THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 241 



cannot agrqe to solve all problems, and must reserve the right to reject 

 such as are not of general interest, yet with your prompt cooperation in 

 stating what you, as a practical druggist are specially interested in, we 

 hope to make this of personal as well as of general value. 

 Address all communications to 



Wilbur L. Scovixle, 

 Mass. College of Pharmacy, Boston, Mass. 

 On behalf of the Scientific Committee, A. Ph. A. 



ABSTRACTS AND REVIEWS. 



Laboratory Notes in Pharmacognosy. 



R. H. True, in the Pharmaceutical Review for August, 1898, reports on 

 Saffron and Lycopodium as follows : 



Saffron. 



Mr. John Arendt, 1897, collected from various sources thirteen samples 

 of Spanish saffron, seven directly from wholesale firms in the West and six 

 from retailers of Wisconsin. 



Examination showed several kinds of impurities or adulterations present 

 with great regularity, and others more serious, occasionally. 



In every sample a small quantity of styles was observed as slender, 

 yellow, thread-like structures, frequently branching at one extremity into 

 three parts. They are perhaps to be regarded as impurities due to careless- 

 ness in picking, and in no case did they form any large proportion of the 

 drug. Several specimens containing approximately 10 per cent, were seen. 



Anthers of the crocus appear occasionally as yellowish-brown, narrow 

 bodies split open lengthwise along the edges. These were not observed in 

 any considerable quantity. 



Florets of Calendula officinalis, the marigold, were found in every speci- 

 men examined, but always in small amounts, usually from one to two per 

 cent., in but one case as high as 6.9 per cent. It is difficult to see how 

 these bodies foreign to the plant could find their way in an innocent 

 manner into this drug, and probably they should be regarded as adultera- 

 tions, significant, however, only when large quantities of saffron are con- 

 cerned. 



Among the occasional adulterations, the so-called " feminella " is found. 

 This consists of florets of the marigold dyed red with red saunders or some 

 other substance. When present, this is plainly put in for a purpose and 

 occurs in large proportions. Two specimens were seen which were adul- 

 terated with this article, containing 28 and 30 per cent, respectively. 



