248 
COMMERCIAL ACONITINE. 
excellence liad permanently decreased, and the English root with advantage 
be substituted. Allow me to state that, although the consumption of English 
rhubarb is very great, it is chiefly exported in the form of powders, and very 
rarely indeed used in England, its bright colour chiefly recommending it in 
the foreign market. To its inertness as a stomachic, I dare say most medical 
men can certify. It is satisfactory to know that, although the whole of the 
crops of China rhubarb were some few years since destroyed (perhaps, as re¬ 
ported, by the Taepings), thus causing a deficient supply, and a consequent 
rise in price, and the root not yet presenting that sound appearance and ripe 
condition which only mature growth and skilful desiccation can effect, it is 
evidently recovering itself; and I doubt not before long the celebrated Rus¬ 
sian rhubarb will appear in the market, to assure us that the China stores of 
this drug have attained their former excellence. I have examined some hun¬ 
dreds of chests within the last few months, and can therefore truthfully attest 
to this gradual improvement, and which declining prices will very much pro¬ 
mote. I have now before me an exceedingly fine sample of Usher’s English 
rhubarb, and one of the China rhubarb lately imported, and, irrespective of 
colour, the latter has by far the superiority, being astringent and with every 
peculiarity for which rhubarb is esteemed, and which can never be attained 
by any culture in a climate so cold and erratic as our own. 
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
Charles W. Jayne. 
102, Leadenhall Street, London , E.C., Sept. 8th , 1868. 
[We hardly think any one would intend it to be inferred that the quality 
of China Rhubarb had permanently declined. That it has declined all admit, 
yet that it may improve (and even has) there is no reason to doubt. 
We do not, however, concur with our correspondent in thinking that the 
particular sort known as Russian Rhubarb will re-appear, seeing that the 
inspection of the drug by the agents of the Russian Government has been 
abandoned. It was this inspection and the concomitant destruction of in¬ 
ferior qualities, that caused the uniform excellence of the so-called Russian 
Rhubarb .— Ed. Ph. J.] 
COMMERCIAL ACONITINE. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—We beg to hand you a translation of a paper on aconitine, received 
from Mr. Merck, of Darmstadt. It refers to a sample which we had sent to 
Mr. Merck, and which we had received from a first-class house here. The ex¬ 
traordinarily low price at which this preparation is being sold lately in London 
induced us to have it examined, and we doubt not that the result will prove of 
interest to your readers. 
We remain, Sir, your most obedient servants, 
Roller and Widenmann. 
3, Lore Lane, Eastcheap, London , Sept. 7, 1868. 
The sample of aconitine received from London differs as against my prepa¬ 
ration, id est the officinal aconitine, in the following points :—The pure officinal 
aconitine is readily soluble in ether, alcohol, and chloroform, and from these 
solutions it is obtainable only in an amorphous resinous mass, but by no means 
in crystalline form. In boiling water it becomes soft, and can be kneaded. Its 
reaction is decidedly alkaline. 
