256 
Warm, M. J., presents a comparative study of the oxymethylanthra- 
quinone content of frangula and cascara sagrada, and of their respec- 
tive fluid extracts. He found that a comparatively larger propor- 
tionate amount of the contained oxymethylanthraquinone was ex- 
tracted in the making of fluid extract of cascara sagrada than in the 
making of fluid extract of frangula. — J. de Pharm. et de Chim., 
Paris, 1905, v. 22, p. 12. 
Thurston, Azor, reports the determination of the alkalinity of the 
water-soluble ash in 9 samples of the leading brands of fluid extract 
of cascara sagrada. The number of cc. of y 1 ^ N. acid required to 
neutralize the water-soluble ash from 100 gm. of sample varied from 
59.2 to 97.7. — Proc. Ohio Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 34. 
Gadd, H. Wippell and Sydney C., propose that 110 minims of a 
liquid extract of cascara sagrada evaporated over a water bath for 
four hours should yield not less than 20 grains of extract. — Pharm. 
J., Lond., 1905, v. 21, p. 579. 
An editorial expresses some doubt as to whether or not the aromatic 
fluid extract of cascara sagrada will become popular, as the public 
has become accustomed to the wintergreen-sassafras combination. — 
Drug Topics, N. Y., 1905, v. 20, p. 213. 
RHEUM. 
Gilson, E., presents a comprehensive review of the history and of 
our general knowledge of rhubarb, and reports some experimental 
work to determine the active principles of Chinese rhubarb. — Arch, 
internat. de Pharmacod. et de Therap., 1905, v. 14, pp. 455-503. 
Vanderkleed, Charles E., outlines a method for the assay of emodin- 
yielding drugs. — Proc. Pennsylvania Pharm. Ass., 1905, p. 193. 
Tschirch, A. (Pharm. Zentralh., v. 45, p. 496) , has devised a method 
for the colorimetric valuation of rhubarb, which consists in the hy- 
drolysis of the anthraglucosides of rhubarb and the solubilitj^ of the 
resulting oxymethylanthraquinone in ether. — Analyst, Lond., 1905, v. 
30, p. 60. 
Tschirch, A. (Schweiz. Wchnschr. f. Chem. u. Pharm., v. 43, p. 253), 
describes a ready method for detecting the admixture of Rheum 
rhaponticum in other varieties of the drug. This method depends on 
the insolubility in ether of the crystalline principle rhaponticin or 
ponticin. — Pharm. J., Lond., 1905, v. 21, p. 97. 
Tschirch and Cristofoletti present a short review of the work pre- 
viously done on the root of Rheum rhaponticum , and a report of an 
exhaustive study of the composition of roots grown in Austria and in 
Berne. Switzerland. — Arch. d. Pharm., Berlin, 1905, v. 243, p. 443. 
An abstract from the annual report of Philip Roeder points out 
that, in addition to the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, 
