812 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 23,1871. 
4. Analyse qualitative d’un melange pulverulent. 
5. Analyse qualitative d’unc solution saline. 
Le 4 Juillet. 
1. Examen des fibres textiles (microscopique et chi- 
mi que) . 
2. Recherche dc taches de sang (microscopique et 
chimique). 
3. Recherche d’un acide dans une matiere alimen- 
taire. 
4. Analyse d’une dissolution minerale. 
Le 11 Juillet. 
1. Dosage de l’acide carbonique d’un carbonate. 
2. Recherche toxicologique de 1’opium. 
3. Examen des farines. 
(«) Dosage et caracteres du gluten. 
(fi) Dosage et caracteres de l’amidon. 
4. Examen microscopique et chimique de diverses 
farines, pures et melangees. 
5. Recherche d’un alcaloide dans une matiere alimen- 
taire. 
6. Recherche de plusieurs metaux. 
I hope on another occasion to give a few particu¬ 
lars of the lectures, examinations, etc., held at the 
School of Pharmacy. 
BRISTOL PHARMACOLOGY. 
BY W. W. STODDART, F.C.S., E.G.S. 
(Concluded from page 663.) 
Nat. Ord. Rhamnace;e. 
This Order is interesting to the pharmaceutist be¬ 
cause it comprises several plants of great repute in 
earlier times. One of these is the Jujube-tree 
(Rhamnus zizyphus), whose plum-like fruit originated 
the well-known jujubes, which at first were formed 
from the juice, made into a proper consistence with 
gum and sugar, and extensively sold in Spain and 
Italy. Those now sold are only a very indifferent 
imitation. Another member of this Order claims to 
be the tree from which our Saviour’s crown was 
made. Homer (Cktyss. ix. 94) speaking of one 
genus, the Zizyphus lotus, says it furnished a juice 
so delicious, that for its enjoyment men would for¬ 
sake their homes, country and Mends. 
Rhamnus catharticus (Linn.) 
Is the only plant now retained in our Pharmaco¬ 
poeia, though why such an agent is continued in 
that work must be left to its compilers. Its use is 
confined to dogs and infants, whose cries have often 
borne testimony to its torturing effects on the in¬ 
testines. Its use can certainly never be recommended 
except for punishment. 
The Buckthorn occurs abundantly in the hedges 
around Bristol, and fine examples may be gathered 
at Hanliam and Filton. 
Its dark purple berries yield a large quantity of 
juice, which, boiled down with spices and sugar, forms 
the syr. rliamni of the B.P. 
The pigment termed sap green is made by evapo¬ 
ration of the juice and treatment with lime. 
1 ha chemistry of the Buckthorn has never been 
satisfactorily worked out. According to M. Bis- 
wanger the juice contains rhamnin, rhamno-cathartin, 
colouring matter and gum. Rhamnin (C 4 H 16 0 9 ) is 
a yellow crystallizable substance, very soluble ini 
boiling alcohol, but insoluble in ether and cold water, 
soluble in alkalies, but precipitated again by acids. 
Rhamno-cathartin is bitter and uncrystallizable, and 
remains after the rhamnin has been separated. It 
forms a yellowish, translucent mass, yields picric 
acid with nitric acid, and unlike rhamnin, is very 
soluble in water. 
Nat. Ord. Leguminosa:. 
This large and extensive group of plants, although 
containing the names of a great number with useful 
and medicinal qualities, yet, with one exception, is 
indigenous to foreign localities. From it we obtain 
our indigo, logwood, liquorice, gum arabic, traga- 
canth, catechu, kino, sandalwood, senna, cassia and 
copaiba. This Order is said to comprise from 6000 
to 7000 species. 
Sarothamn us scoparius (Wimmer). 
This is the only Bristol representative of the Le- 
guminosce used in medicine. It is very common in 
many places. Both the yellow and wliite varieties 
may be gathered at Cook’s Folly, St. George’s, 
Stapleton, Hanliam and Brislington. This pretty 
and attractive plant seems to delight in dry heaths 
and hilly ground. 
“ It minds me of my native hills, 
Clad in the heath and fern; 
Of the green strath and flowery brae, 
Of the glen and rocky burn.” 
There seems to be some uncertainty to which of 
the chemical constituents Broom owes its well-known 
diuretic properties. Dr. Stenhouse attributes them 
to scoparin. The ashes, like those of most land 
plants, contain a large percentage of potassic car¬ 
bonate. One pound of Broom tops will yield ninety 
grams of that salt. 
When dec. scoparii is evaporated to one-tenth of 
its bulk and laid aside for twenty-four hours, it forms 
a kind of jelly. This gelatinous mass is thrown on 
a filter and well washed with cold water. The fil¬ 
trate, when distilled with an excess of soda, yields a 
colourless oil, which collects at the bottom of the 
receiver. This is spartein (C 15 H 26 0 2 ), an oily, viscid 
base. It is sparingly soluble in water and possesses 
narcotic properties. Four grains will kill a large 
rabbit. 
Scoparin (C 21 H 22 O 10 ), before mentioned as the 
probable diuretic principle, is obtained from the 
residue on the filter, after the separation of spartein. 
The residual jelly is boiled with water, slightly 
acidulated with hydrochloric acid, filtered, evapo¬ 
rated and set aside to crystallize, which it does with 
considerable difficulty. Yellow acicular crystals are 
formed, having neither taste nor smell. Sparingly 
soluble .in cold water, but readily so in alkaline 
solutions. 
Nat. Ord. Rosaceas. 
This extensive Order contains a great variety of 
plants in constant use among pharmaceutists. 
Some of them are poisonous from the large quan¬ 
tity of hydrocyanic acid they contain; others are 
remarkable for delicious ethers, which render them 
esteemed among our choicest fruits, as Almonds, 
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots and Plums. The only 
truly indigenous member of this family used in our 
materia medica is the Dog-rose. 
Rosa canina (Linn.). 
This well-known and ornamental plant is familiar 
to every observer of our hedgerows by its pink and 
