an adherence to the worship of an- 
cestors. Shamanism and Taoism, terms applied to Chinese religion, are 
but other names for sorcery. Taoism is a religion of great antiquity. It 
involves an implicit faith in sorcery. The Chinese have degenerated 
Buddhism, the religion originally an Indian product, into these religions, 
which have continued to the present time. 4 In the mythology of the Chi- 
nese, as in that of ancient Egypt and Greece, distinguished physicians are 
made to appear as deities; but in China such a distinction seems to be al- 
lowed principally to emperors and high officials in the government. The 
Emperor Fuh-Hi is mentioned as the first physician and the deity of doc- 
tors. Kuang Tai Uong is the god of surgery. Ling Xa is the goddess of 
midwifery and children. If children are sick, Taoist priests are employed 
in her temples to perform a ceremony for their cure. Ioh Xong Cha Su 
is the god of medicine and drugs. Druggists rather than physicians are 
his worshippers. 5 

The veneration for ancestors and the value put upon the body after death 
lead the Chinese to take great pains in the care and burial of their dead. 
The motive here, and the object in view which prompts this care and re- 
gard for the dead, differs from that which in ancient Egypt caused the 
careful preservation of the dead body. The custom there resulted mainly 
from the belief that the same body was to be the future tenement of the 
soul. The time of mourning for a parent in China is three years, and 
for other relations in proportion. No expense is spared "in rendering the 
dead comfortable." "Every good Chinaman regularly burns incense be- 
fore the tablet to his father's memory. There is in every respectable house 
the hall of ancestors, where the pedigree of the family, with the grandsire 
at the head, is inscribed, and here their descendants repair in spring to 
perform their devotions; then they go to the graves and present rich of- 

4Berdoe, from ProT. Telle, in art.. •.Religions," Enc. Brit. 
SKarl F. A. Gutslaff, from "China Opened." 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



99 



ferings of all kinds of victuals, candies, flowers and incense; of which, 
however, they afterward scruple not to make use themselves. The sums ex- 
pended are enormous," but every one considers it his sacred duty, and no 
one murmurs. At stated times, when the body has mouldered into dust, 
they go and wash the bones, and place them in an urn, which is generally 
preserved above ground. 

The element of superstition which appears in most things pertaining 
to Chinese life is illustrated by the. following: The belief prevails that the 
infliction of demons on sufferers is by act of the gods, as punishment for 
sins commuted as well in a supposed previous existence as in the present 
life. The following case, among others, is given by Berdoe: Archdeacon 
Grey found a grievously afflicted monk in a monastery in the White Cloud 
Mountain. He desired to take him to the Canton Medical Missionary Hos- 
pital; but the abbot took him aside and begged him not to do so, as the 
sufferer had doubtless in a former state of existence been guilty of some 
heinous crime, for which the gods were then making him pay the well- 
merited penalty. 7 

WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CONTROL. 

Concerning the governmental control, or rather the want of it, in the 
practice of medicine in China, it is observed that the ancient and unlimited 
liberty of engaging in this business has not only rendered any educational 
standard for admission impossible, but has made the number of prac- 
titioners enormous. The following, however, as given by a German writer, 
while it suggests governmental interference, has a more important bearing 
upon what is the character of the profession. "The doctors," so runs the 
edict of 1882, "have the bad habit of not visiting their patients before 
one o'clock in the afternoon. Some 1 of them even smoke opium and drink 
tea until late in the evening. These are abuses which the government 
will under no circumstances permit. Doctors must visit their patients at 
all times; if necessary, they must visit them several times a day. They 
must think more about them and less about their fees. The public and all 
officials are notified that a physician who does not come at once when called 
can claim only half of his fees and expenses. If you physicians put off your 
calls, you manifest your godlessness, and sin against yourselves." 

THE OUTLOOK. 

Had it not been for the exclusiveness of the Chinese from all other 
peoples in the long past, not only more might have been known Concern- 
's Si i doe from "Doolittle'* social Life of the Chinese." 
'Fruiu ' Doctoiiny i' China," National Keview," May, 1889. 



IOO THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

ing what science and art may have existed among them at any time, hut 
it is possible that more might have been added to the credit side of their 
account. It is known that the Chinese have long had some knowledge of 
the circulation of the blood, although their anatomy of the circulation is 
very imperfect. It is said that the Chinese inoculated for small pox in 
the ninth century; yet it is known that they have goddesses of small pox and 
measles that are extremely popular divinities. '•Should it thunder after 
the pustules of small pox have appeared, a drum is beaten to prevent them 
breaking. On the fourteenth day ceremonies are performed before the 
goddess, to induce her to cause the pustules to dry up." 8 

Acupuncture is largely practiced, and this is supplemented by the use 
of the hot iron. Many varieties of the pulse are given, each having its 
own significance. The wily physician will impress his patient by sitting 
an hour with his fingers moving in a rythmic way over the region of the 
pulsating artery, and then pretend to make his diagnosis and prognosis 
from what he has discovered. But this practice is as good and worthy as 
some procedures accepted and allowed in the light of English and American 
civilization of the present day, where persons who ought to be better edu- 
cated have been known to send a lock of hair to a distant quack, or to sub- 
mit to the laying-on of hands and other so-called "faith-cure" performances. 

A recent writer (Dr. Park) sums up concerning Chinese medicine and 
surgery as follows: "It is related that one of the ancient Chinese emperors 
directed the dead bodies of criminals to be opened; but this is questionable, 
since they have the most profound ignorance of rudimentary anatomy, and 
glaring errors abound in their system. Being thus replete with errors, and 
possessing no anatomical knowledge, their surgery was of the most bar- 
barous type, No one dared attempt a bloody operation; the reduction of 
hernia was unknown; a cataract was regarded as beyond their resources, and 
even venesection was never practiced. On the other hand, they employed 
cups, and acupuncture, fomentations, plasters of all kinds, lotions and 
baths. The moxa, or red-hot button, was in constant use, and they had 
their magnetizers, who appear to have been convulsionists. For a long 
time there existed at Pekin an Imperial School of Medicine; but now there 
is no such organization, nor any regulation for the privilege of practicing 
medicine or surgery since 1792. At least until lately the country and the 
cities were infested with quacks, who dealt out poison and death with 
impunity. They practiced most murderous methods in the place of the 
principles of midwifery. Only since the civilized missionaries have pene- 
trated their country has there been any improvement in this condition of 
affairs." 

8Berdo \ from "Doolittle's Social Life of the Chinese." 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



IOI 



r 




ARTHUR CLAYTON SEARLES. 
President of the Alumni Association. 



102 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



TARTARLITHINE 



FOR 



GOUT AND 
RHEUMATISM 

Superior to fcithia Waters, kithia Tablets, Salicylates or 
Alkaline bithia Preparations. 



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IS ENTIRELY 
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Pamphlet on the Treatment of Rheumatism by Tartarlithine sent 
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91 Fulton Street, NEW YORK. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 103 

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES 

OF THE 

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. 

For i897='98. 



PRESIDENT, 

ARTHUR CLAYTON SEARLES. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

II. A. HEROLD. JULIUS TANNENBAUM. JOHN GLASSFOED. 

SECRETARY, 

WM. A. HOBURG, JR., 115 W. 68th Street, New York. 

TREASURER, 

C. S. ERB, 121 Amsterdam Avenue, New York. 

REGISTRAR, 

K. C. MAHEGIN. 

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 
A. KENNING, | Term expires E. F. LOHK, ^ Term expires 

H. B. FERGUSON, } : 9 °o HENRY KREUDER, j" is 9 8 

GEORGE C. DIEKMAN, M. 1)., ) Term ex i jires 



ALFRED STOVER, j is 99 

DELEGATES TO THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION MEETING. 

G. C. DIEKMAN. CHAS. FRIEDGEN. RUDOLF GIES. 

C. II. GERKEN. A. HENNING. 

COMMITTEE ON TAPERS AND QUERIES. 

H. A. HEROLD, Chairman. JOHN OEHLER. W. P. GREGORIUS. 

COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION. 

WM. C. VINCENT, Chairman. JULIE M. LAW ALL. 

H. C. BECKER. 

COMMITTEE ON ENTERTAINMENT. 

RUDOLF GIES, Chairman. F. W. KOCH. 

NELSON S. KIRK. S. SUMNER SHEARS. EUGENE LOHR. 



104 



THE JOURNAL OF THARMACOLOG Y. 



FOX, FULTZ & CO., 

MANUFACTURERS 

and IMPORTERS OP 




DRUGGISTS 

GLASSWARE 



AND SUNDRIES 



| SHELF BOTTLE?, SHOW JARS, SCALES, &G. 
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,-«?? *r W^ft?tfft?ft¥9W9999W9V* '** «««9??9?99*9?99 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 105 

PART I. 

1. PIANO SOLO Selected 

MR. M. MANDLEBAUM. 

* * * 

2. SELECTION 

METHYL QUARTETTE. 

* * * 

3. WELCOME TO CLASS OF '98 

CHAIRMAN ALUMNI DAY COMMITTEE. 

* * * 

4. AVE MAEIA 

ALOYSIUS LEO O'KEEFE. 

mi m #» 

5. SOPRANO SOLO Selected 

MISS JENNIE SFENCE. 

* * * 

6. MARCH CHATEAUGAY— Mandolin and Guitar Shears 

MESSRS. SHEARS AND POTTER. 

* * * 

7. HUMOROUS Selected 

J. S. BURDETT. 

Through the courtesy of the Lowe Bros, and Co., Crystal H20 table 
water will he provided for our guests. 



io 6 THE JOUKNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

CAPSULES 

Filled 

Hat*d 122 Elastic ••• ••• + •*- 

AvS WELL AS 

••• ••• ••• ••• Empty Capsules 

Largest Line, Greatest Variety Offered by the 

FISCHER CHEWICAIt IOlPORTIflG CO. 

Then if you want the finest 

C. P. Chemicals 

for Prescription Use, you should order from the same firm who are 

DIREGT IMPORTERS 

/Vlounted Caustic Pencils in great variety of kinds and prices. 
Normal Springes — the only perfect Syringe on the market. 

SOLE AGENTS FOR— 

E0S0T, Valerianate Creosote. 
Cy\ •*>(*• GE0SOT, Valerianate Guaiacol. 
* URIGEBIN, Uric Acid Solvent. 

SEND FOR PRICE LISTS. 

Fischer Chemical Importing Co., 

14 Piatt Street, -- -- - = NEW yORK 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



107 




WM. A. HOBURG Jr. 

Secretary of the Alumni Association. 



ioS 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 




THE PHARMACY OF ADRIAN PARADIS, IQI FULTON, COR. NASSAU ST. 

Designed and made by the New York Store Fixture Co., 1-^2 to 150 
Bank Street, New York. 



This company is well equipped with 
machinery, experience, technical and art- 
istic knowledge for the manufacture of 
druggists' fixtures. They have been he- 
fore the public seventeen years and have 
in that time originated many features of 
value, which can only be had in perfect 
form from them. Their fall cases for 
use in stores that are too narrow to ad- 
mit of counters on both sides, their sy- 
stem of sliding doors and the drawer work 
■cannot be excelled. 



This company is constantly being coi 
suited on the subject of fixtures by tl 
leading druggists in this country and ' 
some extent Europe, and frequently g 
suggestions of value from clients, th 
are incorporated into the general wor 
Thus the youngest druggist in coming 
them gets the benefit of years of study 
some of the most astute men in this pr 
fession. 



THE JOUKNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 109 

PART II. 

1. SELECTION 

METHYL QUARTETTE. 

* 9 9 

2. HEADING OF THE JUNIOR ROLL OF HONOR 

BY GEO. C. DIEKMAN, M. D., Ph. G. 

V 9 V 

3. LEDGERMAIN 

ERNEST ARNOLD. 

* * * 

4. PRESENTATION OF ALUMNI PRIZES 

BY ARTHUR C. SEARLES, PRESIDENT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. 

1st Prize — Springer Torsion Balance. 
2d Prize— U. S. Dispensatory. 
3d Prize— U. S. Pharmacopoeia. 

9 9 9 

5. THE BRIAR ROSE 

MISS H. SJOBERG. 
+ '+-<* 

6. DUFFY'S BLUNDERS 

C. W. POTTER. 

9 9 9 

7. READING 

MR. J. L. DRISLANE. 

The Committee on Prizes are indebted to The Springer Torsion Bal 
ance Co. for their many courtesies. 



no 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 




A. HENNING. 

Member of the Executive Board of the Association. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



Ill 




ABSTRACTS. 



Disinfection of the Hands.— Dr. Wier, in an interesting paper pub- 
lished in the N. Y. Med. Record, gives a new method of disinfecting the 
hands. From the results of the experiments, and he has tested it quite 
thoroughly, it appears to possess the advantages of the best methods now 
in use as regards efficiency of sterilization, without their serious disad- 
vantages of injury to the hands. The method consists of the usual pre- 
liminary scrubbing with soap and water; then a handful of chloride of 
lima is moistened with water, and a crystal of carbonate of soda is added. 
This mixture is rubbed over the hands and arms, forming a creamy paste. 
When a sensation of coolness is felt in the hands, which occurs after the 
paste has been on a few minutes, the hands are washed in sterile water. 
Scrapings from the nails after this procedure yielded cultures in less than 
5 per cent, of the experiments. 



1 1 2 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Trikresol as an Antiseptic for Collyria— Dr. E. A. de Schweinitz,. 
Biochemic Laboratory, Professor of Chemistry at the Columbian Medical 
College, Washington, D. C, of the Department of Agriculture*, has experi- 
mented with trikresol as an agent to prevent the contamination of collyria 
with harmful bacteria (Therapeutic Gazette, July 16, 1895). Chemical 
sterilization of such solutions has not been satisfactory in the past, owing 
to the strength of carbolic acid, corrosive sublimate or mercury cyanide 
that must be used to insure disinfection. First he found that a l-to-1,000 
solution of trikresol in ordinary Potomac Kiver water completely sterilized 
it. The same solution dropped into a rabbit's eye produced not the 
slightest irritation; nor did the injection of the same solution into the 
anterior chamber cause more hyperaemia of the blood vessels in the ciliary 
region just above the point of injection than a simple puncture of the 
cornea would have done. Trikresol water, 1 to 1,000, dropped into the cul- 
de-sac of the human eye, did not cause the least burning or irritation. 

Collyria of cocaine, atropine and eserine of the usual strength were 
then prepared, a 1-1,000 aqueous solution of trikresol being employed as 
the solvent. The bottles were then left uncorked and exposed in the closets 
and in the open air for days and weeks. They remained clear, and no 
cultures could be made from them. Some of them have stood this test 
for months. 

Dr. Schweinitz recommends that a 1-1,000 aqueous trikresol solution 
be employed instead of water in making up collyria. Even a 1-500 
solution caused no burning when dropped into his own eyes. In many 
cases the trikresol solution 1 to 500 could be used more advantageuosly 
than the 1 to 1,000. In addition to the usual solutions kept in the ordinary 
treatment case, there should also be a small vial of trikresol water for 
rinsing the pipettes after use. By this method he thinks that the fungus 
and bacterial growths often found in collyria might be prevented, as well 
as any eye complications resulting from the use of a contaminated solution. 
He concludes that as trikresol has been found to be such a good antiseptic,, 
and to be fatal to the pyogenes aureus, it will doubtless be very useful in 
general ophthalmological practice. 

Potassium Permanganate as an Antidote to Morphine. — Dr. Charles 
A. Holder, Assistant Demonstrator of Pharmacy in the Jefferson Medical 
College, writes to the Therapeutic Gazette for January, 1898, page 11, of 
his investigations on this subject. Fully accepting the evidence that when 
this is brought into contact with morphine in the stomach it at once neu- 
tralizes it by reduction, and having determined that in a test tube at least 
2 grs. of the permanganate are required to reduce 1 gr. of morphine, he set 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 113 

out to determine its efficacy as an antidote when subcutaneously injected. 
He first established the toxic dose for dogs at .6 to .7 gram of morphine for 
each kilo of body-weight, and then killed six dogs by using a dose of .75 
gram. Five other dogs were then similarly treated with morphine sulphate, 
immediately followed by hypodermic injections of the permanganate. The 
effect of the morphine was found to be exactly the same as though no per- 
manganate had been taken. 

BOOK REVIEWS. 

Drug Topics.— Published every two weeks by McKessen & Robbins. 

This excellent little summary is bright and up to date. Our readers 
would do well to send in 50 cents to "Drug Topics," 95 Fulton Street, and 
get it for a year. There is much in it to liven up the weary hours. 

Alumni, College and Class Notes* 

CONTRIBUTORS. 

Alumni Association, . . . WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph.G ., 1 15 West 68th 1 St., N. Y . 
Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Classes prior to 1893. RUDOLPH GIHS, PharD 115 West 6SthSt., N.Y. 

Biblioeraohv • • • • ADOLPH HENNING, Ph.G. 68 William St., N. Y. 

Class 'V* • • EUGENE F. LOHR, Ph.G., 508 Marcy Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Class 'oT ' ... L. G. MARCUS, Ph.G., 1522 Third Ave., N. ^ . 

olst'ol' ' ... G. F. MANVILLE, 310W. n 3 thSt.,N Y. 

Class '06 . . Chas. G.H.GERKEN, Phar.D., 26.S5 Second St., Brooklyn 

Ca ss-u7 • C.W.MEINKCKE, Ph. G.. 573 Fifth Ave., N.Y. 

Class 'q8 ' ' ' ' . • L. EICKWORT, Jr., 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 

CtaS'M . . CLARA F. EHLIN. 115 West 68th St., N.Y 

Ieral Notes ... • H. A. HEROLD, 206B'way, N.Y 

Poft Craduate Class of 'q6 . • HARRY B. FERGUSON, Phar. D. 

Post Graduate Class ot 96, . . . N . S . KIRK, Ph. G., 450 Third Ave., N. Y . 

College Pharmacy, Wed., April 13th, 1898. 

Meeting called to order by Pres. Kirk, 10.30 P. M. 

Members present, N. S. Kirk, C. H. Bjorkwall, A. E. Melville, H. Sasse, 
L. G. B. Erb, T. Davies, C. S. Erb, Ambos. 

Motion was made and carried that minutes of last meeting be dispensed 
' with. 

Pres. Kirk reported the action taken by the Alumni Association of the N. Y. 
C. P. giving the N. Y. C. P. P. P. entire charge of the athletic events at their 
annual outing. 

Committee appointed by Pres. Kirk to take charge of the games at the 
annual outing of the Alumni Association of the N. Y. C. P. to be held on June 
8th, 1898:— Ludwig G. B. Erb, chairman: C. H. Bjorkwall, J. S. Stage, Frank 
Pond, W. P. Gregorius. 

Meeting adjourned after motion of C. H. Bjorkwall. 

Ludwig G. B. Ebb, Sec. and Treas. 

Pursuant to custom, the Outing will again be held in June, possibly the 
second or third Wednesday. Sergt. Davies, who is chairman of the Arrange- 
ments Committee, will report at the Alumni meeting, on April 13th, when the 
grounds and date will be selected. The committee are endeavoring to find a 
suitable location on the water which, in addition to the essential advantages, 
will possess a good track for the cycle events, which are to be held under the 
auspices of the N. Y. C. P. C. C. 



II4 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

OBITUARY. 
Frederick H. Pamphilon, '85, died on March 29. He was born in Stafford, 
N. V.. in 1865, and for many years was the proprietor of a store on Fourth Ave.. 
Brooklyn, where he also served as president of the Kings County Pharmaceut- 
ical Society for several years. His remains were taken to Stafford for burial. 

'93 NOTES. 

We received a letter from Bert. Schreiner in which he says, Plainfield still 
has the honor of counting him among her citizens. 

Jos. Mayer is now a Phar.D., Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. What's the 
matter. Joe; is New York not good enough for you, or too good? 

Lawrence J. Meighan has followed the example of the other members of 
the Triple Allinaee (Shaaf, Jarchow and Meighan) and has put his neck into 
the yoke of matrimony. Our best wishes are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence 
J. Meighan. 

The aforementioned alliance is getting over-balanced on one end, as Jarchow 
now weighs as much alone as the other two-thirds of the combine. Any one 
not knowing what a prosperous " deutscher Apotheker" looks like, will get the 
required idea by calling at 445 Second Ave. 

Power has purchased a store in Plainfield, N. J. We are awaiting news 
of his marriage, as the two always seem to go together. 

The term at the Baltimore Medical College being over, Jake Stage is again 
making us happy with his presence. 

Another arrival from Baltimore is E. Lehmann. who has been studying at 
the Dental College there. Is it Baltimore's reputation for pretty girls that has 
attracted those two lady-killers there? 

Send ns news of yourselves and others of the class, boys, as my stock is 
running low, and the only way to keep up a presentable class column is for 
all of you to help me preserve the old '93 column. Eugene F. Lour. 

'94 NOTES. 

Special issue this month, commencement is yet a dream of the future, but 
I feel confident of having an opportunity of writing a lengthy list of names 
next mouth, so don't disappoint me, boys. If you haven't a ticket, why, come 
anyway, and we'll take care of you. 

The Outing, you know, is to be held on Wednesday afternoon, June 8th. 
We have made arrangements to get the moon full that night, so that if he lights 
on us. we will be prepared for the -hiring attack. By the way, bring your 
best girl with you. and perhaps we will congratulate you on your choice. 

Dr. Leo Geisler is with Beley, who has Kress's old stand on Sixth Ave. and 
52d St. Leo has done his share of Alumni work this season, having served 
on the Ball. Alumni Day, and other committees. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ely paid us a visit on the 13th. inst.. when Frank had an 
opportunity of exchanging reminiscences with the '94 boys who were present. 
We hope to see more of him in the future. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 115 

Louis G. Seharnikow will again go To the Catskills this summer. He leaves 
the city on June 15th to take a position in Smith's Pharmacy, at Pine Hill, 
N. Y., where he will remain until the middle of September, after which he may 
he found at. the old stand (86th St. and Columbus Ave.) 

I>rs. J. Henry Wurthnian and Henry Kreuder are progressing nicely at P. 
and S., where their course concludes in a few weeks. In the event of war, I 
understand that they will both enlist. 

OUR TALENT— DO YOU RECOGNIZE THEM? 
Tom Reid, the boss, gavel specialty, A. C. S.; Barnum, "'cash up, you lose," 
('. S. E.; Walter Lamroseh, famous choral leader, W. A. H.; Weber or Fields, 
German impersonators, R. G.; Lew Dockstader, Negro impersonator, N. S. K.; 
Daniel Webster, statesman and orator, H. A. H.; Bill Bryan, free silver cham- 
pion, L. G. B. E.; Bill Nye, greatest joke(r) on earth, E. F. L.; Groner, C, an- 
ideal papa, J. T. ; Amos Rusie, champion pitcher, C. H. B.; Fitzimmons, 
champion pugilist, M. A. A.; Jimmy Michael, champion cyclist, J. S. S.: Linne, 
great botanist, "Hot Stuff" on club runs, H. B. F.; T. J. Byrnes, great bobbie, 
'" S;" Tom Pepper, great liar — too many entries in this class; if each aspirant 
will send .$5 to the business manager of this Journal, arrangements might be 
made for a special issue. 

POST GRADUATE '98 NOTES 
Herman F. Ahrens, '97, who was fatally ('!) injured by an explosion while 
assaying alkaloids in the Pharmaceutical Laboratory, is slowly recovering. In 
an interview he desired to most emphatically contradict the statement that 
the accident occurred while preparing high explosives with "Granz." It is 
rumored that a benefit will shortly be tendered. 

Glassford and Hager are supposed 1 ?) to be the two hardest workers in 
the class. Already their friends are beginning to call them doctors. 

N. Y. C. P. C. C. 

President, Nelson S. Kirk; Vice-president, Rudolph Gies; Secretary-Treas- 
urer, Capt. L. G. B. Erb, 539 E. 88th St.; Lieutenant. Harry B. Ferguson; Color 
Bearer, Otto N. Frankfurter. 

Annual dues, $1, payable quarterly; no initiation fee. 

SCHEDULE RUNS FOR MAY. 
1, Mount Vernon: 4, Point View Island: 8, Westchester; 15, Lynbrook, 
L. L; 18, Coney Island: 22, Fort Hamilton; 29, Hackeusack. 

Scorchers' notes were sent in last month — so find the editor. 

I cannot too strongly urge members to join the I.. A. W. Will gladly furnish 
information, indorse and forward applications. 

Jake Stage is rapidly developing into a "warm baby." Should he continue 
his rapid strides, our scorching element will have to hustle for prizes at the 
outing. 

Frank N. Pond has kindly consented to conduct half of the Sunday runs 
hereafter, consequently all members will now have ample opportunity of parti- 
cipating. " Get your moneys' worth." 



