August 31, 1872.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
161 
THE MICROSCOPE IN PHARMACY. 
BY HENRY POCKLINGTON. 
(Continued from page 104.) 
Podophylli Radix. — The structure of the root 
of Podophyllum peltatum is strikingly dissimilar to 
any I have hitherto described, and presents several 
interesting features. 
The first thing which will strike the observer on 
examining a thin cross section is the singular round¬ 
ness of the large cells of which the major portion 
of the root is composed. The centre of the root is 
composed of sub-cylindrical cells, sometimes over¬ 
lapping each other at their junction by a finger-like 
extension, which in cross section might be mistaken 
for a large aggregation of the intercellular sub¬ 
stances of Mulder. The adhesion of these cells in 
linear series is remarkable, and it is easy to sepa¬ 
rate them into long columns by a short maceration 
in warm water. They contain great quantities of 
starcli imbedded in a semi-albuminous substance, 
the deportment of which differs slightly from that of 
the usual protoplasmic cell contents, with wliicli it 
is probably intimately allied, but is slightly admixed 
with dextrinous (?) matter. 
A very incomplete vascular ring separates this 
structure from the cortical series. The vascular 
wedges are usually completely isolated, and are 
small in proportion to the diameter of the root. 
The vessels are pitted with long narrow pits, and 
might almost be considered to be scalariform vessels, 
were it not that they are oval, or circular, in cross 
section. Their walls are very thin. With the 
vessels are associated delicate liber cells and cana- 
liculi, which contain the dark yellowish-brown re¬ 
sinous matter which is sometimes transfused into 
the vessels and stains them deeply. 
The cells of the cortical layers vary in size and 
shape from precisely similar cells to those of the 
central portion to the compressed cells of the outer¬ 
most portion. In no case do they present special 
features other than already noticed. It follows, as 
a matter of course, from the circular, or oval, cross 
outline of the parenchymatous cells that their ad¬ 
hesion to each other is veiy incomplete. What would 
otherwise be intercellular spaces are filled, some¬ 
times with intercellular substance of a complex and 
very variable character, and sometimes with a finger¬ 
like protrusion of one of the contiguous cells. This 
latter is the most rare occurrence by far. The 
behaviour of the intercellular substance with the 
usual reagents is perplexing and somewhat contra¬ 
dictory. In many cases nitrate of silver stains it 
intensely ; in other cases, in the same section, this 
reagent appears inert. Magenta usually, but not 
invariably, stains it intensely. Iodine always stains 
it yellow. A solution of iodine and iodide of potas¬ 
sium in water dissolves it and isolates the cells. 
Sulphuric and nitric acids, in a dilute form, attack 
it very slowly. Benzole and alcohol have no sen¬ 
sible action upon it. 
The starch granules present are usually separate 
granules, modified in shape by pressure within the 
cell with a distinct punctate, often radiate, hilum; 
and are intensely bi-refractive, giving the usual black 
cross with polarized light. 
The splueraphides abundantly present are re¬ 
markable for their great size and beauty, and are 
arranged linearly by the side of the vascular bun¬ 
dles and distributed, also in linear series, through 
Third Series, No. 114. 
the central, and innermost cortical portion of the 
root. Each spluerapliide is contained in a delicate 
cell, a little larger than itself, and containing a 
hyaline semi-fluid matter, apparently protoplasmic. 
The projections of the compound crystal are 
coated with some substance which can be intensely 
stained with nitrate of silver if very carefully ap¬ 
plied in a weak solution. The isolation of these 
special cells and their contents is perfectly easy ; 
maceration in water containing a little potash is 
sufficient, or, and this is not difficult, the cells 
being large, they may be isolated by simple dis¬ 
section. Solution of gum arabic in water, to which 
has been added either camphor or arsenious acid, 
is the best medium in which to mount either the 
isolated sphasraphidian cells or sections of the root. 
The latter do not mount satisfactorily. 
{To he continued.) 
NOTES ON PEPSIN AND BISMUTH, AND 
ELIXIR OF PEPSIN AND BISMUTH. 
BY E. SCHEFFER. 
Several facts which I published in a previous 
essay,* impressed on me the impossibility of a pre¬ 
paration such as elixir pepsin, bismuth (and strych¬ 
nine.) I do not want to speak again about the 
presence of alcohol in a solution containing pepsin, 
as I have repeatedly given the results of my experi¬ 
ments, which prove, beyond doubt, that pepsin and 
alcohol, particularly when the latter amounts to a 
certain percentage, are incompatible. 
The main objection I intended to bring against 
such an elixir, prepared with ammonio-citrate of 
bismuth in a neutral or alkaline solution, is the 
neutral or slightly alkaline state. My experiments 
prove clearly that pepsin, in neutral solution, does 
not keep, and that in alkaline solution it loses its 
digestive properties. In how minute quantities the 
presence of an alkali destroys the digestive proper¬ 
ties of pepsin, will be shown by the following ex¬ 
periments, quite recently made. 
Having once taken our well water—which con¬ 
tains carbonate of lime and magnesia—instead of 
distilled water, to swell the pepsin, before the acid 
was added, I was astonished to find that the pepsin 
did not act on albumen. This caused me to repeat 
the experiment simultaneously with others for 
control. 
A. Pepsin swelled in distilled water; the acid 
(6 drops of muriatic acid to the fluid ounce) added 
afterwards. 
B. Pepsin swelled in well-water, and 6 drops of 
acid added to 1 oz. after 2 hours. 
C. Pepsin swelled in distilled water, which had 
been shaken with carbonate of magnesia, for two 
days, and then filtered; G drops of acid added after 
two hours- 
D. Pepsin dissolved in acidulated well water. 
Of these four experiments each contained the same 
amount of acid, the same amount of pepsin, and to 
each vial the same amount of coagulated albumen 
was added. After having been exposed to a tempe¬ 
rature of 105° Fahr. for six hours, in A and D all the 
albumen was dissolved, while in B and C the albu¬ 
men did not appear to have been acted upon. 
Therefore, in C, the small quantity of magnesia 
* Am. J our. Pliar., Feb., 1872, and Pharm. Joum. [3] ii. 
761. 
