313 



f'opoeia from a chemical stan(l])i)iiit. The average alkaloidal percentage of 

 all samples for the same period was 0.0G40 and the range of variation in 

 individual samples was from 0.018 to- 0.125 per cent. 



The hotanical charactei'istics approach the official re(iuiremenls with 

 no greater degree of certainty. The crude drug varies from fragmentary 

 sjteeimens of unevenly cured leaves and stems containing an admixture 

 of grass, straw and other plant parts, as well as the refuse of chicken 

 and barn lots, to pure, bright, clean, evenly cured leaves, compressed in 

 such a manner that the entire leaf is available for inspection. The botan- 

 ical source of the drug is also (inestinnable, as evidenced by numerous 

 seed tests from samiiles and lots from which viable seeds could be obtained. 

 I'hese tests have shown this di-ug to consist of a mixture of two distinct 

 forms. The so-called annual variety, which is not included in the pharma- 

 copceial description, appeared regularly in these tests. Specimens of this 

 form have been grown to maturity in the writer's garden and close obser- 

 vation has failed to substantiate the statements that it is identical with 

 Hyoscyamus niger L. Sei^lling plants from both forms are now under 

 observation and will be studied both botanically and chemically through 

 succeeding generations. To determine the iiosssibility of obtaining a uni- 

 form henbane, seeds were purchased from August and George Fischer of 

 London, which were found- to possess a high percentage germiinitioii. 

 Plants from these seeds differed greatly in size and vigor in the early 

 seedling stages, and a selection from ajipioximately two thousand see:l- 

 lings was necessary in order to oI)tain one hundred and f( rty plants ol" 

 uniform character. The gre:it \ariation noted in the seedling stages of 

 these plants led to a second application of the seed separator. The seeds 

 of this form being quite small, several p/irtions of two hundred seeds each, 

 were taken from light, medium and heavy separations. The respective 

 weights of these were O.OrtM, 0.045 and 0.125 grams. IMantin',^s fvoin 

 tliese different weight seeds have not progressed sufficiently at the present 

 time to jusify a discussion of the merits of the method. Open field exper- 

 iments with this drug have demonstrated that seed germination is uncer- 

 tain, that the plants are subject to the attacks of many insects and that 

 the seedlings transplant with considerable difficulty. No conclusions can 

 be drawn from these facts, however, since the seeds employed in all out- 

 door tests were imported and but very few lots of such seeds, have given 

 satisfactory results. The two forms of henbane me::tioned, i. e., annua! 



