384 Scientific Intelligence. 
conclude: ist, that Aconitum ferox roots contain a characteristic 
erystallizable and highly active alkaloid, pseudaconitine C,,H,, 
. the aurochloride and nitrate crystallizing. 2d, A. napellus 
roots contain chiefly aconitine, C,,H,,NO,,, crystalli , fusing 
at 184°, and forming erystallizable salts. 3d, Pseudaconitine and 
derivative of it, and new bases, pseudaconine C,,H, NO, aconine 
: 10 ; 
26°" 39, 1} i 24°" 41, 9° pe 
organic acids or anhydrides, aconitine and pseudaconitine lose the 
deriv 
aconine and pseudaconine into apo-derivatives. 8th, Since there 
is no particular difficulty in obtaining well crystallized salts and 
bases both from A. ferow and A. napellus, the use of the amorph- 
ous precipitated substances at present sold as aconitine should be 
discontinued and that of the crystallized alkaloids and their salts 
substituted.—J. Chem. Soc., xxxiii, 318, Aug., 1878. 
Mosandrum.—Dr. J. NCE 
MITH, in a recent article in the Comptes Rendus (July 22, 1878) 
i i e samarskite of 
Marignac 
suggested (C. R., Aug., 1878) that the supposed new e 
robably identical with terbia. Dr. Smith, while admitting the 
presence of the terbia in the mineral still claims that a distinct 
earth—the mosandra—is also present; he has the subject still 
under examination. 
and Petterson, and the results of their investigation are given In 
the Ann. de Chim. et Phys. for July. These chemists prepared 
