130 
Mathews and McGuigan discuss methods for determining the 
condition in which saccharin leaves the body. In discussing the in- 
fluence of saccharin on the digestive enzymes they assert that sac- 
charin has a retarding influence on the digestive juices, especially 
that of the saliva and pancreas. — J. Am. M. Ass., Chicago, 1905, v. 45, 
p. 844-847. 
Sternberg, William, discusses the sweetening properties of the 
dulcines and records some experiments made to determine the com- 
parative sweetness of the several compounds. — Riedel’s Berichte, 
1905, p. 54. 
BENZOINUM. 
Francis, John M., points out that of 22 consignments of benzoin, 
composed of 60 odd cases, 7 assayed between 80 and 90 per cent and 
10 between 70 and 80 per cent of alcohol soluble matter, the average 
being 80.4 per cent, the highest being 92 and the lowest 38 per cent. 
In the major portion of these samples the ash was in excess of the 
permissible 2 per cent. Fie does not believe that his experience is 
unique in this respect.— Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1905, v. 19, p. 362. 
Garner, J. Bert (Am. Chem. J., v. 32, pp. 583-606), discusses the 
reaction between benzoin and alcoholic potassium hydroxide, enumer- 
ates the findings of Zinin, Jena, Limpricht, Schwanert, Owens, and 
others, and proposes an elaboration of the experiments of Papcke, 
who uses a solution of sodium ethoxide. — Abstr. J. Chem. Soc., Lond., 
1905, v. 88, Pt. II, p. 143. 
Meisenheimer, Jakob (Ber., 1905, v. 38, pp. 874-878), does not con- 
cur in Garner’s results. — Ibid., p. 291. 
BERBERIS. 
Francis, John M., points out that berberis varies tremendously in 
quality and from time to time tons of it, of very inferior quality, 
almost devoid of the peculiar bitter, yellow substance are offered. He 
has not been able to determine whether such drug is obtained from an 
allied plant or whether its inferiority is due to collection at the wrong 
season. A good drug can always be distinguished by its deep yellow 
color. — Bull. Pharm., Detroit, 1905, v. 19, p. 362. 
Lyons, A. B., points out that the definition for berberis is defective 
in that it permits of the use of any species of berberis in place of 
Berberis aquifolium. The word “ certain ” before “ other ” would 
have been more explicit, but even this should have some limitation, 
such as “ indigenous in the States of the far west ” or belonging to 
the sub genus mahonia. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1905, v. 53, p. 261. 
Douglass, Malcolm E., in notes on materia medica, points out that 
berberis is useful in acne, scaly'diseases, psoriasis, pityriasis, etc., and 
in syphilis. — Hahneman. Month., Phila., 1905, v. 40, p. 748, 
