III. COMMENTS ON OFFICIAL ARTICLES. 
ACACIA. 
Smith, R. Grieg, reports some experiments with the microorganisms 
which produce the gums of the arabin group and believes that he is 
able to demonstrate that the gums of the cerasin group are produced 
by the same organism. (From Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1904, 
p. 217.) — Biochem. Centralbl., 1905, v. 4, p. 436. 
Goris and Lefevre (Pharm. Zentralh. v. 46, p. 491) recommend, as 
a substitute for acacia, the gum from Analgeissus latifolia and 
A. pendvla , both found in India. — Merck’s Rep., N. Y., 1905, v. 14, 
p. 281 . 
An abstract (from Ph. Zeit.) points out that the detection of 
acacia in tragacanth is based on the presence of oxydase in acacia 
and its absence in tragacanth. A solution of acacia (1-30) in cold 
water, is shaken out with equal parts of 1 per cent guaiacol and 1 
drop of H 2 0 2 solution. The mixture turns rapidly brown when 
acacia is present, remaining colorless with pure tragacanth. — Apoth- 
ecary, Boston, 1905, v. 17, p. 540. 
An abstract calls attention to a recent study of the subject by 
Bourquelot (quoted in Pharm. Zentralh. Aug. 10, 1905) in which 
he calls attention to the possibility of acacia, because of its oxidizing 
properties, being the cause of decomposition in mixtures. A number 
of practical illustrations and experiments are recorded. — Am. Drug- 
gist, N. Y., 1905, v. 47, p. 239. 
An abstract (from Suedd. Apoth. Ztg.) enumerates a number of 
substances that are incompatible with acacia, among them phenol, 
thymol, pyrogallol, guaiacol, creosol, vanillin, morphine, apo- 
morphine, eserine, adrenalin, preparations containing tannin, coal- 
tar preparations, and substances readily decomposed by oxidation. — 
Deut.-Amer. Apoth. Ztg., N. Y., 1905, v. 26, p. 30. 
Weiss recommends the dilution of opium with acacia. — Pharm. 
Zentralh., 1905, v. 46, p. 65. 
Weigel objects to this, and asserts that the extract prepared from 
such an opium, rich in gum, would certainly be low in morphine per- 
centage. ( Ibid ., p. 189.) — Am. Druggist, 1905, v. 47, p. 239. 
Firbas, Richard, reviews the literature and concludes that in solu- 
tions containing mucilage of acacia morphine is slowly decomposed 
into oxymorphine. — Pharm. Post, Wien, 1905, v. 38, p. 735. 
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