4J. KAyt:iAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



DILUTED ACETIC ACID AS A SOLVENT FOR EXTRACTIVE 



SUBSTANCES. 



By Li. E. SAYRE, University of Kansas. 

 It is well known, perhaps, that alcohol and water in different proportions 

 is the common solvent for the extraction of various medicinal substances. 

 Its solvent action and range of application is also familiar. On account of 

 its antiseptic qualities it is perhaps all that can be desired for holding in 

 solution organic matter very prone to decomposition. But for many reasons 

 it would be desirable to supplant this solvent in many cases. The stimulant 

 quality of the alcohol in many medicinal tinctures and the enormous price 

 which the pharmacist and physician has to pay for the spirit — the excessive 

 cost being largely due to our internal-revenue tax, which does not discrimi- 

 nate between the common liquor dealer and the physician or scientist — is 

 also a drawback to its universal application. If, therefore, an inert and in- 

 expensive solvent could be substituted for alcohol, even if that substitute be 

 very limited in its application, it would be exceedingly desirable. I have 

 accordingly made several experiments, using acetic acid and water, of various 

 proportions, to ascertain whether a number of medicinal preparations could 

 not be advantageously made equal in quality to that of alcohol and water. 

 While I have not completed the work, I feel safe in saying that in very many 

 cases the pharmacist and physician may well use in his laboratory the solvent 

 I have named as a substitute. Especially is this true in the manufacture of 

 medicinal extracts, such as belladonna, hyoscyamus, aconite, etc. (Specimen 

 of extract of belladonna exhibited, and comments made thereon.) 



A NEW AECIDIUM OF PECULIAR HABIT. 



By M. A. CARLETON. 

 During two summers I have collected specimens of an aecidium on RnelUa 

 ciliosa, which, so far as I can discover, is yet undescribed. The uredo and 

 teleutospores of Puccinia lateripes, B. & Rav., on the same host, is well known. 

 This species may prove to be the aecidium stage of Puccinia lateripes. The 

 species is of very peculiar habit, being found on the stem (or root) almost 

 invariably, at or below the surface of the ground. Hence it is easily over- 

 looked. I discovered it on dead stems of the previous year's growth while 

 digging for root-stalks to be transplanted in the greenhouse for experiments 

 with the Puccinia lateripes above mentioned. Even at that date, the cups 

 could be easily distinguished. Further examination will probably reveal the 

 presence of perennial mycelium in the root-stalk of the host, and thus add 

 another one to the list of perennial uredinae. 