H 6 the journal of pharmacology. 

One lady accompanied us on our run to Bergen Point, and well did she 
keep up with the pace. Miss Androette is her name. We trust that she will 
frequently favor us with her presence now that the season has formally opened. 

Don't lose sight of the fact that the point view track has been altered, and 
that some valuable prizes are going to be awarded in the cycle events of the 
outing on Wednesday afternoon, June 8th. Scorcher. 

The N. Y. pharmaceutical journals of late have contained numerous articles 
regarding the shorter hours movement, pro and con, and I regret to note that 
the latter accounts have predominated. 

This, I think, is a deplorable condition of an educator of enlightened meth- 
ods, and can only account for it as being due to a tendency to cater to a certain 
class of bigoted pharmacists who. having always slaved, see no reason for a 
change. I will admit that the statue will inconvenience some of them, but, like 
all other new measures, time will remedy this, so that in a few years they will 
be ashamed of the condition that has prevailed. 

Many are of the opinion that the new movement will reduce wages by virtue 
of State immigration, but our reregistration pharmacy laAV together with the 
enactment of similar measures in other states, will soon eradicate this idea. 

An investigation in this city gratified me upon learning that in several stores 
shorter hours were already in force with the result of better satisfaction to 
both the pharmacist and his clerk. 

It would matter not what course instigators of this measure pursued, ob- 
jections would be raised, therefore all houor is due Ex-president Doehrr in his 
untiling efforts. 

I heard some say that they considered themselves better than a carpenter 
or hod carrier, hence their denunciation of the leagues' methods. I can correct 
their mistake by saying that these men came forward unsolicited as Americans, 
and honorably said, " Gentlemen, we deplore your condition, and will lend you 
our aid in your cause." Could any sentiment be nobler? 

Life is but a short period at the longest. To every man there comes a day 
when he looks back over his past record, then it is that the humane deeds and 
not the money-making ones that give him solace, to those pharmacists who 
have supported the measure which gives fathers time to spend with wife and 
children, sons to enjoy pleasures of life. I tend my thanks as an 

American Pharmacist. 



One of our best-known physicians who is admired, perhaps, most of all for 
his kindly disposition, was walking up Broadway recently, when he came 
across a little girl, shoeless, hatless, and looking very woebegone. " What are 
you doing, little one?" asked he. "Please, sir, I'm begging," was the reply. 
" Why! have you no father or mother? " asked the physician. " Yes, sir," said 
the little girl. "Mother's a beggar, and father's a beggar, too." "Well! well! 
and have you no sisters and brothers? " " Yes, sir," was the reply again, " but 
sister's begging, too." And what is your brother doing? " was the next question. 
" Please, sir, he's in the College of Physicians and Surgeons." The physician 
looked his surprise, and said: " How is that; your father, mother, sister and 
yourself are all beggars, and your brother is in the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons; how do you explain that?" "Oh! sir," said the girl, "brother is up 
there on a shelf in a bottle." 



VOL. V. JUNE, 1898. NO. 6. 



CD* 



Journal of Pharmacology 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARHACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 

Medicinal Plants of New Jersey, . . . 117 

H. H. Rusby, M.D. 

Some Clinical Methods of Examining the Blood, 122 

Thaddeus Walker, M.D. 

Editorials, . . . . . . . . 131 

Abstracts and Reviews, 133 

College, Alumni and Class Notes, . . . 135 




Entered as second-class matter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, January 20th, 1897. 



JKaltine 

MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor an 

"essence of malt." 
MALTINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive and 

digestive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 
It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic field for 

more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ablest 

pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching it in 

medicinal value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

»rialt" is not ••MALTINE." 

•• Extract of Halt" is not "HALTINE." 

♦•Essence of Malt" is not ••MALTINE." 

•♦MALTINE" must be designated to get "HALTINE." 



WEINHAGEN'S 
Retested Clinical Thermometers 



WEINHAGEN'S 



SOLID PISTON ASEPTIC 
HYPODERMIC TABLET SYRINGE 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe is'easih 
cleaned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish them withoutxases 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

ALL JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. WEINHAGEN 

Established \1855. 
22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. NEW YORK, U. 3. A 



CIK 



Journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumni Association of the Collepe of Pharmacy of the City of New York. 



Voi,. V. 



NEW YORK, JUNE, ii 



No. 6. 



MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NEW JERSEY. 



By H. H. Rusby, M. D. 



LIBRARY 
NEW YORK 

botanical 
garden. 



This paper represents an attempt to enumerate with approximate com- 
pleteness the more important medicinal plants of New Jersey, giving their 
distribution in the State, noting especially those which occur in the vi- 
cinity of the place where this meeting is being held, and offering sugges- 
tions of interest concerning a number of them. These suggestions relate 
more especially to certain deficiencies in our knowledge, and indicate di- 
rections in which members of the Association may be able to obtain the 
desired information. 

The facts presented are the results of very extensive personal field 
work in the State), and are supplemented chiefly by the records accumu- 
lated by Dr. Britton, and published in his "Catalogue of the Plants of 
New Jersey," forming a part of the Report of the State Geologist, Vol. II., 
1889. 

Many comments have been published upon the great extent and di- 
versity of the New Jersey flora, considering the small area represented, a 
result of its extension in a north and south direction, of its extensive lit- 
toral and of an unusual diversity in soil. We have nearly 2,000 species of 
flowering plants growing wild within the State. 

Of the 200, or thereabout, plants which are made official by the U. S. P., 
and which represent the universal flora, no less than 83, or about 40 per 
cent., occur growing without cultivation in New Jersey, and of these, 61 
are found within a radius of 10 or 15 miles of Summit. Besides these 
official plants, the State produces from 125 to 150 others of some com- 

• Read before the New Jersey State Pharmaceutical Association, Summit Meeting, May i8th,i898. 



ll8 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

mercial importance, and a large additional number which have received 
more or less mention as possessing medicinal properties. This last men- 
tioned class is not considered in my list. 

It is not to be supposed that commercial importance attaches to the 
occurrence of all these species. As a matter of fact, comparatively little 
drug collecting is done in this State, a fact which is due to a variety of 
adverse conditions. It is, however, important to have on record some- 
thing to indicate what plants find here a congenial soil and clime, so that 
in the future, when, doubtless, the cultivation of medicinal plants must 
be largely resorted to, we may be able to ascertain which of them are 
suited to cultivation within our borders. 

In the list, as printed, those names which appear in capitals pertain to 
official plants. Those preceded by an asterisk (*) indicate plants growing 
in the neighborhood of Summit. 
*Clematis Virginiana (L.). Virgins Bower. 

Not uncommon in the southern half of the State, and common and 
abundant in the northern. 
*Hejpatica Hepatica (L.) Karst. Liverleaf. 

Same distribution as last. 
Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb. Gold-thread. 

Rather widely scattered through the northern half of the State, but 
neither common nor abundant. 
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS L. Golden Seal. 

Occasionally collected in the north during the early history of botany 
in the State, but not now known. 
*Actaea alba (L.) Mill. White Banebury. 

Common in the northern half of the State, and occasional in the 
southern. I have collected it with purplish fruit, but its thick pedicels 
distinguish it well, without regard to color. 
*Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. Bed Baneberry. 

Scarcely so common as the last, but has a similar range. Either species 
might easily be collected for Cimicifuga. 
( IMK'IFUGA RACEMOSA (L.) NUTT. BLACK COHOSH. 

A 7 cry common and abundant in rich, rocky woods of the middle dis- 
trict, especially in trap-rock soil. Occasional to frequent in other sec- 
tions. This is one of the handsomest wild flowers of the State. At 
least seven species occur in the United States, and no comparative 
studies have been made of their pharmacognosy or properties. If the 
latter are not identical, we have no guide to identification of the un- 
official species, should they be collected and marketed. The fact that 
only the official species occurs in this State would render certain the 
identity of any material collected here. 

* Magnolia glauca L. Magnolia. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



II 9 



This is rare north of the coast swamps, but abundant in the southern 
parts of the State. It occurs here only as a tall shrub, while it is a 
tree of 40 feet or more in the Gulf region. 

♦Liriodenclron Tulipifera L. White 1 Wood or Tulip-tree. 
Common throughout. Regarded as our largest tree. 

♦MENISPERMUM CANADENSE L. MOONSEED. 

This has about the same range as Cimicifuga, and grows with it. The 
gross appearance of the rhizome found in market, coming from Texas, 
is so different from that which I have collected hereabout as to lead 
to the suspicion that careful study may determine these as distinct 
species. 

Berberis vulgaris L. Barberry. 

Escaped from cultivation in various localities. 

*CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTEOIDES (L.) MICHX. BLUE COHOSH. 
Occasional in the northern half of the State, but nowhere abundant. 

♦PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM L. MANDRAKE. 

Occasional in the southern, and common and abundant in the northern 
parts of the State. Abundant as it is, it could not be collected in com- 
petition with the West, where acres of it in a single locality can be 
turned out by the plow. 

*Castalia odorata (Dryand) Woodv. & Wood. White Water Lily. 
Abundant in most parts of the State. 

Sarracenia purpurea L. Pitcher plant. 

Not uncommon in swamps throughout the State. 

♦SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS L. BLOOD-ROOT. 

Common and abundant, except in the southern districts, where it is 
occasional. One of our most beautiful spring flowers. 

It is probable that the Pharmacopoeia is in error in directing that 
this be "collected in the autumn." It flowers in earliest spring, ma- 
tures its seed and perishes quickly, the remains of its aerial tissues 
disappearing rapidly. It is doubtful if any traces of its existence could 
be found in the autumn, so tbat to find and collect it at that season 
is probably impracticable. 

♦CHELIDONIUM MAJUS 1, CELANDINE. 

Commonly established in waste places everywhere, and growing lux- 
uriantly. 

♦BRASSICA ALBA (L.) BOISS. WHITE MUSTARD. 

*BRASSICA NIGRA (L.) KOCH. BLACK MUSTARD. 

Both the mustards occur commonly and thrive well, showing their 
adaptability to cultivation here. 

♦Bursa Bursa-Pastoris (L.) Britton. Shepherd's Purse. 

One of the commonest of weeds. Frequent mention of this plant has 
been made of late years as furnishing a valuable vulnerary. 



I2Q THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

*Helianthemum Canadeiise (L.) Michx. Frost-weed. 

Very common and abundant throughout, especially in gravelly soil 
on the borders of forests. 

*Viola. The Violets. 

Various members of this genus have found a use in medicine, and they 
all apparently possess ipecac-like properties. About 25 species occur 
in this State, the most of them in this vicinity. 

POLYGALA SENEGA L. SENEGA. 

The occurrence of this species as one of the rarest plants of the State, 
formerly abundant, is an illustration of the possibility of exterminat- 
ing a useful species when unaided nature is trusted with its perpetu- 
ation. 

Poly gala, polygama Walt. 

Occasional in the north, frequent in the south and common along the 
sandy coast. 

*SAPONAPJA OFFICINALIS L. SOAPROOT. 

Very common and abundant along roadsides. The roots obtained from 
the plant here have a totally different appearance from those which 
are imported. 

♦Hypericum perforatum L. St John's Wort. 
Very common in fields and along roadsides. 

ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS L. MARSH MALLOW. 

It is doubtful if this plant occurs. It has been reported by only one 
botanist, and it is probable that he mistook something else for it. 

*Tilia. Basswood. 

Two native species occur. Although these are not used medicinally, as 
is the European species, it is altogether possible that they would serve 
the same purpose. 

*LINUM USITATISSIMUM L. FLAX. 

This occurs frequently, and demonstrates its adaptability to cultivation 
here. 

♦GERANIUM MACULATUM L. GERANIUM. 

One of the commonest and most abundant of our wild plants, and ad- 
mirably adapted to collection for medicinal purposes. 

♦XANTHOXYLUM AMERICANUM MILL. PRICKLY ASH. 

Rather common, but not sufficiently abundant, except in a few locali- 
ties, to be adapted to cultivation. 
Ptclea trifoliata L. Wafer-Ash. 
Occasional near the Delaware. 

*Ailanthus glandulosus Desf. Ailanthus. 

Very common along roadsides and in waste places. 

*Ilex verticillata (L.) A. Gray. Prinos or Black Ader. 
Common and abundant in low grounds, throughout. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. I2 l 

EUONYMUS ATROPURPUREUS J ACQ, WAHOO. 

This valuable plant occurs in quite a number of localities along the 
Passaic and other streams, and flourishes well. 

*Celastrus scandens L. False Climbing Bittersweet. 

Common and abundant in the hilly and mountainous northern half 
of the State. 

RHAMNUS FRANGULA L. BUCKTHORN. 

Several years ago it was found that an unrecorded species of Rhamnus 
grew in the swamps near New Durham, and also at several points in 
Long Island. It was at first supposed to be an undescribed species, 
but was subsequently identified as R. Frangula, and it was concluded 
that it had probably escaped from the ancient botanical garden of 
Michaux, which was located at New Durham. 

Rhamnus cathartica L. 

Found in several scattered localities. 

*Ceanothus Americanus L. New Jersey Tea. 
Common and abundant throughout the State. 

*RHUS GLABRA L. SUMACH. 
Everywhere common. 

♦RHUS RADICANS L. POISON IVY. MERCURY. 
Very abundant in every part. 

*Baptisia tinctoria (L.) R. Br. Dyers Green Weed. 

Common throughout, and exceedingly abundant southward. 

*Robinia Pseudacacia L. Locust. 
Frequent throughout the State. 

♦Stylosanthes biflora (L.) B. S. P. 

Common south, and occasional in the northern parts of the State. 

♦Cassia Marylandica L. Maryland Senna. 
Everywhere frequent to- common. 

♦PRUNUS SEROTINA EHRH. WILD CHERRY. 

Everywhere common and abundant. In the northern parts the Choke- 
cherry and Wild Red Cherry are also common, but they are rare south- 
ward. 

♦Spiraea salicifolia L. Hardhack. 

Very common and abundant from the middle of the State northward. 
The S. Tomentosa, or Steeple Bush, similarly used, is also abundant. 

Porteranthus trifoliatus (L.) Britton. Bowmans Root. 
Occasional in the north. 

Rubus strigosus Miehx. Wild Red Raspberry. 
Occasional in the north. 

( To be Continued . ) 



I22 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

SOME CLINICAL METHODS OF EXAMINING THE BLOODS 



By Thaddeus Walker. M. D., Detroit, Mich. 
Microscopist to Harper Hospital. 



Hematology, or the study of the blood, a comparatively new branch of 
scientific medicine, is already too exhaustive in scope to be dealt with 
fully in the short time allotted this paper. It is, therefore, my purpose 
this evening to consider only a few of the more important methods of 
examining the blood, which are to-day of value to the clinician. 

It is very valuable in many cases to know if the corpuscles are di- 
minished in number. For this purpose the Thoma-Zeiss corpuscle counter 
approaches nearer exactness than any other method yet devised. The 
principle of this instrument is an actual count with the microscope of the 
corpuscles in a known dilution of blood. 

Technique. — We first prick the lobe of an ear or a finger, and as soon 
as the blood flows freely we insert the end of the tube in the drop, and 
then gently but steadily suck upon the mouthpiece at the end of the rub- 
ber tubing, care being taken not to admit any air. We fill the tube com- 
pletely up to the mark 0.5; if we go a little beyond, some may be drawn 
back by means of blotting paper, but this is not recommended when we 
have gone over one-thirty-second of an inch beyond the mark. "We now 
quickly wipe away any blood on the outside of the tube, place the end in a 
diluting solution, 1 immediately begin to suck some of this up into the 

Diluting solution for red blood corpuscles. 

Hydrargyii bicMor 0.5 

Sod. sulph 5. 

Sod. chlor 2. 

Aquae destillat 200 

Mi see. 

bulb, rotating the tube at the same time, so as to mix the blood and so- 
lution and fill up to mark above bulb. We now blow out the diluting 
solution in the tube which is not mixed with blood, and allow a small drop 
from the bulb to flow onto the island in the slide. We next place a cover- 
glass over the drop, but if the drop be too large some will run over into the 
moat, which necessitates our cleaning the slide and trying another drop; 
practice teaches us about the size of drop to cover the island, or at least 
nine-tenths of it. If we have filled the tube with blood up to 0.5 mark 
and with solution to mark beyond bulb, we have a dilution of 1:200. We 
now place slide under microscope and focus upon the fine rulings on the 

* Read before the Detroit Academy of Medicine. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



123 



island. We find them forming small squares, sixteen such forming a large 
square enclosed by three lines on each side. "We now proceed to count the 
corpuscles by counting those totally within a small square and those touch- 
ing or overlapping two sides of the square, as the right and lower sides, 
and proceed with other squares in same way. We thus avoid counting a 
corpuscle twice and failing to count one. We should count about one 
hundred squares, then clean the slide and take another drop, and count 
one hundred more, in all about two hundred squares. As each square is 
1-400 millimeter square and the distance from the island to the cover- 
glass .1 millimeter, we have in each square the number in 1-4000 cubic 
millimeter. So, if we take the total number of corpuscles counted, divide 
by the number of squares, we have the average number in one square, and 
multiply by 4,000 we have the number in one cubic millimeter of diluted 
blood; again multiply by the amount of dilution and we have the number 
in one cubic millimeter of blood. The white blood corpuscle counter is 
constructed upon the same principle, the dilution 2 generally being 1 :10, 

2 A DILUTING SOLUTION WHICH STAINS THE LEUCOCYTES IS TOISSON'S. 

in 1 Methyl violet, 5 b 0.025 

Neutral glycerin 30 

Distilled! water 80 

(b) Sod. chlor .' 1. 

Sod. sulph 8. 

Distilled water 80 

Mix (a) and (b) and filter. 

so it needs no further explanation. The technique seems, at first sight, 
simple, but its practical application is fraught with many petty annoy- 
ances. We may admit air into the tube; we may, especially when the co- 
agulability of the blood is rapid, as in chlorosis, owing to slowness in ma- 
nipulation, get coagulated inasses in the tube; we may draw the blood too 
far beyond the stopping mark; in fact, we may encounter many failures 
until practice in the use of the instrument lessens the chance of a mistake. 
Each one of these errors means a thorough cleaning of the instrument — 
a tedious procedure. We first wash out with water, then with absolute 
alcohol, then with ether, and then dry, which is accomplished easiest with 
air blown through the tube from an atomizer bulb. Care must be taken 
to have the tube thoroughly clean, free from dust, and perfectly dry be- 
fore using it. A modification of the red blood corpuscle counter by Prof. 
Miescher, of Basel, is used by me in preference to the tube, because it 
certainly lessens the chances of error. You will notice we have three stop- 
ping places — 1-200, 1-150 and 1-100. If we go beyond the first, we may 
go on and try for a landing at the second, that is, 1-150. There are also 
two little, lines above and below each station, which helps us more easily 



124 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



to read our level, as capillary attraction does not give us a sharp cross- 
section. 

We next determine if the amount of hemoglobin is diminished, for this 
purpose we have many instruments, one of the best being Fleischers hemo- 
meter. It is constructed so that a known dilution of normal blood will 
exactly correspond in color with 100 per cent, upon a sliding scale of ruby 
glass, which passes between the diluted blood and the light. A diminu- 
tion in amount of hemoglobin gives a lighter color to the solution, which 
will be found to correspond with a lower percentage upon the scale. 

Technique, — Each of the small capillary tubes which accompany the 
instrument has a capacity of about six and one-half cubic millimeters. By 
placing the end of one of these tubes horizontally in a drop of blood, the 
tube is filled by capillary attraction. We now partially fill one of the 
chambers with distilled water and dissolve out the blood in tube. Next 
fill both chambers with distilled water, and in a darkened room, with 
candle light, we reflect light from the white reflector through the cham- 
bers. By means of the thumbscrew we slide the ruby glass under the 
chamber containing water until the two chambers both have the same 
shade of color. Now read the figures on the scale. These figures do not 
represent the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood, but merely the per- 
centage in accordance with. this instrument, which is constructed so that 
with five million red blood corpuscles the scale will show 100 per cent., 
and, naturally, with a less number the scale would show diminution of 
hemoglobin; therefore when we find diminution of hemoglobin we must 
know the number of red blond corpuscles, so as to ascertain if this diminu- 
tion is due to a diminution of corpuscles, or to a diminution of hemoglobin 
in the individual corpuscles, or due to both factors. We express this 
much better by what is termed color-index, or the amount of hemoglobin 
per red blood corpuscle. 

examples: 

(1) Number of red blood corpuscles three million. Fleischel shows 30 
per cent. What is the color index? 

If 5,000,000 red blood corpuscles should show Fleischel 100$ 
Then 3,000,000 red blood corpuscles should show Fleischel 60$ 
And 60$ Fleischel would have color-index 1 

Therefore 30$ Fleischel would have color-index .5 — a case of chlo- 
rosis. 

(2) Number of red blood corpuscles 1,200,000. Fleischel 48$. Color- 

index? 
If 5,000,000 red blood corpuscles should show Fleischel 100$ 

Then 1,200,000 red blood corpuscles should show Fleischel 24$ 
And 21$ Fleischel would have color-index 1 



THE JOURNAL OF THARM A.COLOGY. T25 

Therefore 48$ Fleischel would have color-index 2 — a case of per- 
nicious anemia. 

Why color-index is 2 will he explained later. 

We often read and hear of percentage of hemoglobin in a case without 
reference to the number of corpuscles. You can readily see that the 
former, without reference to the latter, gives no information regarding the 
reduction of hemoglobin. 

We have another method of estimating the amount of hemoglobin 
which, owing to its simplicity, is worthy of mention. It is Hammerschlag's 
indirect method of taking the specific gravity of the blood. With a me- 
chanical mixture of two liquids, such that a drop of blood in it neither 
sinks nor swims, we have a mixture of about the same specific gravity as 
of the blood. So taking the specific gravity of the mixture we have, for 
clinical purposes, the specific gravity of the blood. 

Technique. — It is very simple. We prick the finger and allow a large 
drop of blood to drop into a mixture of chloroform three parts, benzol one 
part (specific gravity 1.055=that of normal blood). If the drop sinks add 
chloroform, if it swims add benzol, and so by adding one or the other, we 
bring the drop in the middle, where it remains. Now take the specific 
gravity of this mixture, which is approximately the specific gravity of the 
blood. The solids of the blood form 25 per cent, of the same, the half of 
which is hemoglobin, so a diminution in the solids means also a pro- 
portionate diminution in the hemoglobin. Upon this hypothesis Ham- 
merschlag has worked out a table 3 which represents the amount of hemo- 

3 hammkrschlag's table. 
Specific Gravity. Hemoglobin. 

1034-1037 20-30 per cent. 

1037-1041 30-40 per cent. 

1041-1045 40-50 per cent. 

1045-1049 50-60 per cent. 

1049-1052 60-70 per cent. 

1052-1056 70-80 per cent. 

1056-1059 80-90 per cent. 

1059-1062 90-100 per cent. 

globin according to the specific gravity. I consider this a very convenient 
method to use at the home of the patient, or when the hemometer cannot be 
used. It is also fairly reliable for clinical purposes. 

The hematocrit precipitates the corpuscles in a graduated tube by 
means of centrif ugalization, the bulk of the precipitate indicating the 
number of corpuscles. With normal blood the corpuscles pack in the 
tube, relatively to the number, but even then we do not know the elas- 
ticity or compressibility of the normal corpuscle; so with different veloci- 



I26 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

ties and an unconstant number of revolutions we get different results. 
Again, in leukemia and anemias corpuscles of different sizes and shapes 
would pack down differently from the healthy ones. This instrument is 
intended to take the place of the Thoma-Zeiss counter, which we admit 
is also not scientifically accurate, but the hematocrit does not seem to be 
as accurate, and its liability to error is greater. I believe that the time 
saved by its use and its reputed accuracy are not great enough to cause 
us to discard the actual counting with the Thoma-Zeiss, or, better, with 
Miescher's modification, above referred to. 

