454 
Schneider. Albert, asserts that the Rhamnus species are the most 
important medicinal trees in California, that the Indians have long 
made medicinal use of them as a cathartic, and that the whites ascer- 
tained their medicinal value from the Indians. — Merck’s Rep., X. Y., 
1906, v. 15, p. 127. 
An editorial reviews the cascara sagrada outlook, gives some esti- 
mates of the probable crop, and publishes a table showing the high 
and low prices prevailing during the past four years. — Oil, Paint, 
and Drug Rep., 1906, v. 70, Aug. 20, p. 7, and Sept. 24, p. 7. 
Philipp Roder, Wien, reports a careful examination of six sam- 
ples of Rhctmmis purshiana ; the ash content of the air dry drug 
varied from 5.41 to 10.02 per cent. Only one sample came within 
the 6 per cent limit of the Ph. Austr. VIII, which Roder believes to 
be too low. — Pharm. Post., Wien, 1906, v. 39, p. 234. 
Mitlacher, Wilhelm, discusses the demonstration of oxymethyl 
anthraquinone in cascara sagrada, by microchemical means, and 
points out that while distinct crystals were not readily obtained the 
sublimed material gives the characteristic deep red color with solu- 
tion of potassium hydroxide. — Pharm. Prax., 1906, v. 5, pp. 433-135. 
Tavlor, S., says there seems to be some doubt as to the intention of 
the Ph. Brit, concerning the condition of extract of cascara sagrada. 
He takes it that it should be in powder form. — Pharm. J., Lond., 
1906, v. 23, p. 669. 
Dieterich, Karl, records the extract obtained from four different 
samples of cascara sagrada, with varying menstrua. — Helfenberger, 
Ann. Berl., 1905-6, p. 115. 
Wiebelitz, H., suggests that a formula for fluid extract of cascara 
sagrada be included in the coming edition of the Ph. Germ. IV. — 
Pharm. Ztg., Berl., 1906, v. 51, p. 1003. 
Fell, Joseph, discusses the percentage of alcohol remaining in 
fluid extract of cascara sagrada, and points out that the alcoholic con- 
tent of a finished fluid extract can not be the same as the menstruum 
in any case, and the percentage found should always be coordinated 
with the moisture of the drug, the volume of the extractive, and a cer- 
tain amount of loss in manufacture. — Am. Druggist, X. Y., 1906, v. 
49, p. 65. (See also Proc. Ohio Pharm. Ass., 1906, p. 48.) 
The Ph. Brit. Committee of Reference in Pharmacy asserts that 
the alcohol in liquid extract of cascara sagrada is insufficient. Amend 
the process. — Chem. & Drug., Loud., 1906, v. 69, p. 863. 
Francis, John M., thinks it whollv unnecessary to dry the mixture 
of drug and calcined magnesia before percolation, and the amount of 
alcohol employed is excessive. A great mistake to flavor with orange 
when the public is accustomed to anise, fennel, and wintergreen. So 
long as our committee has merely followed the example of the large 
manufacturers, it may well have profited by their experience. We 
