278 
VARIETIES. 
the coffee depend. Now as roasting the coffee does not alter the structure 
of the tissues, an experienced microscopist can, by examining a specimen of 
ground coffee, decide on the presence or absence of cellular tissue of a for- 
eign character, and by knowing the structural characteristics of the sub- 
stances used as adulterations, can detect them when present. 
Thirty-four specimens of coffee, obtained from different parties in London 
among the grocers, tea and coffee dealers, were examined with the following 
results, viz: 
" 1st. That the thirty-four coffees, with the exception of three were adulte- 
rated. 2d. That chicory was present in thirty-one instances. 3d. Roasted 
corn in twelve. 4th. Beans and potato flour, each in one case. 5th. That 
in sixteen cases the adulteration consisted of chicory only. 6th. That in 
the remaining fifteen samples, the adulteration consisted of chicory, and 
either roasted corn, beans, or potatoes. 7th. That in many instances the 
quantity of coffee was very small ; and in others not less than one-fifth, one- 
fourth, one-third, one-half, and so on, of the whole article/' 
The Lancet gives the microscopic characteristics of the substances used 
in adulterating coffee, but they are too long for introduction here. — Ex- 
tracted from Pharm. Journal, Feb., 1851. 
On Arnicina. By Mr, William Bastick. — Arnica montana, although 
not extensively used in this country, is held in high estimation by the 
medical profession in Germany as an effective remedial agent. It is known 
to exercise a powerful and defined action on the animal economy. The 
flowers, and other parts of this plant, have several times been chemically 
examined, and their virtues have been generally ascribed to an acrid resin 
which they contain. But there has been much doubt expressed as to 
whether this resin was really the active principle, for Professor Pfaff, of 
Kiel, observes, " Arnica flowers is one of those agents whose chemical com- 
position, and therapeutic powers which depend on the former, are enveloped 
in obscurity/' 
Dr. A. T. Thompson has recorded his belief that he had detected igasu- 
surate of strychnine in the flowers. This statement induced Versemann, 
at the suggestion of Pfaff, to institute an inquiry by direct experiment as 
to its correctness. The result was that he has proved the absence of 
any compound of strychnine in them. My experiments bear testimony to 
the truth of his conclusion in this matter, while I differ entirely from him 
in another one, that in which he denies the existence of any alkaloid in this 
plant. But it is not altogether surprising that he should have overlooked 
the presence of an organic base in it, for he proceeded in his research upon 
the assumption that if arnica contained an alkaloid it would be precipitated 
from its solution by ammonia. This failure of Versmann to eliminate the 
organic base of arnica is an evidence as to the necessity of, as I have pre- 
viously remarked, Pharmaceutists using the improved methods in their 
nvestigations. 