We now turn to the morphology of the corpuscle, which can be studied 
in the fresh specimen, but many times to better advantage in the dried 
films. In the preparation of blood films, as well as in all other hema- 
tological researches, everything depends upon: — 

Technique. — To begin with, cover-glasses must be clean and free from 
dust and oily material. We may do this by soaking in alcohol and ether, 
carefully wiping with a clean old linen handkerchief, and then putting 
them in a watch costal, which is placed in an oven and heated to 150 
degrees Centigrade. Care should be taken not to handle with the fingers, 
for the moisture will interfere with the even spreading of the blood. I 
take the watch crystal from the oven and place another over it, and carry 
the cover-glasses between the two watch crystals to the patient, then prick 
the ear, and, taking one cover-glass in the forceps, I allow a small drop to 
be touched at its apex by the centre of the cover-glass. I then place an- 
other cover-glass over it, so that about one-sixteenth overlaps, then without 
pressure draw the two steadily, evenly and quickly apart. If our cover- 
glasses are clean, and proper care has been used in drawing them apart, 
the blood will be evenly spread. If we have been careless the film will 
have little holes or rings in it, and the whole will present an uneven ap- 
pearance. Practice alone enables one to make well-spread films. We next 
fix the films. Heat is recommended by Ehrlich, and is best if we use his 
triple stain. We place the films in an oven, and run the temperature up 
to 105 degrees Centigrade, withdraw the burner, and allow it to run up 
to 115 degrees Centigrade:, then open the door and let it cool clown. We 
may also fix in a mixture of alcohol and ether, equal parts, from fifteen 
minutes to an hour, or even longer. If dealing with a marked anemia 
better results are obtained by alcohol and ether. We have many methods 
of staining, the important being eosin-hematoxylin. eosin-methylen blue and 
Ehrlich's triple stain. The stain is simply spread on the film and washed 
off in one to five minutes. It is well always to stain the same lenrvth of 
time with the same stain. After washing we dry between filter papers and 
mount in Canada balsam. 

We now take up the appearance of these stained films. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. ! 27 

Plate I. 4 reresents normal blood. Notice the red blood corpuscles are all 

4 Dr. Walker's paper was illustrated by colored charts reproduced from 
stained films. 

about the same shape, size and color. Each has a light spot in the centre, 
which is called the delle. This is due to the corpuscle heing biscuit-shaped 
and not so thick in the centre. 

Plate II. is primary pernicious anemia. Notice the diminution in num- 
ber and amount of hemoglobin in some corpuscles, while others appear 
entirely filled with bemoglobin. There is a marked difference in size 
and shape. Some are several times the size of a normal red blood cor- 
puscle, as seen in Plate I., another much smaller, and others have various 
shapes. The number of corpuscles, as you see, is diminished, but many are 
well filled with hemoglobin, especially the larger ones; consequently the 
amount of hemoglobin estimated with a hemometer would be greater than 
with the same number of normal corpuscles, and we would have a high 
color-index, which we have referred to under the discussion of color-index. 

We can now take up the nomenclature of these forms. The normal 
red blood corpuscles are called erythrocytes, the larger ones megalocytes, 
the various shaped- ones poikilocytes, and the small ones microcytes. Ehr- 
lich calls both poikilocytes and microcytes schistocytes, for he says they 
are parts of an erythrocyte. They generally have a delle, which he ac- 
counts for by saying that the contents being hemoglobin its form is due 
to the discoplasm, and a schistocyte being a fragment of an erythrocyte 
it is able, without its discoplasm, to form a delle. In man erythrocytes 
have no nucled, but we find them nucleated in the embryo. So we have 
erythroblasts, that is, nucleated red blood corpuscles. And following the 
above nomenclature, normoblasts, megaloblasts, microblasts and poikilo- 
blasts. These are all pathological conditions of the cell, and we find, 
-especially in leukemia, the nucleus undergoing division either by con- 
strictions or in the various stages of karyokinesis. 

The leucocytes have had more study devoted to them than any other 
constituent of the blood. Many attempts have been made to obtain a 
satisfactory classification. We will briefly review these classifications, so 
we may better understand the terms in use and their significance. The 
classification is generally a mixture of three methods, namely, according 
to supposed origin, according to form of nucleus, and according to the 
micro-chemic reactions of the granular matter in the cells. In classifying 
the leucocytes according to their origin (lymphocytes, splenocytes, myelo- 
cytes, etc.), we are very much in the dark. Many of the theories regard- 
ing their supposed origin are very interesting. Time will not permit us 
to discuss them, so we will simply accept these names for certain forms 
of leucocytes. Classification according to the form of nucleus gives us 



I2g THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

mononuclear, large and small; transitional and polymorphonuclear leuco- 
cytes. The small mononuclear leucocytes, also called lymphocytes, as seen 
in Plates III. and IV., are small round cells, about the size of an erythro- 
cyte, or a little smaller, having a relatively large, dull-colored nucleus, 
which generally lies eccentrically, very seldom in the centre of the cells. 
Stained with eiosin-hematoxylin, the protoplasm exhibits many shades of 
reddish violet. In fact, the smaller the cell and larger the nucleus, the 
more reddish is the protoplasm and the more intensely dark is the nucleus. 
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish from an erythroblast, but the nucleus 
never has a chromatin net, as in a young erythroblast, and never the dark 
lustre, as in an old erythroblast. The large mononuclear leucocytes, also 
called splenocytes, as seen in PJates IV. and V., are large cells, two or three 
times as large as an erythrocyte, having a round nucleus, which, in com- 
parison with a lymphocyte, is of a much lighter shade. The protoplasm 
is also much paler. 

The transitional forms, Plates III. and V., in comparison with spleno- 
cytes, correspond in size and color of both nucleus and protoplasm, the 
only difference being that the nucleus is not entirely round, but has a slight 
indentation (bean-shaped) or several notches. 

The polymorphonuclear lenocytes have been, and are yet, for the sake 
of brevity, called polynuclear leucocytes. The nuclei are always polymor- 
phous. Even when at first sight they seem made up of separate parts, upon 
close observation we find these parts connected by thin threads. They are 
in general somewhat smaller than splenocytes, but larger than erythro- 
cytes. The nucleus has a deep color, and the protoplasm is a little darker 
than in a splenocyte. They are probably derived from the transitional 
forms which we saw, kidney -shaped, horseshoe-shaped, etc., these finally 
tearing apart, forming polymorphonuclear forms. 

Classification according to the microchemic reaction is done through 
the granulations of the lencocytic protoplasm. These granulations are 
stained by different stains, and we can determine the particular granulation 
by its peculiar stain. We have acid, alkaline and natural stains. Those 
granulations taking on the color of the acid stains are called acidophile 
granulations. The alkaline slain's give basophile, the neutral stains give 
neutrophil? granulations, and those stained by both acid and alkaline 
stains are amophile. With Ehrlich's triple stain, which is a mixture of 
eosin, orange green and methyl green, the erythrocytes are yellow, the 
nuclei of the leucocytes are green, the protoplasm of the mononuclears 
is not visible, and the protoplasm of the polymorphous leucocytes shows 
granulations which are purple. We also find a few polymorphonuclear 
cells with bead-like granules, the size varying, stained a bright red by 
the eosin, hence their name, eosinophils, or acidophiles. We see the 
mononuclear cells show no oranules; these have been called "young" cells. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. l2 g 

We next find the polymorphonuclears with neutrophile granulations, which 
are called "adult" cells, upon the hypothesis that the protoplasm of the 
lymphocyte takes on granulations as it becomes a polymorphonuclear, and 
carrying it still further the neutrophile granulations become acidophile, 
and we have the eosinophile, or "old" cell. 

Just how and where these transformations take place, no good explana- 
tion is given. However, the theory is a convenient one in explaining 
myelocytes. If we imagine a mononuclear whose granulations have rip- 
ened into neutrophile, but the nucleus has not become polymorphonuclear 
but has remained mononuclear, we have a picture of a myelocyte. These 
are not found in normal blood, but are numerous in the bone marrow. 
"Where we have found the neutrophile myelocyte we may also find a further 
step in the neutrophile granulations having become acidophile, the nucleus 
still remaining mononuclear. These are eosinophile myelocytes. 

Neusser, by putting an excess of methyl green in Ehrlich's triple stain, 
obtained little black dots around and over the nuclei, which he called 
perinuclear basophile granulations. During the physiological leucocytosis 
of digestion, especially after a heavy meat dinner, they are always present, 
and Neusser thought they had something to do with uric acid, for patients 
with this diathesis have these granulations constantly present, However, 
they have been found in too many other diseases to be any longer consid- 
ered a diagnostic sign of the uric acid condition. He further stated that 
tubercular patients with these granulations seem to withstand the ravages 
of the disease better than those in whom few are found. If this be so, we 
have a good prognostic sign for tuberculosis. 

We may now turn our attention to leucocytosis and its varieties. We 
have been careless with this term, which really means an increase in the 
number of leucocytes over the number normally in the case at hand, but 
lecuocytosis and leukemia have been associated together, until the former 
was believed to indicate the latter. Such is not the case, for leukemia is 
diagnosed to-clay as much by the quality as by the quantity of leucocytes. 
Normally the number of leucocytes in a cubic millimeteT of blood is be- 
tween six and nine thousand, or about seven thousand five hundred. Over 
nine thousand or under six thousand is considered pathological. The in- 
crease in number is leucocytosis and the decrease is called leucopenia. 
Normally there are five hundred erythrocytes to one leucocyte, but this may 
in disease be greatly reduced and even inverted, so there is one erythrocyte 
to two leucocytes. Normally we find leucocytes in the following pro- 
portion: 

64$ Polymorphonuclear. 
28$ Small mononuclear (lymphocytes). 
Qi Larsje mononuclear. 



l30 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

\ic Transitional forms. 
2i Eosinophils. 

In childhood the proportion is somewhat different. Until about the 
tenth year we find from 28 to 40 per cent, polymorphonuclear, and from 50 
to 60 per cent, mononuclear, which must be kept in mind when examin- 
ing the blood of children. We. have leucocytoses which are normal, or 
rather physiological, occuring in the newborn, during digestion, preg- 
nancy 2 lactation and in the moribund state. These factors influencing the 
leucocyte should always be kept in mind when examining a patient's blood. 

A proportionate increase of all the leucocytes is called an absolute 
leucocytosis, a condition very rarely met with. An increase of all the 
leucocytes, with an unproportionate increase of one variety, is an absolute 
relative leucocytosis; an example being an absolute relative polymorphonu- 
clear leucocytosis, which, in other words, means an increase in the num- 
ber of leucocytes with a prevalence of the polymorphonuclear cells. An 
increase of only one variety of leucocytes is a relative leucocytosis; an e: - 
ample being a relative mononuclear leucocytosis, which means a leucocy- 
tosis in which only the mononuclears are increased. Absolute relative poly- 
morphonuclear leucocytosis is most frequently met with in acute infectious 
diseases and in malignant neoplasms. Relative small mononuclear leu- 
cocytosis (lymphocytosis) is caused by rickets and hereditary syphilis in 
children, secondary syphilis, Basedow's disease, hemophiliae, goitre, ne- 
phritis, etc., in adults. Relative eosinophile leucocytosis, or eosinophilia, 
is met with after the crisis in pneximonia, and is a good prognostic sign 
in scarlet fewer and in chlorosis. We also find it in uric acid diathesis, 
skin diseases, trichinosis and many others. Leueopenia, or absence of leu- 
cocytosis, is met with in typhoid fever, pernicious anemia and carcinoma 
of esophagus. 

I have simply touched upon these various forms of leucocytosis in orcl r 
to point out their importance, and with no intention of discussing their 
significance, which would require a paper by itself. 

The various methods of examining the blood which I have presented 
this evening are those now in vogue, and with which much can be learned 
regarding a patient's blood. It is true that we are able to make a positive 
diagnosis in only four or five diseases, yet we can supply the links to the 
chain of evidence which goes to make up a diagnosis in a large number of 
diseases. Evidence of pus formation in the body, as revealed by the blood, 
has in my limited experience here induced two surgeons to operate with 
success. Even the fact that the blood is normal is sometimes of great value 
in eliminating certain diseases. The blood is also of some prognostic value, 
and further study may not only help us in diagnosis, but to a better knowl- 
edge of certain diseases. — Physician and Surgeon, May, 1898. 



Cbe Journal of Pharmacology, 

A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Advances Made in the Various Departments of 

Materia Medica. 

Vol. V. JUNE, 1898. No. 6 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INClUDING POSTAGE: 
Per Annum - $1.00. — Single Copies = x = = 15 Cents 

Subscriptions, address Nelson S. Kirk, 450 Third Ave., New York City. 

Business Communications, address D. E. Austin, 115 W. 68th St., New York City. 

Original Contributions, Exchanges. Books for Review and Editorial Communications: 
Address STITH ELY JELLIFFE, H D., 231 West 71st Street, New Vork City. 

Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFFE, A.B., M.D. 

WITH THE COLLABORATION OF 

Chas. Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M.D. V. Coblentz, Ph.D. Geo. A. Ferguson, Ph. B 
Geo. C. Diekman, M.D. H. B. Ferguson, Phar. D. 



EDITORIAL. 



THE FUTURE OF MATERIA MEDICA. 



The writer, acting as examiner for one of our State institutions, was 
deeply impressed with the methods employed in training young pharmacists 
to become useful and practical members of the profession. While the 
prescribed course of pharmaceutical education embraced a thorough knowl- 
edge of pharmacy — materia medica, chemistry, and allied sciences — both 
theoretically and practically, and the students were brought to a high de- 
greee of perfection in these branches, yet he discovered a new branch of 
pharmaceutical science, whch up to this time no other has seen fit to 
father or to foster. 

In a room set aside for the purpose, could be seen a full line of special- 
ties, semi-proprietary remedies, patent nostrums and combinations of all 
kinds in the shape of syrups, elixirs, wines, cordials, extracts, pills, pow- 
ders, ointments, suppositories, synthetical products, etc., etc., all especially 
prepared to meet the present demands from the busy, careless or ignorant 
physician. 

While the writer appreciates the effort of this institution to impart a 
practical knowledge of later day pharmacy to its graduates, he deplores 



T ,„ THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

the fact that it has seemingly become a necessity to devote a portion of their 
valuable time to the growing evil of the nineteenth century. 

The question naturally arises, What will become of our Pharmacopoeia 
and where will the addition of new combinations end? 

In examining a number of these goods, the writer found some of the 
most glaring pharmaceutical and chemical incompatibilities made at the 
expense of their supposed therapeutical value. Few of them were new 
additions to the physician's armamentarium, while the great majority were 
only combinations of some of the time-honored and valuable lists of or- 
ganic and inorganic drugs and chemicals. 

The next step in advance (?) of medical education will probably be 
the recognition by the Pharmacopoeia and United States Dispensatory of 
a number of the semi-proprietary remedies, and the following question 
would naturally be an appropriate one in an examination: "Give the 
histories, processes of manufacture, does and effects of Fraud's Rejuvenator, 
Trickster's Anti-consumption Cordial, and Dr. Buncomb's Migraine Spe- 
cific." 

A united and honest appeal should be made by the medical press to 
suppress the encroachment of these remedies, a great many of which are 
placed upon the market for mercenary purposes only, and made possible 
by the carelessness with which the average medical practitioner allows him- 
self to be persuaded into using and prescribing them. — W. 0. ()., in Fort 
Wayne Medical Journal. 



THE KENTUCKY DEFINITION OF THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. 



The Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal quotes Judge Thompson, of 
Kentucky, as giving the following definition of the practice of medicine, 
in pronouncing sentence upon an osteopath, who was convicted of sub- 
jecting a child with tubeculous deisease of the hip joint to cruel and un- 
necessary torture: "Any person, who, for compensation, professes to apply 
any science which relates to the prevention, cure or alleviation of the dis- 
eases of the human body, is practicing medicine within the meaning of 
the statute." 

We want to commend Judge Thompson for his clean, concise, yet com- 
prehensive definition. 

The Legislatures of some States passed laws which declared that he 
who practiced osteopathy did not practice medicine, and it looked for a time 
as though the advocates of this new delusion were to be successful in 
gaining permission to practice in all the States, in spite of the medical 



THE JOURNAL OP PHARMACOLOGY. , 33 

practice acts. This precedent of Judge Thompson's, however, will un- 
doubtedly put a check to further effort in Kentucky, at least, and it is 
to be hoped in other States as well. 

Osteopaths are not allowed to practice in Indiana as yet, but if such 
men as L. J. Bobilya (joint Senator Allen and Whitley counties) succeed 
in obtaining future political preferment, we will have no medical law 
at all. This philanthropic individual persisted in lending his aid and 
vote to defeat the present medical bill. 

The New York Legislature has lately been asked to pass a bill to 
regulate and legalize the practice of osteopathy. We hope it will receive 
the fate of similar bills in South Dakota, Colorado and Illinois, in case 
it passes the legislative body, namely, veto. B. Van S. 



ABSTRACTS. 



The Protecting Role of the Lymphatic Nodes in Certain 
Diseases. — According to M. P. Hahn, in the Normandie Medicals, for 
February 15 (Independance Medicate, March 9), the role of the ganglion 
in infection comprises two distinct periods: One of the collection, in which 
it acts by protecting the part of the economy to which it belongs by a 
derivation of the virulent product. But soon after becoming hyper- 
trophied, and having done the work of phagocytosis, it succumbs in its 
physiological function, and becomes a generating element of extreme 
danger. 

This course of events undergoes various forms, according to the na- 
ture of the infection. The ganglion plays a considerable role in syphilis, 
in which the lymphatic element is shown to be distinctly protective. In 
enitheliomatous infection, on the other hand, the ganglion assures a re- 
lapse , and its speedy destruction is extremely necessary. 

Antipyrine and Lactation. — M. Fieux (Revue internationale de mede- 
cine et de chirurgie pratiques, 1S97, No. IS; Centralbtatt fur Gynakotogle, 
Feb. 26, 1898) has been led by numerous observations to the following 
conclusions: Antipyrine undoubtedly enters the milk. Doses of fifteen 
grains, given twice in the course of two hours, cause persistence of the 
drug in the milk for five hours. In from nineteen to twenty-three hours 
no further trace of it can be found; consequently the maximum time re- 
quired for its disappearance is eighteen hours. Only a small amount 
enters the milk; at most but three-quarters of a grain are found in a quart, 



THE JOURNAL OP PHARMACOLOGY. 

and that only when a drachm of the drug has been taken within sixteen 
hours. The quantity of milk and the amount of casein and butter con- 
tained in it are not affected, and its quantity is not changed. The milk 
appears to have no inurious effect upon the nursling. 

The Dangers of Coca Wines.— The Chemist and Druggist, in an 
editorial under the above title, says that there has been a large increase 
of intemperance among invalids,, due to the enormous consumption of 
coca wine, but that the evil is not entirely confined to invalids and con- 
valescents, but pervades all classes of society, women and children being 
the chief victims. 

The term coca wine has no definite meaning, inasmuch as there is no 
official formula for its preparation. In every case the basis is a strongly 
alcoholic wine, containing anywhere from 18 to 30 per cent, alcohol. In 
an American work on pharmacy we are told that the best coca wine is 
made by adding an ounce of fluid extract of erythroxylon, an ounce of 
alcohol, and an ounce of sugar to fourteen ounces of claret, but it is 
significantly added that "in place of claret any other palatable wine may be 
used, according to the demand or preference of the prescriber or cus- 
tomer." The dangers of preparations of this description are obvious. 
The patient not only acquires a liking for alcohol, which is presented in 
its most seductive form, but soon falls a victim to what Erlenmeyer calls 
the third scourge of humanity — the coca habit. 

It is surprising that in recent works on pharmacology and medicine 
so little is said regarding the subject, the only exception being in the case 
of the fourth edition of the late Dr. Milner Tothergill's "Practitioners' 
Handbook of Treatment," where the following statement occurs: "Coca 
wine and other medicated wines are largely sold to people who are con- 
sidered, and consider themselves to be, total abstainers. It is not un- 
common to hear the mother of a family say, T never allow my girls to 
touch stimulants of any kind, but I gave them each a glass of coca wine at 
11 in the morning, and again at bedtime.' Originally coca wine was made 
from coca leaves, but it is now commonly a solution of the alkaloid in a 
sweet and strongly alcoholic wine." This is really the gist of the whole 
matter; coca wine is largely consumed by people who fondly believe them- 
selves to be total abstainers, and who are active enough in denouncing those 
who take a little wine or a glass of beer at their meals. 



Alumni, College and Class Notes, 



CONTRIBUTORS. 



Alumni Association, . . . WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph.G., n 5 West 68th St., N. Y. 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Classes prior to 1S93. RUDOLPH GIES, Phar.D. 115 West 6Sth St., N.Y 
Bibliography, . . . ADOLPH HENNING, Ph.G. 68 William St., N. Y. 

Class '93, .... EUGENE F. LOHR. Ph.G., 508 Marcy Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Class '94, . L- G. MARCUS, Ph.G., 1522 Third Ave., N. Y. 

Class '95', ■ '. . ■ ■ G. F. MANVILLE, 310 W. 113th St., N. Y. 

Class '96, . Chas. G. H. GERKEN, Phar. D., 2635 Second St., Brooklyn. 

Class - 97, . . . . C. W. MEINECKE, Ph. G., 57S Fifth Ave., N. Y. 

Class '98, ..... L. EICKWORT, Jr., 115 West 6Sth St., N. Y. 

Class '99, . . . CLARA F. EHLIN, 115 West 68th St., N.Y. 

Legal Notes, . ... H. A. HEROLD, 2o6B'way, N. Y. 

Post Graduate Class of '96, .... HARRY B. FERGUSON, Phar. D. 

N.Y C. P. C. C. . . N. S. KIRK, Ph. G., 450 Third Ave., N.Y. 



THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 

At the annual meeting of the American Medical Association, which com- 
mences at Denver. Col., on June 7, Messrs. McKesson & Robbins will place on 
exhibition a series of water color drawings illustrating the life history of the 
various organisms which cause malarial fevers. These plates will represent 
a magnification of the parasites of 20,000 diameters. A drawing on such a 
scale has never before been attempted, and the study necessary to perfect these 
illustrations has resulted in bringing out features in the organisms which have 
never before been recorded. The series, we venture to say, will represent a 
new departure in the study of these organisms, and we strongly urge our 
readers not to fail to visit this attractive exhibition. 



'78 NOTES. 

George P. Bagley is manager of the liegeman store, on Fifth avenue and 
Fifty-ninth street. 

! 

'82 NOTES. 

Charles E. Tallman has sold his store on Fulton street, Brooklyn, to J. 
Richter, and is now the proprietor of a new one on Gates and Lewis avenues. 

A. G. Stafford has returned from his trip to St. Louis. Mrs. Stafford accom- 
panied him. 



I3 6 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

'94 NOTES. 

"Here's to the Alumni boys iu the Navy! May they meet with the success 
they merit and return to us 'ere long, well recompensed for their patriotism !" 

I have often read about Easter parades on Fifth avenue, but never have I 
seen anything that so inspired me as when I witnessed the Eighth marching 
to camp, and when I saw the majestic form of our own Tom— I mean Sergt. 
Davies— looming up, my joy knew no bounds, for he looked every inch a sol- 
dier, and caused no end of comment because of his fine appearance. Sergt. 
Davies has been persuaded to remain and become hospital steward of the 
108th. hence we shall have him at our outing. 

Commencement Night truly reminded me of old times. When we arrived 
upon the scene of action we realized that there was strength, hence no time 
was lost in joining forces with '03, after which our many friends were visited. 
We were represented by Eeby, Ankerson. Youngs, Sergt. Davies Erb, Pond 
and Kirk. 

Samuel D. Kay, writing from Key West, as apothecary on the gunboat New- 
port, sajs that the boys were quite pleased at the prospect of an affray in 
the near future. 

Otto Grube, who for some time has been with Louis Lehn, on Park avenue 
and 64th street, continues in the employ of Mr. Timnerman, the successor. 

T. T. Lauffer is now the proprietor of a handsome store on Broadway, 
Brooklyn, where, under his management, elegant pharmacy will be practised 
with a becoming skill. 

Hintlian, whom I recently noted as having left the Cliffe Pharmacy, on the 
Bowery, sailed in April for his borne in Kara Hissar. Turkey. 

Banks Bouton has moved to enlarged quarters on Main street (New Ro- 
chelle), where he is meeting with much earned success. 

'95 NOTES. 

Dr. Harry B. Ferguson left on May 14th for a trip to his home in Little 
Falls, N. Y. We hope to find him in good health on the day of the Outing. 

Dr. Rudolf continues to be the "busy man" at College, together with the 
"Factotum" he is in a condition of continual hustle. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Agatson a short time since. He is located 
on Lexington avenue and 92d street, this city. Last year, while with Foun- 
tain in Jersey City, he was hospital steward of the Second Regiment. 

Ira Belfry is still with the Hegeman Corporation, on Lower Broadway. 

Julius Tannenbaum has passed successfully the examinations for second- 
year students at the Long Island Hospital Medical College, and expects to re- 
ceive his sheepskin next spring. He has just sold his drug store on Myrtle 
avenue, Brooklyn, to Mr. Chauvin. who was for some time past the head clerk 
at F. G. Werner's pharmacy, on Ninth avenue, near Thirty-fourth street, this 
city. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 13^ 

'96 NOTES. 

Paul Thielke has severed his connection with the Kessler Pharmacy, on 
Second avenue, and is now with Sargent, in Jersey City. 

Adrian Homniell has been appointed hospital steward of the Fourth Regi- 

meut, N. G., S. N. J. 

