Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
Sept.,  1882.  i 
Gleanwgs  in  Materia  lledica. 
457 
most  probably  a  species  of  Aethaliuni.  The  plasmodia  of  myxomicetes 
are,  according  to  Reinke  ('SStiidien  iiber  das  Protoplasnia''),  very  rich  in 
mineral  substance  containing  a  large  jn^oportion  of  lime.  Succinic 
acid  was  not  found  in  them  by  Reinke.  The  occurrence  of  the  succinic 
acid  is  perhajis  due  to  a  fermentation  process,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  malic  acid  occurring  in  the  juices  of  the  mulberry-tree  (Gmelin,  10, 
1206)  is  converted  into  succinic  acid,  a  metamorphosis,  which,  accord- 
ing to  Fitz  (^'Ber.,"  12,  481)  takes  place  somewhat  readily  in 
schizomycetic  fermentations,  and  may  be  represented  by  the  equation : 
3CJlfi,=  +  C2HA  +  2CO2  +  Ufi.—Journ.  Chem.  Soc, 
June,  1882;  from  Monafsch.  Chem,,  iii,  136. 
GLEANINGS  IN  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
Bv  THE  Editor. 
Willow  Galls,  from  Salix  nigricans,  Frie,'<,  have  been  examined  by 
Edwin  Johauson.  They  were  externally  felt-like  and  spongy,  bore 
at  their  upper  end  a  cluster  of  stunted  leaves,  and  had  formed  on  the 
tender  branches,  which  had  thereby  become  stunted,  and  within  the 
galls  enlarged  and  sponge-like.  The  etherial  extract  of  the  concen- 
trated aqueous  infusion  was  fat-like,  non-crystalline,  and  contained 
4)nly  traces  of  tannin-like  compound.  The  lead  precipitate  from  the 
aqueous  infusion  contained  tannin,  giving  a  green-black  precipitate 
with  ferric  chloride.  The  filtrate  from  the  lead  precipitate  contained 
no  sugar;  but  the  corresponding  liquids  obtained  from  the  branches 
and  leaves  gave  reactions  for  sugar.  The  alcoholic  tincture  prepared 
from  material  previously  exhausted  by  water  indicated  by  its  reactions 
the  i)resence  of  bodies  related  to  quercitrin  and  catechin.  Compared 
with  the  branches  and  leaves,  the  galls  had  a  very  similar  composition 
and  contained  only  a  somewhat  larger  quantity  of  tannin. — Phar. 
Zeitsch.  Russ.,  1 882,  j).  455—463. 
Resin  of  Pine  Cones.— The  cones  of  Pinus  Abies,  called  elata  in 
Greece,  secrete  during  hot  weather  an  oleoresin  called  elatopyssa,  whidi 
congeals  in  mastich-like  tears,  and,  according  to  Landerer,  is  popu- 
larly em))loyed  in  the  form  of  pills  and  decoction  in  coughs,  bronchi- 
tis, and  in  diseases  of  the  bladder.  The  cones  with  the  tears  are  not 
unfrequently  kept  in  rooms  on  account  of  theii-  balsamic  fragrance. — 
Zritsrhr.  Oesf.  Ap.  Ver.,  1882,  p.  170. 
lielation  of  Sf arch  to  Atrojyinc  in  Belladonna  Roof. — 1^\  Huddcl  has 
