AmApru^'i889arm*}    Abstracts  from  the  French  Journals.  173 
ABSTRACTS  FROM  THE  FRENCH  JOURNALS. 
Translated  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Hysterionica  Baylahuen. — Prof.  Dujardin-Beauroetz  received 
samples  of  this  plant  from  Chili,  where  it  is  thought  to  have  special 
action  in  certain  gastro-intestinal  troubles  (especially  in  chronic,  hem- 
orrhagic recto-colites),  indigestion,  flatulent  dyspepsia  etc.  He  gave 
the  samples  to  Dr.  Bailie  who  gives  the  results  of  his  studies  in  the 
Bull.  gen.  de  thSrap.,  February  23d.  A  close  anology  was  found  to 
exist  between  this  plant  and  Grindelia  robusta,  though  Dr.  B.  writes 
that  he  has  not  been  able  to  find  the  substance  (analogous  to  saponin), 
cited  by  Mr.  Henry  Clark  in  the  Am.  Journ.  Phar.,  Sept.  1888, 
and  called  by  him  grindelin.  Dr.  B.  made  a  tincture  of  hysterionica 
by  macerating  100  gm.  of  the  plant  in  500  gm.  of  strong  alcohol  for 
10  days;  dose  15  to  35  drops.  Doses  of  20  drops  appear  to  have 
given  excellent  results  in  two  cases  of  chronic  bronchitis.  The  action 
seems  to  be  similar  to  that  of  other  balsamics  but  it  is  better  tolerated. 
Its  action  was  excellent  in  obstinate  diarrhoeas  which  had  not  been 
benefitted  under  opium  and  sub-nitrate  of  bismuth  ;  also  in  the  late 
and  persistent  diarrhoea  of  phthisical  subjects.  Dr.  B.  thinks  it  acts 
as  "  a  kind  of  antiseptic  dressing  upon  the  intestinal  surfaces."  It 
exerted  a  notable  amelioration  in  two  cases  of  cystitis.  It  also  gave 
good  results  as  a  dressing  for  open  wounds,  and  in  two  cases  of  vari- 
cose ulcer.  The  author  favors  the  use  of  an  infusion  of  1  part  of  the 
plant  in  150  parts  of  water. 
Ergosterin. — Recent  researches  made  by  M.  Tanret,  seem  to 
show  that  the  crystallizable  principle  of  ergot  of  rye,  which  was  for- 
merly regarded  as  cholesterin,  differs  in  composition  from  that  sub- 
stance and  its  isomeric  bodies,  though  the  resemblance  is  such  as  to 
justify  the  name,  ergosterin,  which  he  has  given  to  it.  Ergosterin  is 
isolated  by  exhausting  ergot  with  alcohol,  distilling  and  washing  the 
extract  with  ether,  and  distilling  the  ether,  the  product  being  an  oily 
mass  filled  with  crystals.  These  are  separated  and  recrystallized  in 
alkaline  alcohol,  and  then  in  pure  alcohol.  The  product 
is  about  2  to  1000.  The  formula  is  C52H40O2,H2O2.  The  sub- 
stance is  insoluble  in  water,  and  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether 
and  chloroform;  it  melts  at  154°  C.  (309°  2  F).  It  oxidizes 
slowly  in  the  air;  it  is  not  attacked  by  concentrated  and  boiling 
alkaline  solutions.  It  is,  like  cholesterin,  a  monatomic  alcohol. 
With  nitric  and  hydrochloric  acids  and  iron  perchloride,  its  reactions 