C. L. Stephens, for some time with Quencer, on Ninth avenue and 57th 
street, has purchased with Mr. J. Rodgers the store on Seventh avenue and 
128th street. 

William Branner, who since graduation has been with Herman Krussman, 
in the oldest established store in Hoboken, recently purchased the full interest. 

Charles H. Lowe has resigned his clerkship at Frank H. Gundlach's phar- 
macy, Columbus avenue and 106th street, and enlisted in the United States 
Army as a hospital steward. He left with the Eleventh Regiment for Chicka- 
mauga on Monday evening, May 23. His position at Mr. Gundlach's is tem- 
porarily filled by his brother, Francis A. Lowe, who has returned to this city 
after a sojourn of about a year at Liberty, Sullivan County, N. Y., where he 
had gone for his health, which at the present writing is very much improved. 

'97 NOTES. 

J. J. McCaffery, who for some time had been in the Hegeman Ninth street 
store, is now at his former stand in their 30th street branch. He has promised 
to be on hand to greet his friends at the Alumni Outing, on Wednesday, the 8th. 

S. Sumner Shears was unanimously elected second vice-president of the 
Alumni Association last month; about the same time he became a partner in 
the Lowe Pharmacy, on the Boulevard. 

Arthur J. Palmer, writing from Athens, Ga., where he is in business with his 
■father and brother, says that the '97 reporter's work is deplorable, and Mein- 
ecke, "he says nothing." 

'98 NOTES. 

It is really remarkable how '98 has scattered since the Commencement. Of 
course, some of the boys have gone home, but I imagine a host must have en- 
tered Uncle Sam's service in different capacities. I met Gellert at the Alumni 
dance, on May 11th, when I elicited the following information regarding '98 
men in the Navy, of whom there are twenty-six: 

Fraser, Norfolk (Va.) Navy Yard; Jorgenson, do.; Eickwort, do; Richards, 
do.; Patton, do.; Sigel, on cruiser New Orleans; Gellert, on cruiser Thespian; 
Alpers, on cruiser Maple; Miles, Brooklyn Navy Y'ard; Wild, do.; Beckary, do.; 
Hildebrandt, do.; Teufer, do.; Yoriseck, do. 

Lewis H. D. Fraser has been elected third vice-president of the Alumni 
Association, a much-coveted position, which has been held by such notables 
as Ehrgott '94, Hensel '95, Yineent '96 and Glassford '97. We trust that upon 
the conclusion of the war he will spare no pains to demonstrate the material 
'98 was made of. 



138 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



E. A. Keefer is regimental hospital steward of the Twelfth Regiment, which 
has been encamped at Chickamauga Park for some time. 

Rudolph Eberhardt has accepted a position in the Hetherington Pharmacy, 
on Vanderbilt avenue, this city. 

N. Y. C. P. C. C. 

Schedule for June: 

oth — "Blind Run." 

8th — Annual meeting and club races. 
12th— Tottenville. 
19th— Bayside. 
22d— Coney Island. 
26th— City Island. 

Have you seen our new flag? It's "all right," and we're making good use 
of it, too. 

Are you thinking of getting a new cycle suit? Don't forget that you can 
get the official N. Y. C. P. C. C. uniform, '98 model, at a spec:'al rate through 
Capt. Erb. 

The Outing is to be held in a few days. With three cycle events, our boys 
will have a chance of winning some of the club medals, so don't neglect bring- 
ing your wheel, as there is no extra charge for transportation. 

BLIND RUN ON JUNE 5. 

Of course, it is not every rider who understands what character of a run 
this is. In the big clubs we find that in planning weekly outings that we can- 
not select runs every week to please all, and accordingly our fixtures are 
sometimes slimly attended. To create an interest in runs we have instituted 
the "blind run," and, possessing many novel features, it has been a big success. 
You see. the run is called by the captain of the club, and the members show 
up at the starting point. Whoever leads the run starts ahead and looks for 
the most unlikely routes. If he has been over the route before the surprises 
will not dismay him as they will the other members. He leads the procession 
along good roads until he comes to a place where possibly a lane of a cow 
path leads off toward a wild-looking waste. But all have to follow. The 
leader must be a pretty strong rider, but as he is at the head all the time 
he is able to pick his way better than are the other riders, and is not in the 
danger of being piled up with a bunch in a tumble. The riding is rough, but 
there is a spirit of fun in the adventure, and the riders manfully plug along. 
Of course, we find that some tei.dert'oot will drop out along the route, but we 
generally manage to pull through a big crowd. Now this, of course, is one 
kind of a blind run. There is another. Contrary to selecting rough roads, the 
leaders map out some territory where good roads are to be found, and then 
they seek out some section little frequented, and spring a surprise on the club 
members by winding up at some delightful little village that escapes the atten- 
tion of the mass of riders out every day. Novelty is what is now required 
to interest clubmen in runs, and all sorts of devices are resorted to to keep 
the interest of the members ke?n for road riding. 

Being the writer of last month's schedule of runs. I feel like apologizing for 
failure in carrying them out. However, now that the rainy season is really- 
over, I feel confident of never being held guilty again. 



>L. V. 



JULY, 1898. 



NO. 7. 



CD* 




of Pharmacology 



PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARHACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 



Medicinal Plants of New Jersey, 



H. H. Rusby, M.D. 



139 



Essential Oils 



Abstracts and Reviews, 



College, Alumni and Class Notes, 



147 
152 
158 




Entered as second-claas matter at the New York, N. Y. Post Office, January 20th, 1897. 




MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor an 

"essence of malt." 
MALTINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive and 

digestive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 
It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic field for 

more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ablest 

pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching it in 

medicinal value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

•♦Halt" is not "MALTINE." 

" Extract of Halt" is not "HALTINE." 

" Essence of Malt" is not "MALTINE." 

"MALTINE" must be designated to get "HALTINE." 

WEINHAGEISTS 
Retested Clinical Thermometers 



WEINH AGEN J S SOL,D p,STON ASEPT,C 



HYPODERMIC TABLET SYRINGE 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe is easily 
cl aned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish them without cases. 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

ALL JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. WEINHAGEN 



Established 1855. 



22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. 



NEW YORK, U. S. A. 



Cbe 



journal of Pharmacology. 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches, 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published by the Alumni Association of the Collepe of Pharmacy of the City of New York. 



Vol.. V. 



NEW YORK, JULY, ii 



No. 7. 



MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NEW JERSEYS 



By H. H. Rusby, M. D. 



*RUBUS CANADENSIS L. RUNNING BLACKBERRY. 

*RUBUS VILLOSUS AIT. HIGH BUSH BLACKBERRY. 

Both these official blackberries are common and abundant throughout. 
I am strongly of the opinion that the bark of the root of the former 
cannot be collected commercially, owing to mechanical difficulties, and 
I should favor its deletion from the official definition. 

*Geum. 

Six species occur in the State, three of them in abundance. G. Rivale, 
or Avens Root, is rather common in the northern swamps. 

*Fragaria. 

Various form of the wild strawberry are both common and abundant 
throughout. 

*Agrimonia. 

A number of species occur abundantly throughout the State. The 
genus has recently been revised by Dr. Britton, and a number of new 
species described. 

Sanguisorba Sanguisorba (L.) Britton. Burnet. 
Occurs only in a few localities. 

Rosa canina L. Dog Rose. 

It was formerly believed that all our Sweet-briars were referable to 
Rosa Rubiginosa, but some years ago it was determined that much of 
that growing along the Delaware was the genuine Dog Rose of Europe. 

*Heuchera Americana L. Alum Root. 

* Read before the New Jersey State Pharmaceutical Association, Summit Meeting, May i8th,i898. 



LIBRARY 
NEW YORK 

botanical 
Garden. 



I40 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Common along the Delaware, and occasional elsewhere along mountain 
streams. 

HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS L. 

Common along the Delaware, and occasional elsewhere along mountain 
streams. 

Drosera or Sundew. 

Three species are abundant, in the south especially. 

♦HAMAMELIS VIRGINIA NA L. WITCH HAZEL. 

Very common and abundant in the north, where it is capable of yielding 
commercial supplies, and frequent in the south. I have encountered 
two distinct types of this bark in commerce, and should not be sur- 
prised to learn that two species exist. 

*Liquidambar Styraciflua L. Sweet Gum. 

Abundant, except in the north, where it is frequent. In this State 
it rarely becomes a large tree, as it does further south. 

*Onagra biennis (L.) Scop. Evening Primrose. 

Very common and abundant throughout, as a weed. 

Eryngium aquaticum L. Water Eryngo. 

It occurs at one station in Burlington County. 

*Sanicula. Black Snakeroot. 

The Saniculas grow commonly and abundantly in nearly all wooded 
districts in the northern half of the State, and frequently in the south- 
ern half also. Until recently all were supposed to belong to the two 
species S. Marylandica L. and S. Canadensis; but in 1895 Mr. E. P. 
Bicknell showed that most of that growing in this vicinity represented 
an undescribed species, which he named S. Gregaria. 

*Cicuta maculata L. Water Hemlock. 

Although not, strictly speaking, a medicinal plant, this is so powerful 
a physiological agent, and so frequently and fatally poisonous, that it 
should receive mention here as being one of the commonest plants 
of our northern swamps, and not infrequent in the south. 

*CONIUM MACULATUM L. 

This occurs occasionally, purely as an introduced plant. 

*Washingtonia Claytoni (Michx.) Britton. 

This occurs occasionally, purely as an introduced plant. 

*Washingtonia longistylis (Torr.) Britton. 

The two Sweet Cicely s, long familiar under the names Osmorhyza Bre- 
vistylis, now restored to the genus Washingtonia, are common in woods 
in the northern counties, 
*FOENICULUM FOENICULUM (L.) KARST. FENNEL. 

Occurs in various localities, purely as an escape. 
* Angelica atropurpurea L. American Angelica. 

This can hardly be regarded as abundant in any part of the State, but 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



i 4 r 



it is not uncommon, and grows luxuriantly, showing its ready adapt- 
ability to culture here. 
:: Daucus Carota L. Carrot. 

One of our most abundant and troublesome weeds, and capable of col- 
lection on the largest scale. 

* Arabia racemosa L. Spikenard. 

This much-esteemed plant grows commonly, especially in the north. 

In the rich, forested, trap-rock soil hereabout, it grows luxuriantly, and 

demonstrates perfect natural conditions. 
*Aralia nudieaulis L. Wild Sarsaparilla. 

Very abundant indeed in all dry woods, especially in the north. 
Aralia hispida Vent. Bristly Sarsaparilla. 

Occasional and scarce throughout the State. 

* Panax quinquefolium L. Ginseng. 

This is now one of the rarest plants of the State, though it was once 
rather frequent, as testified by our old people; another instance of the 
extermination of a useful plant. The rich soil of our rocky woodlands 
is admirably adapted to its cultivation, one of the most profitable of 
agricultural operations. An illustrated brochure on the cultivation of 
this plant has recently been published by our National Department of 
Agriculture. Plainfield is the nearest point to Summit where it has 
been collected. 

*Cornus florida L. Flowering Dogwood. 

This species, formerly official, is one of our most abundant shrubs or' 
small trees, especially in the central and northern districts, and con- 
tributes more than any other species to the beauty of our hedges and 
forest borders in early May. 

Five other species of Cornus, whose 1 barks have been similarly used,, 
are also common. 

♦SAMBUCUS CANADENSIS L. ELDEEBEREY. 

This is also very common, and in many places exceedingly abundant. 
Its flowers are much more extensively exported than is generally sup- 
posed, and they could be collected hereabout to good advantage. The 
plant is much more poisonous than is generally supposed. Its proper- 
ties are well worthy of investigation. 

VIBURNUM OPULUS L. OB AMP BARK. 

Occurs very sparingly in several localities in the north. In purchas- 
ing Cramp Bark I have received the bark of another species, I believe 
V. Dentatum L., which is very common throughout. 

* VIBURNUM PEUNIFOLIUM L. BLACK HAW. 

This is common and abundant everywhere, except in the south, where 
it occurs frequently. The great variation in strength of this drug is 



j 42 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

supposed to be due to the substitution of the bark of other species, a 
number of which are very abundant in the Southern States. Its collec- 
tion in this vicinity would obviate all such possibility, as there is 
scarcely anything else which could be collected for it; only an oc- 
casional lot of V. Lentago L., which, in all probability, possesses the 
same properties. 

*Triosteum perfoliatum L. Wi]d Coffee. 

This is quite common in the north, especially hereabouts. 

*Cephalanthus occidentals L. Button Bush. 

A very common shrub of swamps throughout the State, especially south- 
ward and near the coast. In Virginia, under the name of Wild Liquor- 
ice, a name which properly belongs to Galium Circaezans Mx., it enjoys 
a high domestic repute in the treatment of pectoral complaints. 

*Mitchella repens L. Partridge Berry. 
Very common in all dry v. oods. 

*Vernonia Noveboracensis (L.) Willd. Iron Weed. 

Very common and abundant in all open low grounds throughout the 
State. 

*EUPATOKIUM PERFOLIATUM L. THOEOUGHWOET. 

Exceedingly abundant in low grounds, and capable of being collected 

in any quantity. 

The E. Purpureum, also used, is almost equally abundant. 

*Solidago odora Ait. Odorous Golden Rod. 

Bather frequent in the north and very common in the southern counties. 

♦CONYZELLA CANADENSIS (L.) EUPE. COLTS TAIL. 

Very abundant indeed in fields, frequently growing so that it could 
be cut with the machine to the almost total exclusion of all else. 
The separation of this plant from the genus Erigeron, to which it is at 
present, referred by the Pharmacopoeia, would seem altogether com- 
mendable, in view of its very different habits and constituents. 

*Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) B. & Ff. Pearly Everlasting. 

Very common in high, dry, especially rocky fields, especially in the 
northern counties, 

*Gnaphalium obtusifolium L. Balsam. . 

Even more common and abundant than the last. 

*Antennaria neglecta, Greene. 

*Antennaria decipiens Greene. 

Both these species of Ladies Tobacco, Cats Paw, Mouse-ear or Low 
Everlasting, are common enough in various parts of the State. Both 
have passed as A. Plantaginifolia (L.) Hook., but Prof. Greene has 
recently shown that that species does not occur in America. 

*INULA HELENIUM L. ELECAMPANE. 

The firm manner in which this establishes itself upon rocky Mils, and 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 1 43 

the luxuriance of its growth, clearly show its adaptability to our soil 

and climate. 
Eva fruteseens L. Marsh Elder. 

Very abundant in salt marshes. 
♦Ambrosia artemisiaelolia L. Common Ragweed. 

Perhaps our most common and troublesome weed. 
♦Ambrosia trifida L. Great Ragweed. 

Very common and abundant, especially along the coast streams and 

ditches. 
*Xanthium strumarium L. Clot-bur. 
Xanthium spinosum L. Spiny Clot-bur. 

Both the Clot-burs are common enough as coarse weeds, especially the 

former, which is abundant in all waste grounds and along roadsides. 
*Helenium autumnale L. Sneeze Weed. 

Common along streams throughout the State, especially near the coast. 

An alkaloid has recently been isolated from a very similar Mexican 

species. 
* Achillea Millefolium L. Milfoil. 

A very common weed throughout the State. 
*Anthemis Cotula L. May Weed. 

Very common indeed as a weed along roadside and in waste places. 
*TANACETTJM VULARE L. TANSY. 

Flourishes perfectly beside roads and in waste places, where it can 

readily be collected of excellent quality, its leaf-development being 

abundant. 
Artemisia vulgaris L. Mugwort. 

At various points where this has been introduced it flourishes perfectly. 
Tussilago Farfara L. Colts Foot. 

Occurs rarely. 
*Erechtites hieraoifolia (L.) Raf. Fireweed. 

Exceedingly abundant and common in recent clearings throughout the 

State. 
*Senecio aureus L. | 

*Senecio Balsamitae Muhl. V Golden Ragwort. 
*Senecio obovatus Muhl. J 

These species of Senecio, long included in the one species S. aureus, 

occur commonly throughout the State. 
♦ARCTIUM LAPPA L. " BURDOCK. 

One of our commonest weeds. 
♦CICHOEIUM INTYBUS L. CHICORY. 

Common throughout the State, and sufficiently abundant for cultiva- 
tion in many localities. 



I44 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

*TARAXACUM TAKAXACUM (L.) KARST. DANDELION. 

It is lost sight of by many pharmacists that the fresh root must be 

taken for the extract. Its very great abundance in all parts of the 

State makes this perfectly convenient. 
*LOBELIA INFLATA L. "INDIAN TOBACCO. 

Very abundant along roadsides and in new meadows and pastures, where 

any required quantity can be quickly collected. 
* Lobelia syphilitica L. Great Lobelia. 

Very common in swampy meadows and along streams. 
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-I7RSI (L.) SPRENG. BEARBERRY. 

Rare in the northern districts, but very abundant in many localities 

in the sand and gravel of the pine barrens. 
*GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS L. WINTERGREEN. 

Very abundant in many parts of the State; in other parts altogether 

wanting. 
Epigaea repens L. Trailing Arbutus. 

Common in most parts of the State; abundant in the south. 
*Pieris Mariana (L.) B. & II. Stagger-Bush. 

Although not strictly medicinal, this poisonous shrub may be men- 
tioned as growing frequently in the north, and very abundantly in the 

south, especially along the coast. 
*Kalmia angustifolia L. Sheep Laurel. 
*Kalmia latifolia L. Mountain Laurel. 

Both these laurels are abundant throughout most of the State. 
*Pyrola rotundifolia L. 
*Pyrola elliptica Nutt. 

Both these Pyrolas grow quite commonly in dry woods of the northern. 

half of the State, and frequently southward. 
*CHIMAPHILA UMBELLATA (L.) NUTT. PIPSISSEWA. 

Occurs with the last two, and is more frequent than they in the south. 
Limonium Carolinianum (Walt.) Britton. Marsh .Rosemary. 

Very abundant at and near the seaside. 
Anagallis arvensis L. Poor Man's Weather Glass. 

Rather common near the coast and at other points where it can be 

readily introduced. It does not establish itself very strongly. 
*Diospyros Virginiana L. Persimmon. 

Common in the south and growing at a number of places in the 

middle counties. 
*Fraxinus Americana L. White Ash. 

Occasional in the south and very common in the middle and northern 

districts. 
*Chionanthus Virginica L. Fringe Tree. 



THE JOURNAL OP PHARMACOLOGY. i 45 

Occasional in the western part of the State. 

*APOCYNUM. DOGBANE. 

There is scarcely any other plant of the Pharmacopoeia which is so 
much in need of study as this. Upon the one hand, we have abundant 
evidence that some preparations of the drug exert an important cardiant 
action, while others are inert, and, upon the other, the certainty that 
a number of species have been badly confounded. It has long been ac- 
cepted that wia had but two species, A. Cannabinum L. and A. Andro- 
saemifolium L., the former presenting a number of varieties. Recently 
Prof. Greene has described A Medium and A. Album as segregations 
from A. Cannabinum. It is very likely that both of these species are 
common hereabout, but time has not been allowed for determining 
their distribution in the State. 

*ASCLEPIAS TUBEEOSA L. PLEURISY ROOT. 

This is another plant calling for close, study. That the A. Decumbens 
L., which has recently been reinstated, is really a good species, I do not 
feel at all sure. The plant is common enough throughout the State, 
preferring sandy soil. 
A. Syriaca L. and A. Incarnata are also very common and similarly used. 

Sabbatia. American Centaury. 

Five species of these plants occur in the State, mostly near the coast, 
and all possess properties similar to the Gentians. 

* Gentian a. Gentian. 

Seven Gentians occur in the State, G. Andrewsii and G. Saponaria being 
rather abundant and more or less used, like the official species. 

♦Menyanth.es trifoliata L. Bog-bean. 

Occurs in swamps in quite a number of localities. 

SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE L. COMFREY. 

Occurs rather commonly in waste places as an escape. 

Ipomoea pandurata (L.) Meyer. Man Root. 

Common in the sandy soil of the southern districts, and occasionally 
northward. 

Solan inn nigrum L. Nightshade. 

Solanum Carolinense L. Horse Nettle. 

Both occur frequently as introduced plants. 

*SOLANUM DULCAMARA L. BITTERSWEET. 

Very common along streams and about the borders of ponds. 

♦DATURA. STRAMONIUM. L. STRAMONIUM. 

Very abundant in all waste places. The plant is so readily collected, 
and the certainty of a good article is so important, that it would be 
well if it were oftener collected here. The frequency of serious cases 
of poisoning by it makes it important that it be known by every one. 



146 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY 



HYOSCYAMUS NIGER L. HENBANE. 

Occurs occasionally by accident. Does not establish itself. 

*Verbascnm Thapsus L. Mullein. 

A very common weed, readily collected in any desired quantity in all 
parts of the State. 

♦Scrophularia Marylandica L. 

*Scrophularia leperella Bicknell. 

Both of these species of Eigwort, until recently classed as S. Nodosa, 
occur abundantly in all parts of the State. 

♦VERONICA VIRGINICA L. Culvers. 

This important plant is common in most parts of the State, especially 
in the rich rocky woods of the northern counties. Its habit is some- 
thing like that of the Cimicifuga, and, like that, it is one of our hand- 
somest, wild flowers. A number of other species of Veronica, especially 
the old V. officinalis, are common and abundant throughout. 

♦Leptamnium Virginianum (E.) af. Beechdrops. 

Very common in the northern half of the State, almost wherever beech 
forests occur, and occasionally southward. 

♦Verbena hastata L. Blue Vervain. 

♦Verbena urtieifolia L. "White Vervain. 

Both species occur in the greatest abundance as tall roadside weeds. 

♦MENTHA PIPERITA L. FEPPERMINT. 

♦MENTHA SPICATA L. SPEARMINT. 

Both the official mints grow very commonly, and demonstrate their ca- 
pacity to do well under cultivation. It would seem that the limestone 
region of North Jersey was specially adapted to the cultivation of 
peppermint- 
Various other species of Mentha, native and introduced, also occur 
commonly or, frequently throughout the State. 

♦Collinsonia Canadensis L. Horse Balm. 

Very common and abundant, and of luxuriant growth in the rich 
woods of the northern counties. Less frequent in the south. 

♦Lycopus Europaeus L. 

♦Lycopus Virginieus L. 

Both of these, together with several other species of Lycopus, are 
widely distributed and abundant in the low grounds of the State. 

♦Cunila Mariana L. Dittany. 

Common in dry woods, especially in the northern half of the State. 

♦Pycnanthemum. 

Various species of this genus enjoy a high repute as aromatics among 
country people, under the name of Mountain-mint. They are very 
abundant, especially in the rocky woods of this vicinity. 
{To be Concluded). 



ESSENTIAL OILS. 



The semi-annual reports of Messrs. Sehimmel & Co. may fairly be said 
to constitute an epitome of everything of importance pertaining to essential 
oils which has come forward during the period covered, and we are alwrys 
glad to print liberal extracts from them. Much of practical value to the 
pharmacist, as well as of scientific interest, will bo found in the quotations 
which follow. 

" Scientific Progress. — Fewer scientific researches have been accom- 
plished in this domain during the last six months than usually. It would, 
however, be a mistaken inference to conclude that the realm of knowledge 
has been so far advanced as to admit a pause in the work of further research. 
On the contrary, many and important problems still remain to be solved; 
but it should be borne in mind that with the extended and deeper insight 
into the constitution of so highly complex organic compounds, the difficul- 
ties of further and accurate research and of correct interpretation accumu- 
late and sometimes necessitate a discriminating retrospect upon disjointed 
or unclassified scientific material." 

"Adulteration. — Dishonest competition, manipulating in secret, utiliz- 
ing the elastic nature of essential oils, and the difficulty of discriminating 
between true and sophisticated products, and thus taking advantage of the-e 
uncertainties, can only be counteracted and disarmed by enlightening the 
public." 

" Oil of Bitter Almonds. — In consideration of the fact that as yet no 
chemical test has been devised for ascertaining an admixture of chlorine- 
freebenzaldehyde with true oil of bitter almonds, the latter has attained com- 
mercially the character of a strictly confidential commodity. The distiller 
alone is in the position to offer an asolute guarantee of the purity of his 
product." 

"Oil of Cardamom. — We are informed that the cultivation of the wild 
growing, so-called long Ceylon cardamom has recently been restricted. The 
main portion of cardamom exported from Ceylon in i897, amounting to 
£02,830 lbs., consisted of short, bleached fruits. This explains the contin- 
uous want of the former sort, which is exported to England exclusively. 
The last auction sales brought 3/10 per lb. The oil distilled from the long 
fruit is consecjuently rare and expensive; it is, however, preferred in the 
manufacture of liquors to the oil of other kinds of cardamom, for the reason 
that it does not possess the strong camphoric aroma." 

