110 PHARMACOGNOSY [Bot. Absts., Vol. V, 



Poglus with wonderful success against epidemic influenza. M. l'Abbe F.-X. Burque. (Ibid. 

 45: 67-70. 1918) had identified it with Angelica atropurpurea L. (Archangelica atropurpurea 

 (L.) HofTm.). — The author accompanied by M. Edouard Laurin visited Bastien, the local 

 Indian chief, who pointed out a young specimen of Poglus which had not yet its radical 

 leaves. The abundant pubescence showed it could not be Angelica. Further examination 

 convinced him it was Hcracleum lanatum Michx. (la Berce laineuse). Chief Bastien insisted 

 on the powerful febrifuge properties of the plant, and cited extraordinary cases of cures. It 

 was believed to be the cause of the protection of the tribe from the epidemic. The Hurons 

 collect the root in autumn, and use the infusion. — The author then quotes authorities on 

 the properties of Heracleum, notes its distribution, and describes its appearance and habitat. 

 [See also Bot. Absts. 5, Entry 784.]— A. H. MacKay. 



512. Merrill, E. C. Preliminary study of some of the physical and chemical constants 

 of balsam Peru. Jour. Assoc. Official Agric. Chem. 3: 194-197. 1919. —The method for the 

 determination of the iodine value of cinnamein by Hanus, as at present employed, is unsatis- 

 factory and furthermore may be entirely inadequate as an index of the character of pure Peru 

 balsam. The employment of such physical constants as viscosity, surface tension, optical 

 rotation and refractometer observation may prove of value in the final interpretation of the 

 character of Peru balsam. — F. M. Schertz. 



513. Nelson, E. K. The constitution of capsaicin, the pungent priciple of capsicum. II. 

 Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc. 42: 597-599. 1920. 



814. O'Brien, J. F., and J. P. Snyder. Deterioration of high-test American grown 

 Digitalis. Jour. Amer. Pharm. Assoc. 8: 914-919. 1919. — Assays of the tincture and fluid- 

 extract of Digitalis made from American-grown Digitalis from the state of Washington, 

 after being kept for a period of two and one half years, under conditions which closely paral- 

 leled those of the average drug store, showed that these preparations did deteriorate and that 

 the deterioration was practically the same in both preparations. By the guinea pig method 

 the loss in activity was from 330 to 175 per cent, a loss of 47 per cent ; the one hour frog method 

 the loss in activity was from 264 to 120 per cent, a loss of 55 per cent; by the cat method the 

 loss in activity was from 250 to 175 per cent, a loss of 30 per cent. However, all the prepara- 

 tions after standing this length of time still retained sufficient activity for them both to be 

 considered standard preparations. — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



815. Passerini, N. Sul potere insetticida del Pyrethrum cinerariaefolium Trev. coltivato 

 a Firenze in confronto con quello di alcune altre Asteracee. [A comparison of the insecticidal 

 value of Pyrethrum cinerariaefolium Trev. grown at Florence with other members of the Aster- 

 aceae.] Nuovo Gior. Bot. Italiano 26: 30-45. 1919. — Both as regards rapidity of action and 

 effectiveness Pyrethrum cinerariaefolium Trev. is superior as an insecticide to other members 

 of the Asteraceae. If ground into a fine powder, the heads, foliage, stems and roots of the 

 plant are equally effective; however, the most rapid action is obtained from the heads of the 

 plant. — Ernst Artschicager. 



816. Petrie, J. M. The occurrence of methyl laevo-inositol in an Australian poisonous 

 plant. Proc. Linnean Soc. New South Wales 43: 850-867. 2 fig. 1918.— Heterodendron 

 olsaefolium Desf. (Sapindaceae) a large, drought-resistant shrub, endemic to Australia, 

 which has been described as a valuable forage plant was suspected of causing fatalities to 

 cattle and horses. It was found to be strongly cyanogenetic. It contains the methyl ester 

 of laevo-rotary inositol and the method of extraction and characteristics and properties of 

 the compound are given in detail. The amount isolated was equivalent to 0.65 per cent of 

 the dried (at 100°C.) leaves. It is not optically isomeric with pinite of Maquenne, which is 

 the methyl dextro-inositol, possessing a different melting point and optical rotation. It is 

 apparently identical with Tanret's quebrachite and has been previously recorded for three 

 plants only — Aspidosperma querbracho (Apocyanceae), Hevea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae) 



