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



and frog methods; second, to determine the accuracy of the cat method and third to suggest 

 certain modifications of the method, in order to make it more practical for commercial assay 

 work. Sufficient data was not obtained with cats to absolutely prove that they are as unsatis- 

 factory as dogs but from data reported indicates that there is no real consistency between 

 the results obtained when using the cat and those obtained with the frog. Author states that 

 it seems most logical to conclude that no relationship exists between the minimum lethal 

 doses of heart tonic preparations to cats, dogs, and frogs, but that the frog method is the 

 most accurate of the three. With bibliography. — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



825. Sayre, L. E., and G. N. Watson. Final report on the alkaloids of Gelsemium. 

 Jour. Amer. Pharm. Assoc. 8: 708-711. 1919. — Investigations by the authors seem to show 

 that there does not exist in the drug any such alkaloid as Gelseminine, but that this constit- 

 uent (so-called) is a compound body consisting of several alkaloids having different properties. 

 Methods are given for the separation of these various substances including Sempervirene, 

 Gelsemic acid, Gelsemine and another substance named by the authors "Gelsemidine" — 

 not "Gelseminine" — since gelseminine, the name formerly given to the amorphous alkaloids 

 of gelsemium, has been proved conclusively to be not a single alkaloid but a mixture of three 

 alkaloids. Another substance was also obtained which was strongly alkaloidal in appearance 

 and behavior and very much like Lloyd's Emetoidine, which the authors state might be called 

 "Gelsemoidine." Physical descriptions of these substances follow. — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



826. Sprinkmeyer, H., and O. Gruenert. ttber Vanillinerzeugnisse. [Vanilla prod- 

 ucts.] Zeitschr. Untersuch. Nahrungs-u. Genussmittel 38: 153-155. 1919. — Deterioration of 

 vanilla and related substances in mixtures. — H. G. Barbour. 



827. Stanford, Ernest E., and Clare Olin Ewtng. The resin of man-root (Ipomoea 

 pandurata (L.) Meyer) with notes on two other Convolvulaceous resins. Jour. Amer. Pharm. 

 Assoc. 8: 789-795. Fig. 1. 1919. — Alcoholic extracts of three Convolvulaceous roots gave 

 the following results: Ipomoea pandurata (Man-root) 4.65 per cent of resin; I. batata (Sweet 

 potato) 0.56 per cent of resin; I. discoidesperma Donn. Sm. (Yellow morning glory) 6.5 per 

 cent of resin. The resin of man-root possessed mild cathartic properties, that of the sweet 

 potato failed to demonstrate any cathartic action. The material on hand of the yellow morn- 

 ing glory was insufficient for adequate tests. Examination of the extracts of man-root and 

 sweet potato with various organic solvents showed them like other Convolvulaceous resins 

 to be of complex composition and partly of glucosidal nature. No chemical examination was 

 made of the resin of yellow morning glory. Descriptions of the roots are included. With 

 bibliography. — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



828. Steel, I. Plantago in medicine. Australian Nat. 4: 105-107. 1919. — Its uses as a 

 native home remedy. Some references to its properties in English literature. — T. C. Frye. 



829. Stockberger, W. W. Commercial drug growing in the United States in 1918. 

 Jour. Amer. Pharm. Assoc. 8: 807-811. 1919. — A report on the progress of the cultivation of 

 a number of drugs as Belladonna, Cannabis, Digitalis, Calendula, Sage and Henbane. Sum- 

 marizing the total production the author states that in the case of Belladonna approximately 

 83 tons of herb (including leaves and stems), and 11 tons of root; 60 tons of Cannabis; 9000 

 to 10,000 pounds of Sage have been produced in the United States during 1918. No figures 

 were given for the production of Calendula. Very little success has been attained in the 

 commercial cultivation of Henbane. Digitalis has not been placed on an established commer- 

 cial basis as yet. — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



830. Stroup, Freeman P. A chemical test to distinguish between caffeine and theobro- 

 mine. Amer. Jour. Pharm. 91: 598-599. 1919. — Employing the use of potassium bichromate 

 and sulphuric acid, the author states that it is a simple matter to distinguish between caffein 

 and theobromin, according to the colors produced. — Anton Hogstad, Jr. 