"Cassia Oil. — The rates of the lower grades of oil have experienced a 
further reduction in the course of the last six months, while the best grades 
maintain i rather buoyant tendency. Quotations in Hongkong are about: — 



8 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

85-90! of aldehyde; very rare f per lb.; in Germany M. 14.50 

80-85 " " not frequently offered in f " "1300 

7,-75 " " sufficient quantity f " " H-5° 

Aplenty in stock {* ", [] " *£ 



5o-55 



i 



This comparative list bears evidence as to how important it is for the 
consumer to purchase this article exclusively on the basis of its percentage 
of cinnamic aldehyde. The plain designation, "Cassia oil," even with the 
addition of "genuine" or "pure," would not exclude an oil containing only 
50 to 55 per cent, of aldehyde; such an oil would not necessarily involve 
a sophistication, although much below a fair standard." 

"Cedar Leaf Oil. — Considerable confusion prevails in American markets 
in regard to this oil, in consequence of the fact that several different Con- 
ifers pass under the common name "cedar," the principal ones being Juni- 
pems virginiana (red cedar), Thuja occidentalis and Chamaecyparis sphae- 
roidea (both white cedars). Although in common usage, a distinction 
between these so-called cedars is made, the distillers of cedar oil seem to 
ignore, or not to be aware of such differences, using the needles indiscrim- 
inately for distillation. We succeeded in obtaining a large sample of needles 
from one distiller, which seemed to consist of thuja leaves only, but the oil 
obtained from the specimen was not pure thuja oil. It is, therefore, no 
wonder that a considerable variation is constantly observed in the com- 
mercial oil of cedar leaves. In August, 1894, we distilled some cedar leaf 
oil from the needles of Juniperus virginiana, collected fresh under our 
control, and noticed the difference of this oil from all the commercial oils. 
"We have recently submitted this oil to an examination. Accordingly, true 
cedar leaf oil consists mainly of limonene, cadinene, some borneol and 
small portions of bornyl esters. True oil of cedar seems not to come into 
commerce, the common oil passing under this name is an indefinite distil- 
late of miscellaneous conifer needles, including those of thuja. Red thuja 
oil. sometimes met with as'"cedar oil," should more properly pass under the 
nome of "thuja oil." 

"Oil of Cinnamon. — The shipments of cinnamon from Ceylon, in 1897, 
amounted to— bark, 2,674,537 lbs.: chips, 1,067,051 lbs. The consumption 
of cinnamon seems to be on the increase. The cinnamon oil market is 
threatened by an epidemic of sophistication like that experienced with oil 
of bitter almonds. We are in possession of evidence that cinnamon oil 
surrogates are in commerce, consisting of f mixtures of true oil and of arti- 
ficial cinnamic aldehyde containing chlorine. In view of the fact that 
cinnamic aldehyde devoid of chlorine can now be had in any rpiantity, it 
will soon be used for the sophistication of natural Ceylon oil, and a con- 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. , 49 

dition of the cinnamon oil market may set in without sure standards for 
control. On account of the actual tendency of the cinnamon market, any 
reduction in oil prices may find an excellent explanation in the apprehen- 
sion just indicated." 

••('lines. — The stock in London shows a slight reduction when' com- 
pared with that of last year. It consisted, however, at the end of last year 
of 72,810 bales, ecpral to 4,300,000 kilos, or about one-half of the annual 
production. The stocks in London used to be much smaller, but have 
risen up to 5,000,000 kilos during the last three years; the value of cloves, 
therefore, becomes more and more subject to the dictates of the London 
speculators." 

" Cypress Oil. — The excellent action of this oil in pertussis (whooping- 
cough) has been further confirmed. Upon application, relief sets in after 
a few days, and the course of the malady remains a mild and comparatively 
brief one, unless incidental complications occur. The application consists 
in spreading a few drops of the oil upon the pillow of the patient, as also 
by aromatisation of the sick-chamber with the oil by means of an atomizer." 

" Oil of Bergamot. — The question whether the odor of bergamot oil is 
due exclusively to linalyl acetate must be answered in the negative, because 
the odor is due to the entirety of the constituents of the oil, mainly limon- 
ene, linalool and linalyl acetate." 

" Oil of Lemon. — The peels of approximately 1,200 lemons are required 
for the production of one kilo of oil." 

" Eucalyptus Oil. — The distillers at Algeria have had to yield to the 
competition of Australian producers by reducing their rates accordingly. 
The distillates of both countries seem to have attained to their lowest pos- 
sible rates. Meanwhile, the first large shipment of Portuguese oil-, distilled 
from Eucalyptus globulus has been received. Its quality equals the very 
best commercial oils and bears evidence of careful and proper methods of 
and appliances for distillation. As far as Ave are informed, the cultivation 
of eucalyptus trees in the neighborhood of Oporto is quite extended, and 
the production of Portuguese oil may soon become a considerable factor 
in the eucalyptus oil market. This is the less encouraging to the producers 
of the older brands of oil, as a further increase in the consumption of 
eucalyptus oil is not to be expected." 

" Oil of Fennel. — The point of solidification of Fennel Oil, indicating 
the amount of anethol, is the best criterion. Good oil should solidify at 
least at +3 deg." 

" Linalve Oil. — The Mexican aloe wood does not contain the oil in spe- 
cial cellular tissue, but it is distributed through the circular strata of the 
parenchyma and prosenchyma of the wood, while the Cayenne wood con- 



15 o THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

tains the oil in enlarged parenchyma passages. It contains much less es- 
sential oil than Mexican wood, a fact long observed by distillers." 

" Oil of Maoe. — We have introduced an oil distilled really from the 
arillus of the nutmeg, as is prescribed by the German pharmacopoeia. In 
accordance with a traditional usage, all oil of mace was hitherto distilled 
from rejected nuts. The true oil of maoe has, of course, a higher price. 
Its constants, as compared with the former oil and with nutmeg oil, are: — 
True Mace Oil, sp. gr. 0.905 at 15°, opt. rot.+ll°7' at 17°, soluble in 2 
vols, of 90$ alcohol. Nutmeg Oil, 0.865 to 0.920+14° to +30°, in 3vols. of 
90$ alcohol. 

" Oil of Orris. — In consequence of a proper adjustment of the price of 
Orris-root oil, and of the fact that it, jointly with Ionone, forms an excel- 
lent and persistent basis for violet and related perfumes, the use of and 
demand for orris oil has enormously increased, and that to the great ad- 
vantage of the perfumery industry." 

" Oil of Eose. — It is proved that the most prominent jobbers in Bulgaria 
have paid 1,000 to 1,055 Frs. per kilo for rose oil, while this is offered in 
Germany at M 680 to 700, with the false guarantee of being pure, un- 
sophisticated oil. The long prevailing uncertainty in regard to the prin- 
cipal constituents of the fluid part of rose oil has finally been settled. It 
is now generally agreed to consist of the two alcohols CmHhsO and CioH=oO, 
the former constituting 75 per cent, of the oil. It has been settled that 
this alcohol (CioHisO) is identical with the geraniol obtained from palmarosa 
oil by Jaeohsen in 1870, while the alcohol C10H20O corresponds to that 
obtained by Dodge in 1890 by the reduction of citronellal and called by him 
citronellol. In spite of these settled facts the so-called rose oil problem 
still remains in dispute, inasmuch as a controversy in regard to the proper 
names of these alcohols is still going on. Most chemists prefer to retain 
for the alcohol GoILsO the name of geraniol in recognition of the priority 
of the discovery by Jacobsen, while Barbier and Bouveault call it lemonol, 
and Erdmann and Huth, recently joined by Poleck, rhodinol." 

" Oil of Spearmint. — The prices of fine American Spearmint Oil have 
been further reduced since our last Eeport and are now as low as never 
before. At the same time the quality is an excellent one, superior to that 
of any other brand." 

" Star-anise Oil. — Prices have somewhat declined in the course of the 
last six months, but the value in general is more nominal than an actual 
one, because the adulteration of the Chinese oil has recently reached sur- 
prising dimensions. Admixtures of as much as 40 per cent, of kerosene 
are common, and no pure oil will at present he shipped from China unless 
with tlie guarantee of a definite point of solidification. We specially advise 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. x . t 

the firms in Hongkong to bear these facts in mind, otherwise the star-anise 
oil trade may more and more pass over to Tonkin, whence we have thus 
far received unobjectionable shipments of oil, having a degree of solidifi- 
cation up to +18°." 

" Wintergreen Oil. — The rates of the American distillate seem now to 
have reached their bottom figures. The demand for and use of the natural 
oil has rather increased in the course of time, which is somewhat surprising 
in view of the competition by the artificial product, The cut-rate price of 
the latter commodity maintained by reckless competition, has deprived it 
of any material interest to manufacturer and jobber." 

" Orange Oil from Jamaica. — A specimen of this oil does not speak in 
favor of its ever becoming a competitor of the .Messina oil of oranges, on 
account of its stale and vapid odor, making the impression as if it had 
been obtained from rotten fruits and had been improved by the admixture 
of some distilled oil. 

" Coumarin. — The leaves of the so-called vanilla plant, Trilisia odora- 
tissima Cass (Liatris odoratissima, Willd.), for some time has been used 
with advantage for the manufacture of cumarin, specially on account of 
an accumulation of large stocks of these fragrant leaves in New York and 
Hamburg. Since the consumption of this material and the consequent 
rise of its price, the manufacturers have had to resort again to the synthetic- 
method of preparation." 

" Ionone. — Ionone is also much used as a violet flavor for fine confect- 
ions, but its proper application requires discretion. In the perfection of 
such goods the United States thus far excel." 

" Terpineol. — This product has attained to considerable importance in 
perfumery, being used as a constituent of many floral odors and as the 
principal basis of the lilac "extraits" proper. Although it has not been 
demonstrated, terpineol in all probability seems to be a natural constituent 
of various flower's. It remains for further studies to establish this as a fact." 



"China opened" is an expression only recently in any way true. Native 
Chinese students of both sexes are now in different educational institutions 
in this and other countries. An educated Chinese lady, having received her 
medical degree from the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, has re- 
cently become the physician to a high official in the Chinese home govern- 
ment. How rapidly the education of native teachers in foreign institutions, 
the building of hospitals, the work of missionary teachers and the extension 
of railroads through the great interior of China will elevate the general 
standard of scientific medicine and practice is a question commanding at- 
tention at the present time. 



the Journal of Pharmacology. 

A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Advances Made in the Various Departments of 

Materia Medica. 

Voi.. V. JULY, 1S98. No. 7 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INCLUDING POSTAGE: 
Per Annum - $1.00. — Single Copies 15 Cents 

Subscriptions, address Nelson S. Kirk, 450 Third Ave., New York City. 

Business Communications, address D. E. Austin, 115 W. 68th St., New York City. 

Original Contributions, Exchanges, Books for Review and Editorial Communications: 
Address SHITH ELY JELLIFFE, 11. D., 231 West 71st Street, New York City. 

Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFFE, A.B., M.D. 

with the collaboration of 

Chas. Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M.D. V. Coblentz, Ph.D. Geo. A. Ferguson, Ph. B 

Geo. C. Diekman, M.D. H. B. Ferguson, Phar. D. 



ABSTRACTS. 



Chicory. — " Chicory Growing as an Addition to the Eesouroes of the 
American Farmer," is made the subject of " Bulletin No. 19 of the IT. S. 
Dept. Agric," Division of Botany, by Maurice G. Kains. This is a pamphlet 
of 52 pages, illustrated by twelve cuts. The uses of the herbage as a pot- 
herb, a salad, and a fodder, and of the root as a vegetable, a beverage, a 
medicine and an adulterant, or substitute, are reviewed. The plant is 
figured and fully described, and copious analytical tables of composition 
submitted. Cultivation processes are given in detail, with tables exhibiting 
cost, proceeds and net profit. 

Amylolytic Ferments. — In an article on this important subject, by 
Wyatt Wingrave, M.K.C.S., Eng. (Assistant Surgeon to the Central London 
Throat and Ear Hospital), in the London Lancet, May 7, 1898, we are 
informed of a personal necessity that arose in the writer's experience for a 
reliable starch digestant. A crucial comparative examination was therefore 
made of many malt extracts and of Taka-Diastase, the tests being conducted 
both chemically and clinically. 

He summarizes briefly: 1. That Taka-Diastase is the most powerful of 
the starch or diastatic ferments and the most reliable since it is more rapid 
in its action — i. e., " it will convert a larger amount (of starch) in a given 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. I53 

time than will any other anxiolytic ferment." 2. That Taka-Diastase seems 
to he less retarded in its digestive action hy the presence of the organic 
acids (butyric, lactic, acetic), and also hy tea, coffee and alcohol, than are 
saliva and the malt extracts. This is an important point in pyrosis. 3. 
That all mineral acids, hydrochloric, etc., quickly stop and permanently 
destroy all diastatic action if allowed sufficient time and if present in 
sufficient quantities. 4. That Taka-Diastase and malt diastase have, like 
ptyalin, no action upon cellulose (uncooked starch). All starch food should, 
therefore, he cooked to permit of the starch ferment assisting nature in this 
function.. 

An Adulterant of Calabar Bean.— W. B. Day reports (West. Drug.) 
the discovery by Prof. Hereth of a foreign seed in a lot of calabar bean 
which has been identified by Prof. Lloyd as the seed of Entada scandens, 
Benth. The seeds are described as broadly kidney-shaped, flatfish, almost 
lenticular, about If inches in diameter and about § inches thick. In the 
powdered drug the most noticeable difference is in the size of the starch 
grains, those of entada measuring from 5 to 6 microns, while those of 
calabar bean measure from 40 to 60 microns. Further, the cotyledons of 
entada do not give the salmon color produced on treating calabar bean with 
caustic potash. The entada beans have not been met with in this country 
before, it is said, as adulterant of physostigma. 

Mending Platinum Vessels. — Th,- editor of the National Druggist 
says he has frequently succeeded in mending small holes in platinum cap- 
sules by placing a small crystal of gold chloride over the aperture, and at- 
taching it by meeting with a gentle heat, and then turning on the flame 
of the oxyhydrogen blow-pipe, by which the chloride was reduced, filling 
the hole with a plug of pure gold. For larger holes, after cleansing the 
bottom around the hole, he cuts a disc of platinum foil a little larger than 
the aperture; with a glass rod touches the edge around the aperture with 
a solution of the chloride, warms gently, until the moisture has been driven 
off, approximates the foil over the opening, and turns on the oxhydrogen 
flame as before. The gold acts as a solder between the platinum surfaces, 
and makes the ca] side as good as ever, he says, for all purposes which do 
not require an extreme heat. 

The Treatment of Myxoedema— It is now generally recognized that 
thyroid feeding is the most valuable resource in the treatment of myxoe- 
dema and cretinism. As in both of these affections there is a marked 
atrophy or absence of the thyroid gland, the value of thyroid therapeutics 
is readily explicable. While the results hitherto derived from the thyroid 
preparations in common use have been quite encouraging, it is probable 
that they will become much better when physicians will avail themselves 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

more generally of the active principle of the thyroid, which can now be 
obtained in the form of a triturate with sugar of milk under the name of 
iodothyrine. The advantage of using the active constituent instead of 
extracts is readily seen. As mentioned by Dr. Cabot (Medical News, Sept. 
12, 1896), the dosage is exact, and it is free from some of the unpleasant 
toxic qualities of the dried preparations of the gland. Excellent results 
are reported from the use of the iodothyrine in myxoedema by Prof. Ewald 
and Fraenkel, of Berlin. Dr. P. Maries, of Paris (Med. Week.), has re- 
cently recorded the case of a woman, aged fifty-four years, who had suf- 
fered for several years from this disease, and was treated with iodothyrine 
in doses of 0.3 grm., three or four times daily. Although the patient pre- 
sented rather severe cardiac dyspnoea and some albuminuria, there was 
ranid improvement and complete recovery ensued within six weeks. 

Lystol. — Lysitol is described (Pharm. Centralh., XXXIX., p. 145) as 
a preparation resembling lysol in appearance as well as in its power to 
kill bacteria and spores, but as being considerably cheaper. 

Guaiacol-and-Quinine Hydrochlorate. — Guaiacol-and-quinine hydro- 
chlorate, occurring in the form of white, crystalline needles, has recently 
been introduced as a substitute for guaiacol (Pharm. Centralh., XXXIX., 
p. 145). It is stated to be milder in its action than the latter. 

Ichtol.— Ichtol is described as a mixture of lanolin, iodoform, glycerin, 
carbolic acid, oil of lavender and oil of eucalyptus. It is intended (Pharm. 
Pest, XXXI., p. 94) as an application in itching of the skin. 

(It is to be regretted that greater discrimination is not exercised at 
times in the choice of names for new remedies, preparations, etc. In the 
present instance, the name so nearly resembles "Ichthyol" that many will, 
no doubt, be misled by the resemblance). Merck's Report. 

Gossypol.— L. Marchlewski (Pharm. Centralh., XXXIX., p. 108) has 
isolated a new crystalline compound from cottonseed, which he' has named 
"gossypol." The substance appears to possess both phenol and acid prop- 
erties; but, as no characteristic derivative has as yet been obtained, no 
formula can be assigned it at present. From its chemical and physical 
behavior gossypol appears to be closely related to certain tannins; pharma- 
cologic experiments have not thus far been made with it. 

Bismutan. — Bismutan is described (Pharm. Centralh., XXXIX., p. 109) 
as consisting of bismuth, resorcin and tannin. It occurs as a yellow, odor- 
less, faintly-sweiet powder, insoluble in water. It has been employed by 
Dr. Bion as an antidiarrhoeal, particularly in children. In almost every 
case of poor gastro-intestinal digestion the vomiting and diarrhoea ceased 
within twenty-four hours after beginning the administration of the reme- 
dy. Adults were given doses of from 0.5 to 1 gm. per day. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. i 55 

A Study of the Physiological Action of Hydrochlorate of Eucaine. — 

In the Bulletin of Academy of Medicine of the Royal Belgium, 
No. 4, 1897, Ver Eecke, after a full experimental study of the physiologi- 
cal action of hydrochlorate of eucaine, sums up the work on which he has 
been engaged as follows: (1) Hydrochlorate of eucaine in the frog de- 
termines successively excitations, convulsions and paralysis; the latter is 
of peripheral origin. The return to the normal state is accompanied by 
convulsions, and later by hyperexcitability. The fatal dose is 0.16 grammes 
per kilogramme. (2) In the warm-blooded animals hydrochlorate of eu- 
caine primarily produces excitation, which is followed by convulsions, and 
finally death from asphyxia occurs. There is no paralyzant dose. The 
fatal close in the guinea-pig is from 0.049 to 0.052 grammes per kilo- 
gramme. There is no cumulative action of the poison; on the contrary, 
the organism may accustom itself to increasing doses of the drug. Co- 
caine has twice the toxic action which is possessed by eucaine. (3) Hydro- 
chlorate of eucaine acts on the heart principally by paralyzing the intra- 
cardiac motor centre; secondarily it alters the muscular fibres of the 
heart. (4) Hydrochlorate of eucaine lowers the blood-pressure by diminish- 
ing the peripheral resistance. (5) Hydrochlorate of eucaine directly stimu- 
lates the respiratory centre in the medulla, The paralysis of the respira- 
tory centre in cases of fatal poisoning is not the result of the direct action 
of poison, but is clue to asphyxia, which, in its turn, is caused by an ex- 
cess of carbon monoxide in the blood. (G) Eucaino increases diuresis, ac- 
celerates nitrogenous, phosphorous and chlorous metabolism; it produces 
glycosuria, but only during the presence of intense convulsions. (7) Hydro- 
chlorate of eucaine does not appear to eliminate itself by the kidneys; on 
the other hand, it probably undergoes a chemical decomposition in the 
economy. (8) Hydrochlorate of eucaine, instilled in the conjunctival sac, 
first produces anesthesia of the conjunctiva., and finally of the cornea, at 
the same time that it rapidly lowers the intraocular pressure. (9) Hydro- 
chlorate of eucaine reduces the vitality of the red blood corpuscles, and 
produces fatty degeneration of the heart and of the involuntary muscles. 
(10) Chloral hydrate diminishes or stops the convulsions produced by eu- 
caine. Chloralization will allow the administration of doses of eucaine 
which are beyond the fatal limit. (11) The antagonism between hydro- 
chlorate of eucaine and chloral hydrate is not reciprocated. 

The "R" Tuberculin.— Slawyk of Heubners clinic (Deut. Med. Woch., 
July, 1897) reports upon fifty injections of the new tuberculin. One child 
received twenty-three, another twenty-one, and the two remaining ones 
two injections. The smallest quantity injected was 1-4,000 milligramme, 
and the largest six milligrammes. Full details are given of the first two 



15* 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



cases. The elder child, aged 8^ years, reacted vigorously, whereas the 
younger and weaker child showed no symptoms. The reaction consisted 
in fever, sweating, collapse, local redness (and even eventual abscess) of 
old scars and of the injection site. The patients did not become accus- 
tomed to the agent after increasing doses. The highest temperature oc- 
curred most often on the day of the injection, but the fever lasted some- 
times for several days. The general condition was very little affected by 
the fever. In one case evening rises of temperature and sweating were 
noted. A severe collapse once followed an injection, giving rise to grave 
anxiety. With children great caution in the question of dose is required. 
Doubling the dose is not to be recommended, and not more than two 
milligrammes should be given. Once a fistulous opening appeared in a 
scar in the neck leading down to a tuberculous gland, but the tuberculous 
tissue was not discharged through it. No certain conclusions can be drawn 
as to the value of this tuberculin, as the time is as yet too short. In the 
second case an improvement in the condition of the lungs was observed, 
and in the first case the body weight increased, the glands became smaller 
and the very large spleen diminished in size. The injections were discon- 
tinued in the other two cases for independent reasons. 

Worner (ibid.) has treated eight cases, including four of lupus, one of 
scrofuloderma with pelvic abscess, and three of early phthisis. In one 
case of lupus considerable improvement was noted. Two other cases, which 
had been scraped shortly before the tuberculin treatment, showed no re- 
currence. In the case of scrofuloderma, rapid cleaning and even healing 
of long-standing ulcers took place. Little effect was noted in the cases of 
phthisis. The author is encouraged to a further trial of this remedy in 
small doses. 

Seeligmann (ibid.) reports a case of tuberculosis of the skin and gen- 
erative organs which was improved by the use of tuberculin. 

Experimental Eclampsia.— Van de Velde, says the British Medi- 
cal Journal, seeks to give the auto-intoxication theory of eclampsia an 
experimental basis. He began by comparing the case with which the in- 
jection of human urine induces convulsions in pregnant and non-pregnant 
rabbits, finding that the average dose required is in the former case 9 c. cm. 
per kilog. of body weight; in the latter, 20 c. cm. per kilog. In only one 
out of 37 pregnant animals experimented upon was there any difficulty 
in evoking convulsions. The causes of this increased susceptibility may 
be two in number — the presence of a greater proportion of the toxins 
producing convulsions in the blood of pregnant animals, or a greater vul- 
nerability of their nerve centres to these toxins. Now the author finds 
that it' the blood of a gravid and non-gravid animal be injected at different 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 1 57 

times into the same rabbit, 18 c. cm. per kilog. of the former induce eclamp- 
sia, as against 25 c. cm. per kilog. of the latter. If urine be substituted 
for blood, the figures are 18 and 30 c. cm. per kilog. The author con- 
cludes from these experiments that pregnancy leads to the formation in 
the female organism of substances whose 1 principal action is the causation 
of convulsions, that these substances are normally eliminated by the urine, 
and that they circulate in the blood to a greater extent in pregnant than 
in normal animals, indicating in the former an excess of production over 
excretion. He further finds evidence of the increased susceptibility of the 
nerve centres during pregnancy, in that for some days after delivery the 
animal is mora easily convulsed by the injection of blood or urine than the 
normal, although its own urine is no longer abnormally toxic. Van de 
Velde hence argues out the whole question of eclampsia, finally accept- 
ing Bouchard's views as to its cause being auto-intoxication by the ac- 
cumulation in thci blood of the "toxins of pregnancy." 

Isocreatinine.— J. E. Thesen (Pharm. Ztg., XLIIL, p. 88) has given 
the name "Isocreatinine" to a newly obtained nitrogenous compound iso- 
lated from the meat of fish. It differs in many respects from creatinine, 
described by Liebig. It is yellow, three times more soluble than the latter, 
and yields an easily soluble picrate. Its metallic salts behave like those 
of creatinine, giving also the same reactions, although more slowly. It 
is not altered by boiling with water, but on treatment with potassium pei- 
manganate it yields considerable ammonia, but no methyl-guanidine, 
whereas creatinine does. 

