From a general review of these experiments the following facts are deducible :

1 kilogram of fresh leaves deposited upon clarification of the juice 5-16 gr. of albuminous coagulum, containing 00580 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves yielded 29-60 gr. of juice extract, containing 0.305 per cent., or 0.1067 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves deprived of juice yielded 15:50 gr. of aqueous extract, containing 0721 per cent., or 01117 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves weighed 157 grams when dried, and yielded 54 94 grams of aqueous extract, containing 0.721 per cent., or 0.3961 gr. of atropine.

1 kilogram of fresh leaves weighed 157 grams when dried, and yielded 48.54 gr. of alcoholic extract, containing 1:352 per cent., or 0-6562 gr. of atropine.

The following are the results of the titration of some other extracts from various sources:

Alcoholic extract of datura, made in the author's establishment in 1877: contained 1.442 per cent. of alkaloid.

Alcoholic extract of belladonna of commerce, two samples: contained 1.081 and 1.400 per cent. of alkaloid.

Extract of defecated juice of belladonna of commerce, two specimens contained 0·090 and 0.270 per cent. of alkaloid.

Aqueous extract of datura, made in the author's establishment in 1879: contained 0·451 per cent. of alkaloid.

Aqueous extract of belladonna of commerce, three specimens : contained respectively 0721 per cent., 0·180 per cent., and no alkaloid.

All the author's experiments show the decided superiority of the alcoholic extract, and next to it comes the extract by infusion, which, notwithstanding the abundance of inert matters in it, always contains proportionally more alkaloid than the extract of the juice. It follows, also, from the experiments upon fresh belladonna, that the extract of the non-defecated juice, which formerly was always employed, contains more alkaloid than the extract of defecated juice, since the albuminous coagulum always contains a small quantity. Thus, in the present case, a kilogram of fresh belladonna leaves. yielded 29.60+5·16=3476 grams of extract with feculæ, containing 0.1647 gram of atropine, or 0.473 per cent. in the place of 0-305 per cent. which the Codex extract contains. This confirms the opinion of some of the older pharmacologists, who considered

the extracts of Storck to be more active than the extracts of defecated juice.

:

Improvements in preparing Extracts of Malt. O. F. Romer and H. R. Randoll. (New Remedies, June, 1880.) The authors have effected several improvements in the process of making extract of malt, viz. 1. The properly ground malt is treated with an alkaline solution, in order to neutralize the fatty acids, which usually impart a bad taste to the product. 2. The extract is separated from the solid matters by pressing, in press-cloths, whereby it is obtained as a clear liquid, with scarcely any loss.

characters is striking. After some months, in fact, the dried leaves, exposed to the open air, turn brown, and at the same time lose their aromatic odour and bitterness. This physical change, produced under the influence of moisture and air, is the index of a chemical transformation that takes place after the drying. The prolonged action of air and moisture gradually converts the juglandin into an insoluble and insipid black substance, and the tannin becomes partially insoluble or decomposed.

Experiments were made with preparations from (1) leaves collected in June; (2) leaves collected in October; (3) leaves collected at the proper time, but which had been kept one year. Tannin being one of the most active principles of the leaves, this was estimated as indicative to a certain extent of the value of the respective preparations. The method adopted was that of Löwenthal, based upon the oxidation of the tannin by permanganate of potash in the presence of indigo carmine. A gram of each extract and 20 c.c. of each solution were submitted to the action of the permanganate.

1. An extract prepared from the juice of leaves collected in June, clarified by heat and evaporated. Taste: bitter and astringent. Odour: aromatic. Solution: limpid. Tannin in 1 gram of extract: 0.19 gr.

2. Similar leaves were submitted to distillation, and the residue filtered and evaporated to an extract. Taste: slightly bitter. Odour: : very slight. Solution: turbid. Tannin in 1 gram : 0·19 gr.

3. The remainder of the June leaves were dried in the open air, and an extract prepared from them according to the Belgian Pharmacopoeia. Taste: bitter and astringent. Odour: aromatic. Solution: limpid. Tannin in 1 gram: 0.20 gr.

4. Leaves collected in October were dried directly and converted into extract. Product resembled (3) in every respect.

5. Extract prepared from leaves one year old. Taste: slightly astringent and slightly bitter. Odour: none. Solution: very dark. Tannin in 1 gram: 0·10 gr.

6. Extract of commerce.

solution being limpid.

Similar to (5) with the exception of

It appears, therefore, that the full-grown leaves may be collected at any period during the fine weather, even as late as October, when they can be removed without injuring the tree. The extract of walnut, in order to represent the active principles as completely as possible, should be prepared with such leaves recently dried. The extract prepared from the defecated juice is as rich in tannin,

but does not keep so well; whilst that prepared by decoction should be rejected. The leaves falling in autumn should not be used, although there is reason to believe that they are often employed in preparing the extract of commerce.

Walnut leaves of good quality are of a fine green colour on their upper surface, and of a darker green underneath, with brown petioles. They have a parchment-like texture, an aromatic odour, and a freely bitter and astringent taste. Altered leaves lose the greater part of their odour and bitterness, and turn a dirty green colour, approaching brown. Fallen autumn leaves sometimes have

yellow spots on their surface.

Inid Extract of Ergot for Hypodermic Injection. P. Yvon. (Reene Méd., Nov. 15th, 1879.) The aqueous extract of ergot, commonly known by the name of ergotine, is not suited for subcutaneous injections, as it forms a muddy solution which cannot be cleared by filtration without the loss of a considerable portion of its active constituents. The author prepares a fluid extract for hypodermic use by the following process:

The coarsely powdered ergot is freed from oil by repeated extraction with bisulphide of carbon, and then exposed to the air in a dark place until it is dry and free from the odour of the solvent. It is now exhausted by percolation with cold water containing 04 per cent. of tartaric acid, the percolate freed from albuminous matter by heat, the filtrate reduced to one-third of its bulk by evaporation on a water-bath, the residue neutralized with an excess of freshly precipitated calcium carbonate, next evaporated to the consistence of a syrup, and this mixed with strong alcohol. The filtered mixture is decolorized with pure animal charcoal, again filtered, and the alcohol removed from it by evaporation. The residue is dissolved in a quantity of water sufficient to make the weight of the solution equal to that of the ergot employed. For every 100 grams of ergot used, 0·15 gram of salicylic acid is dissolved in this liquid, which is then allowed to stand in a cool place for several days, decanted from any deposit formed during the time, and preserved in small bottles.

This preparation is a clear amber-coloured liquid, which keeps well, and contains the active constituents of an equal weight of ergot. It is injected in quantities of one gram.

Commercial Extract of Krameria. J. W. Hoffa. (Amer. Journ of Pharm., 1880, 296.) The author has examined a number of trade specimens of this extract, and obtained results showing considerable differences in the composition of the samples, and

proving that the directions of the Pharmacopoeia are often ignored by the makers.

The following table shows the amounts of soluble matter and tannin in the samples examined :

The official process for preparing this extract yields a more astringent and much more soluble extract.

After experimenting with hot and cold water, alcohol, and a mixture of alcohol, water, and glycerin, the most satisfactory results were obtained by the following formula :

B Krameria, in moderately fine powder. 16 troy ozs.