274 
Zimmermann (Ztschr. Pflanzenkrank., 16, 1906, Xo. 3, pp. 129- 
131) points out that studies were made in the greenhouse and in the 
open air to determine the germinative ability of old sclerotia of the 
common ergot, Claviceps purpurea . He found that sclerotia more 
than 2 years old had lost all power of germination. — Exper. Sta. 
Rec., 1906, y. 18, pp. 645, 646. 
Weigel, G., records the occurrence of an abnormal ergot on the 
Hamburg market. This drug came from southern Russia, had a 
strikingly black color, and was much smaller than ergot of good 
quality. — Pharm. Zentralh.. 1906, v. 47, p. 864. 
John, A., describes and figures some abnormal specimens of ergot. — 
Ibicl., y. 47, pp. 943-945. 
Philipp Roder, 'Wien, asserts that the determination of alkaloids 
in extract of ergot does not yield reliable data, and points out that 
the odor, solubility in water, and the determination of the ash con- 
tent are factors that are more reliable. The ash content of extract 
of ergot should not exceed 9.5 per cent. — Pharm. Ztg., Berk, 1906, 
y. 51, p. 278. 
Caesar and Loretz report finding ergot to yary in cornutin con- 
tent from 0.027 to 0.364 per cent, the greater portion of the drug, 
however, averaging from 0.240 to 0.320 per cent. They outline a 
colorimetric test for the ready determination of cornutin, and sim- 
* y c“} 
gest the estimation of the moisture content and outline a method for 
the quantitative determination of cornutin. — Geschafts.-Ber. v. Caesar 
& Loretz, in Halle, a. S., 1906, pp. 51. 52, 114, 115. 
Kraft, F., discusses the present status and the work done on ergot 
and reports a series of experiments to determine the chemical con- 
stituents of ergot and their physiological activity. He concludes 
that the specific ingredients in ergot are the ergosterin of Tanret and 
two alkaloids, the crystalline ergotinine of Tanret and amorphous 
hydroergotinine. While the alkaloids will produce gangrene they do 
not produce the characteristic uterus contraction produced by the 
drug itself. The principles isolated by Robert and Jakobj are not 
chemically pure, but mixtures of variable nature, and their physio- 
logical action is due to contained alkaloids. Cornutin (Keller) 
and secalin (Jakobj) are identical with ergotinine. — Arch. d. 
Pharm., Berl., 1906, v. 244, pp. 336-359. 
Barger and Dale discuss the communication by Kraft on the con- 
stituents of ergot. They differ from him in his conclusions in regard 
to the relations existing between the alkaloids of this drug. — Ibid., 
v. 244, pp. 550-555. 
Barger and Carr discuss ergotinine and ergotoxine. The former is 
unique among alkaloids in having four nitrogent atoms. * * * 
There seems little doubt that ergotoxine is the more important, if not 
the one essential active principle, whereas pure crystalline ergotinine 