New Ferment from the Tartrates.— "Bacillus Tartricus".— L. Grim- 
bert and L. Ficquet (Chem. News, Number 1,997, p. 106) have made use 
of an anaerobic fermentation of calcium tartrate, induced by means of a 
few drops of a vegetable juice, incubated at 35 degrees C. as the starting 
point of research, and, after a number of cultivations, the authors were 
enabled to isolate a new bacillus, to which they have given the name 
Bacillus tartricus. It is a small bacillus, about 1 to 2 u. in length, with 
considerable motile power; it gives no indol reaction in a peptone solution; 
it coagulates milk about the eighth day, and transforms nitrates into ni- 
trites. Bacillus tartricus is an active ferment of calcium tartrate^ which it 
attacks indifferently in aerobic or anaerobic cultures, but shows a pref- 
erence for aerobic life. 



Alumni, College and Class Notes. 



CONTRIBUTORS. 



Alumni Association, . . . WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph.G., 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Classes prior to 1893. RUDOLPH GIES, Phar.D. 115 West 6Sth St., N.Y. 
Bibliography, .... ADOLPH HENNING, Ph.G. 68 William St., N. Y. 

Class '93, . • • EUGENE F.LOHR. Ph.G., 508 Marcy Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 



Class '94 
Class '95 
Class '96 
Class '97 
Class '98 
Class '99 



L- G. MARCUS, Ph.G., 1522 Third Ave., N. Y. 
G. F. MANVILLE, 310 W. 113th St., N. Y. 
Chad. G. H. GERKEN, Phar. D., 2655 Second St., Brooklyn. 
C. W. MEINECKE, Ph. G., 57S Fifth Ave., N. Y. 
L. EICKWORT, Jr., 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 
CLARA F. EHLIN, 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 
Legal Notes, . • H. A. HEROLD, 2o6B'way, N Y. 

Post Graduate Cla=» 61 >, . • HARRY B. FERGUSON, Phar. D. 

N.Y C. P. C. C. N. S. KIRK, Ph. G., 450 Third Ave., N.Y 



N. Y. C. P. C. C. 

At the annual meeting held on June 8th the following officials were elected: 
Pres., Frank N. Pond; Yiee-Pres., Jacob S. Stage; Sec'y.-Treas., Ludwig G. B. 
Erb; Capt., Nelson S. Kirk; Lieut., Chas. H. Bjorkwall; Color Bearer, O. W. 
Frankfurter. 

The medals were "all right"; they made the boys hustle, much to the 
delight of the spectators, who "got their money's worth." Stage won the first 
silver, Kirk the gold, and Dacker the second silver. 

The Outing clearly demonstrated the abilities of our Club in managing 
athletic events. Too much credit cannot be given Capt. Erb and Pres. Pond 
for their untiring efforts in securing prizes. 

"Wednesday afternoon runs to Coney Island seem to be the most popular, 
four having been held this season with large attendance in each case. 

Two prominent Club men and a lady are congratulating themselves upon 
their escape from the clutches of the law brought about by an over zealous 
officer, who sought gore at their expense, only to be chagrined and reprimanded 
by a gentleman of higher authority. 

Upon the initiation of our Scorching Club members will shortly be officially 
notified of a Sunday run to Long Island, so join the Club and see what a good 
time we can give you. Scorcher. 

The Outing Committee takes pleasure in thanking their many friends for 
courtesies extended in connection with the successful event, particularly the 
following named individuals and firms: Geo. W. D. Crittenton, Chas. S. 
Erb, Gus Strassburger, Gerber, Mendplwitz, McKesson & Robbins, Sharpe 
& Dohme, Smith & Darling, Lehn & Fink, W. II. Warner & Co.. Fries Bros.. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. j 59 

Nelson Baker & Co., Meidlinger Bros., Kays Kold Kure Co., Colgate & Co. 
Chelsea Mfg. Co., John Maris & Co., Searles & Shereth Co. (Violets), Moxie 
Nerve Food Co. 

'98 NOTES. 

U. S. R. S. Vermont, New York Navy Yard,May 2, 1898. 

Well may the old class of '98 be proud of the material of which she was 
composed. To be sure some of the members did not perhaps during the last 
year exert their energies as much as they should have in the proper channels, 
but when the news came from Washington that Uncle Sam was in need of 
apothecaries, almost as a unit the class went to the front, and offered its 
services. Of the many who offered eighteen have already sworn to uphold the 
Star Spangled Banner, and many more are anxiously awaiting permission to 
do so. Even among our sister members has the spark of patriotism beeu 
kindled, and two now have their applications in, only waiting for permission 
to go to the front as nurses. 

Our sister class of '99 is not without representatives, as the brave Pompelly 
and Winters are now away at sea perhaps fighting the hated Spaniards. Many 
of our members have been disappointed, and could not enlist, because of 
physical inability to pass the examination. 

We are practically isolated here, cut off from the outside world, and yet 
thus far our duties have been far from arduous. During the day we are 
employed around the ship, endeavoring to appear busy. Breakfast is from 
6.30 to 7, dinner from 11 to 12, and supper from 4.30 to 5.30; at 7 P. M. the 
bugle sounds "hammocks," and then the boys hustle to get their swinging 
beds ready for the night. At sundown the bugle sounds, and as we respect- 
fully salute, "Old Glory" is hauled down for the night. From 7.30 to 8.30 is 
general recreation time, and the boys amuse themselves either at cards, at 
the piano on the upper deck, or on the spar deck watching the sailors in their 
jolly fistic encounters. These contests among the sailors are conducted 
throughout in a most orderly manner, and good will seems to prevail. The 
American sailor, as we have seen him aboard the Vermont, proves himself to 
be a robust, good-natured and patriotic son of the sea. At 9 P. M. the salute 
is fired, "taps" sound and in a few moments we are fast asleep, not to wake 
until the salute and "Reveille" sound at 5 A. M. Thus you see the boys are 
very regular in their habits, and by the time the sore arms (the result of 
vaccination) have worn off there will be few if any who will not be found 
improved mentally and physically by the life in this region, remote from the 
gay Tenderloin. 

The thanks of all the boys are due to our attentive sisters, Misses Noyes 
and Aschenbach who, were they so permitted, would be over to see us every 
day, and never yet have they forgotten to bring a stock of choice dainties with 
them. But alas! of late Uncle Sam has become very strict, and we now see 
them but once a week. 

The first of the boys to leave was Winters, '99, on the "Solace"; next went 
Pompelly, '99, on the "Sterling"; then followed Siegel on the "New Orleans," 
and to-day we lost our dearly belovecd Vice-President Mills, who left for Phila- 
delphia to ship on the "Justin." Our old friend Hilderbrandt has become 
famous by the discovery of a new species— "Hammocaciae Bitehardiaeeae 



!6o THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Ililderbranti," synonym— "Hammock Bug." You have all, of course, read how 
our little friend Richards covered himself and the class with glory at Com- 
mencement. Unfortunately we were not all permitted to sit on the stage 
at Carnegie that evening, but those of us w T ho were not were just as proud 
of our Valedictorian as though we had not been relegated to the ranks of 
the "Class of '99." 

Our treasurer Alpers is here, and helps while away the hours with his 
discourses on "Religion and the Hereafter." That old hat of "Eikies," which 
afforded the class so much amusement, has been adorned with the signatures 
of the enlisted '98 men, and suitably decorated with the national colors, and 
is to be presented to one of the young lady members of the class. Our colony 
is composed at present of the following: Richards, Piskorski, Fraser, Vorisek, 
Alpers, Patton, A. F. Eberhardt, Wild Beckary, Jorgensen, Gellert, Hilder- 
brandt, Seufert and Eiehwort. We have some camera "fiends" in the crowd, 
and no doubt some very interesting pictures will result. 

And now did space but permit the menu, table manners and many otfter 
peculiar customs of the U. S. Navy could be told of. The life generally is 
to us all a decided novelty, but thus far there is not one who regrets having 
taken the step. , 

And now once more three cheers for the class of '9S, and when the war is 
over, may the boys be as successful in private life as they were in the service 
of their country. Eichwobt. 

'99 NOTES. 

Class of '99 boys seem to be working very hard; that accounts for lack of 
news. Very few students of our class were present at the N. Y. C. P. Ex- 
cursion. June 8th. These few had the pleasure of meeting our teachers, Prof. 
Diekman and Dr. H. B. Ferguson. 

By the way, Mis Leroy and family were greatly interested in the games 
and especially at the prizes that were given out at the N. Y. C. P. Excursion. 

One of our trustworthy students is among the beautiful trees and flowers 
of Ulster Park studying anatomy. 

C. F. Eiilex, Reporter of Class '99. 



VOL. V. AUGUST, 1898. No. 8. 



m 



Journal of Pharmacology 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 

A Contribution to the Pharmacology of Grindelia 

Robusta, . . . . . . . .161 

John Gi,assford, Ph.G., Phar.D. 

Medicated Gauges, .... . . . 166 

Soluble Metallic Gold, 166 

Soluble Mercury, . 167 

New Remedies, . . . .... 168 

Editorial, 170 

Alumni, College and Class Notes, . . . 172 




Printed for the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York by The New Era 

Printing Company, Lancaster, Pa. 



jftaltine 

MALTINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor an 
" essence of malt." 

MAI/TINE is the most highly concentrated extraction of all the nutritive and diges- 
tive properties of Wheat, Oats and Malted Barley. 

It has stood alone and unrivalled throughout the world in its therapeutic field for 
more than twenty years, despite the most strenuous efforts of the ablest phar- 
maceutical manufacturers to produce a preparation approaching it in medicinal 
value, elegance, palatability and stability. 

"Malt" is n<* "MALTINE." 

« Extract of Malt " is not " MALTINE." 

♦• Essence of Malt " is not " MALTINE." 

" MALTINE " must be designated to get "MALTINE." 

WEINHACEN'S 

Retested Clinical Thermometers 



CM.WEINHAGCU 
FATJAH. 30TH. 1885 



WEINHACEN'S 



SOLID PISTON ASEPTIC 
HYPODERMIC TABLET SYRINGE 




No Leather or other Washers. Piston works smoothly without lubricant. This Syringe is easily 
cleaned and sterilized. We supply them in any of our cases. We also furnish them -without cases. 

Send for our Illustrated Circular of Hypodermic Syringes, etc. 

AIX JOBBERS FURNISH OUR GOODS. 

H. iAiEINHHCEN, 

ESTABLISHED 1855. 

22-24 NORTH WILLIAM ST. NEW YORK, U.S.A. 



CIK 



journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published for the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York, 
by The New Era Printing Company, Lancaster, Pa. 



Vol. V. 



AUGUST, 1898. 



No. 8. 



A Contribution to the Pharmacology of Grindelia 

Robusta.* 



LIBRARY 
NEW YORK 
BOTANICAL 

(MRDEN. 



By John Glassford, Ph.G., Phar.D. 



[Contribution from the Laboratories of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York.] 

I. — Botany and Histology. 

The genus Grindelia, named after Professor Grindel, a Russian bot- 
anist, is a member of the natural order Compositae. It comprises coarse, 
perennial, or biennial herbs. Gray described twelve species, two of which 
G. robusta and G. squarrosa, are official in the U. S. Pharmacopese under 
the title of Gri?idelia. 

Grindelia robusta Nuttall, also known as Hardy Grindelia, Wild Sun- 
flower, Gum Plant, Yellow Tar Weed, is found in salt marshes along the 
Pacific coast, in some localities very abundantly. Dr. H. P. Gibbons, of 
Alameda, Cal., who first brought the drug to notice describes it as follows : 

" It is a robust species, from ^ to 3 feet high, glabrous, suffruticose, 
with numerous stems from creeping roots, loosely corymbose, branched 
above ; leaves from ^ to 2 inches broad and 1 ]/o to 5 inches long, some- 
what oblong, spatulate, clasping, mostly obtuse, serrate, mucronate ; 
involucre somewhat leafly at the base. The heads are from Y% to 3 inches 
in diameter. The disk is at first filled with a white resinous sperm or 
varnish secreted by the involucre which covers the rays and florets as they 
expand. The pappus consists of from two to four bristles. At about the 
middle of April or the first of May (the time when the flowers begin to 
force open the involucre) a white resinous substance begins to exude 

* Submitted as a Competitive Thesis for the Faculty Prize, Post-Graduate Class, 189S. 



162 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



from glands which cover the scales. This resin rarely, if ever, is found 
in quantity on the branchlets, although there is always sufficient secreted 
by the stem and leaves to impart a glutinous property perceptible to the 
touch. The resinous secretion changes to a brown color later in the season 
and covers the heads like a thick varnish. The proper time to gather the 
plant is when the seeds are perfected." — (Transactions of the Medical 
Society of the State of California, 1874, pp. 1 16-123.) 

To this might be added that the drug, as it reaches our eastern markets, 
seldom includes leaves over three inches in length and contains an undue 
proportion of stems which vary from y 1 ^ to \ inch in diameter, are of a 
pale yellow or brown color and smooth but for the slight longitudinal 
wrinkles. The odor of Grindelia is strongly aromatic and quite charac- 
teristic. The taste is at first aromatic, recalling that of thyme ; later it 
becomes bitter and lastly persistently acrid, producing at first a stinging 
and then a numbing sensation on the tongue similar to that produced by 
a trace of aconite. 

The drug is difficult to powder on account of the tendency of the soft 
resin to clog up the teeth of the mill, especially when it becomes warm. 

The microscopical characters of 
Grindelia are numerous. Although 
the official definition includes only the 
leaves and flowering tops, the com- 
mercial drug contains not a little 
stem, which renders the consideration 
of that portion of the plant necessary. 
A cross-section of the stem presents 
the general appearance of Fig. 1. The 
center of the section is seen to be com- 
posed of a pith of delicate thin- walled, 
large-celled parenchyma. This com- 
prises about one half of the entire 
diameter. Surrounding this pith are 
the fibro-vascular bundles, eight to 
sixteen in number ; a portion of one of these is shown enlarged in 
Fig. 2. They are composed of radiating rows of wood cells, with ves- 
sels and tracheids interspersed, separated by a cambium layer from the 
dense elliptical masses of bast fibers which produce the slight longitudinal 
elevations mentioned above. These bast fibers are surrounded by a thin 
layer of parenchyma enclosed by an epidermis. 

In the larger section this epidermis is seen to be composed of rectan- 
gular cells somewhat thickened on the outer wall. The layer of par- 
enchyma immediately beneath (from three to" seven cells in width) is com- 
posed of thin-walled cells very irregular both in size and shape with the 




Fig. 1. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



163 



exception of a single layer of cells ad- 
jacent to the phloem groups which 
are noticeably larger than the others 
and of a uniform rectangular shape. 

The phloem groups within are com- 
posed of thick-walled bast fibers of a 
brownish - yellow color and angular 
outline. They are very compact, form- 
ing a firm casing for a stem which 
is otherwise rather weak. The sieve- 
tubes, seen more distinctly in the longi- 
tudinal section, Fig. 3, are few. They 
are of the usual type, and are much 
larger than the bast fibers. The inner 
portions of the phloem groups grad- 
ually merge into the cambium layer, 
which is about three cells in width and 
of the usual oblong thin-walled type. 

The xylem, or woody portion of the 
fibro-vaseular bundle next within the 
cambium layer, is composed of rather 
thick-walled tracheids, rectangular in 
outline with small intercellular spaces, 
and becoming more irregular toward 
the center. Interspersed among these 
are the larger ducts, fewer near the 
cambium but becoming more numerous 
toward the center. They are arranged 
in radial rows of from four to eight, 
decreasing in size toward the center. 

The medullary rays are very indis- 
tinct, being marked merety by the 
slight radial elongation of their cells.- 

The central parenchyma is composed of the usual large, round, thin- 
walled cells, with large intercellular spaces. 

The longitudinal section shown in Fig. 3 is perhaps of more importance 
than the cross-section, since it shows the parts of the stem as they would 
appear in a powder of the drug. The cells of the epidermis are much 
elongated, those of the outer parenchyma but slightly so. The bast-fibers 
within are in a compact, confused mass, their lumens being distinguishable 
only with difficulty. The cambium layer, owing to its delicacy, is difficult 
to preserve in a perfect condition. The usual brick-shaped central cells 
merge into the bast fibers on the outer side and into the ducts and tracheids 
on the inner side. 




Fig. 2. 



1 64 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



The xylem is seen to be 
principally composed of 
distinctly marked libriform 
fibers. These markings are 
the small, round or slit- 
shaped pores, which are 
distributed throughout the 
length of the fiber. The 
tracheids are distinguished 
by their larger diameter and 
thinner walls. Their mark- 
ings are in part similar to 
those of the wood fibers, 
but more pronounced oval 
pores are common. 

The ducts are of two 
kinds, the reticulated and 
spiral. The former are dis- 
tributed throughout the en- 
tire woody portion of the 
bundle. They are from two 
to four times the diameter 
of the wood fibers. The ir- 
regular, angular pores are 
so numerous as to leave 
merely a net of the cell 
wall. The spiral ducts oc- 
cupy exclusively the inner- 
most portion of the xylem. 
Both single and double 
spirals are present. The parenchyma is now reached. Its outermost 
cells are seen to be long and narrow, with many pores. The inner cells 
gradually become shorter and broader until at the center ; the longest are 
not over twice as long as broad. They are far more irregular than is ap- 
parent on cross-sections, and many cells are seen with a diameter greater 
than their length. 

Fig. 4 represents the appearance of the powder. In addition to the 
elements of the stem above described, it contains the elements of the leaf 
and flower. 

The following may be defined : 
From the stem : 
(i) Bast fibers ; 
(2) Ducts ; 




Fig. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



165 




(3) Wood fibers and 

tracheids ; 

(4) Parenchyma. 
From the leaf : 

C5) Leaf epidermis with 
stomata ; 

(6) Resin glands. 
From the flower : 

(7) Pollen grain ; 

(8) Flower parenchyma; 

(9) Sclerenchymatic tis- 

sue from seed ; 

(10) Fat globules. 
From all parts : 

(11) Fragments of resin. 
The stem elements have 

already been sufficiently de- 
scribed. The leaf epidermis 
consists of rounded cells FlG - 4- 

rather irregular in size and shape. There is nothing characteristic 
about them. The stomata are very numerous. They measure about 18 
microns in width and about 28 microns in length. 

The resin glands are round to elliptical in shape, and are about 24 
microns in diameter. They are composed of many small, angular cells, 
regular at the periphery, but becoming irregular toward the center. 

The pollen grains are perhaps the most characteristic element of the 
powder. They are circular or elliptical in outline, of a diameter of from 
18 to 25 microns, and yellow in color. Their surface is beset with 
numerous short, projecting spines. 

The flower parenchyma is very frail and transparent, here and there 
showing a delicate fibro-vascular bundle. 

The glands from the scales of the involucre are very abundant. They 
are of the same appearance as those of the leaf above described. 

The sclerenchymatic tissue forming the outer coat of the achenes is 
easily recognized. It is composed of small, reddish-brown cells, arranged 
in regular rows. 

The fat globules are colorless, spherical masses, varying in diameter 
from 6 to 15.5 microns or more. They come from the inner portions of 
the achene, and are only to be seen in the very finely powdered drug. 

The particles of resin seen here and there in the powder are irregular in 
shape, yellow in color, and highly refractile. — Merck's Report. 

( To be Contimied.) 



^6 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Medicated Gauzes. 

A. Boric Acid Gauze Dissolve 40 gtn. boric acid in 100 cc. boiling 

water (distilled). With this 10 m. of gauze, 0.7 m. wide, are thoroughly 
impregnated by continued kneading until absorbed. The gauze must be 
free from all fatty matter, and "when impregnated is spread on plates and 
dried at about 25°C. One meter will contain 4 gm. boric acid, which is 
equal to about iofo by weight. 

B. Carbolated Gauze. — Prepare a mixture of the following : 30 gm. 
carbolic acid, 900 cc. benzine (S/G. 0.700), 100 cc. ether and 15 cc. paraffine 
oil. With this impregnate 10 m. gauze, same as before. Dry and pack 
in parchment or wax paper. In like manner, with addition of 4 gm. 
resin, medicated gauzes of salicylic acid, salol, naphthol, iodol, resorcin, 
picric acid, and corrosive sublimate, are prepared. 

C. Dermatol Gauze. — The usual quantity of gauze, 10 111.-0.7 m - 
wide, is cut into a number of pieces, each of which must be impregnated 
by itself. This becomes necessary because dermatol is not soluble in the 
impregnating medium. This is made as follows : Mix 50 gm. dermatol with 
900 cc. benzine (S/G. 0.700), ether 100 cc, paraffine oil 15 cc. and 5 gm. 
resin. The same procedure can be employed in case of airol, sub-nitrate 
and salicylate of bismuth. Each meter contains 5 gm. of medicinal sub- 
stance, equal to about 20$ by weight. 

D. Iodoform Gauze. — 27.5 gm. iodoform, 400 cc. benzine (S/G. 0.700), 
600 cc. ether, 10 cc. paraffine oil and 5 gm. resin are mixed. This mixture 
is used to impregnate 10 111.-0.7 m - wide gauze in the aforesaid manner. 
15-20 drops ammonia water may be added ; this serves to preserve color 
of gauze. One meter contains 2.5 gm. = 10/c by weight of iodoform. 

G. C. D. 



Soluble Metallic Gold. 

Zsigmondi recently succeeded in producing solutions of metallic gold ; 
these in color resemble ruby-glass and are obtained by treating faintly al- 
kaline and very dilute solutions of gold chloride with formaldehyde. The 
product so obtained is concentrated by dialysis, the gold remaining in so- 
lution. Its colloidal nature in this condition, permits the removal in such 
manner of nearly all the salts present. Gold would, therefore, seem to 
share with many other metals the property of yielding colloidal solutions 
when in a state of fine subdivision. Such subdivision must be made 
under water, formaldehyde acting only as a reducing agent. 

If the red solution is treated with sodium chloride, or with dilute acids, 
a blue color is produced, and it is found that the gold has aggregated into 
larger particles. Addition of more salt, finally causes a separation of gold 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 167 

in the form of a powder. Electrolysis of the solution causes a deposit of 
gold as a black powder, at the positive pole, which after drying assumes 
a metallic lustre. 

If the original ruby-colored solution is exposed to the atmosphere, cer- 
tain moulds develop rapidly, and these, strangely, have the property of 
appropriating gold from the solution. This property in some cases is so 
highly developed that the solution is entirely decolorized. The mycelium 
of such moulds assumes a dark red and at times even a black color. It 
these moulds are allowed to dry on a glass surface, a spot possessing the 
lustre of gold is produced, which under the magnifier appears like a net- 
work. If solutions of colloidal tin and colloidal gold are mixed, and di- 
lute acids are added, precipitation results. The gold in this instance re- 
tains its fine state of subdivision and consequently its red color, and in 
this condition is intimately mixed with the tin. This precipitate seems to 
be identical with the substance known as the purple of Cassius. The ex- 
periment thus made seems to definitely settle the old question of the com- 
position of this golden purple. 

G. C. D. 



Soluble Mercury. 

Lottermoser (Phar. Zeitting, 13, p. 519), reports that he has been suc- 
cessful in his attempt to obtain colloidal mercury, corresponding in char- 
acter to like modifications of silver and gold recently made. His method 
of procedure was as follows : Into a very dilute solution of stannous 
nitrate is poured, very slowly and under constant stirring, a solution of 
mercurous nitrate, also very dilute. Both solutions are to have a faint acid 
reaction, only enough free nitric acid being present to prevent the forma- 
tion of sub-salts. It was found that the tin salt must be used in excess, 
otherwise the colloidal mercury soon changes. The dark brown solution 
resulting from above operation is treated with a concentrated solution of 
ammonium citrate, causing a separation of colloidal mercury, which be- 
comes apparent by a change in color to black, and the deposition of a very 
fine black precipitate. The mixture now is kept cool and ammonia water 
added until all free acid is neutralized. The supernatant liquid is removed 
by decantation, and the precipitate first allowed to drain on a porous plate 
and later dried over sulphuric acid in a vacuum exsiccator. The resulting 
masses have a metallic lustre, and dissolve in water, forming a dark brown 
solution. Mercuric nitrate may be employed in place of the mercurous 
salt ; in this case, however, it becomes necessary to use a greater excess of 
stannous nitrate. The author also states that mercuric acetate may be 
employed, but that mercurous acetate yields negative results. The col- 
loidal mercury so obtained always contains a trace of tin, which cannot be 
removed without altering the product. G. C. D. 



i68 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

New Remedies. 

Eugallol, Pyrogallol mono-acetate. — This is a brown yellow syrupy 
body, and is very soluble in water and acetone. It is found on the mar- 
ket in form of a 33^ acetone solution, and in this form is employed as an 
external application in cases of psoriasis, coating the parts to which it is 
applied with a varnish-like film. 

