190 PHARMACOGNOSY [Box. Absts., Vol. VII, 



128.'> (jRiEBEL, C. Die mikroskopische Untersuchung der Tee-und Tabakersatzstofife. 

 [Microscopy of tea and tobacco substitutes.] Zeitschr. Untersuch. Nahrungs-u. Genussmittel 

 39: 225-299. 9120.— The author describes 67 substitutes.—//. G. Barbour. 



1284. Griebel, C. Zur Anatomie der Lupinensamen. [Lupine seeds.] Zeitschr. Unter- 

 such. Nahrungs-u. Genussmittel 39: 297-299. 1920. 



1285. Mitchell, D. T. Poisoning of cattle by feeding on ergotized Paspalum. Jour. 

 Dept. Agric. Union of South Africa 1 : 422-426. 1920. — The cultivation of Paspalum on an 

 extensive scale in Natal is of comparatively recent date, and in recent years it has been 

 noted that in cattle which were allowed access to the Paspalum lands at a certain season, 

 symptoms of incoordination of movement appeared. A large percentage of the Paspalum 

 heads were found to be infected with Claviceps Paspali. From a series of experiments car- 

 ried out at the Veterinary Research Laboratory it was noted that the initial symptoms 

 appeared in each case on the second day after the infected heads were fed to the animals, 

 and were characterized by muscular tremors, hypersensitiveness, increased glandular secre- 

 tion and increases in respirations and pulse rate. These symptoms were rapidly followed 

 by incoordination of movement, lack of tone of the leg mviscles, loss of appetite and consti- 

 pation. Recovery was noted to commence about the fifth or sixth day. Prophylactic meas- 

 ures consist of reaping and collection of the grass during the flowering season. — E. M. Doidge. 



1286. Smith, H. G. On the essential oil of Boronia pinnata Sm. and the presence of 

 Elemicin. Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 32 (N. S.): 14-19. 1919. — The Boronias (Rutaceae), 

 abundant in Australia, have flowers which are often strongly perfumed. The essential oil 

 was distilled from Boronia pinata plants in full bloom. It was found that the principal con- 

 stituent (about three-fourths or 70 per cent of the oil) is the trimethoxyphenol-ether, elemicin. 

 This substance also occurs in the oil of Manila Elemi distilled from Canarium comrmme L. 

 (Burseraceae), but this is the first time that elemicin has been detected in the oil of Aus- 

 tralian plants. The odor of the crude oil suggests geraniol. Details of the distillation 

 and analysis are given. — Eloise Gerry. 



1287. Smith, E. Philip. Plant Dermatitis II, Jour. Botany 58: 173-176. 1920.— The 

 symptoms and treatment of lacquer poisoning are given. It is noted that this type of poison- 

 ing is not common in England, but is very frequent in Japan and China where the lacquer 

 industry is considerable. Lacquer is made from the juice of Rhus vernicifera. Confectioners 

 often suffer from vanilla dermatitis, which is probably due to oil of Cashew. The dust from 

 certain fine woods often irritates the skin or mucus membrane of workers in these woods, as 

 satinwood, teak, ebony, rosewood, olive-wood, box, coco-wood, and partridge-wood. The 

 poisonous substances are apparently normal products of metabolism in the plant, and are 

 only by accident discovered to be poisonous. The biological significance of the poison must 

 be worked out with care to avoid hasty inferences. From the point of view of human con- 

 tact there are two types of substances: one soluble in water (e.g. nettle), the other of oily 

 nature (Rhus). Specially sensitive skin may be affected by almost any combination of 

 rough hairs with exuded cell-sap. Personal idiosyncrasy plays a very important part in 

 dermatitis. A list is given of forty-two plants known to cause dermatitis, and a bibliography 

 of the subject is appended. — K. M. Wiegand. 



1288. Simpson, Jose Agtjstin. Estudio sobre el acido cianhidrico en el "Phaseolus 

 lunatus" (Frijol de Birmania). Discurso de recepcion como academico de numero. [Study 

 on hydrocyanic acid in Phaseolus lunatus (Birmania bean). Address delivered on becoming 

 a member of the academy.] An. Acad. Cien. Habana — Rev. Cien. 60: 250-283. 10 fig. 1919. 

 — A number of varieties of beans of the species Phaseolus lunatus which are imported into 

 Cuba in considerable quantities were studied. These are known commercially as Java, Bir- 

 mania, Rangoon, Lima, or Burma beans. Considerable variety in color pattern is shown; 

 one of the most poisonous varieties is described as of a rather pale yellowish color, mottled 

 with gray or lilac spots or bands, elongated parallel to the dorsal portion of the seed. — The 



