189 
Naylor, W. A. H., points out that in devising a process for the 
estimation of total basic content in hyoscyamus leaves it is advisable 
that regard should be had to the ease with which hyoscine undergoes 
isomerisation. He also points out that, quite irrespective of whether 
or not a change in molecular constitution affects the therapeutic value 
of the alkaloid, it is desirable, from the chemist’s standpoint, that any 
such alteration should be guarded against and, as far as possible, pro- 
visions be made accordingly in any process recommended for the 
assay of the drug or its preparations. — Pharm. J., Lond., 1905, v. 21, 
p. 126 . 
Maben, Thomas, commends the standard adopted by the U. S. P., 
VIII, for hyoscyamus, as splitting the difference between that advo- 
cated by Farr and Wright and that by Maben. — Ibid., p. 141. 
Caeser and Loretz recommend the same modification for the U. S. 
P., VIII, as that given under Belladonna (q. v.). — Pharm. Ztg., Ber- 
lin, 1905, v. 50, p. TTl. 
Nixon, C. F., believes that pharmacists, as a class, will never be in 
a position to assay tincture of hyoscyamus for 0.007 per cent of alka- 
loids. This, he believes, calls for high skill, while the non-compliance 
with the requirement, on the other hand, will prove to be a great 
detriment to pharmacy. — Apothecary, Boston, 1905, v. 17, p. 774. 
Rasthje, A., has studied the alkaloidal content of oil of hyoscyamus, 
as prepared by four different methods, and has endeavored to increase 
this alkaloidal content by the addition of a small quantity of stearic 
acid (from J. de Pharm. v. Elsass-Lothr., 1905, p. 193). — J. de 
Pharm. et de Chim., Paris, 1905, v. 23, p. 65. 
Kuntz, W., discusses the preparation of the infused hyoscyamus oil 
and describes a method by which he prepared an oil containing as 
high as 0.6 per cent of alkaloids. The editor calls attention to the 
wide discrepancy in the percentages given by the two writers and sug- 
gests the possibility of error. — Ibid., p. 66. 
INFUSA. 
Currie, A., outlines a method for sterilizing infusions and offers 
some objections to Witte’s method (from Pharm. J., Lond., v. 20, 
p. 584). — Year Book of Pharmacy, Lond., 1905, p. 258. 
Deane, H. (Pharm. J., Lond., v. 20, p. 435), criticizes the so-called 
concentrated infusions as being insufficiently extracted and gives a 
tabulated statement of his results. — Ibid., pp. 259-261. 
Pearson, G. E., controverts Deane’s contention and gives an even 
more extensive tabulated statement (Pharm. J., Lond., 1905, v. 20, 
p. 474). — Abstr., ibid., p. 261. 
The Spanish Pharmacopoeia contains no less than 14 formulas for 
infusions, among them: Infusion of digitalis, rhubarb, arnica root, 