Lenigallol, Pyrogallol tri-acetate. — This derivative of pyrogallol, un- 
like its mother substance, does not exhibit any poisonous symptoms 
when applied to the skin, even in very large doses (lenigallol, lanolin 
aa 10.0 gm), It occurs as a white powder, insoluble in water, and is de- 
composed hy alkalies. It can be employed in ointment form in cases of 
acute and subacute eczema. Clothing is not stained by it. 

Saligallol, Pyrogallol di-salicylate. — Occurs in forms of a resin-like 
body, very tough, and soluble in 2 parts of acetone and 15 parts of chloro- 
form. It may be employed in place of lenigallol. " Solutio Saligolli " 
is a 66 fo solution of the substance in acetone. 

Eunol a and ft . — Are combinations obtained by interaction between 
maphtolen and eucalytolen. Both are very bitter, insoluble in water, but 
very soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform and olive oil. They find em- 
ployment in surgical and dermatological practice. 

Galloformin — This compound is obtained by action of hexa-methylen- 
tetramin on gallic acid. It forms very hard, highly refractive crystals, 
which are employed in surgical and medical practice. 

Guacamphol (camphoric acid ester of guaiacol). — Is a valuable remedy 
to combat night sweats of phthisis as well as the form of diarrhcea which 
accompanies the disease. It crystallizes in shape of white needles, which 
are devoid of odor and taste. 

A New Reaction to Distinguish Guaiacol from Creosote. — One 
drop of a very dilute solution of formal (ifo formaldehyde) is added to 
one drop of an aqueous solution of guaiacol, contained in a porcelain 
capsule. To this mixture is added 1 cc. concentrated sulphuric acid, drop 
by drop, by means of a pipette. As soon as the liquids come in contact, 
the lower portion assumes a bright violet color, which gradual^ imparts 
itself to the entire body of liquid. A solution of guaiacol alone with 
sulphuric acid turns green. Creosote, when treated with solution of 
formal and sulphuric acid, also yields a violet color, with a decided crimson 
tint, however. Upon adding the acid a flocculent precipitate also separ- 
ates, the flocculi having a carmine color. In the case of guaiacol no such 
flocculi are seen, the mixture remaining perfectly clear. If acetaldehyde 
is employed the color produced in case of creosote is decidedly carmine 
without a trace of violet. G. C. D. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 169 

Some New Quinine Salts. — Quinine glycerophosphate (C 3 H 7 3 P0 3 : 
[C 20 H24N 2 O 2 ] 2 ) is a white powder, soluble in hot water and in alcohol, 
containing 68 per cent, of quinine. The neutral salt is hygroscopic and 
is, therefore, generally replaced by the permanent basic salt. Both are 
employed as tonics. 

Quinine phospho-muriate forms colorless crystals, soluble in 2 p. of 
water and containing 50 per cent, of alkaloid. It is recommended in ob- 
stinate cases of malaria and nervous headaches, as a substitute for quinine 
sulphate, but on account of its lower alkaloidal strength must be given in 
larger doses. [Pharm. Post, 1898, p. 131.] R. F. 

Cocaine Hydroidate.— This cocaine salt (Cj 7 H 21 N0 4 HI) is recom- 
mended as a substitute for cocaine hydrochlorate in dental surgery for 
accomplishing electro-anaesthesia fkataphoresis). This comparatively re- 
cent therapy consists in introducing local anaesthetics into the tissues by 
means of the electric current, without injury to the tissues. Kataphoresis 
obtained with guaiacol-cocaine in 20 per cent, solution and the application 
of a current of 0.2-4. milli-amperes for seven minutes caused complete 
anaesthesia lasting for 15 minutes. The patients remain perfectly con- 
scious and do not feel the current nor the slightest pain during the opera- 
tion (extraction of a tooth, etc.). [Ph. Post, 1898, p. 131.] R. F. 

Acidity of Urine. — P. A. Lamanna considers the acidity of the urine as 
a means to ascertain the acidity, hypoacidity or hyperacidity of the juices 
of the body. The acidity of the urine is ascertained by supersaturation 
with yi^N.— KOH and back titration using phenolphthaleine as indicator. 
The normal urine of 24 hours contains acid : 

Calculated as H 3 P0 4 g. 1 —1.2 p. c. 

" HC1 g. 1.1 —1-35 " " 

" CoH 2 4 g. 1.9 -2-33 " " 

" H 2 S0 4 g. 1.47 — 1.81 " " 

[Chem. Centrbl. 69, I, p. 793-] 

Iodothymoform. — Is obtained by iodizing thymoform, and occurs as a 
yellow powder, rich in iodine and practically odorless. It is very soluble 
in alcohol and ether, and melts at about i50°C, thus permitting gauzes 
impregnated with it to be thoroughly sterilized. 

Lycoctonin. — This is an alkaloid obtained from Aconitum Lycoctinum, 

Marchetti reports that it is a weak heart poison. In doses of 75 eg. per 

kilo of body weight it proved fatal in cases of cold blooded animals ; in 

warm blooded animals much larger doses are required. On the nervous 

system it exerts a paralytic action. Its color is yellowish white, and it is 

with difficulty soluble in water, but more readily so if dilute acetic or tar- 

tartic acids are present. 

G C. D. 



Ok Journal of Pharmacology, 

A Monthly Journal Devoted to the Advances Made in the Various Departments of 
Materia Medica, Pharmacy and Chemistry. 

Voi,. V. AUGUST, 1898. No. 8. 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, INCLUDING POSTAGE: 
Per Annum - $1.00. — Single Copies = 15 Cents 

Subscriptions, address Nelson S. Kirk, 9 East 59th Street, New York City. 

Business Communications, address D. E. Austin, 115 W. 68th Street, New York City. 



Original Contributions, Exchanges, Books for Review and Editorial Communications: 
Address SMITH ELY JELLIFFE. M.D., 231 West 71st Street, New York City. 

Edited by SMITH ELY JELLIFFE, A.B , M.D. 

with the collaboration of 

Chas Rice, Ph.D. H. H. Rusby, M D. V. Coblentz. Ph.D Geo A. Ferguson, Ph. B. 

Geo. C. Diekman, M D. H. B. Ferguson. Phar. D- 



Editorial. 

This issue may well be looked upon as one pertaining almost entirely to 
the all interesting topic, <: Our Boys in the Navy." I have in every in- 
stance shown preference to any news pertaining to this subject. 

L,ong before Commencement and when a call came from Washington 
that apothecaries were needed, and before any living soul knew for final 
that certain members of the class of '98 had passed their examinations suc- 
cessfully or not, you could see these same young men making ardent en- 
quiries as to where to report. The first call took eleven members to the 
Navy Yard, Brooklyn, to pass their physical and professional examinations, 
and in each case they stood the test. So it continued until, I am proud to 
say that, about twenty-six were accepted from the Class of '98. It is impos- 
sible for me to give a complete list, but in another column you can see the 
names of a greater part of the delegation. I am sorry that I am unable to 
acknowledge the names of the balance, but at this date a full list has not 
been obtained from the Government. Many of them have seen the hardest 
of hardships and only a few have been relegated to lighter duties. In 
every case they have shown their metal and have received worthy praise 
from their superior officers, and the daily papers in more than one instance 
have noted the above facts. 

The Herald (N. Y.) commented upon the discovery (?) of an "extremely 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 171 

pungent substance said to be so intense that its fumes would permeate the 
atmosphere for a distance of 100 yards, thereby acting upon the enemy 
like a ton of sharprel let loose at once." All this was put down to the 
" honor " of a Spanish apothecary. The Herald says: "The people of 
the U. S. rely upon the graduates of the N. Y. College of Pharmacy, lately 
enlisted, to discover an antidote for this substance. " It is acknowledg- 
ment, I say ! 

Now that our fleet is back we expect to see the boys soon and ever will 
they be welcome to the realms of the old College. You have done nobly, 
all that you could, your share of praise is not little, your service was needed, 
you answered and it will make the standing of the once miserable apoth- 
cary all the easier to elevate. That is what you have done and you have 
done it well. " Actions speak louder than words." 

It is with great pleasure that I desire to announce that beginning with 
the next issue, and through the kindness of Professor George C. Diek- 
man, there will appear the first of a series of "Short and Handy Tests 
for Urine." This will be greeted by all as a most desirable step to- 
ward giving pharmacists a good idea of what can be done in every phar- 
macy should they be so inclined. Why not take this opportunity of obtain- 
ing a neatly tubated schudule of tests without the trouble of looking up 
each one individually. Our readers should not take for granted they can 
can make use of this for all time, but once you get interested in such an 
important branch of trade it will be easy matter to follow it up more 
thoroughly. Prepare a file at once and save it. It's worth a years sub- 
scription alone. 

In just one more month the halls of the College will be resounding with 
the "chatter and chattle " of the "new Junior" and his senior, "the" 
Senior. 

It will seem like old times again and once fairly started the " new " 
Junior will become one of us, that feeling of "where am I to go?" will 
be dismissed and " the " Senior will be not the same as he was when " a " 
Junior, but a ' ' hard working ' ' Senior. It's so ! Many of us have been in 
the same boat, but we see differently as time passes by that a Junior works 
hard, but " the " Senior works harder. 

I must mention, with special notice in this department, the sad death 
of " Apothecary " Adolph Dalbon, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. A full 
account of which will be found in another column. 



Alumni, College and Glass Notes. 

CONTRIBUTORS. 

Alumni Association WM. HOBURG, Jr., Ph.G., 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 

Alumni Notes, Socials, etc., and Classes prior to 1893. RUDOLPH GIES.Phar. D. 115 West 68th St ,N.Y. 

Bibliography ADOLPH HENNING, Ph.G. 68 William St., N. Y. 

Class '93 EUGENE F. LOHR, Ph. G., 508 Marcy Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Class '94 L- G. MARCUS, Ph. G., 1522 Third Ave., N. Y. 

Class '95 G. E. MANVILLE, 310 W. 113th St., N. Y. 

Class, 96, CHAS. C. H. GERKEN, Phar.D. 2655 Second Street, Brooklyn. 

Class, 97 E. W. MEINECKE, Ph.G., 5785th Ave., N. Y. 

Class, '98 L- EICHWORT, Jr., 115 West 6Sth St., N. Y. 

Class, '99 CLARA F. EHLIN, 115 West 68th St., N. Y. 

Legal Notes, H. A. HEROLD. 206 Broadway, N. Y. 

Post-Graduate Class of '95,, HARRY B. FERGUSON, Phar.D. 

N. Y. C. P. C. C N. S. KIRK, Ph.G., 9 East 59th St.. N. Y. 



Obituary. 

Adolph Dalbon, class of '98, C. P. C. N. Y., died on May 30, 1S98, in the Marine 
Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., the cause of his death being pneumonia resulting from a 
severe cold contracted during rainy weather, on board the U. S. Receiving Ship " Ver- 
mont," where he was daily awaiting an assignment to a U. S. ship, he having been one 
of the first to enlist as a naval apothecary, when the United States declared war against 
Spain. Many words could be written in sounding the praises of Adolph Dalbon, but 
to those who knew him, and who read this obituary, it will be sufficient to say that he 
was a good student, stood well in his class when he graduated, and just when his pro- 
fessional career was opening before him he answered his country's call with the hope, 
that he would be sent to the front as soon as possible, but, as above written, he died 
before that hope could be realized. Surely in this case we may take " the will for the 
deed " and honor the memory of a man who died, indirectly, at least, in the service of 
his adopted country. He was born in Angsberg, Bavaria, on December 12, 1S66, and 
was, therefore, in the thirty-second year of his age. He was unmarried, his surviving 
relatives being his father and two sisters. 



Alumni certificates are now ready for delivery. If you have not yet received yours 
notify the Treasurer, Charles S. Erb, 121 Amsterdam avenue, New York City. 

The Secretary would like to get the correct address of the following members. 
Please send by mail : 

Ed. E. E. Ayme, James T. Kirk, 

Jacobo Alvarado, "\Ym. W. Keiler, 

Philip Asher, R. G. Kellner, 

Ihon P. Arnold, Salvador P. Lahey, 

H. Arthur Braecklein, Daniel Leibe, 

C. Benkendorfer, Charles J. Lawlor, 

Charles G. Bailey, Homtnan H. Lipperly, 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



173 



Wm. R. Burkhart, 
Ed. N. Benham, 
J. L. Bergan, 
Wm. A. Betts, 
Emil Bueler, 
Arthur T. Brown, 
Frank K. Burr, 
Major C. Brown, 
Gurdon S. Badger, 
Albert F. Brugman, 
Julius A. Biskey, 
Henry W. Braunlich, 
Howard A. Benton, 
Ansel G. Cook, 
Henry A. Chapin, 
James C. Comstock, 
Willis D. Colby, 
Marius Carpentier, 
Alphonse Dubois, 
Arthur L. Dickinson, 
Arthur DuBois, 
Albert Dovell, 
R. B. Dakin, 
Wm. R. DuMond, 
Wm. DeLano, 
Henry W. Evans, 
Peter J. Ehrgott, 
Wm. Gill Everett, 
John P. Frawley, 
Eugene L. Fridenberg, 
W. Frank Fiero, 
Gerson Gunz, 
Wm. George, 
T. L. Harding, 
Ferdinand Hartmann, 
John Harding, 
Louis D. Huntoon, 
T. Charles Heckel, 
G. B. Hart, 
E. T. Hitchcock, 
Wm. F. Henes, 
John J. Hubschmitt, 
Otto H. Hund, 
James L. Hendrickson, 
Ellison W. Hurd, 
Alfred T. Halstead, 
Louis Hess, 
Hermagoras Isea, 
A. A. Jackson, 
Wm. E. Jennings, Jr., 



Wm. C. Munson, 
Garabed Michaelian, 
Alfred Miller, 
Frederick D. Moore, 
Edward A. Mueller, 
Thomas I. Main, 
Abraham L. Metz, 
Thomas H. McDonald, 
Christian H. Magenheimer, 
John H. Morey, 
Joseph Moschcowitz, 
Charles H. May, 
Charles Mitzenius, 
David Smith Morgan, 
Albert W. Neufield, 
John C. E. Nielson, 
Hamden Osborne, 
Jacob Osswald, 
Jonas Pfeiffer, 
John F. Peterman, 
H. Joseph Power, 
Frederic Peiter, 
E. A. Richmond, 
Frank W. Richtmyer, 
Charles H. Roese, 
Armin Richter, 
J. Thurston Rose, 
Gustavus Seelback, 
Julius A. Stegmair, 
Henry T. Schleckter, 
Wm. A. Speck, 
A. E- Schaeffer, 
W. S. Starr, 
John G. Sauer, 
G. A. Schumaker, 
Frederick O. Schroeder, 
Andrew G. Stafford, 
Frank M. Small, 
James L. Shell, 
Charles C. Stewart, 
Edward Stone, 
Miss A. Harris Steinwedel, 
William Tack, 
Louis Unbehann, 
A. M. VanSickle, 
Ezra L. Watermann, 
Charles Wells, 
H. W. Walke, 
Grant I. Wolston, 
Charles H. Williams, 



i 7 4 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Hugh Kunz, Herman W. Weber, 

Louis J. Kocher, Herman Weiller, 

Gustave Katz, Robert G. Weyh, 

Joseph F. Keller Alfred W. Wiener. 



Alumni Notes. 



"The boys in the Navy " — wait until they get back. The Alumni ought to give 
them as good a reception as will permit. We are proud of them and hope they will 
always prosper. See some of the letters printed in this issue and you can imagine 
what they have done — apothecaries are just as much needed and just as useful as 
soldiers. It takes all together to do the good work that has been accomplished in 
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines. 

Owing to the fact that the stenographer to the reporter of "Alumni Notes" is on 
her vacation a full account of the outing has failed to appear. The editor does not 
wish to mention names but will say that our readers will be pleased to know that it 
will appear in the May, 1899, issue. Accusare nemo se debet. 

"And 'Dewey ' is his name " — and he belongs to Brother Erb. He is a fine English 
"sitter" and I wonder why our friend did not got a "jumper" while he was at it. 
' ' Sitter ' ' should never be associated with the name of ' ' Erb ' ' especially when it takes 
only 53 incandescent lamps to flash it. 

The following is copied from the paper which I acknowledge below. Social events: 
A certain young pharmacist (whose name I reserve for fear of the S. P. C. C, New 
York) has been in our midst for the past few months. He labors hard — so hard 
that when the daily routine of work stares him in the face he longs for that shady 
spot near a (the) "brookside cottage." Cupid had been met and while they sat 
munching radishes one day the thought came to him that it was better to toil steadily 
and regularly than to make up the " time off" he owed his fellow workers. He did, 
too! How about Wilhelmina? Oh, she sleeps while he toils. Some day it is re- 
ported they intend to walk down to the brook. — Ich kann ihr ende sehen ! [Ed. with 
apologies to the West End Bugler.] 

The Alumni was well represented at the Annual Convention of the New York State 
Pharmaceutical Association, held at Rochester, N. Y., June 28, 29, 30 and July 1. Drs. 
Diekman and Gies made worthy delegates. It might be recalled that one of our 
graduates was elected President for the ensuing year : Dr. William Muir, of Brooklyn, 
New York. Among others I saw the following members of the College and Alumni : 
Professor Chas. W. Parsons, Mr.' Oscar Goldman, Mr. Felix Hirseman, Mr. Chas. B. 
Sears, New York, Dr. Frederick P. Tuthill, Brooklyn, Dr. Gordon L. Hager, Rome, 
New York, Mr. King, Rochester, New York, H. B. Ferguson, New York. 

I have heard so much about getting class pictures for the alumni room. Where 
are they ? '94 and '95 seem to be represented, but the others are still wanting. 

Gustav Brandus, class of '89, formerly with Walter S. Rockey & Co., 8th avenue 
and 35th street, has just returned from Europe. He accompanied his invalid mother 
to Carlsbad, Germany, and incidentally a trip through Holland. 

(Signed) "Ride SE Sapis." 

•92 Notes. 

Fred. Borggreve has resigned his position in the Balluf Pharmacy on Sixth avenue, 
and is now with John W. Ferrier on Broadway and 43d street. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 175 

'93 Motes. 

As I have always said, nothing of any account can be going on, without one of our 
boys being distinctly "in it." Dr. J. Horni is surgeon on the hospital train running 
from Tampa, Fla., up to the northern cities with the wounded from Santiago. Usual 
luck, he won't hear the merry whistle of the bullet and be a veteran of the late war, 
anyhow. 

We regret to be forced to say that we met Dick Specker at a show in a very spiritual 
(accent on the first two syllables) state of body, not mind. 

That interesting and inseparable trio, Harry Heller, bike and camera can be seen 
on Eighth avenue any nice Sunday afternoon. 

Dr. Schlichter has forsaken the ranks of freedom and is now a duly settled, married 
man. Dong life and happiness to Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Schlichter. 

Lehman had 100 per cent, in Dental Materia Medica at the Baltimore College. 

The inimitable Tanny has sold his store in Brooklyn and opened another at Man- 
hattan avenue, corner 117th street, New York. He met with a painful as well as 
dangerous accident, some Vichy syphons exploding, and cutting his face severely. 
He is luckily as good as new again, and we sincerely hope he will stay so for many 
years. 

Raymond Paddock now has a store in Fulton street, Brooklyn, where he reports 
business as booming. 

The lovely Jeremiah Timothy Brady Twomey is again located in Long Island City. 
He was lost for some time, but says he is only happy when within a mile of the im- 
mortal P. J. Gleason. 

Ricksecker is still adding to his earthly wealth at 129th street and Seventh avenue. 

James Wilson is still the same curly-haired young man of good moral character. 

"Dear Old Sport Popper " Zwingli has opened a store in Saranac Lake, N. Y. His 
health has improved and, we sincerely hope, will continue doing so. He is in a fine 
climate and we hope his health and his wealth will keep on rolling up together. 

Billy Reusswig seems to be the happiest man in New Jersey. And why shouldn't 
he be, with a charming wife and a prosperous business. 

Jake Stage is in town with a splendid record from the Baltimore Medical College. 
He not only has the aforesaid record but also his bike, with which he is also trying 
to make a record. 

Luttman is located at Columbus avenue and 81st street. He has grown a set of 
whiskers which should be the pride of the class. 

Heidemann is now an M.D., and has secured the appointment at the Brooklyn Hos- 
pital, although there were eighteen contestants for the position. 

Ambor has passed his first year at Bellevue. 

And now comes the saddest as well as hardest task of all — the chronicling of the 
death of one of the boys whom we learned to love in the days we spent together. 
Hopkins is dead. He passed quietly away the second Sunday in July. Of his char- 
acter and disposition I can say nothing that all who knew him do not already know, 
As a mutual friend said, "Would that more of us were like him, and could look back 
on our lives with as little shame as he could." I can add no more to that eulogy as 
these simple words tell of him all that he was. May the good he did live after him 
forever. Eugene F. Lohr. 

'94 Notes. 

Frank N. Pond, president of the N. Y. C. P. Cycle Club, has just returned from a 
pleasant outing spent with relatives at Nantucket, R. I. 



176 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

Col. Louis B. Wade of " knock-out drop" fame, who is Frasers' genial northwestern 
representative, was in the City lately, making calls wherever he could locate a class- 
mate. The Colonel is looking fine and feels well satisfied with his western abode. 

Ex-Pres. Ehrgott has acquired an interest in the Hunt Pharmacy on Fifth Ave., 
Brooklyn, where he has been located for several years. 

On making one of those pleasant Sunday trips to New Haven, I unexpectedly met 
Otto Marks, who is located and doing quite well in the " city of elms." 

Nelson S. Kirk has been transferred from the Third Ave., Hegeman store, to the 
59th Street one, where he is now manager. 

'95 Notes. 

The N. Y. C. Diploma in Central America. 

The graduates of the class of '95, College of Pharmacy of the City of New York, 
will be glad to learn that their former classmate, Fermin Ferrer, formerly of Plain- 
field, N. J., and now of Managua, Nicaragua, is prospering in his new home. 

In a recent communication to the Editor of the American Druggist he says: 

"To show you that the New York College of Pharmacy is famed in Central America, 
as well as in New York, I enclose a copy of the official newspaper issued by the Gov- 
ernment of Nicarauga, in which you will note that I was admitted a member of the 
local faculty of pharmacy on the sole presentation of my diploma." 

The notice in the Diario Official of Managua, Nicarauga, reads: 

" Visto el diploma de Fermaceutico extendido a favor de don Fermin Ferrer, por 
los Directores del Colegio de Farmacia de la cuidad de Nueva York, el dia 9 de Mayo 
de i895,.constando la autenticidad de dicho documento y la identidad de la persona, 
el Presidente del Estado, en uso de las facultades que la ley le confiere, acuerda: dar 
el pase de ley al expresado titulo y que se tenga al Senor Ferrer por incorporado a la 
Facultad de Farmacia del pais. 

"Comuniquese— Managua, 3 de Junio de 1898— Zelya — El Ministro de Instruccion 
Publica — Matus. ' ' 

Translated the above reads: 

There have been produced to us the diploma of pharmacist, issued in favor of Mr. 
Fermin Ferrer by the Directors of the College of Pharmacy of New York, on the 9th 
of May, 1895, and there being no doubt of the authenticity of said document, as well 
as of the identity of the person named, the President of the State, making use of the 
faculties conferred on him by the law, resolves that the said diploma be made legally 
effective, and that Mr. Ferrer be incorporated in the Faculty of Pharmacy of the 
country. 

Let it be published. Managua, 3 June, 189S — Zelaya. The Minister of Public In- 
struction — Matus. — Kindness of Mr. Thomas J. Keenan of the American Druggist. 

George E. Manville, the "fatty acid radical," has been with the Maltine Manufac- 
turing Company for some time. George, when last heard from, was studying a huge 
dictionary, preparing himself for the trade in Boston town. Smile George just to 
show them how you have changed since you left us. 

Two '95 men have started out for themselves. John B. Foster and John H. Parker 
are the men. I have heard from both of them and they say that business is good and 
extend an invitation to all '95 friends to drop in to see them if in Newark. 

I won't say anything about them, but Diirr is still on earth. Every month we see 
a notice of this same nature in some of the columns. It is stale boys but I can't help 
mentioning it in this case. They are poorly groomed Diirr, so get a rip-saw and let 
it rip. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 177 

Steinheuer said he was going in the navy. Did he ? Ask him, if you can find the 
hoy, I don't know but I would like to. Would like to know'that we could boast of 
one '95 man. 

I am sensitive to the fact that this column has been sadly neglected — partially my 
fault and partially everybody's. What can you do when you don't hear from a soul ? 
'95 seems to be very diffident about their whereabouts. Very few of them come 
around, or attend Alumni meetings and in fact very few are members. You ought to 
be ! Why can't you be ? " Oh, I don't get any benefit from it." What can you ex- 
pect? A twenty year "tontine " policy for a mint ! What do you buy candy and 
flowers for ? Not for the " benefit " you get from them I imagine. If you do you may 
get fooled. 

