Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1897. 
Editortal. 
373 
The  following  iodine  compounds  were  prepared  and  studied  : 
Veratrine  tetraiodide,  C32H49N09I4.  3H20 
triiodide,  C32H49N09I3 
"        monoiodide,  C32H49N09I 
Other  compounds  were  prepared  and  investigated  as  follows: 
Chloralhydroveratride,  C  Cls  CH  (OC32H49N08)2 
Veratrine  methyliodide,  C32H49NOyCH3I. 
methylhydroxide,  C32H49N09CH3OH. 
methylhydroxyhydrochloride,  C32H49N09CH3OH.  HC1. 
ethj lbromide,  C32H49N09C2H5Br. 
allyliodide,  C32H49N09C3H5I. 
The  author  concludes  with  the  statement  that  the  structural  for- 
mula of  veratrine  is  still  a  mystery.  From  the  odor  of  picoline  by  a 
destructive  distillation,  and  the  isolation  of  /3  Picoline  by  Ahrens,  it 
is  evident  that  veratine  is  a  pyridine  derivative,  resembling  in  many 
respects  nicotine.  Whether  both  cevadicand  tiglic  acids  are  present, 
remains  for  future  experiments  to  determine.  The  work  of  Schmidt 
and  Kbppen  indicates  the  presence  of  both  acids,  while  the  careful 
researches  of  Wright  and  Luff  would  indicate  that  these  isomeric 
acids  are  converted  into  each  other  by  special  reagents.  Assuming 
that  but  one  acid  is  present,  the  following  formula  may  be  assigned 
to  veratrine : 
f  OCH3 
!  OOCCH  (CH3)  CH3 
^21 11 30W5  ^  qjj 
[nh,c, 
Experiments  at  present  are  being  conducted  along  this  line,  with 
the  hope  of  throwing  more  light  on  the  structure  of  this  important 
compound. 
EDITORIAL. 
THE  AMERICAN  MEDICAI,  ASSOCIATION. 
The  Jubilee  Meeting  of  this  Association,  held  in  Philadelphia,  June  1  to  4, 
inclusive,  was  a  notable  one  in  many  respects.  Not  only  was  the  attendance 
of  2,500  members  unusual,  but  the  deluge  of  papers  presented  in  the  various 
sections  attested  the  industry  of  the  members  during  the  past  year.  The  founder 
of  the  Association,  Dr.  N.  S.  Davis,  of  Chicago,  and  one  of  the  first  secretaries, 
Dr.  Alfred  Stille,  of  Philadelphia,  were  both  present  at  the  meeting.  The 
former  delivered  an  address  entitled  :  "  A  Brief  History  of  the  Origin  of  the 
