212 
An abstract (from Rev. cle chim. Industr.) says the oriental chem- 
ist. Puran Sing, proposes a method for the preparation of cantharidin 
by treating powdered cantharides with a mixture of 5 parts of nitric 
acid and 95 parts of water, evaporating the mixture, with the addi- 
tion of a little gypsum before total desiccation. The resulting mass 
is exhausted with chloroform, the latter recovered by distillation and 
the resulting crvstals of cantharidin are then washed with a small 
quantity of ether or alcohol. — Sc. Am. Suppl.. 1906, v. 62, p. 25612. 
Spindler reports finding a sample of cantharides with 0.17 per cent 
of cantharidin in place of 0.8 per cent required by the Ph. Germ. 
TV. — Sudd. Apoth. Ztg., 1906, v. 16, p. 90. 
The Revisors of Pharmacies in TTiirt ember g. Germany, report find- 
ing cantharides containing but one-lialf the normal amount of can- 
tharidin. The cause for this deficiency was. probably, that too high 
a heat had been used in drying the drug. — Pharm. Zentralh.. 1906, 
v. 17, p. 650. 
Patch. E. L.. reports finding 0.55, 0.8. 0.56. 0.1, 0.15, 0.72. and 0.66 
per cent of cantharidin in varying samples of Russian cantharides. — 
Proc. Am. Pharm. Ass.. 1906, v. 51, p. 335. 
A report on the drug market presents a table of high and low 
prices of cantharides for the several months of the years 1901 to 1905, 
inclusive. — Oil. Paint and Drug. Rep.. 1906, Jan. 29. part 2, p. 31. 
Haines, Oliver L.. has seen numerous cases of pericarditis * * * 
but only one of extreme character. * * * This case was resolved 
by the tincture of cantharides assisted by small, repeated cantharidial 
blisters and the ice bag over the cardiac area. — Trans. Am. Inst. 
Homceop., 1906, 62d sess., Pt. I. p. 131. 
CAPSICUM. 
The Ph. Brit. Committee of Reference in Pharmacy report on Cap- 
sid fructus says: 
Restrict the drug as now to Capsicum minimum. Standards for ash and 
oleo-resin should be introduced. Experiment with solvents, so as to extract 
oleo-resin without fixed oil. Microscopical characters should be introduced. — 
Chein. & Drug. Loud.. 1906, v. 69, p. 863. 
Smith. Kline and French Co. report the following results of their 
examination of cayenne pepper: Ash, 1.1 per cent; ash insoluble in 
hydrochloric acid. 0.1 per cent ; alcohol extractive. 26 per cent : ether 
extractive (nonvolatile), 15.5 per cent; crude fiber, 21.5 per cent; 
microscopically, normal. — Lab. Rep. S. K. & F.. 1906, pp. 33-31. 
The Helfenberger Annalen (for 1905, p. Ill) records experiments 
for determining the extract content of capsicum and the amount of 
extract yielded to alcohols of varying strength. — Pharm. Zentralh., 
1906, v. 17, p. 855. 
