180  Parthenium  Hysterophorous.  {Am•AJp0rUn;lP8S7arm• 
The  fact  being  clearly  established  that  parthenin  is  not  a  gluco- 
side,  but  rather  a  proximate  principle  somewhat  akin  to  santonin, 
suggests  a  more  practical  method  of  preparation  than  by  extraction 
with  chloroform.  A  process  in  which  the  lead  acetate  dissolved  in 
the  cleared  decoction  was  dissociated  by  addition  of  sulphuric  acid, 
which  would  precipitate  the  lead  as  sulphate,  was  not  attempted 
lest  the  acetic  acid  set  free  would  react  with  the  parthenin.  This 
fear  is  groundless,  and  a  practical  process  of  extraction  on  these 
lines  will  be  devised. 
On  distillation  of  the  drug  with  steam  there  passed  over  a  minute 
quantity  of  volatile  oil  possessing  the  distinctive  odor  of  the  plant, 
and  from  which,  on  standing,  there  separated  a  stearopten  possessing 
camphoraceous  taste.  As  yet  the  quantities  won  have  been  too 
small  for  investigation,  but  attention  will  be  turned  to  it  during  the 
coming  summer. 
In  conclusion,  a  few  words  as  to  the  medical  properties  of 
parthenin.  Tovar  reported  it  as  a  remedy  in  facial  neuralgia, 
and  it  also  proved  beneficial  in  a  case  of  fever  and  anaemia 
where  quinine  failed.  Guyet  confirmed  its  efficiency  in  neuralgia, 
especially  the  cranial  variety ;  but  he  found  it  utterly  without  effect 
as  antipyretic.  In  Jamaica  the  plant  is  used  as  a  remedy  for 
ulcerated  sores  and  certain  skin  diseases,  especially  such  as  are  of  a 
herpetic  or  pustular  character.  The  dose  of  Ulrici's  parthenicine  is 
stated  as  0-05  gramme  every  hour  in  neuralgia,  while  gramme 
doses  are  used  in  intermittent  fever. 
The  subject  is  worthy  of  further  consideration  on  the  part  of 
therapeutists,  and  to  this  end  the  writer  proposes  preparing  during 
the  summer  considerable  parthenin,  which  will  be  furnished  in 
limited  quantities  to  those  physicians  who  will  agree  to  conscien- 
tiously test  its  merits  and  publish  the  results,  whatever  they  may 
be. 
The  writer's  thanks  are  due  Miss  S.  E.  Bres  for  the  artistic  sketch 
of  the  flowering  branch. 
New  Orleans,  March  8,  1897. 
Formaldehyde  is  detected  by  dissolving  o'i  gramme  of  morphine  hydrochlo- 
ride in  1  c.c.  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  and  adding  an  equal  volume  of 
the  solution  to  be  tested,  without  mixing ;  in  the  presence  of  formaldehyde 
the  aqueous  solution  will  become  a  clear  red-violet  color  in  a  few  minutes. 
