142 
3.44 to 14.2 per cent of ash in place of 8 per cent permitted by the 
Austrian and the German Pharmacopoeias. — Pharm. Prax., 1905, 
v. 4, p. 537. 
An abstract points out that cantharides is frequently found to be 
deteriorated owing to the imperfect drying or lack of care in keep- 
ing. — Siidd. Apoth. Ztg.. 1905. v. 45, p. 758. 
Jorissen, A. (from J. de Pharm. de Liege), outlines a process for 
the preparation of eantharidin, by extracting the drug with chloro- 
form after treatment with a mixture of hydrochloric acid and Avater, 
eA^aporating the chloroform solution, washing the residue with 
petroleum benzine and alkaline water, and finally dissolving the 
eantharidin in boiling alcohol, filtering and crystalizing. — Bull. Soc. 
Roy. de Pharm. de Bruxelles, 1905, 49, p. 7. 
Roberts, A. A., discusses the comparative spheres of cantharis, 
terebinthina, mercurius corr., and plumbum in the treatment of 
nephritis. — Tr. Am. Inst. Homoeop.. 1905, v. 61. pp. 368-374. 
Coley. T. L. (in Tran. Coll. Phys., Phila.. 1905, a*. 27. pp. 62-72), 
contributes an historical sketch on the famous controA’ersy concern- 
ing the use of cantharides internally. — Reference from Ind. Med.. 
1905,’ p. 1191. 
CAPSICUM. 
Vanderkleed, Charles E., reports 8 assays of capsicum varying 
from 9.4 to 23.9 per cent of oleoresin, the standard for a good 
drug being 15 per cent. All of the samples, except one. assayed over 
16 per cent of oleoresin. — Proc. Penna. Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 55. 
Hockauf, J., in the report of the re visors of Vienna pharmacies 
(from Ztschr. d. osterr. Apoth. Ver.), mentions a paprika sample 
containing as much as 4 per cent of a lead salt soluble in acetic 
acid. The reAusors call attention to this report as an indication of 
the possible contamination that may be found in powdered drugs, 
either from carelessness or malicious intent. — Pharm. Prax., 1905, 
v. 4, p. 38. 
Lloyd. John Uri, points out that many forms of red pepper pods, 
both large and small, are sold under the name capsicum. Probably 
the purchaser of powdered capsicum knows as little concerning the 
drug that yielded this powdered capsicum as some powderers of 
drugs care about their composition. — Pharm. Re\fiew, 1905, v. 23, 
p. 299. 
Harris, J. Arthur, discusses the proliferation of the fruit in 
capsicum. He concludes, from an extended series of experiments 
and observations coA'ering a period of years, that proliferation of 
the fruit, using the term to coA’er all of the seA’erai phenomena, is 
very common in seA^eral varieties of capsicum. It is practically want- 
ing in the slender fruited forms, although some varieties form 
