208 PHARMACOGNOSY [BoT. Absts., Vol. VIII, 



1441. Grimme, Clemens. Ueber den Alkaloidgehalt von Herbstzeitlosensamen und ueber 

 das Herbstzeitlosesamen Ol. [The alkaloidal content of Colchicum seed and the fixed oil in 

 Colchicum seed.] Pharm. Zentralhalle 61: 521-524. 1920.— By extracting the seed with 

 ether 17.6 per cent of a light-brown odorless semi-drying oil was obtained which had a pungent 

 taste. The following constants were found: Sp. gr., 0.9176; congealing point, 9°C.; refrac- 

 tive index, 1.4642; acid number, 20.3 (free oleic acid 10.2 per cent); saponification number, 

 184; iodine number, 128.5; and unsaponifiable substances, 0.71 per cent. The fatty acids 

 obtained from the oil were pale yellow in color, melted at 24°C., congealed at 22.5°C., had a 

 refractive index of 1.4646, a saponification number of 187.6, an iodine value of 131, and an 

 average molecular weight of 300.3. It was also found that the percentage of colchicine in the 

 seeds is in inverse proportion to the weight of the seeds. — H. Engelhardt. 



1442. Karlsson, Karl Algot. Matricaria discoidea DC. Svensk Farm. Tidskr. 24: 

 517-521, 533-538. 1920.— Matricaria discoidea DC. {Matricaria suaveolens Buch., Chnjsan 

 themum suaveolens Asch., Chamomilla discoidea J. Gay) is recommended as a substitute for the 

 less easily obtainable camomile (chamomile), Anthemis nobilis. The paper includes an his- 

 torical review, the comparative chemical properties, and a macroscopic and microscopic 

 study of the 2 plants. — A. M. Hjort. 



1443. Marsh, C. Dwight, and A, B. Clawson. Daubentonia longifolia (Coffee bean), 

 a poisonous plant. Jour. Agric. Res. 20: 507-513. 1920 [1921].— The seeds of D. longifolia 

 (Sesbania cavanillesii) of the Leguminosae are very poisonous to sheep. The smallest dose 

 of seed producing death was 0.11 pound per hundredweight of animal. The toxic principle 

 is not named. — D. Reddick. 



1444. RosENTHALER, L. Uebef die Beziehungen zwischen dem Gewicht von Drogen und 

 ihrem Gehalt an giftigen Stoffen. [The relation between the weight of drugs and their content 

 of poisonous principles.] Pharm. Zentralhalle 61 : 629-630. 1920.— In an article concerning 

 the relation between the weight of Colchicum seeds and the amount of colchicine which they 

 contain Grimme states that no literature is available on the subject. Rosenthaler, however, 

 claims that the fact that specifically lighter drugs contain a higher percentage of active 

 principles than specifically heavier drugs, has been known for a long time and that the Swiss 

 pharmacopoeia for this reason excludes ergot of more than 25 mm. length. He further states 

 that in many other drugs the amount of active principles is in inverse proportion to the 

 weight, as for instance in bitter almonds, areca nuts, calabar beans, aconite root, belladonna 

 root, etc. [See also Bot. Absts. 8, Entry 1441.]—//. Engelhardt. 



1445. Vestlin, Conrad. Pimpinella-Saponin. Pharm. Zentralhalle 61:77-78. 1920.— 

 Pimpinella saxifraga contains about 2.5 per cent of cfade saponin and about 1 per cent of 

 pure saponin, which possesses the formula C23H36O18+2H2O and, therefore, belongs to the 

 class of saponins of the general formula CnH2n-ioOi8+2H20. In no other plants of the 

 Umbelliferae have saponins been found. — H, Engelhardt. 



1446. Viehoever, Arno, Joseph F. Clevenger, and Clare Olin Ewing. Studies in 

 mustard seeds and substitutes: I Chinese colza (Brassica campestris chinoleifera Viehoever). 

 Jour. Agric. Res. 20: 117-139. PI. 10-19. 1920.— Seed imported extensively in U. S. A. as 

 rape seed but offered for sale as mustard seed is really Brassica campestris chinoleifera n. var. 

 Means of identification of seeds by microscopic examination are described in detail. Plants 

 have been grown from seed and the characteristics established. The variety is closely related 

 to the colza group {Brassica campestris).— The volatile oil obtained from the seed is crotonyl 

 isothiocyanate. It is not a suitable substitute for mustard oil, in respect to either condi- 

 mental, bactericidal, or medicinal values.— The fixed oil is of the general composition of the 

 rape oils, and amounts to more than 40 per cent. The seed should prove useful as pressed 

 oil cake, the leaves as greens, and the plants as forage.— Full descriptions and illustrations 

 are presented and taxonomic problems discussed. A bibliography of 52 titles is appended.— 

 D. Reddick. 



