42 
TESTS FOR CINCHONA BARKS. 
the cherry and plum-trees no amygdaline could be traced, whilst 
in the kernels of the fruit of these trees it is contained in consider- 
able quantities. There appears to exist here a similar relation to 
that which is found in Crataegus and Cotoneaster, where, when 
the young shoots begin to be developed, prussic acid is found in the 
distillate, whilst the other organs and the shoots at a more advanced 
period yield no hydrocyanic distillate. 
That amygdaline has an active share in assisting the process of 
development appears also to be indicated by the fact that it is 
found in the largest proportion in the young shoots even of those 
plants, which contain it in all their organs, such as Sorbus tor- 
minalis and Amalanchier vulgaris. — London Phar. Journal, Oc- 
tober 1, 1851, from Annalen d. Chemie und Pharmacie. 
ON THE TESTS FOR DETERMINING THE VALUE OF CINCHONA 
BARKS. 
By Dr. A. Buchner. 
The author draws the attention of druggists to the importance 
of ascertaining the amount of alkaloids in the barks, and the pre- 
ference which this method deserves, to all others which are found- 
ed upon external characters. He calls attention to the method of 
examination proposed by Wohler, and finds it to answer its pur- 
pose completely when the requisite time can be given to it. The 
author has made numerous experiments with a view to discover a 
process which shall require far less time. This process, the value 
of which was tested upon several Cinchona barks, gave the follow- 
ing results : 
Cortex Cinchonce Regius [Calisaya.] — 3 oz. of this bark, which 
exhibited all the characters of being genuine, were exhausted with 
8 oz. water to which 1 scruple of officinal dilute sulphuric acid had 
been added, the mixture kept for 24 hours at a temperature of 
122° to 140°F., frequently agitated, and then brought upon a fil- 
ter. The filtered liquid was perfectly clear, of a very pale yellow 
color, and possessed an agreeable aromatic odor and an acid bitter 
taste* The residual powder was digested twice more from twenty 
