W. Scheppegrell?) SScmnends the biological classitication c 
He considers it wrong to make the ee a test with a mixed 
‘is useless. In order to find out what kinds of noite occur in a disiriege “atnisBh 
pollen plates” — glass plates with glycerin — should be prepared and exposed. Th 
microscopical examination then generally reveals the preponderence of one kind 
pollen, which may be looked upon as the chief cause of the attacks. ‘The presence 
of 25 pollen grains in a cc. (sq. cm.?) after 24 hours indicates that there is enough — 
pollen in the air to produce attacks of hay-fever in sensitive persons; if there are-— 
100 pollen grains, violent attacks may be supposed. Only pollen carried by the wind P| 
produces hay-fever, otherwise only if breathed in. The patient is examined with the 
pollen occurring in his neighbourhood and the therapeutics then begun according to the | 
reaction. The process is simplified by the fact that the pollen causing hay-fever may. be. 
divided into 4 groups according to its chemical and biological effects and that it suffices. 
generally to differentiate in the treatment between these 4 groups. There are only | a few ig 
plants that are not comprised in them. The investigations have beén made for American = 
plants; in Europe almost exclusively graminez pollen comes into COnSHE ON 
i = 
tes as s~ ai anes: 
sila ici 
siesta ili 
Storax. In 1916, M. Henze?) came forth with the surprising. news that storax 
contained considerable quantities of free pimaric and abietinic acids. According to” 
L. van Itallie and H.J. Lemkes*), Henze does not seem to have examined any ‘unadul- 
terated storax, for they never succeeded in proving the presence ae abe TatiG’ and — 
pimaric acids in the pure product. ; a 
They attribute but a slight value to the acid and supa nie inen values. in judeinell 
storax and think that it is more important to determine the contents of cinnamic acid. 
It is not possible to calculate the contents of free cinnamic acid from the acid value, 3 
as then the acids insoluble in water are likewise determined. When boiling with water, a 
varying proportions of the cinnamic acid are dissolved and at the same time some | 
easily saponifiable esters are decomposed. When determining the saponification value, P| 
other esters than those of the cinnamic acid seem to come into consideration: hence | 
the differences found in calculating the total cinnamic acid from the saponification — 
value and the bromine titration. The following method is to be reconiea as fOr, the 
determination of the content of cinnamic acid: — deg 
1 gram of storax ‘is boiled for an hour with 20 cc. of alcoholic N/2 potash iy 
Te 
oh 
Te 
shaken twice with 5 cc. of water each time and the aqueous liquids are unifed 1 i 
vessel holding 1000 cc. One then dilutes with water up to about 950 cc., adds 10 
of dilute sulphuric accid, completes the 1000 cc. by adding more water ‘and filtr: 
To 100 cc. of the filtrate 10 cc. of N/10 potassium bichromate solution, 1 grar 
potassium bromide and 5 cc. of sulphuric ,acid are added and, after 15 mi 
1 gram of potassium | iodide. After another 5 minutes, one titrates with N/10 
sulphate solution. Not more than 6.5 cc. thereof ought to be used. Every « 
potassium bichromate solution corresponds to 7.4 mg. of cinnamic acid. 
1) Boston med. and surg. Journ. 197 (1917), 42; Therap. Halbmonateh; 32 (1918), 106. 
(1916), 1622; Report October 1916, 75. — §&) Pharm. Weekblad 5d (1918), 142; Apotheker Ztg. 33 
