233 
Kinyon, H. E., in discussing the treatment of constipation by medi- 
cines, points out that croton oil is valuable in lessened secretion of 
the intestinal juices or a too rapid absorption of the liquids of the 
colon.— Hahneman. Month., Phila., 1905, v. 40, p. 795, 
OPIUM. 
• 
Bernstrom (Svensk. Farm. Tidskr., 1905) believes that the water 
content of opium is of comparatively greater importance than the 
extract content, and that pharmacopceial descriptions are usually 
lax in this regard. He found that the contained moisture, drying at 
60° C., varied from 20.27 to 23.75 per cent, while at 100° C. it varied 
from 25.27 to 27.82 per cent. The ash of the water-free drug varied 
from 3.31 per cent for Persian to 7.89 per cent for manipulated 
Smyrna, which was found to be adulterated with lead filings. — 
Pharm. Ztg., 1905, v. 50, p. 960. 
Williams, John K., from many experiments finds that the natural 
gum loses upwards of twenty per cent when sliced and air dried. — 
Proc. Connecticut Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 51. 
The revisors of Vienna pharmacies. (Ztschr. d. osterr. Apoth. Ver.) 
found opium that contained from 4.0 to 15.58 per cent of morphine ; 
extract of opium varied from 2.0 to 37.1 per cent of morphine and 
tincture of opium 0.12 to 0.82 per cent of the same alkaloid. The 
microscope showed that the opium was contaminated with starch, 
flour, and powdered poppy capsules. — Pharm. Prax., 1905, v. 4, p. 38. 
Wetterstroem, Theo. D., reports finding opium which contained 
from 5.78 to 33.9 per cent of water and from 7.46 to 13.34 per cent of 
morphine. — Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass., 1905, v. 53, p. 187. 
Vanderkleed, Charles E., reports 20 assays of powdered opium 
which varied from 11.38 to 15.5 per cent of morphine; 7 of the 20 
samples were below the U. S. P. (1890) standard. — Proc. Pennsyl- 
vania Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 57. 
Moore, Russell W., asserts that the quality of opium coming into 
the port of New York is generally good. Of 309 samples examined 
only 19 were below the standard of 9 per cent of morphine. — Proc. 
Am. Pharm. Ass., 1905, v. 53, p. 266. 
Masson, V., describes a product that is being sold under the name 
“ Smyrna ” or “ manipulated ” opium and which consists of a mix- 
ture of the natural juice with substances more or less inert. The 
samples examined differed widely in composition and the compo- 
nents are frequently so altered that the active ingredients do not 
readily go into solution. — Analyst, Lond., 1905, v. 30, p. 310 (from 
J. de Pharm. et ae Chim., 1905, v. 21, pp. 529-534). 
Guiges, P., reports a study of three samples of opium marked, 
respectively ; “ Opium qualite superieure,” “ opium qualite moyenne,” 
