242 



THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



A more frequent adulteration consists of filaments of vegetable origin 

 heavily loaded with some inorganic substance. In the specimens ex- 

 amined, some calcium salt was used. The filament used to carry the min- 

 eral salt is very delicate in its structure and seems to be a part of some 

 floral organ, perhaps. Its structure is different from that of the crocus 

 styles sometimes used, and some other plant is here made use of. This 

 adulteration was found in four specimens and in considerable quantity each 

 time, 21.5, 27.6, 38.9 and 44.6 per cent, respectively. 



The ash of saffron thus adulterated was found to be greatly increased. 

 Mr. H. F. Schwarz (1898) has determined the total ash of several speci- 

 mens and found that whereas the normal ash is about 5 per cent., in the 

 case of samples containing 21.5 and 27.6 percent, of this adulteration, the 

 ash amounted to 24.87 and 18.67 per cent, respectively. 



One specimen of saffron was seen containing about 14 per cent, of red 

 sand. 



The above table shows the constitution of the samples examined. Nos. 

 1 to 7 were obtained from wholesale houses, Nos. 8 to 13 from retail dealers 

 of Wisconsin. 



The study of commercial samples of saffron is being continued. 



IvYCOPODIUM. 



Mr. A. L. Reichert (1897) examined a number of commercial samples of 

 lycopodium powder and found that impurities are frequently present. One 

 of those most regularly seen is fragments of the sporangium wall broken 

 off in obtaining the spores. These were not found in any considerable 

 quantity. Pine pollen was seen in one specimen, making up approximately 