Join the Association and subscribe for the Journal. Hey ! O. F). D. 

'96 Notes. 

Sergt. Chas H. Lowe, class '96, is serving as Hospital Steward with the 9th Regiment 
N. G. S. N. Y. The last letter received from him was dated Camp Townsend, N. Y., 
but since that time has been in the far South. His brother, Francis A. Lowe, class 
'92, and lately of the firm of Lowe Bros., is managing the store at Arverne, L. I. '96 
shows a man in the army ; glad to hear it ! If there are any more let them follow by 
sending us word of their whereabouts. 

*97 Notes. 

William F. Young, class '97, is with Dr. Richard Douglas, Nashville, Tenn. In his 
letter he gives Meinecke a dig. Give the D his due, Young. 

The Wizard McKellar, " now you see him, now you don't," is still keeping on his 
game. Now one hears of him, then one don't. He is said to be in business in the 
old south state, " Carolina." 

Has anyone heard from the highly distinguished lady, Miss Moith, from Fiskill-on- 
the-Hudson, N. Y., if you please? — Ed. She is in Penn. 

She with much " dignity," Miss Fellows, is said to be teaching school in a private 
institution in that city of the much "learned" Boston. You know our class all re- 
side here, that's why we prefer to live here. 

Morey, the "infallible," is in the Hoosier State husking corn, I presume. It pays 
better than pharmacy, you know. 

Philips is keeping shop on 8th Avenue near 52d Street. 

Walling, our "Beau Brummel " from Jersey, is still in his much beloved Keyport. 
He's such a "nice manly fellow," some one used to say. I say " he is one of the best 
that ever happened to '97." 

Palmer, of the Sunny South, has enlisted with one of the Georgia State Volunteers 
as Hospital Steward. Noble boy ! 

Rutherford is said to be hustling in his native city, Utica, that star city from which 
all our brights originated. You remember there are exceptions to every rule. 

Oswald Ingham is still sighing to think he got the bronze medal. He is in business 
at Providence, R. I. 

Wooten 6ays I ought to have more regard for the fellows' feelings and not write 
some of the items I do. How pleasant it is to think we are not all so serious as our 
dear boy from the Turpentine state, North Carolina. He is in business with his brother 
at Greenville, N. C. 

If Sloss were here now, what a harvest Guggenheimer and his law would have. 

Such a nice boy, but he knew how to say ( ) so nice that it was a pleasure to hear 

him. He had such a " way with him." 



178 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

White is with Messrs. Caswell, Massey & Co., Jamestown, R. I., for the summer 
season. Keeping up his usual record, breaking hearts, I suppose. 

Our Sunday-school boy Roberts from Rome (N. Y., not Italy), is not "canning" 
this year. He is in a pharmacy somewhere back in York state. 

Strawberry Blonde "Becker," the light of our class-room and sage of the class, is 
said to be rusticating in his home state, Massachusetts. Schirmer still mourns that 
new top coat Becker trade-marked commencement day at the Olympia Theatre. 

Underbill prefers winter for vacation. He intends visiting the Ice Palace at 
Montreal. Summer is too hot. Its so much work to walk, you know. 

Edward W. Meniecke. 

'98 Notes. 

The following is a nearly complete list of '98 men who enlisted in the Navy. This 
list was obtained from the medical officer on the U. S. R. S. "Vermont," Brooklyn 
Navy Yard. Should any name be missed in this list the editor would deem it a favor 
by having it brought to his attention. Willis H. Alpers, U. S. S. "Maple;" Albert 
Beckary, U. S. S. "Gloucester;" August F. Eberhardt, U. S. S. "Alexander;" Louis 
Eickwort, Jr., U. S. S. "Armeria;" Louis H. D. Fraser, U. S. S. "Newark;" Isaac 
Gellert, U. S. S. "Hist;" Herbert P. Harrison, U. S. S. "Constellation;" Louis Hilde- 
brandt, U. S. S. "Restless;" H. Christian Jorgensen, U. S. S. "Yankton;" Arthur 
D. Miles, U. S. S. "St. Paul;" John W. Patton, U. S. S. "Harvard;" Abdon V. 
Piskorski, U. S. S. " Pompey;" Arthur Richards, U. S. S. "Cassius;" Robert J. 
Sigel, U. S. S. "New Orleans;" Nicholas C. Senffert, U. S. S. "Richmond;" Anton 
Vorisek, U. S. S. "Aberenda;" William C. Wild, U. S. S. "Celtic." 

Sigel deserves the distinction of having been the first '9S man to enlist. Look at 
the vessel he is on, and hasn't she done herself proud. 

Beckary, likewise, for being the only '98 man on a vessel actively engaged during 
the destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet. Read his letter. He is getting quite 
nautical now, to wit: " Who was nearly 'water-logged,' " etc. 

Fraser, likewise, for being attached to a flagship for some little time, also for cutting 
such a "big swath" at Norfolk, Va. 

Wild, likewise, for having a collier attached to him. Don't you care Wild, you 
made us all happy while we w-ere on the "Vermont." I have the consolation of 
knowing you will be happy wherever you are and do your duty whatever is attached 
to you, even if it is a "taffrail." 

Alpers, likewise, for being on a vessel that was engaged in offering terms of ex- 
change after Lieutenant Hobson made his gallant dash. The " Maple " is blockading 
off Havana. 

Eickwort for being the first one to write to the Journal (of Pharmacology) and 
"it's so" if you see it here. We were glad to hear from him through that' medium 
and I hope the boys will send the Journal all they can. "Jump in everybody " and 
let us hear from every one through its columns. 

Harrison for being the only one to " bask " in the sunshine at Newport. Supposing 
he has to stay there all winter. It won't be such a social event then. There is 
another summer coming, Harrison, and you will be in it just the same even if the 
" Constellation " isn't. 

Hildebrandt for trying to replace Linne. What a pity. Linne was a botanist and 
not an entomologist, but of course he knew something about " bugs." Ask me. 

Jorgensen for being the first one to lose his hat overboard. " Jorgie " wasn't feed- 
ing the fish exactly but some way or other it got away. "Wasn't that a blooming 
howid thing to do. Oh, my." 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 179 

Patton and Richards for being able to fall in with a Christian friend while at Nor- 
folk. But it was "two bad " to fool a fine young man like that and especially when 
he knew so many nice young ladies. Patton came to New York one day while the 
" Harvard " was at Tompkinsville, S. I. and he bears greater distinction for being the 
only one of his party to report for duty the next morning at 9 o'clock. 

Benjamin F. Maxey, formerly with Paradis on Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn, is now 
with Miner on the Bowery. 

Well boys I hope to know some more by the time the next issue comes out and I 
may have to do some tall guessing at that. Acierta errando, ask your Cuban friends. 

Q. E. D. 

Gtjantanamo, Cuba, U. S. A., July 15, i8q8. 
My Dear Friend : y 

I have been thinking for a long time about writing to you but the heat and the sea 
has been too much to withstand. 

I hope that everybody and that everything is going well at the old N. Y. C. P. 

Since I left New York we have not been to any civilized port, always on the move, 
sometimes having target practice at the Spanish forts which has an excitement of its 
own. You probably know better than I do how the battle off Santiago de Cuba was 
fought. We had plenty to do with our own business and did not have time to watch 
the other fellows much. We did more than our share, sinking the two torpedo boats, 
Pluton and Furor. It is by wonderful luck that I am able to write now, for on Sunday, 
the 3d, I never thought I would be able to see the old institution and friends again. 

I have been ashore a few times and I saw all kinds of cacti and palms. I could not 
help thinking of Dr. Rusby. Our smokeless cordite brought Drs. Chandler and Cob- 
lentz back to me. I was aboard the " Vizcaya " after she was sunk and the once 
beautiful cruiser showed a poor spectacle, all burnt, the bow blown up by the explosion 
of its own ammunition and full of water. 

Some of the guns are still intact. I managed to pick up some relics which will be 
very interesting. 

I had, on the 3d of July, some good experience with wounds and lacerations. As 
soon as the Pluton and Furor started to sink we sent our boat to pick up the 
men and many of our men risked their lives to save those of their enemies. I had 21 
wounded lying on deck and I assure you they kept me busy. They were cut in all 
fashions and for the first time I saw what those wicked little six pounders of ours 
could do. I had the Spanish fleet surgeon in my room, he was not wounded but had 
absorbed too much salt water and was pretty near "water logged." Also had Admiral 
Cervera, who gave me 2 buttons. It is of no use telling you any more, the newspapers 
keeping you well informed, and we often laugh to think that an " extra " is coming 
out in New York on what we did (and didn't do) only a few hours before. I have not 
seen any of the boys except Wild who is on the supply ship Celtic. I thiuk I was 
the only '98 man in the battle with Cervera's fleet. I want to join the Alumni just as 
soon as I can, send me particulars and I will forward money as soon as I can. Send 
me the Journal also as I would like to hear from my classmates. 

Please remember me to all those I have mentioned, to Drs. Diekman, Jelliffe, G. A. 
Ferguson, Gies and Mr. C. O. Bigelow, who gave me a flag on commencement night. 

With kindest regards to yourself and all my friends 

I remain 

Very Truly, 

Albert Beckary, 
Apothecary U. S. S. Gloucester, off Santiago de Cuba. 



iSo THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

The following letter was delayed in the mails, but may prove of interest to many : 

U. S. S. New Orleans, 
Off Santiago de Cuba, June n, 1S98. 
Dear Friend : 

I suppose 3 ? ou will be surprised to hear from me away down here, but you know we 
are often surprised, so don't drop when you read this. 

The heat here is something terrific and all we do now is to try and keep cool. We 
have had an exciting and war-like trip ever since we left Key West, May 23, to join 
Sampson's fleet at Matanzas. 

The New Orleans seems to be the pride of the fleet, as she is the speediest of them 
all, and as soon as we arrived at Matanzas with Sampson we were put on scout duty, 
that being a compliment from the Admiral. 

Every night we would be called out to general quarters, but during our career as 
scouts we came across nothing flying Spanish colors. 

We left Sampson's fleet at Matanzas, Thursday, May 26th, and proceeded to join 
Schley's fleet at Santiago de Cuba, arriving here Monday, May 30th, bringing the 
"Sterling," a collier, with us. 

On the way, during the night of May 27th, three shots were fired at us and im- 
mediately the " Sterling" was ordered to pull for the coast and we were to engage the 
enemy. We drew up close to her and caught her with the search-lights and the or- 
der was given by the captain to fire a broadside into her; but just at that critical 
moment she threw up the signal " Machias" and in a flash everything was ordered 
secure, and that is all that saved the " Machias" from the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. 

This is one of the examples of the many experiences we had getting here. On ar- 
riving here we proceeded to coal ship from the ' ' Sterling' ' and I met Pompelly ; if you 
remember, he's one of the junior boys at N. Y. C. P. He seems to be in the best of 
health and likes the service very much, but wishes he could get into a scrap, as he 
says he would like to get mixed up in the fun a little bit himself. Pompelly has the 
whole thing to himself on the " Sterling," as there is no surgeon on board, and the day 
we coaled ship he brought a man over to have a finger amputated. 

The harbor of Santiago de Cuba is a very difficult thing to enter, as the mouth is 
only wide enough for one ship at a time to enter. A broad bay proceeds back 4 or 5 
miles and at the head is the city of Santiago de Cuba, with a population of about 
45,000 and 15,000 to 20,000 soldiers. 

In this harbor we have caught the Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral 
Cervera, as I suppose you have already seen in the New York papers. 

To keep these ships from slipping out of the harbor we sank an old collier known 
as the " Merrimac," manned by volunteers from the fleet, directly in its mouth and now 
all the men who are on her are either killed or taken prisoners, which, we do not 
know. 

On May 31st, before the collier " Merrimac" was sunk in the mouth of the harbor and 
the day after our arrival, the Spaniards made an attempt to get out of the harbor, but 
immediately the Iowa, Massachusetts and New Orleans were ordered by the flagship, 
Brooklyn, to chase them back in again, and in we went. We gave them 162 American 
liver pills, 6 in. in diameter, and the Iowa and Massachusetts gave them 88 each. 
After they got enough they turned and went back in. 

When the whole thing was over " Fighting Bob" Evans called to us and said, " H — 1 
of a good ship you've got there ; she can shoot like h — 1." 

The next event was during the night of June 4th. About 10:15 o'clock a small 
dark object was seen to move very quickly along in the shore waters and immediately 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 181 

we were called to quarters and the small guns were starting to pour a shower of shot 
and shell into the fast moving object, which at last disappeared and was supposed to 
have been sunk, .and to further confirm our thoughts the Porter, our own torpedo-boat, 
found two 16-inch torpedoes floating close to shore and which must have been fired at 
us but failed to take effect. 

The admiral asked us what we were firing at, but the next day when the torpedoes 
were found he sent the officers and crew his compliments and said he would recom- 
mend us to Congress. 

On June 6th was the day we did them up good, and what we did was plenty. 
At 7:00 A. M. orders were given to fire upon the batteries and to keep it up until every 
battery was silenced. 

The harbor here was protected by about 5 or 6 batteries and at the entrance is a 
large castle known as Morro Castle, same as the rest of the Spanish castles, and now 
all that remains is the ground upon which they formerly stood. 

Well we started at 7:00 A. M. and a steady stream of shot and shell was poured upon 
the forts from about 12 or 14 American ships until 11:00 A. M. 

The loss of life must have been terrible as there was a perfect hell on shore and no 
living being could stand within miles of the forts. 

There were two terrible explosions during the action and the officers say we must 
have blown up their magazine. 

At 11:00 A. M. all batteries were silenced excepting two guns at the left of Morro 
Castle and we were sent in to silence them ; we went in, fired one broadside and all 
was off; they immediately quit and we drew off. 

We lay around the rest of the day discussing the affairs of the morning and what we 
expected to do next. 

This 9 A. M. a troop ship arrived with Soo troops and by to-morrow 26,000 are ex- 
pected. If the troops arrive to-morrow I suppose they will immediately be landed 
and then there will be a large time on shore. 

Not a shell hit us during the action of the 6th but a few came our way that could be 
heard to buzz over our heads pretty close. 

I like the service very much only since we have been down here where we cannot 
get fresh stores we have to eat corned beef and hard tack and drink coffee ; but this 
morning a provision steamer came into the fleet and I suppose we will now have a few 
fresh provisions. 

The fleet here consists of the Brooklyn, New York, Marblehead, Iowa, Texas, Ore- 
gon, Massachusetts, Dolphin, Yankee, Prairie, Yosemite and New Orleans and many 
smaller scouts like the Scorpion, Mayflower and Eagle, etc. 

Well, old man, I think I had better break this off as I suppose you have heard it 
all days and may be weeks ago. 

Our duties are about as follows : The first thing we do is to have the Bayman (or 
the nurses) clean up the dispensary and sick-bay and at 8:30 A. M. the doctor comes 
down to see those who wish to see him. He prescribes for them, and after sick-call 
the patients return to get their medicine, and so goes on our work day in and out. 

I suppose you are getting ready for the next season's work and are kept pretty busy. 

I am out of postage stamps and to get them down here is an impossibility, so I think 
you will overlook it this time. We can send our mail without stamps, but I suppose 
they make you pay it at the other end. 

Well, old man, I must close with regards to all the boys and yourself. 

Your friend, 

Robt. J. SiGEL, U. S. N., 
U. S. S. New Orleans. 
" Apothecary." 

P. S. — Excuse this paper as it was necessary for me to use it. I am out of all other. 
I would like to get a hold of an American Druggist of the month or the one in which 
Mr. Keenan gave the boys a roast. 



182 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

'99 Notes. 

One of our students visited Dr. Hoburg at West End and found him working very 
bard, as tbe season was at its beigbt at that time. 

It is rumored that George C. Roux, in company with a few other of our boys, is 
crmping out at Patchogue, L. I. 

By the way, the trustworthy student who is in Ulster Park is not studying anatomy, 
but the botany of the beautiful trees and flowers. 

Leon F. Sherwood, of Liberty, N. Y., was in town for a few days last week. " He 
is looking well, you know." 

Edward W. Clark, the beau brummel of the class, is spending his summer at West 
End, N. J. He is incidentally working " between the acts " at the Atwood Pharmacy. 
He is the same fine young man. 

Herman Orlando Rolfs is spending his vacation at his home in Davenport, Iowa. 

The Utica, N. Y., contingent, consisting of Tyler and Sullivan, were heard from 
some time ago. They are both working the clothes off their backs so that they will 
be in trim for the winter. Hogle, of the same place, rested in New York, being em- 
ployed by Mr. C. S. Erb. 

A number of the boys have matriculated, thereby securing choice seats. 

Sergeant Edwin A. Keefer, enlisted in the 12th Regiment, 2d Division Hospital, 1st 
Army Corps, as Hospital Steward. He has been stationed at Chickamauga National 
Park, Georgia, for some time past, but, to use his own words, this is the address, viz : 
" Wherever we may be." 

Was '99 behind in sending men ? Not much ! '98 may carry the palm for number, 
but they can't boast any more than we in regard to quality, even if we are juniors. 
That's not all, either. We are represented in the same style in the navy. Frank E. 
Winters is the apothecary aboard the good U. S. H. S. "Solace," and Wm. C. Pum- 
pelly is attached in the same capacity to the U. S. S. " Sterling." Winters made quite 
a stop in New York, for the "Solace " came here for stores and to have an ice and 
carbonating machine put in. Pumpelly has not been heard from directly. You are 
all right, boys, and old '99 will ever be proud of the stock she sent to the front. 

Our classmate Theodore E. Meyer, of Wilkesbarre, Pa,, met with an accident a 
short time ago. Another case of "no knowing it was loaded." In this instance it 
happened to be a soda tank instead of a gun. Luckily Meyer escaped much damage, 
being laid up for only a few days. 

C. E. F. 

n. y. e. p. e. e. 

Our energetic secretary, L. G. B. Erb, started off at 6 a. m. one morning in early 
August on his vacation, riding to Philadelphia, where he "took in the "town," then 
journeying to the western part of the State to rest his weary bones. Upon his return 
we presume he will be challenging Michael, Linton or some other long-distance rider. 

President Pond will personally conduct the majority of the runs this fall. He has a 
new mount which enables him to come very near " leading the van" in sprints. 

One of our graduates has taken such a great interest in his Alma Mater that he sent 
the following letter to a prospective student : 

" I would like to C-u-b-a student at the N. Y. C. P. this fall. De-wey want you? 
Don't be S-c-h-ley for I inav get (Sh) -after you. 

"The " Merrit't" of the N. Y. C. P. graduates has been known for a "Long" time 
and has spread thousands of " Miles," etc. 

(Signed), XXXX. 

Notice. 

Second and third-class mail matter is being held at the College for the following 
students. Will be remailed upon request by sending proper address and postage to 
cover same, viz: 

E. M. Lougee. B. Pepling. 

A. E. Vars (3 parcels). D. F. Wettelin. 

Diplomas and certificates for graduates of class of '98 will be ready about September 
15, 1898. 



VOL. V. SEPTEMBER, 1898. No. 9. 



Cbe 



Journal of Pharmacology 

PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE 
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



CONTENTS. 

A Comparison of the English and German Works 
on the Genera of Plants, with Special Reference 
to the United States Pharmacopoeia, . . 183 

H. H. Rusby, M.D. 

The Testing of Clinical Thermometers, . . 192 
Charges Rice, Ph.D. 

Book Reviews, 195 

Urine Analysis by the Pharmacist, . . . 196 
George C. Diekman, Ph.G., M.D. 

Editorial, 200 

Alumni, College, and Class Notes, . . . 201 




Printed for the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York by The New Bra 

Printing Company, Lancaster, Pa. 




MAI/TINE is not merely "malt," nor is it a mere "extract of malt," nor av 
"essence of malt." 

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♦♦Malt" is not "MALTINE." 

•♦Extract of Malt" is not ♦♦MALTINE." 

♦♦ Essence of Malt " is not ♦« MALTINE." 

♦♦ MALTINE " must be designated to get ♦« MALTINE." 



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the 



journal of Pharmacology, 

Devoted to the Advances Made in Materia Medica in its Branches. 

Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Chemistry, Botany, Pharmaco- 

Dynamics, Therapeutics and Toxicology. 

Published for the Alumni Association of the College of Pharmacy of the City of New York, 
by The New Era Printing Company, Lancaster, Pa. 



Vol. V. 



SEPTEMBER, 1898. 



No. 9. 



ft (Comparison of the English and German Works on the 
Genera of Plants, with Special Reference to the 
United States Pharmacopoeia. 

BOTANICAL 

By Professor H. H. Rusby, M.D. 



[Read at the Baltimore Meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, 1898.] 

The importance of system and consistency in such works as the Phar- 
macopoeia has always received recognition through the selection by their 
compilers of authorities or codes by reference to which doubtful or disputed 
questions are decided. In no department is there a more extensive demand 
for such formal treatment than in regard to the two hundred or more spe- 
cies of plants which enter into our official work. These were consistently 
treated by the last committee of revision. The Rochester Code of Rules 
for Nomenclature, the fruit of a decade of study and discussion, was 
adopted, thus bringing the Pharmacopoeia into harmony with the National 
Departments of Agriculture and Forestry, and with the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science and the Botanical Society of North 
America. In classification the English authority, the Genera Plantarum 
of Bentham and Hooker, was adopted, except as to cases of plain error. 
It was recognized that this work was seriously faulty in some ways, and 
that some of the changes necessary in following it were in themselves un- 
desirable. Still, it appeared at the time to furnish the only complete work 
of the kind available. Since then, the great German work, the Pflanzen- 
familien of Engler and Prantl, has been practically completed, and it be- 
comes a matter of necessity for the next Committee of Revision to consider 



184 THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 

the comparative merits of the two works as authorities. The publication 
of such works is not of frequent enough occurrence to make it likely 
that this necessity will again occur for a generation or more. 

It is well to anticipate objections to changes in the Pharmacopoeia by 
pointing out that any thus involved will not affect in any way the titles, 
working formulae or processes, or anything else which touches medical or 
pharmaceutical practice, and cannot possibly disturb the convenience or 
safety of any one. They pertain to formulae which concern only the accu- 
rate definitions of the titles, and which, like the chemical formulae, should 
always be kept as close as possible to absolute scientific accuracy. It 
would seem as though no reasonable objections could be filed against cor- 
rections of this character, although this has, hastily and thoughtlesssly, as 
it seems to me, been done, notably in the last edition of the United States 
Dispensatory. 

While upon the subject, the exact number and nature of the changes 
which would be involved in adopting the German authority may be indi- 
cated. We note first that the species names are not affected, as neither of 
these works treats of species, except incidentally, and then only in rare 
instances. The changes will extend only to family and genus names, the 
latter alone being of importance. Of generic changes there would be but 
eight at the most, and one of these I should regard as an error, and refuse 
to adopt it. This is the merging of the genus Cimicifuga into Actcea, by 
Dr. Prantl. It would appear to be a long step backward in classification 
to unite a genus producing dehiscent capsules with one yielding berries ; 
and this, moreover, in the absence of any intermediate or connecting forms. 
The seven necessary changes thus left are as follows : 

i. The genius Cydonia is maintained for the quince. 

2. The genus Dichopsis, yielding gutta percha, is referred to Palaquium. 

3. The name Uragoga is restored to the genus yielding ipecac. 

4. The genus Exogonium, yielding jalap, is restored. 

5. Picrcena, yielding quassia, is referred to Picrasma. 

6. 7. The genus Sinapsis is maintained as distinct from Brasska. 
Three other generic changes are required, not on this account, but 

merely to correct errors in nomenclature. The name Leontice should have 
replaced that of Caidophyllum in the present edition but for a slip by 
which the synonym was printed with authority, and the name was reduced. 
For Andira there is an older name, Vouacapoua, of Aublet. Cho?idode?idron 
should be spelled Chondrodendron. One other similar change proposed by 
Dr. Engler is based upon error, and cannot be adopted. He would sub- 
stitute Schoenocaulon for Asagrcea on the basis of the date which has been 
published for Bentham's Plantae Hartwegianae. In a previous communi- 
cation to this association I pointed out that this date was erroneous, and 
that Asagrcea was the older name. 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 185 

Turning next to the less important changes in family names we find 
eleven of them, as follows : The Moraceae are separated from the Urtica- 
ceae and include Cannabis and Fiats ; the Ulmaceas also are accorded 
family rank and include Ulmus ; Thea is referred to Theaceae, Elettaria 
and Zingiber to Zingiberaceae, Casta?iea to Fagaceae, Chimaphila to Piro- 
laceae, Erythroxylon to Erythroxylaceae, Punica to Punicaceae and Kra- 
meria to Krameriaceas. 

The total number of changes inv