February 17,1872.] THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
GG5 
Loss 
per cent. 
Chimapliila umbellata, leaves and stem 
Mentha canadensis, the dowering herb 
Scutellaria lateriflora, ,, 
Lobelia inflata, „ 
Prunella vulgaris, „ 
Nepeta Cataria, ,, 
Eupatorium perfoliatum, the flowering 
tops. 
Gnaphalium polycephalum, the flower¬ 
ing tops. 
Hypericum perforatum, the flowering- 
tops . 
Datura Stramonium, the leaves. . . 
Hepatica triloba, ,, . . . 
Cassia marilandica „ ... 
Leontodon Taraxacum, the root col¬ 
lected in October. 
48-08 
89-21 
77-68 
76-56 
76-39 
76-39 
76-52 
63-34 
61-03 
88-70 
71- 65 
70-92 
72- 40 
Yield, 
air-dry, 
per cent. 
51-02 
10-79 
22- 32 
23- 44 
23-61 
23-61 
23-48 
36-66 
38-97 
11-30 
28- 35 
29- 08 
27-60 
The above data are too few in number to allow of 
any general deductions; it seems, however, as if low 
plants from wet localities ( Mentha canacl.) and juicy 
leaves ( Stramonium ) may yield air-dry residues, 
equal to about one-nintli, plants from dry sandy soil 
(Gnaphalium and Hypericum) about one-third, other 
plants about one-fourtli or one-fifth of their original 
weight; the large yield of Chimapliila is doubtless 
in the main due to the woody stems, and in part 
also to the leathery leaves.— Amer. Journ. Pliarm. 
NOTE ON PERCOLATION. 
BY LOUIS S. COHEN. 
The most efficient instrument for all preparations 
which require to be made by percolation, is, in my 
opinion, the ordinary glass-funnel of an angle of 
about 59°, as the following results of an experiment 
will clearly show :— 
Having mounted a Bohemian glass-funnel and a 
cylindrical glass percolator, each with a sufficient 
amount of material to obtain four pints of tinct. 
gentianse co., my results were as follows:— 
From the glass From cylindrical 
funnel. glass percolator. 
The fi rs tp intoi dilute d al- 
cohol coming through, 
increased in weight . 5 j, 5 iij, gr. iv 5 j, 9j 
The second pint . . . 3 j, 9j 5 yj,gr.xxiij 
The third pint .... 5 V, gr. xiij giij 
The fourth pint . . . 5 ij, 9j 5 j, gr. iv. 
In various other experiments I have always been 
able to obtain far better results, and to exhaust the 
material more thoroughly by employing the glass- 
funnel.— Amer. Journ. Pliarm. 
CONDURANGO. 
Although the cancer-curing properties of this drug 
are still matter for dispute, the botanical affinities of 
the plant yielding it are now pretty well determined. 
Dr. Buy on, a French botanist resident in Ecuador, 
had stated that the plant from which the drug is 
derived is the Mikania guaclio of Endlicher, belong¬ 
ing to the tribe Eupatoriacece of the Order Compo¬ 
sites ; and, as this is an abundant species through¬ 
out South America, there would be, in that case, no 
reason for seeking it especially in Ecuador, nor for 
the high price which the drug commands. The 
description of the plant already given in our pages 
(Pharmaceutical Journal, No. 73, p. 405) is, how¬ 
ever, entirely irreconcilable with its belonging to 
that Order, and completely supports the reference 
there assigned to it to Asclepiadacece. We have now a 
full description of the plant from Dr. A. Destruge, 
of Guayaquil, a corresponding member of the Societe 
d’Anthropologie of Paris, as follows :—Calyx of 5 
ovate obtuse divisions, villous below, of quincuncial 
aestivation. Corolla rotate, of 5 lanceolate divisions, 
hairy at the base on the inside, somewhat fleshy, with 
a membranous margin, of imbricate aestivation. 
Stamens without appendage ; anthers terminated 
by a membrane, pollen-masses elongated, suspended. 
Stigma pentagonal, conical. Flowers numerous, ar¬ 
ranged in umbels. This description determines, 
without hesitation, the plant to belong to the Order 
Asclepiadacece, and Dr. Destruge refers it to the 
suborder Asclepiadece verce, division Astephanus, 
characterized by having the limb of the corolla 
without scales, and the stamens without appendage 
or corona, and comprising only five genera, Mito- 
stigma, Astephanus , Hcemcix, Hemipogon and Nau- 
tonia. The condurango possesses, however, charac¬ 
ters which prevent its being assigned to any of these 
genera: it is destitute of the long filaments at the 
end of the stigma characteristic of Mitostigma ; in 
Astephanus the calyx-segments are acute, the co¬ 
rolla subcampanulate, and the stigma elongated; 
in Hcemax, the segments of the corolla are hooded ; 
in Hemipogon the calyx-segments are acute, hard, 
and with curved apex; and in Nautonia the calyx- 
segments are striated and concave. It must, there¬ 
fore, be erected into a new genus. Dr. Destruge is 
sceptical as to the efficacy of the drug in curing can¬ 
cer ; but believes it to be useful in rheumatism an d 
secondary syphilitic disorders. The name condu¬ 
rango, or cundurango, is said to signify, in the 
Quiclia language, “ vine of the condor,” from the 
tradition of the country that, when the condor is 
bitten by a poisonous serpent, it swallows the leaves 
of this plant, and experiences no harm. 
NATIVE POISONS OF INDIA. * 
BY P. A. SIMPSON, M.D., 
Professor of Medical Jurisprudence , Anderson’s University. 
(Concluded from page 627.) 
Opium.—A am not going to say anything- as to the 
sources from which opium is obtained, or the modes in 
which it is prepared. The few remarks which I propose 
to make regarding it will refer only to the manner in 
which this drug is used in India. The vice of opium 
eating is a very ancient practice in India,—so ancient, 
that the date of its introduction into that country cannot 
he traced. The act of “ eating opium together ” was the 
form by which rival clans became reconciled and per¬ 
sonal friendships were declared. To “ eat opium to¬ 
gether ” is the most inviolable pledge, and an agreement 
ratified by this ceremony is stronger than any oath. On 
a birthday, when all the chiefs convene to congratulate 
their brother on another anniversary, the large cup is 
brought forth, a lump of opium is placed in it, upon 
which water is poured, and by the aid of a stick a solu¬ 
tion is made to which each helps his neighbour, not with 
a glass, but with the hollow of his hand held to his 
* Read before the Glasgow Chemists’ Association, Jan. 10, 
1872. 
