242 
PHYSOSTIGMA. 
Hartwich, C., describes a bean, not at all resembling physostigma, 
that had been sent to Hamburg as physostigma. He explains this by 
pointing out that a number of more or less similar beans are known 
in Africa as “ Garbee ” and that this particular bean, known to the 
natives as Opochala, Owala, and Orvala, is also sometimes called 
“ Calibohnen.” — Pharm. Ztg., Berlin, 1905, v. 50, p. 677 (from 
Schweiz. Wchnschr. f. Chem. u. Pharm.). 
An abstract points out that the false calabar bean, found on the 
Hamburg drug market, according to Schinz is a seed of Pentakle- 
thrci macrophylla , Benth., a leguminous tree indigenous to tropical 
Africa. — Ibid., p. 751. 
Vanderkleed, Charles E., reports five assays of physostigma which 
varied from 0.148 to 0.446 per cent of alkaloid. — Proc. Pennsylvania 
Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 55. 
Kaylor, W. A. IP., points out that the most recent investigations 
indicate the presence of three bases, eserine, eseridine, and eseramine, 
while the nonexistence of calabarine can no longer be a matter of 
doubt. Eserine is supposed to represent the therapeutic properties, 
on which the physician depends when he prescribes the official extract, 
and as commercial extracts of the bean, made with rectified spirit, 
have been shown by MacEwan to contain from 1 to 10 per cent of 
total alkaloid, this fact may be adduced as being of sufficient impor- 
tance to indicate the need for standardizing the extract of this 
drug. — Pharm. J., Bond., 1905, v. 21, p. 126. 
Maben, Thomas, points out that the standard for the solid extract 
of physostigma, 2 per cent, indicates that it is thirteen times stronger 
than the bean, but even so, it is still much below the figure found in 
the extract. — Pharm. J., Bond., 1905, v. 21, p. 141. 
Beckurts, H., reports some work done on the assa}^ of physostigma 
and extract of physostigma in the pharmaceutical institute of the 
technical high school of Brunswick, by Kohler and Frerichs, which 
further demonstrates the usefulness of iodeosin as an indicator in the 
titration of the alkaloids of physostigma. In the preliminary treat- 
ment, Beckurts prefers to use a 10 per cent solution of potassium 
bicarbonate in place of the sodium bicarbonate, as directed in the 
U. S. P., VIII.— Pharm. Ztg., Berlin, 1905, v. 50, p. 670. 
Douglass, Malcolm E., outlines the use of physostigma in eye 
affections, torpor of the intestines, convulsive disorders, etc. — Hahne- 
man. Month., Phila., 1905, v. 40, p. 852. 
PHYSOSTIGMINJE SALICYLAS. 
Huebner, W., discusses the chemistry and the pharmacology of 
physostigmine. In connection with the constitution of physostig- 
