121 
The report of the N. W. D. A. committee on adulteration quotes 
from a communication, as follows: 
On analysis we have found no lot testing higher than 35 to 37 per cent of 
alcohol soluble material. It undoubtedly is necessary to add a small percentage 
of absorbing material, and in the drying of the gum the resin is oxidized to 
form alcohol insoluble compounds. Our conclusion is that powdered asafetida 
is unfit for pharmaceutical use and our laboratory has adopted a pure alcohol 
extract made from tears. — Paint, Oil and Drug Rep., 1905, Oct. 6, p. 15. 
Wetter stroem, Theo. D., has examined four samples of powdered 
asafetida which were found to contain from 20 to 33 per cent of 
alcohol soluble material. The ash was found to range from 50 to 60 
per cent and was mostly inert earthy matter. — Drug. Circ. & Chem. 
Gaz., 1905, v. 49, p. 312. 
Vanderkleed, Charles, sa}^s that of eight samples of powdered asa- 
fetida examined one assayed 14.52 per cent of alcohol soluble mate- 
rial, one 23.5 per cent, and six others ranged from 27.28 to 33 per 
cent. — Proc. Penna. Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 54. 
Douglass, Malcolm E., in notes on materia medica points out that 
asafetida is of use in hysteria, globus hystericus, diarrhoea, cardial- 
gia, indigestion, hysteric asthma, and neuralgic rheumatism. — Hahne- 
man. Month., Phila., 1905, v. 40, p. 202. 
ASPIDIUM. 
Rusby, H. H., believes that much less than one-half of the male 
fern sold in this country is really genuine, and that this may readily 
account for the lack of uniformity in its action that is so loudly com- 
plained of by physicians. — Merck’s Rep., N. Y., 1905, v. 14, p. 212. 
The report of the revisors of Vienna pharmacies asserts that pow- 
dered “ Rhizoma filicis ” was found to contain powdered althsea leaves 
which had evident^ been added to give to the drug the desirable 
light-green tint that a good quality drug of this kind should have. — 
Pharm. Prax., 1905, v. 4, p. 38. 
Kiczka, M., presents an exhaustive study of aspidium, with a report 
of the methods of procedure that were followed. Also reports an 
investigation of the composition of filicic acid, filicicacidbutanon, 
aspidinol and flavaspidic acid. — Pharm. Prax., 1905, v. 4, pp. 96-102. 
Caeser and Loretz outline a method for the estimation of crude 
filicin, which they believe to be indicative of the value of the drug. — 
Geschafts Bericht von Caeser & Loretz, in Halle a. S. 1905, p. 85. 
An abstract (from Korr. Bl. f. Schweiz. Aerzte) points out that 
E. Kraft has isolated a sixth substance from aspidium, which he has 
named “ filmaron.” It is a light yellow amorphous powder, which 
is readily soluble in acetone, chloroform, or ether, but is more diffi- 
cultly soluble in alcohol, and is insoluble in water. Kraft found 
aspidium to contain 5 per cent filmaron, 3.5 per cent filicic acid, 2.5 
