Am.  Joiir.  Pharm  ") 
Sept.,  1881.  [ 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica. 
441 
angle  from  the  principal  nerve,  and  each  anastomoses  in  the  form  of  a 
noose  near  the  margin.  The  upper  surface  has  few,  the  lower  surface 
numerous  almost  circular  stomata,  with  one  or  two  contiguous  cells 
scarcely  larger  than  the  guard  cells.  The  hairs  are  several-celled, 
either  pointed  or  glandular,  and  contain  a  yellow  granular  substance 
becoming  darker  with  })otassa  solution. — Zeitschr.  Oed.  Apoth.  Ver.; 
Phai\  Jour,  and  Travs.,  June  4. 
Liatris  odorafissima,  Willd. — The  leaves  attain  a  length  of  25 
and  a  breadth  of  2"5  centimeters,  and  are  naked  on  both  sides,  but 
'Covered  with  small  pits  and  furrows.  Upon  the  surface,  but  very 
plentifully  upon  the  petiole,  are  found  glistening  scales  of  coumarin. 
The  leaves  are  oval,  almost  oblanceolate,  the  upper  end  truncate,  the 
margin  delicately  undulate,  the  base  diminishing  into  a  long-winged 
petiole,  midrib  thick,  lateral  nerves  at  very  acute  angles,  anastomosing 
in  the  form  of  double  nooses  near  the  margin.  The  stouiata  are 
numerous  on  both  sides,  in  the  mesophyll  are  found  roundish  or  oblong 
■cavities  filled  with  a  greenish  or  golden  yellow  oil,  enclosing  smaller 
strongly  refracting  drops.  Both  surfaces  contain  many  funnel-shaped 
depressions,  in  which  glands  are  iuibedded. — Ibid. 
Preservatiori  of  Hops. — Naumann  and  Pohl  have  patented  a 
process  according  to  which  hops  are  dampened  with  alcohol  and 
then  pressed  into  any  suitable  vessel,  which  is  afterwards  well  closed. 
The  pressed  hops  become  uniformly  permeated  with  the  alcohol  and 
retain  their  })roperties  for  a  long  time.  —  Archiv  d.  Phar.,  1881, 
March,  p.  201. 
Castor  is  secreted,  according  to  Jos.  Fuchs,  by  glands  contained  on 
the  inner  surface  of  the  castor  sacs,  and  in  the  fresh  state  is  of  an 
unctuous  consistence,  but  never  liquid.  Canadian  castor  has  a  rather 
weak  odor  resembling  that  of  old  willow  bark ;  the  odor  of  Siberian 
and  European  castor  is  much  stronger,  and  has  been  likened  to  that 
of  birch  oil  or  Russian  leather.  The  difference  in  odor  is  regarded  as 
the  best  character  for  distinguishing  the  two  kinds.  Their  shape  is 
similar,  frequently  pyriform  ;  egg-shaped  bags  of  Siberian  or  Euro- 
pean castor  are  apt  to  contain  a  large  amount  of  calcium  carbonate. 
Adulterations  with  resinous  and  gum-resinous  substances  are  best 
■detected  by  breaking  the  bags  in  the  middle,  when  membranes  should 
be  observed  pervading  the  contents. — Archiv  d.  Phar.,  1881,  March, 
J  89-195. 
