275 
Santesson, C. G. (Scandin. Arch. f. Physiol., Leipz., 1905, v. 17, 
pp. 389^13), discusses the variability in activity of the seeds and 
the tincture of strophanthus as found in Swedish pharmacies. — Ref- 
erence from Ind. Med., 1905, p. 177. See also Svensk. Farm. Tidskr., 
1905, v. 9, pp. 261-267 and 286-288. 
Carlinfanti, E. (Bolletino Chimico Farmaceutico, v. 43), reports 
a series of experiments with strophanthus. For the removal of the 
oil he recommends benzin, and asserts that this does not remove even 
a trace of active substance from the drug. — Am. Druggist, X. Y., 
1905, v. 47, p. 2. 
Barbieri, G., disagrees with Carlinfanti in some of his observa- 
tions on tincture of strophanthus, and the latter replies. — Boll. Chim. 
Farm., 1905, v. 44, pp. 337-347 and 451^53. 
Nine samples of tincture of strophanthus were examined in the 
laboratory of Philip Roder, Wien, and found to vary from 0.8165 
to 0.9029 in specific gravity and to contain from 0.36 to 1.32 per cent 
of extract. — Pharm. Post, Wien, 1905, v. 38, p. 393. 
Caldwell, Paul, asserts that in making the tincture of strophanthus 
the drug should be washed with purified benzin before it is treated 
with the menstruum. This he believes would insure a tincture that 
would not become cloudy. — Drug. Circ. & Chem. Gaz., 1905, v. 49, 
p. 307. 
STRYCHNIN A. 
Beckurts, H., presents a study of the action of bromine on strych- 
nine hydrobromide. — Arch. d. Pharm., 1905, v. 243, p. 493. 
Reichard (Chem. Ztg., v. 28, p. 977) presents a review of the avail- 
able tests and reactions of strychnine and brucine, and suggests several 
modifications. — Pharm. Prax., 1905, v. 4, p. 309. 
Pictet and Mattison record a series of experiments with hydrogen 
peroxide, by means of which they were enabled to produce a series of 
oxidation compounds of strychnine, which they believe will aid in 
solving the question of the chemical structure of strychnine. — Ber. d. 
deutsch chem. Gesellsch., 1905, v. 38, p. 2782. 
Bacovescu and Pictet review the work of previous workers, begin- 
ning with the work done by Gal and Etard in 1879 (Bui. Soc. chim., 
v. 31, p. 98), who appear to have been the first to note the action of 
baryta water on strychnine. The dihydrostrychnine of these early 
investigators is believed to be identical with strychnol, while the tri- 
hydrostrychnine is identical with what Bacovescu and Pictet call 
isostrychnine. The pharmacologic action of isostrychnine is thought 
to be more closely related to that of brucine, in fact to be intermediate 
between brucine and curare. — Ibid ., pp. 2787-2792. 
Trotman and Hackford discuss the use of strychnine or of a salt of 
strychnine for the determination of tannin and materials used for 
