162 
teristic structure of the hairs. — Abstr. Am. Druggist, 1905, v. 47, 
p. 238. 
Moeller, J. (Pharm. Post, v. 37), reports finding V erbascum leaves 
in place of digitalis.— Pharm. Prax., 1905, v. 4, p. 109. 
The re visors of Vienna Pharmacies (Ztschr. d. Oesterr. Apoth. 
Ver.) report finding digitalis leaves containing as high as 29.4 per 
cent of ash, while other figures varied from 7.5 to 12.85 per cent. 
They say: 
So high an ash content in a drug that is of such great importance is not at all 
permissible, and the pharmacist’s attention should be directed to the fact that 
leaf drugs containing hairs are particularly prone to contain sand, dirt, and 
dust and should be tested for ash. — Pharm. Prax., 1905, v. 4, p. 37. 
Iviliani, H., reports a comparative study of the several digit onins 
prepared by Schmiedeberg, Cloetta, and Iviliani. He outlines a 
method for preparing the amorphous digitonin and concludes that 
Cloetta’s “ amorphous digitonin ” is certainly a mixture, and is not 
properly represented by so simple a formula as C 28 H 47 0 14 . — Arch, 
d. Pharm., 1905, v. 243, p. 5-12. 
Focke, C. (from Med. Klin., 1905, p. 775), recommends the use of 
uniformly active preparations of digitalis, preferably an infusion, 
not older than two days, made from an assayed leaf. He also points 
out that digitoxin does not fully represent the action of digitalis. — 
Apoth. Ztg., Berlin, 1905, v. 20, p. 586. 
An editorial reviews the controversy as to whether infusion of 
digitalis should be filtered, and concludes that in consideration of 
the several points that have been made it would appear to be prefer- 
able to direct that infusion of digitalis be directed to be shaken, in 
preference to being filtered. — Deut.-Amer. Apoth. Ztg., 1905, v. 26, 
p. 91. 
Kakowski (from Arch, internat. de Pharmacodyn, v. 15, pp. 21- 
139) discusses the action of several digitalis preparations on the 
heart and compares this typical heart action with the action of 
barium chloride, adonidin, coronillin, helleborin, pyramidon, and a 
number of other substances. — Biochem. Centralbl., 1905, v. 4. p. 445. 
Plunder, L. (J. de Physiol, et Pathol. Generale, 1905) reports 
on a series of experiments relating to the action of digitoxin, digi- 
talin, and alcohol on the cardio-pulmonarv circulation. — Biochem. 
Centralbl., 1905, v. 4, p. 167. 
Ivorezki, A. (from Busskv WratcK, 1905, p. 746), has studied the 
local anaesthetic action of substances belonging to the digitalis group, 
particularly solutions of strophanthin, digitalin, adonidin, and helle- 
borin ; their action on the conjunctiva of the rabbit and on the skin 
and the nerves of the frog. He concludes that while the local anaes- 
thetic action is more slowly induced it is more prolonged than with 
cocaine. Adonidin and helleborin are more promising than strophan- 
