524 
PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 
9.  "What  is  the  active  principle  of  arnica  flowers  ?  and  what  the  best 
process  for  isolating  it  ? 
Accepted  by  Dr.  Henry  T.  Cummings,  of  Portland,  Maine. 
10.  What  is  the  best  process  for  preparing  assafoetida  plaster  so  as  to 
preserve  the  activity  of  the  drug  unimpaired  ? 
Accepted  by  William  Procter,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia. 
11.  Atropa  belladonna  is  largely  cultivated  at  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.,  for 
the  preparation  of  the  officinal  extract.  Question, — Can  the  root  of  that 
plant,  as  grown  there,  be  employed  advantageously  as  a  source  of  Atropia  ? 
Accepted  by  William  Procter,  Jr.,  of  Philadelphia. 
12.  Japanese  vegetable  wax,  derived  from  the  Rhus  succedanea,  has  been 
introduced  into  commerce.  Question, — What  are  the  qualities  of  this  sub- 
stance as  compared  with  bees  wax  ?  And  how  far  may  it  be  used  as  a 
substitute  for  that  substance  in  pharmacy  ? 
Accepted  by  James  S.  Melvin,  of  Boston. 
13.  Paraffin  has  been  suggested  by  Mr.  Wayne,  of  Cincinnati,  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  wax  in  cerates.  Question, — Are  there  any  therapeutic  object- 
tions  to  this  substitution  ?  And  if  not,  in  what  proportion  should  it  be 
used  as  a  substitute  for  wax  in  cerates  ? 
Accepted  by  Charles  T.  Carney,  of  Boston. 
14.  To  what  extent  is  Carrageen  collected  on  the  coast  of  New  Eng- 
land for  the  supply  of  commerce  ? 
Accepted  by  A.  P.  Melzer,  of  Boston. 
15.  Conium  maculatum  has  become  naturalized  in  New  England  and 
New  York.  Question, — Can  the  seeds  be  collected  in  sufficient  quantity 
for  the  preparation  of  Conia  as  an  article  of  commerce  ? 
Accepted  by  Henry  F.  Fish,  of  Waterbury,  Conn. 
16.  What  are  the  adulterations  of  saffron  as  found,  in  the  commerce  of 
the  United  States,  and  by  what  tests  may  they  be  distinguished  ? 
Accepted  by  John  D.  Dix,  of  New  York  city. 
17.  Cubebs  are  occasionally  adulterated  with  a  capsular  berry  different 
from  cubebs  in  appearance,  and  which,  it  is  said,  is  done  at  Singapore. 
Question, — What  plant  yields  this  berry,  and  what  are  the  properties  of 
the  berry  as  compared  with  cubebs  ? 
Accepted  by  Prof.  George  Thurber,  of  New  York  city, 
18.  What  proportion  of  digitalin  can  be  obtained  from  American  grown 
digitalis  ? 
Accepted  by  Samuel  S.  Garrigues,  of  Philadelphia. 
19.  Can  elaterium  be  profitably  produced  in  the  United  States  ?  What 
soil  and  situations  are  most  favorable  to  the  development  of  the  plant? 
